Page 105 of Cole

Benji nodded encouragingly. “Cole seems willing to work with the security requirements. He’s not asking Annie to abandon everything.”

Duncan’s gaze swept across his children’s faces, then settled on his wife. “And what do you think, my dear?”

Elizabeth straightened in her chair. “I think Annie deserves a chance at love. And I think we’ve lived with fear controlling our decisions for far too long.” She gave her husband a loving smile. “Duncan, you’ve lost one daughter. Don’t lose another to your own fear.”

Her dad and Elizabeth stared at each other for a long moment. Elizabeth might not have been around when his daughters had been kidnapped, but she had always been sensitive to her husband’s loss. And Annie had learned thather dad, despite being wealthy and powerful, depended on Elizabeth.

She’d never seen her parents’ marriage, at least not in a way that she remembered, like Julian did, but she was glad that her dad had found love again after her mom had abandoned them.

“There’s a game starting soon,” Benji said gently, breaking the tension. “Annie and I usually watch together.”

Duncan nodded, his expression thoughtful. “Go ahead. But this isn’t the last of this discussion.”

Annie hesitated, not wanting to leave without some resolution, but her father had already turned to Julian, asking about his latest business venture, in a clear dismissal.

Would there ever be an end to the discussion? Or would they just rehash it over and over and over again? The thought of that was wearying, because it would mean her dad just wasn’t listening to her at all.

“Come on,” Benji murmured, standing and gesturing for Annie to follow.

After pulling on their coats and boots, they left the mansion with Nyla and walked through the frosty night air to her cabin. The lamp posts that lined the road always made her think of Narnia, especially with the snow surrounding them.

“That went better than expected,” Benji observed.

“Did it?” Annie sighed. “He’s still not convinced.”

“But he didn’t say no outright. And Mom’s on your side. That’s huge.”

Annie nodded. “I’ve never heard her speak up like that before, but she probably did it for your sake, too.”

“What do you mean?”

“If she can get Dad to loosen his restrictions now, by the time you want to spread your wings, hopefully he won’t be as hard to convince.”

When they reached her home, Annie was relieved to get in from the cold. They quickly got out of their coats and boots, then Benji turned on the television before he went through the steps of building a fire in the stone fireplace.

Annie went to the kitchen to make them hot chocolate, and when she joined Benji in the living room, the tray she carried also contained a tin of Christmas goodies that their housekeeper and her daughters had made.

“Just in time,” Benji said, accepting a mug from her as he settled onto the couch. “Pre-game coverage is starting.”

Annie curled into the corner of the sofa with a warm blanket, tucking her feet beneath her as the analysts discussed the upcoming matchup. When Cole appeared on screen during the warm-ups, her heart quickened. Even through the television, his presence commanded attention.

“You really love him, don’t you?” Benji asked, observing her reaction.

“I do,” Annie admitted, cupping her hands around the warm mug. “It’s different from anything I’ve felt before.”

Benji nodded thoughtfully. “I think Dad sees it too. That’s why he’s so scared.”

“What do you mean?”

“You’ve never fought him like this before. Never stood your ground so firmly.” Benji reached for a cookie. “It makes it real for him—that you’re growing up, making your own choices. And that those choices might lead you away from his protection.”

Annie considered this perspective as the game began. Cole moved with renewed confidence on the court, his passes crisp, his defense tenacious. When he sank a three-pointer early in the first quarter, she couldn’t help but smile.

“He’s playing better,” Benji observed.

“He is,” Annie agreed.

As the game continued, Annie allowed herself to imagine a future where she could regularly attend Cole’s games in person, where they could build a life together with reasonable precautions but without her father’s oppressive fear hanging over them.

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