The Expectant Executive
Patrick’s admission that he’d been wrong was the last thing she’d expected him to say. “You never told me.”
There was a short pause before he spoke again. “I never knew how to tell you how sorry I was that I put my pride and concern for social appearances ahead of your happiness.”
“In all fairness, I don’t think I ever gave you the chance,” Fin said, admitting her own part in the rift.
“I’m—” he stopped to clear his throat “—glad that we’ve finally got this out in the open, lass.”
His use of the pet name he’d called her when she was a little girl caused tears to pool in the corners of her eyes. “I am, too, Dad.”
“I…love you, Fin. Can you ever find it in your heart to forgive me?” The hitch in her father’s voice sent tears streaming down her cheeks.
“Yes, Dad. I forgive you.”
There was a long pause as if they both needed time to get used to the fact that they’d finally made their peace with the past.
“I’m going to marry Jessie’s adoptive father,” Fin said, breaking the silence.
“Does he make you happy, lass?” Patrick’s voice held a fatherly concern that she knew for certain she’d never heard before.
“Yes, Dad. He makes me very happy.”
“I’m glad you found him. He seems like a good, hard-working man. And he did a wonderful job raising Jessica.” Her father surprised her further when he added, “I also think it’s wonderful that we’ll have a new grandchild soon.”
“You don’t know how much that means to me, Dad,” she said, meaning it.
“How are you going to juggle time at the office with a new baby?” he asked, giving her the perfect opportunity to tell him the second reason she’d called.
“I’m not even going to try.” She took a deep breath as she prepared to end her career and kiss the CEO position goodbye once and for all. “Effective immediately I’m no longer the editor-in-chief of Charisma.”
“Are you sure that’s what you want?” From the tone of his voice, she could tell her father already knew the answer.
“Yes, Dad. I want what Mom always had—time to be with her babies.”
“I can’t fault you for that, lass.”
“Dad, there’s one more thing.”
“What’s that?”
“I think Cade McMann would be an excellent candidate for my position. He knows the magazine inside out and he has fantastic instincts. You can trust him and his judgment to keep Charisma on the right track.”
“And he’s part of the family now,” her father said, sounding thoughtful.
After telling her parents again that she loved them and that she’d see them at the New Year’s Eve party they were holding at The Tides, she hung up the phone and went in search of Travis. She felt more at peace than she had in twenty-three years and finally ready to start the rest of her life.
“You look absolutely beautiful, Fin.”
Smiling at her daughter, Fin asked, “Is your dad ready?”
“I think he’s going to wear a hole in the floor from pacing so much,” Jessie said, laughing as she finished with the tiny buttons at the back of Fin’s wedding dress. “Cade and Mac have both threatened to tie him down and Spud offered to supply the rope.”
Fin laughed. “He asked me two days ago if we couldn’t just elope.”
Tears filled Jessie’s eyes as she nodded. “Dad loves you so much. We all do.”
“And I love all of you.” Fin gave her daughter a watery smile. “Here we go again. We’re both going to ruin our makeup if we don’t stop crying.”
Dabbing at her eyes with a tissue, Jessie smiled. “I’m just so happy for both of you.”
Fin hugged Jessie close. “I’m happy for all of us. I have a beautiful daughter, a wonderful son-in-law and I’m marrying the man I love.”
“It’s time, Aunt Finny.”
Looking up, Fin smiled at her niece. Marriage to Mac Riggs definitely agreed with Bridget. There was a sparkle in her eyes and a glow about her that hadn’t been there before she met the tall, dark-haired sheriff of Winchester County.
“We’ll be right there,” Jessie said, hugging Fin again. “Let’s go take pity on Dad before he has to have the floor resurfaced.”
As Fin followed the two young women down the stairs of the Silver Moon ranch house, her heart skipped a beat when she saw Travis, standing straight and tall in the tuxedo he’d worn for Jessie and Cade’s wedding. When she’d asked him what he was going to wear for their wedding, he’d just smiled and told her not to worry about it.