Page 70 of Mine to Love
“Whatever you feel like,” Miles said. He opened the door.
Liberty slid from the passenger seat and few seconds later, her father appeared at the entrance of the plane. He climbed down the stairs and took two steps across the pavement.
Gabriel bolted from the back of Miles’ truck. “Daddy!” He ran like a big goofy kid with his arms flapping wildly at his sides. “Daddy!”
Her six-foot-three dad stopped dead in his tracks as Gabriel, all five foot ten and one hundred ninety pounds of him came barreling at him. Her dad reached for the railing of the airplane’s staircase but missed and lost his footing.
“You came back.” Gabriel hurled himself at his father, wrapping his arms around him, knocking them both to the hard ground with a massive thud.
“Shit.” Liberty took off running, Miles at her heels.
“Gabriel. Dad. Are you two okay?” She knelt, trying to untangle her brother from her dad, but Gabriel wouldn’t let him go.
Her father grunted as he lay flat on his back. “Gabriel, son, you’re crushing me.”
“Let me help.” Miles did his best to unwrap Gabriel’s arms, but even he couldn’t do it. “Gabriel, dude. You’ve got to give your dad some breathing room.”
Reluctantly, Gabriel eased his grip and rolled to the side.
“Damn, boy. You’ve grown.” Her dad took Miles’ hand and slowly got to his feet, arching his back.
“Anything broken?” Miles asked.
“Nah. I’ll live,” her dad said, hoisting Gabriel off the pavement. “Let me get a good look at you.” He held Gabriel by the shoulders. “Wow. You’re all grown up.” He ruffled Gabriel’s hair.
“Dad. Stop that. I’m not a little boy anymore. I’m a man.” Gabriel pushed his father’s hand away.
Her dad chuckled. “I can see that.”
“I should be so mad at you.” He stomped his feet and clenched his fists. “What you did was wrong. You hurt Liberty. She ended up marrying a very bad man because of you andCharlie hurt her in the worst way. I should hate you for that. But I don’t.” He slumped his shoulders and relaxed his hands. “I’ve missed you.”
“I’ve missed you and your sister so much.” Her dad rested his hand on Gabriel’s shoulder. He’d always had a way with him, even she couldn’t deny that. “I’m sorry I left you. I wish I could go back in time and do it all over again, but I’m so glad you two had each other.”
“Why are you leaving again?” Gabriel sniffled.
Her dad shifted his gaze from him to her and cleared his throat. “I don’t have to, but to be honest, Gabriel, that’s going to be up to Liberty.”
“Oh, no, you don’t. You can’t put this one on me,” she mumbled.
“I have to.” He palmed her face. “You’ve been the one taking care of both of you all these years. It’s not my place anymore to waltz into your life like I belong.” He kissed her temple. “I will stay, but only if you say it’s okay,” he whispered.
She closed her eyes and wrapped her arms around her dad.
Her father.
“It’s okay,” she said.
Her dad hugged her back.
She took a step back. “How long can you stay?”
“As long as you’ll have me. Someone has to run the office here now.” He shrugged. “But I’d have to go back and forth between here and South Carolina for a while and there is Sandra to consider.”
“I’m sure she can help you remotely,” Liberty said.
Her father shook his head. “We’re engaged, so she would be coming with me.”
“Well, that’s an interesting turn of events.” Liberty smiled.
