Page 91 of Family Bonds: Alana & Brennan
He most certainly did and had to get over it.
The woman sitting in this room with him gave him everything he needed and then more.
But the bond you get with a father isn’t something a mother can give you.
Just like he knew what he gave his daughter would never measure up.
He hoped that he’d have a woman in his life who accepted Becca as her child.
In just a few short weeks, his mind was depositing Alana in that role.
Not smart on his part, but he was unsuccessful at kicking those images to the curb.
“Daddy,” Becca said as she pranced around the room with the new instrument package she’d unwrapped.
What the fuck? Was everyone trying to torture him?
He cleared his throat. “That’s staying here for you to play with, right?”
“It is,” his mother said. “I thought it was funny when you said she got the little electronic drums.”
“From Alana,” Becca said. “It’s so much fun. I made Daddy dance to the beat.”
He lifted his eyes to the ceiling. His daughter wasn’t so good at keeping secrets even when he told her not to share that information.
“You’re such a good father,” his mother said.
“I’m trying.”
“I know you didn’t have any role models. You’re a natural.”
“I learned everything I know from you.”
His mother smiled, her eyes watering some.
He could have all the internal struggles he wanted, but he’d never share it outside of his own brain.
He wouldn’t hurt his mother that way.
His eyes landed on his daughter violently attacking the red and green paper as if it was a shield against her future happiness.
Her giggles and animated antics were worth the carnage of the gift wrapping.
“I’ll get a trash bag for this mess,” he said, standing.
Becca’s roars of giddiness chased him into the kitchen. His phone vibrated in his back pocket, so he pulled it out to see the text from Alana that she was thrilled to be home and that the grilling she took left a few smoke rings on her.
He pursed his lips, wondering what was going on.
He replied with a question mark and returned to the living room.
Becca was done with gifts and he bent to pick up the destruction.
His phone buzzed again, but he ignored it until he was done. He wouldn’t be one of those lovesick fools that put his phone before anything else.
Once the living room appeared somewhat clean and his daughter was playing with a new doll, he took out his phone to check Alana’s response and laughed.
“What’s so funny?” his mother asked.
