Page 154 of The Lost and the Found

And that was all he said. He didn’t offer any more reassurance, and in a way, he didn’t have to. I showed him a little smile and he held out his hands for me. I grabbed it and let him lead us to the house.

I could have sworn I saw the curtains in the front window moving as we walked up, and I knew Veena and Grant weren’t here yet. They would be coming by later, to give Mathew and me some alone time, which meant Mathew had been waiting for us to arrive and probably saw us pull into the driveway.

I had been so focused on my own feelings and worry that I didn’t think about how Mathew was feeling about all this. I couldn’t imagine the thoughts that were going through his mind, and he probably wanted me to like him as much as I wanted him to like me.

I wasn’t feeling worried anymore.

Suddenly, I just wanted to see Mathew.

I wanted to see the man who loved and missed me for the past fifteen years. And I knew I had it better than him, since I hadn’t even remembered him.

I moved faster until it was me leading Logan up the steps to the porch, and the door opened before we could even knock.

Mathew stood in front of me, his blue eyes wet with emotions, and his lips curved in a small, nervous smile.

It was quite startling to see a man of his size and confidence look so unsure and emotional.

I swallowed the lumped that formed in my throat and blinked away the burning in my eyes.

Then I opened my mouth and I leaped off the cliff, confident in my own ability to fly.

“D-dad?”

He made a small noise in the back of his throat that sounded like a mix between a cry and a whimper before he opened his arms wide for me. “My baby.”

I didn’t wait. I rushed to him and let him wrap those big muscular arms around me, feeling safe and free, all at the same time.

“I’m sorry,” he whispered to me in a broken sob. “So sorry I lost you. So sorry you had to go through all that hardship without me. I love you so much, and I’m so sorry, princess.”

I let out a small cry, the tears coming out faster than I could wipe them, and shook my head. “It’s not your fault. It’s okay.”

He pulled back and planted a soft kiss on my forehead, his blue eyes—my eyes—shiny and red, but his smile was wide, and I knew all my worries from earlier were silly.

“Call me that again?” he asked softly.

I didn’t need him to clarify. “Dad.”

He buried his face in my neck, and his body raked with tremors while he wept silently against me. I held onto him the whole time, not letting go. I wouldn’t let go. I would hold onto him for as long as he needed me to.

* * *

By the timewe got home from Mathew’s house, it was past ten, and I hadn’t stopped smiling.

We were there for both lunch and dinner, with Mathew making most of the meals, though I was able to help.

Everyone tended to stay out the way, giving Mathew and me time to bond, and it was one of the best days of my life.

I had a family again.

I wasn’t alone anymore, and it was all because Logan didn’t give up on his search for me.

I looked across the room to take in his profile. He was in the middle of taking off his sweater and shoes, his eyes on me the entire time.

“What?” I asked, when a strange look passed over his face.

“You seem happy today.”

I walked over to him, and his gaze, which once had made me feel awkward, now made me feel powerful. When I was close enough, I wrapped my arms tightly around his neck and pulled him down to me.

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