Page 277 of Champagne Nights

“So do I, son. Ellie reminds me of her, you know.” He took a seat on the ground next to me. “I saw it the moment I laid eyes on her. You didn’t go to California to check out an investment deal, did you?”

“No. I went there to get Ellie back.”

“Why was she in California?”

“She wasn’t. I set it up with Frankie to make it seem like she would meet an art dealer interested in her paintings. He brought her to me.”

“So, you tricked her? I’m sure she wasn’t happy about that.”

“Not at first she wasn’t. But we talked about everything, and she forgave me.”

“I guess we were wrong about Kirsten. For her to cheat on you, get pregnant, and then plot to make it seem like it was your child—our grandchild, was just disgusting. Sometimes it amazes me what people will do for love.” He sighed.

The two of us sat silently until he told me something I wasn’t prepared to hear.

“I saw Abigail, son.”

“What do you mean?” I glanced at him.

“I’ve never spoken to anyone about this. Not even your mother. When I had my heart attack and was in surgery, I must have had a near-death experience or something because I was out of my body. I saw the doctors cut me open as I floated above the ceiling. That’s when I saw her. She was standing on the other side of the doors, looking in. I couldn’t even begin to tell you how I felt. The moment I walked out the doors of the surgical room, she took my hand and led me down the hallway. I asked her how she was, and she told me she was happy. She told me thatas much as she wanted me to come with her, it wasn’t my time, and I needed to go back, but she’d always be watching over me and our family. When you were at the house and told me that we needed to let go, memories of that day came flooding back. She looked at me with her beautiful blue eyes and said, ‘Daddy, it’s time you let me go. You need to let me go.’” He wiped the tears that formed in his eyes. “And then she was gone. I initially thought it was just some kind of dream, but then I researched people who had experienced the same thing, and I knew it was real. She came to me, Henry. My little girl came to me.”

“Dad.” I reached over and placed my hand on his.

“You’re right about Ellie. It is because she’s deaf, and the thought of using sign language again brought back so many memories of her, and I carry around that pain every single day. You know I always did what she asked. So, maybe it is time to let her go.”

“Just because you’re letting go doesn’t mean you’ll ever forget her, Dad.”

“I know, son. I’ll talk to your mother. I’m not willing to lose any more of my children.”

“Thanks, Dad. I love Ellie so much, and I want you and Mom to get to know what a beautiful person she is.”

He nodded his head as he patted my back, got up, and walked away. When I returned home, I found Ellie making a sandwich in the kitchen.

“You’re back.” She smiled. “How was the office?”

“Move in with me,” I signed.

“What?” She laughed.

“Move in with me. I don’t want to do this back-and-forth thing between apartments anymore. I want you here with me, full-time,” I signed.

“Are you serious?”

“I’ve never been more serious about anything in my life. What do you say?”

“Yes!” She beamed with excitement. “I would love to live with you.”

I picked her up and swung her around as I kissed her lips.

“Eat your sandwich, and then we’ll go to your apartment and get packing.”

“Today?” she asked.

“Yes, today. I don’t want to wait another minute.”

Chapter Thirty-Five

ONE MONTH LATER

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