Page 59 of Needing Happily Ever After

“Do you think I’m stupid, son? Do you think I was as successful as I was in business by trusting blindly in what people told me? Or do you think that maybe I did a little bit of research on my own?”

Damon sat back and assessed his father, who continued to talk.

“I know you and Katie weren’t a real couple.”

“You did?”

Anthony chuckled, but it turned into another cough. When he finally composed himself, he continued. “Of course I did. But I also saw that it was what the two of you finally needed to realize your own feelings after all this time.” He shook his head in wonder. “Two more stubborn and clueless people as to what is right in front of them, I’ve never met.”

“But…we—you let us go through with the wedding…”

“Like I said, son. Sometimes people need a little nudge.”

It was a nudge, all right.

“But now Katie and I…well…we’re not really…”

“You’ll fix it.” Anthony raised his arm to signal his nurse. “A love like yours doesn’t come along every day.” He nodded. “Yes, you’ll fix it. And then you’ll live here and raise your family.”

Damon watched in silence as his father’s nurse collected him and started to wheel him out of the room. Before he left, Damon stood and called after him. “Dad?” The nurse turned him so Anthony could look at his son. “Thank you.”

It was gratitude for so much more than ElkView, and they both knew it.

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