Chapter Thirty-Eight
Finn
Lexie opens her mouth, and I know I have to say more. I can’t let her say something she might regret – she has to know that this isn’t just a passing thing. It’s real. I have to make her see that.
“Lexie,” I say, but she cuts me off with a raised hand.
“Dad,” she says, and her voice is quieter than I expected. Calmer. She takes a deep breath and then begins to speak. “I need to admit something. I may have overreacted, just a little.”
I blink. Glancing at Candy, I can see her mouth dropping open.
“I really wasn’t happy about the two of you sneaking around behind my back,” Lexie continues. “But I can see that you weren’t doing it for long – just one date. I guess, when I think about it, it’s reasonable that you should try things out and see how you feel about each other before making it complicated by involving me. But… when that stupid artist tried to put everything online just to spite you, I fell for it. I got really mad. I’m sorry for some of the things I said.”
“Some of them?” I ask, with a tiny tweak to the corner of my mouth.
“Yes, some of them,” Lexie says, giving me a strong look and carrying on. “At the end of the day, I’m not thrilled about my best friend and my Dad getting together. It’s… weird, to say the least. But I shouldn’t have been so hard on both of you. We should have sat down and talked about it like adults, and… I guess I can see that you have strong feelings for each other.”
“What are you saying?” I ask, barely able to believe my own ears. “You’re… giving us your blessing?”
“Maybe not quite that strong,” Lexie says. “But I’m not going to stand in your way. You should have the chance to see where this goes. Dad, I’ve watched you live your whole life alone, looking after me. You’ve been a wonderful father. You deserve some happiness of your own.”
“Lexie, I’ve always been happy to be your Dad,” I say, unexpected emotion welling up behind my eyes. “Don’t ever think I wasn’t.”
“I know, but… it’s different, isn’t it? Being in love with someone. Having a partner.” Lexie takes a deep breath. “I can’t control who you fall in love with. You can’t even control that. So, I guess – yes, I guess I am giving you my blessing.”
Candy gives a cry of happiness, and both of us leap to our feet. Lexie can’t keep the smile from her face, even though I can see that she tries to. Within a moment I’m embracing Candy, holding her close against me, kissing the top of her head as her arms squeeze me tightly. We’re getting our chance, and I know we’ll make the most of it.
“Alright,” Lexie says, gathering some books from her desk. “That’s my cue. Since it would be way too weird for me to live with my Dad’s girlfriend, I’m moving in with the friend who’s been putting me up the last few days. And, Dad? You’re paying the rent.”
“Understood,” I say, immediately. Why argue, when I have everything I could have asked for?
“What about us?” Candy asks. “You… you don’t hate me?”
“I’ll see you in class,” Lexie says, pausing and squeezing Candy’s arm as she passes towards the door. “I am happy for you, Can-Can. Even if this wasn’t what I was picturing, I’m glad you’ve found a man who will treat you right.”
She nods at us once, takes a breath, and then steps outside, closing the door behind her and leaving us alone together.
“So, that’s it,” Candy says, looking up at me. “Everything worked out. And we…”
“We’re going to be together,” I say, looking down at her. In that moment, I know. I know it beyond a shadow of a doubt. I haven’t prepared anything, but it doesn’t matter. We can go to the jeweler’s right after and make it right. I have to take this moment before it passes. “Forever, if you’ll allow it. Candy, will you be my wife?”
“Isn’t it too sudden?” Candy asks though I see the way her face lights up, the love in her eyes.
“Yes,” I say. “But I don’t care. Is that a no?”
“It’s a yes,” Candy says, her voice so choked with emotion it comes out as a whisper. “Yes, Finn. Yes, I’ll be your wife. I can’t think of anything in the world I would want more.”
I bend my head and kiss her, long and full on the mouth, as she laughs and cries and I do the same, and I know nothing will ever come between us again.
Epilogue
Candy
“Hey,” Finn says, reaching out for me. “Come here, wife.”
I chuckle and step closer to him. Even though it’s been a year since he proposed, and six months since our wedding, I haven’t grown tired of hearing him say that. I don’t think I ever will.