Page 504 of The Parkers' Handsome Holiday
Tinsely chewed the inside of her cheek. “I don’t feel grateful to her for exposing us.”
“That’s not what I meant. All I’m saying is she’s your best friend, and I know you miss her. People make mistakes, Tinsely. She didn’t cause any harm. How long will you hold this against her for?”
Tinsely eyed Aleena from across the lobby before heaving a dramatic sigh. “Fine.”
I grinned. “Proud of you.”
“Uh huh,” she grumbled. Despite her sour attitude, she wandered away from me and across the lobby. While I watched, she caught up with Aleena, and the two women moved to one of the giant Christmas trees to stand off to the side while they chatted. A few minutes passed, and they hugged and didn’t let go.
I found myself smiling.
Well done, Tinsel.
“You look happy.” My father stepped up beside me.
“Dad, when did you get here?”
“About an hour ago,” he said. “I got distracted and had to get security in here to remove some riffraff.”
“Oh?”
He gave me a side-eyed knowing smile. “Humphrey and his son showed up thinking they were still welcome here. I made sure to reinforce your decision that they are no longer in favor with the Bamfords professionally or personally.”
“How’d they take it?”
“Humphrey was angry with me until he and his son were kicked out. Last I heard, they were yelling at each other as they got in their car and drove off.”
I nodded. “Good.”
My father spied Tinsely by the tree and tipped his chin in her direction. “I saw the pair of you walk in together. She looks happy, too. Things are going well, I assume?”
I’d been in touch with my dad over the week and seen him in passing in the office. He knew Tinsely and I had worked things out and decided to give our relationship a real shot, but I hadn’t had a chance to tell him the details.
“She’s going to move into the estate with me when the time comes,” I said.
“Is that so?”
“It is,” I said, watching my woman laugh with her friend and make amends. “I think… I think she’s the one, Dad.”
He put a hand over my shoulder and squeezed. “I think you might be right. I’m proud of you, son. Going after what you want isn’t easy, especially when what you want is a beautiful young woman capable of crushing your heart in a matter of seconds.”
I chuckled. “You could say that again. I’m glad she didn’t. She’s… she’s everything. And Dad?”
“Yes?”
“She would have slipped through my fingers if not for you.”
“Nonsense, you’d have figured it out in time.”
“Maybe, maybe not. Without you I don’t think I’d have gotten the girl, or the career, the life, the home, the memories. I’m grateful for you, and for what it’s worth, I hope you know I’m proud of you, too.”
My father smiled up at me, his hazel eyes brighter and glassier than usual. His grip on my shoulder tightened. “Merry Christmas, Chadwick.”
“Merry Christmas, Dad.”
CHAPTER 39
TINSELY
