Page 239 of The Nanny and the Beefcake
“That was Alec and Anders,” he replied with a sentimental bend to his words. “You and your mother liked it here, with the ponies and donkeys. Or maybe you two needed a break from the Lamb boys.”
She chuckled. “You’re probably right. They could be a handful.”
“But you never were, Libby. You were always so strong, so centered. I owe you an apology. I owe you many, many apologies.”
While the man had spewed a litany of empty promises and hollow apologies in the past, his words rang true today.
How did she know?
She felt it.
“Thank you, Dad. It means everything to hear you say that.”
He had a lovely white aura, a light and healing color. The heaviness that had weighed him down in a murky hue had let up. He was a different man. What she couldn’t figure out was what had spurred the transformation. She swallowed past the lump in her throat, needing to get the words out. “I know how much you loved Mom. Her death was hard on you, and I understand now that you didn’t have anyone to catch you when you fell.”
Tears welled in his eyes. “Can I give you a hug?”
She nodded and allowed her father to fold her into his embrace.
There’s magic in stripping off the armor and extending grace—a lovely symmetry that settles in the soul.
He pulled back and patted her cheek. “I wanted to do right by you and the boys, but I got lost somewhere along the way. One day of wrong turns became one year and then a decade. I’m doing better, but I’m not going to make you any promises other than to tell you that I’m making better choices, and through my actions, I’ll prove to you and to the boys that I can be the father you deserve.”
“That means the world to me,” she answered, blinking back tears.
The man exhaled a slow breath, gathering himself. “I thought about reaching out to you before I left, but I wasn’t sure if I should.”
What did that mean?
“Where are you going?”
He cocked his head to the side. “You don’t know? I figured he’d tell you with me leaving today.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about, Dad.”
“Erasmus’s sports agency offered me a job.”
Was that what Raz was doing when he told her father someone would be calling?
“What kind of job?” she pressed.
“They’re opening a location in Kansas City, and they need a facilities manager. I had to agree to stop drinking and attend Gamblers Anonymous. That’s what I’ve been doing these past weeks. I was in a bad place when I showed up in Rickety Rock. I’m not proud of what I did. Erasmus told me that someone would contact me. A man named Briggs Keaton called the next day and offered me a deal. It’s good pay, real good pay, and it would be a fresh start in a new city, but not so far from you.”
“And you leave today?” she asked, totally and completely floored.
“In twenty minutes,” he confirmed. “A taxi is picking me up from here.”
Twenty minutes.
“Why didn’t you tell me you were moving?” she sputtered as they started toward the entrance.
“I didn’t want to burden you or your brothers, and Erasmus made it clear that I wasn’t to contact you.”
“What did he say to you?” she pressed. She wanted to be furious with him for keeping something like this from her. Still, she couldn’t help but see her father’s transformation.
“He didn’t want me to upset you. But I figured you reaching out to me meant that you wanted to see me. Erasmus cares deeply for you, honey. I think he’d do anything for you.”
How she wished that was true.
