Page 31 of Paying Daddy's Debt Collector

Greenway is one of the most prestigious preparatory schools in the country, and I refuse to settle for anything less for my girl, Camille.

“Didn’t I tell you this was the right call? She’s only in first grade and she’s already at the top of her class,” I say as I take Cassidy by the arm and walk with her to the auditorium.

“I know you’re right. It’s just that this is so expensive and there’s so much academic pressure.”

“Our kids are going to have the best. I can afford it and I will spare no expense for them.”

Who would have thought something like that would ever come out of my mouth? In less than a decade, everything has changed. Birthday parties, Christmas trees, and school plays are some of the biggest highlights of the year for me now. Best of all, I still have the most beautiful little girl in the world to share it with me.

“I want to thank you, Daddy,” Cassidy says as we find two seats in the front row.

“For what, baby girl? What did I do?”

“I know it was hard for you to move into the manager position at the casino. Let’s face it, you’re not exactly a nine-to-five, clock-punching man. But, being free to come to things like this is everything. I remember all those nights when you had to slip out of bed and creep out of the house because duty called and you didn’t want to wake us. I’m so happy that’s all over now.”

“I told you, baby, anything for you.”

“Still, thank you, Daddy. This means so much to Camille.”

The lights dim, and the performing arts instructor appears center stage to announce the annual winter program. The audience of proud parents applauds, and I start recording. As the curtain opens, I see my sweet daughter in a white gown with her hair done up in a bun.

She and the other children turn around to show off the wings they made out of feathers and wire. Nothing could be more fitting than for my baby to be playing an angel. She’s so much like her mother, always rescuing bees and caring for her little brother. She even dotes over me like somehow it’s her job to make sure I always have a smile on my face.

I can’t stop grinning as I watch my child sing every line of the songs she’s been rehearsing endlessly for the past two weeks. That might just be the one thing she’s gotten from me. Her tenacity.

When the show is over, we wait for Camille to say goodbye to her friends. She rushes over and leaps into my arms.

“Did you like it, Daddy? Did I do a good job?” she shouts.

“I loved it and you were amazing!”

I set her down and she takes my hand in her right hand and Cassidy’s in her left. She chatters away about the silly things that happened backstage and how happy she is that vacation is finally here.

As I listen, my mind drifts off to my life before this. I had no idea how empty it was. I thought making boatloads of money was all that mattered. Now, I realize that not having a family to share that wealth with makes it pretty worthless.

We arrive home and Cassidy goes upstairs to check on our baby, Connor. Camille and I sit beneath the Christmas tree and I read her a bedtime story. As I close the book, she says, “Tell me again about how you met Mommy.”

“No. You don’t really want to hear that story again, do you?”

“I do, I do.”

“Well, let’s see. When I first saw your mommy, she was standing alone in the dark under a streetlight. She found a stray kitten and was petting it. When I looked at her, I thought she was the most beautiful girl I had ever laid eyes on. When she looked back at me, I knew it was true. She was so sweet and so perfect that I didn’t want to spend a single day without her so I brought her here, pretending I needed someone to take care of my dogs, but it was really just so I could get close to her.”

“Tell me about the dogs again….”

“I had two big dogs named Thor and Hercules. They were supposed to become mean watchdogs, but once they met your mother, they were like goofy little puppies again. They wouldn’t harm a fly or their new best friend—your mother’s stray kitten.”

“That’s so nice. I’m happy they became good dogs and not mean dogs. Mommy did a good job.”

“Yes, she did. She has a way of bringing out the best in us mean, old things.”

“Did you love her as soon as you saw her?”

“I did. She stole my heart the minute she looked into my eyes for the very first time.”

“That’s so sweet, Daddy. And then you got married. Then you had me, then Connor and we all lived happily ever after.”

I hug her and ask, “If you already know how the story ends, why did you want me to tell it to you again?”

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