Page 60 of Seized by Love at Seaside
“Not if they know what’s good for them. Call your dad, and then we’ll get started. He has to come to his senses at some point.” He pressed his lips to hers. “Remember, sweetheart, I’m proud of you, Maddy’s proud of you, Sky is proud of you, and your father will be too. He just needs to get over himself first.”
“You don’t know my father.” She pulled out her cell phone and walked to the other side of the room while she made the call. Her mother answered on the third ring.
“Hi, Mom.”
“Hi, honey. How are you?” Her mother spoke quietly, and Lizzie knew her father must be nearby. It made her sick knowing that she’d put her mother in this position—and equally as ill knowing that her father could so easily turn his back on her.
“I’m okay. I’d be better if Dad would talk to me. Is he there?”
“He is. Hold on.”
She heard her mother cover the phone, but the conversation between her parents was too muffled for her to decipher. When her mother returned to the phone, her sigh told Lizzie everything she needed to know before she said a word.
“I’m sorry, honey,” her mother said.
“It’s okay.” Lizzie closed her eyes against the sting of her father’s rejection. But as she opened her eyes, something inside her snapped. She wasn’t a little girl making bad decisions. She was an adult, and she’d stood by her decisions to everyone else. Why was she practically begging for her father’s approval?
“You know what, Mom? This isn’t okay. I hate to do this to you, but since he won’t talk to me, can you please put me on speakerphone?”
“Honey, I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
She felt Blue’s hand on her shoulder, and when she gazed up at him, the pride in his eyes drove her on.
“Please, Mom?”
A moment later her mother’s voice echoed through the line. “Okay, you’re on speakerphone.”
“Is Dad in the room?” She knew better than to askhimto answer.
“Yes, honey,” her mother answered.
Blue crossed his arms over his chest, his biceps twitched, his eyes narrowed, and she had a feeling that if he could climb through that phone and shake her father into submission, he would. She drew from his strength and held her chin high.
“Dad, I hope you’ll stay in the room long enough to hear me out. My whole life you’ve taught me to do the right thing. You taught me that regardless of what I had, to always make sure I gave to others. When I wanted to skip going to college and try to make a go of a flower shop, you said that college would teach me things I never realized I needed to know.” She expected to hear her father storm out of the room any second, but she had to say what was in her heart, regardless of what he did or didn’t do.
“And you were right. I learned all about business, and it’s helped me tremendously with my flower shop. And it’s helped me analyze and strategize and provide for Maddy’s education with my webcast. I know you don’t approve of what I’m doing, but I’m still your daughter.” Tears of anger and hurt welled in her eyes as Blue’s arm circled her. “I hope one day that you’ll see Iamthe same girl you raised, only I’m stronger now and more capable of making good decisions. Decisions that have helped me and Maddy.”
She gulped a breath, ignoring the bite of her father’s silence.
“I love you, Dad, and all I’m asking is that you take a step back and see me for who I am, not whatever misconception you have about who you think I’ve become.” Her trembling hand dropped to her side as she ended the call, and she buried her face in Blue’s chest.
BLUE WISHED HE could walk out the door and pay her father a visit to knock some sense into him, but Lizzie needed him right now. He’d made the mistake once of walking away when she needed him, and he wasn’t going to do that again. Her father could wait. Blue was so proud of her for taking a stand. He couldn’t imagine any father ignoring such a heartfelt plea. But if her father remained distant, there was no way Blue would sit back and let the woman he loved be hurt again.
“Are you okay?”
She inhaled sharply, and when she pushed away, her eyes were full of determination.
“Yes. I am finally more than okay.” She swiped at her damp eyes, and her lips curved into a smile.
Her strength floored him, but he’d known all along how strong Lizzie was. She hadn’t backed down for him. Why would she back down for anyone else?
“I realized as I was talkingatmy father that he’s the one who taught me to be this way, so who is he to judge me?” She took a step away, waving her hand angrily. “I mean, he might not agree with me wearing nothing but an apron, but he taught me to give, to help others, and that’s what I do every day of my life. And I’m hardly wearing any less than my bathing suit. Thathasto count for something.”
Before he could say anything, she added, “And you know what else pisses me off? I’m not the only one who put my mother in this position. That’s mostly his doing.”
“Hopefully you finally got through to him. If he doesn’t come around, then it speaks volumes of him as a person.”
“He’s not a bad guy, Blue.” She crossed her arms protectively over her chest.
