“Why don’t we all have dinner together? I’ll make my famous roast with those rosemary herb potatoes you love so much. We can get to know Dr. Bailey and his daughter.” She smiles kindly, offering me an alternative.
My father, who’s been quiet all this time, looks serious as he considers my mother’s suggestion.
We both look at him for any acknowledgement that he’s not going to kill Austin if he walks in here. I’ve always been my father’s little girl. He’s cared for me, supported me, and now that I’ve fallen in love, I think it’s the idea that I’ll no longer be under his care that bothers him the most.
“Come on, Dad. It’s almost Christmas and I don’t want us at odds over the holidays,” I ask, my voice a mere whisper, because if I have to be honest, he has always scared me. His strict upbringing has been good, but deep down, I wish he’d trust that I’m grown-up enough to make a decision that will be good for me.
“Lilypad.” My dad sighs, using my nickname he gave me when I was a kid. “I’ve always believed you were a strong, independent, beautiful woman, and I know when you decide on something it takes a lot to sway you. I’m not trying to. All I’m going to say about this is that I hope and pray he doesn’t break your heart, because I will have to kill him.” My father is dead serious. Being the sheriff in town has had its drawbacks growing up, and now, as an adult, it’s still the bane of my existence.
“Dad, you can’t kill him because he won’t break my heart.” As I say the words, I’m sure of them. There isn’t a doubt in my mind that Austin will not hurt me.
“Fine. Then he and his daughter can have dinner here tomorrow night.” He huffs, pushing off the chair. He stalks toward me, leaning down and planting a soft kiss on my head. “And I wasn’t joking, Lilypad. I have a gun,” he tells me earnestly.
“Go to work. You’ll be late,” Mom chastises him for his grumpy remarks. “The man is insufferable.”
I can’t help giggling at the two of them. Even after all these years, they’re still in love. Happy together that when they’re apart even for a few hours, you can tell they long for each other. I hope one day I have that, and I wish it’s with Austin Bailey.
“Do I look okay?” Austin asks as he fiddles with his black tie. He’s dressed in a suit for dinner tonight and I laugh at how nervous he is.
“You do realize it’s an informal dinner?” I quip, watching him in the mirror.
His eyes meet mine. I can tell he’s nervous as he offers me one of his sexy smiles. “I do, but your father isn’t impressed I’m stealing his daughter. If he kills me tonight, at least I’ll look good.” Once he turns to regard me fully, I’m breathless at how handsome he is.
“He is not going to kill you. Besides—”
Chelsea comes leaping into the bedroom dressed in her princess gown, which sets off my giggling. “I’m ready!” Her squeal echoes off the walls.
Shaking my head, I narrow my eyes at her mischievous smile. “Come on, princess, you need to dress in something a little less formal,” I tell her, shooing her into her room.
“I like this dress.” She pouts up at me, her face the picture of innocence.
“How about you wear it for Christmas? Today, you can wear this.” I pull out her Frozen jumper with matching sweatpants. Her trainers are blue with silver sparkles. For a girl, she loves blue.
“Okay, I love Elsa,” she tells me confidently. “Like Daddy loves you.” The words fall easily from her mouth, causing me to halt in my movements.
“What?”
“Daddy loves you,” she says in her innocent way.
Shaking it off, I help her dress, and moments later, we’re all in Austin’s SUV heading to my parents’ house. My heart patters against my ribcage at the thought of my dad meeting Austin, but I know deep down, he’ll see the good man inside. The father, the doctor, and the man who, according to Chelsea, loves me.
We pull up to the house, exit the car, and the little munchkin is already at the door while her dad and I follow up the steps. The door swings open and my mother is all dressed up in a beautiful pencil skirt and white blouse. Her hair’s been done and I can tell she’s even wearing makeup.
“Come in you, beautiful little angel,” she coos at Chelsea, who revels in the attention. As soon as we reach her, she glances at my hand interlinked with Austin’s and smiles. “It’s a pleasure to properly meet you, Dr. Bailey.”
“Please call me Austin, Mrs. Abrams,” he tells her, shaking her hand and leaning in to peck her on the cheek.