Page 61 of Cherishing Happily Ever After

Dale sat with his arms crossed across his thick chest, an unreadable expression on his face. He nodded toward the empty seat at the patio table where they’d been enjoying a cup of coffee and the view of the valley.

Travis pressed his lips together and nodded as he took a seat. He understood the silent language. It had been his own preferred mode of communication for years.

Before Stephanie.

“So,” Dale said slowly once Travis had taken his seat. “Last night you mentioned surprising Stephanie with a…what exactly?”

“A wedding.” It sounded crazy even to Travis, and it was his idea. “I know it sounds like…well…a lot. But your daughter and I, we’ve known each other for a while now and recently, we both expressed our feelings for each other. I know she’s worried about paparazzi and more specifically, my reaction to it all.” He’d already explained this to them the night before, but he would do it a million times over if it helped them both understand exactly how strong his feelings for their daughter were.

“I need Stephanie to understand that no amount of camera flashes, gossip columns, or intrusive reporters are going to scare me away. I know it’s part of her life. I know her life is beyond anything I’ve ever experienced. I also know that I can offer her the contrast to all that glitz and glamour that she craves. And more than that, Iwantmore than anything to give it all to her. I love her very much, Mr. St—Dale. I will never hurt her.”

The other man was silent for a moment. Bonnie sat quietly as well, sipping her coffee with a small smile on her face.

Travis could respect Dale’s silence and it didn’t worry him. He waited and after a few minutes, he spoke.

“I believe you,” Dale said simply. “I’ve met a lot of Stephanie’s boyfriends over the years, including Dax, the one she was set to marry.”

Travis sat back in his chair.

“You’re different,” Dale said.

“He is.” Bonnie tried to hide her grin behind her coffee mug, but Travis saw it.

“You’ll be good to her,” Dale continued. “I feel it in my bones and sometimes, that’s all an old man has to go on.” He nodded and smiled a little, too. “Yes,” he said. “You have my blessing.” He turned to his wife, but Bonnie was already smiling.

“Mine, too. Of course.”

The familiar warmth Travis was used to when he was with Steph bloomed in his chest, and impulsively he got up and hugged first Bonnie and then Dale, too. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d hugged anyone besides Stephanie. It felt good. Really good.

“Thank you. Your blessing means a lot.” He swallowed down the lump in his throat. There was no time to get emotional. He had a lot of people working on his surprise and it was going to come down to perfect timing if it was going to work. “I guess we should get moving then. Katie will take you over to Ever After Ranch and you can see Stephanie. But remember…”

“We won’t say a word,” Dale said with a suspicious glance at his wife. “Will we?”

She shook her head with a giggle.

“I’ll make sure she doesn’t say anything,” Dale assured Travis with a roll of his eyes. “We’ll see you soon.”

Travis nodded, and confident that they would be in good hands, turned to leave.

Before he could slip away, Dale called out to him. “Travis?”

He turned.

“Thank you,” the other man said simply. “For the way you so obviously love her. It’s all a father really wants for his baby girl, to be loved the way she deserves. Thank you for that.”

He nodded his acceptance. Hedidlove Stephanie. He just hoped it would be enough.

“I’m so glad you’re here,” Stephanie said for at least the third time since her parents had walked through the front door of the ranch house. “I wasn’t sure you’d ever get here.” She looked at her mother as she said that. “I know it’s not easy.”

Her mother dabbed at the corner of her eye. She’d been weepy almost from the moment they’d arrived. Stephanie was used to her mother’s emotions, but even this seemed like a lot. But she tried not to draw attention to it.

“It’s not that it’s been hard,” Bonnie said. “It’s…well, it’s hard to explain, sweetheart. We love you so much and we’ve only ever wanted the best for you.”

Stephanie nodded. She knew that. Her parents had been the most supportive in the whole world. She couldn’t have asked for better.

“It’s a strange feeling to know that you found a whole different family,” her mother continued. “It’s all just a lot to get used to is all. But we are happy for you, dear. We are. And Faith and Hope just seem so lovely and their husbands and—”

“Everyone we’ve met so far has been really nice.” Her dad interrupted.

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