Todd
I kept missing her everywhere in the house. I went down to the garage they sent me back upstairs, I went to her mom she sent me elsewhere. I finally found her with her dad who for the first time didn’t have a problem passing her off to me. “Someone’s looking for you” is all he said before turning her around.
Her face looked like she’d been crying and my gut started to hurt as I approached her. “What’s the matter? Why are you crying?” She just shook her head and wrapped her arms around me with her head on my chest. I looked over her head at her dad. We’d had a long talk not too long ago sure, but this is still his daughter and well…
He didn’t say anything just looked at the two of us and with a long sigh dropped back into his chair. “Take her out in the backyard for some fresh air kid, she’ll be okay.”
“Yes sir!”
I could feel the change in the air. There was no fanfare, no lead-up to it. But I got the feeling that he’d finally accepted me. As happy as I was about that turn of events, I was even more interested in what was going on with my girl.
I waited until we were outside in the backyard where I lead her to the swing and sat down beside her. It was full dark now and quiet enough to hear the crickets in the grass and off in the distance the call of a bullfrog.
“Why were you so upset baby? Did something happen?”
“No, nothing happened. I just thought about what you said about daddy and I realized that you’re right. I don’t know what happened to me, I’ve just been so afraid.”
“Afraid of what?”
“I really thought that daddy was standing in our way. I thought that if he didn’t let me leave for college this time that you’d stop liking me, that maybe you’d move on, find someone else. I was blaming him so much I forgot all the things we used to do together.”
“Before we met, I used to do everything with daddy. He’d pick me up from school sometimes and take me to the shop while mommy was home with the twins. He taught me all about tools.” She smiled with the memory.
“On the weekends we’d spend hours in the garage ‘working’, he was so patient with me, that’s the thing I remember most. My daddy never yelled at me, or told me to go away. Even when I knew he was busy working on something important, he acted as though he couldn’t do it without my help.”
“He must’ve been so sad to lose that, but I never gave it a second thought. From the day we met I became yours. It’s almost like I just pushed daddy to the side, oh Todd.” She broke down and I took her back into my arms and held her.
I too never thought about the fact that we’d both sort of become consumed with each other. I was never as close to my parents as she is with her dad, I don’t think many people are. It’s not like there was a rift between my parents and I, just that with work and other responsibilities they didn’t have that kind of time to spend with their only son.
I wasn’t neglected or anything, but I’ve never seen a more hands-on father than Colton Lyon. And what she just described I’ve seen in other ways, that bond of love between the two of them. When you think about it-it is kinda sad.
“It’s not your fault alone baby. I’ve been selfish too. I didn’t realize what it meant when I was taking your every free moment away from them.” It’s true. Even though miles separated us we still spent all our free time online with each other, until it’s time to go to bed.
“I’ll tell you what, why don’t you make it up to him? Why don’t you spend this weekend with your dad, just the two of you?”
“But Todd, it’s your first weekend back…”
“That’s why it’s perfect.” I cupped her cheek and looked into her eyes.
“You’ve spent the last seventeen years being his little girl. If things go our way you’ll be coming away with me and chances are you won’t ever be coming back here to live because you’ll be with me. Your dad knows that sweetie, he knows that one day you’ll leave home forever.”
That only seemed to make her cry harder and it was a good five minutes before she calmed down. “What will you do if I spend the day with daddy?”
“I’ll find something to do don’t worry about me.”
“Come on, I forgot to show you the guestroom and your stuff’s still in the truck. By the way are you going to let me drive your Ranger?”