Page 90 of Love Off Course

“With Camilo.”

I shake my head. “I don’t think so.”

“A dad knows these things.”

Forcing a smile, I shrug. “We’ll see. So how is the Wexler account coming along?”

Daddy reaches across the table and takes my hands. “It’s time, baby girl.”

“Time for what?”

“To cut the strings.”

“Cut what strings?”

“The ones that have you tethered to me. You’re wasting away here, unhappy, when you could be out there. I’m cutting you loose and I want you to fly out of here. Don’t just see what’s out there in our big, bad world, but find what you truly love. Harness it and keep it. It’s time to free yourself from your dad’s side and live your own life.”

“You’re trying to get rid of me?” I challenge, my chin wobbling.

“Yeah, baby. For your own good. You won’t leave, so this is me pushing you from the nest.”

“You’re firing me?”

“No, I’m freeing you.”

“I’m scared,” I admit.

“Are you, though?”

Hope and excitement are already tugging at me. The tiny seed he’s planted is already taking root and growing.

“I’m a Reid girl. We don’t get scared.”

“Damn right.”

“What if I fail?”

“You won’t.”

“How can you be so sure?”

“I raised you to fight for what you want in this life. You haven’t let me down yet.”

“I’ll visit a ridiculous amount of times and bug you endlessly,” I threaten, swiping away my tears. “Pull you out of meetings to go eat pizza with me.”

“David can handle it.”

“It’ll be worse,” I tell him. “Way worse because I’ll miss you. I’ll be the neediest kid ever. Just wait and see.”

“I’m looking forward to it.”

“Where will I go?”

“I’m sure you’ll figure it out.” He smiles at me. “If you need a little nudge in the right direction, follow the birds.”

“The birds?”

“When the world is too cold, the birds fly south.”

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