Page 64 of The Cupcake Standard

Patty came over with a tray, its legs extended to go over his lap. “Here you go, Steve. You eat up now.”

“Oh, thank you. This looks delicious.” And he dug right in.

I sat down at the table near his bed, Derek next to me. Patty brought us each a plate.

“Thank you,” Derek said to her. “It does look delicious.”

“He eats the same thing every Wednesday. It’s not on his approved menu, but I’ve tried to make it a bit healthier. Ground turkey instead of beef, less fat in the gravy. Half-cauliflower mashed potatoes.” Patty gave me a soft smile. “It makes sure our girl gets to eat with her daddy.”

I returned the smile, reaching out to squeeze her hand. “Thanks, Patty. See you in a bit.”

Derek looked around the room. “Your dad’s a sports fan, huh?”

Rolling my eyes, I redirected the question to my dad. “Steve, this is my friend Derek. He noticed the stuff on the walls and wants to know if you like football.” My dad has Alzheimer’s. He’s not dumb.

Daddy chuckled. “I’d say that’s an understatement. If you asked my wife, she’d say there’s only one thing she ever worried about me loving more than her, and that was football.”

The tired joke fell a little flat now that I knew who my mother really was. Derek reached over to squeeze my shoulder, and I gave him a tight smile, suddenly grateful he was there.

“But Avery.” Dad shook his head. “Every time the Lions played, my girl would scream and shout at the top of her lungs. She loved that team with all her heart. You’d have thought they were her family, she invested so much of herself in them.” Daddy’s eyes lit up. His whole face brightened as he talked about me. “One year I gave her this old Barry Sanders jersey, and you’d have thought I gave her the moon.”

A lump grew in my throat, my voice thick as I said, “I still have that jersey. I wear it every time they play.”

Dad’s fork dropped as he looked at me, recognition flaring in his eyes. “Avery? Is that you?”

Oh. Oh my, he knows who I am. My heart stopped as it registered. I stood up, nearly knocking over the table in my haste to take advantage of the moment, unsure how long it would last. “Daddy? You know me?”

Tears gathered in the corners of his eyes as he held out his arms. “Of course I know you. My little girl, I always know my little girl. I’ve missed you, honey. Come here and give me a squeeze.”

My cheeks were wet as I wrapped my arms around my father. Disbelief flooded me. Daddy knows who I am!

“It’s been so long.”

My heart broke that he thought I hadn’t been there, but I had to seize these few precious moments. I swallowed hard, and my throat was thick with tears. “I know, Daddy. I’ve just been waiting for the right time.”

“Tell me about yourself. What are you up to? How’s school?” He scooted over, keeping an arm around me.

So I laid my head on his shoulder, and I did. When I stopped talking, I realized his breathing was deep and steady, his chin drooping on his chest. Patty came in a few minutes later. Derek intercepted her, guiding her back to the hallway.

I kissed my father’s forehead. “Thanks for seeing me, Daddy. I love you.” His soft snores filled the room as I moved the tray to the table, then I pulled the covers up to his chest. I felt shaky, wrapping my arms around myself as I fought to get my churning emotions under control while I walked into the hall.

Patty took me in her arms. “Oh, child, I’m so glad you had a few minutes with him. I’ll see you next week, okay?”

My cheeks were still wet as I swiped at them, nodding. She let go of me, pushing me into Derek’s open arms. I didn’t resist, not ready to face the world on my own yet. We walked down the hall together until I paused by a bench seat in the foyer. “I just need a minute.”

He nodded. “Sure.”

I sat down, tugging his arm so he sat with me. Then I leaned into him, laying my head against his broad shoulder. “I’m sorry I was mean to you.”

One large hand scooped up my legs and brought them over his, then he cuddled me against his chest. “Oh, Cupcake.”

My nose was still stuffy from crying, so I sniffled against his chest, shaking my head. “I need a ridiculous nickname for you. Why’d you pick Cupcake?” I felt him shrug.

“Because of that night at dinner with my parents when my mom said you looked delicious. You were so annoyed, saying you could see it if you were dressed in ruffles, then maybe you could be a cupcake. It just fit.” Another shrug lifted his shoulders. “Plus…you taste so sweet when I kiss you?”

It was ridiculous, over the top sappy, but it made me smile. A watery smile, but a smile nonetheless. I peeked up at him. “The only nickname I can think of for you is carrot. And that just doesn’t seem appropriate. Or fun.”

He snorted. “You can do better.”

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