‘Yes, Dad,’ she agreed, not wanting to throw even the tiniest spanner into the harmony that had been established between her parents. Privately, she reserved the opinion that no one had the right to decide for anyone else what was ‘for their own good’.
Her father coughed. ‘Well, almost always.’ He gave her an intent look. ‘Do you love David, Caitlin?’ he asked quietly.
‘Bits and pieces,’ she answered with a rueful smile.
He nodded his head sagely. ‘I understand.’ He pulled himself erect and walked towards his daughter, put his hand gently on her shoulder. ‘Don’t take any notice of what anyone else says, Caitlin. Do what your heart tells you is right.’
‘I try to, Dad.’
‘I want you to be happy.’
‘I know that.’
‘There’s only one thing to remember, Caitlin. “To thine own self be true”.’
She put her arms around his shoulders and hugged him.
He grumped into his throat. ‘That’s about as severe as I can get, Caitlin.’
‘You’re the most wonderful dad in the whole world.’
‘I have my failings.’
‘We all do.’
‘I’ve tried hard.’
Tears were shimmering in Caitlin’s eyes. ‘You don’t have any failings for me, Dad,’ she looked up at him. ‘Why are people the way they are?’
‘I don’t know, Caitlin.’
‘There’s nothing I can do...’
‘Yes, there is.’
‘What is it, Dad?’
‘Forgive them, Caitlin. All of them. They know not what they do.’
‘Thanks for being so stern with me, Dad.’ She kissed his cheek.
He smiled, loving her as he always had. ‘God bless, Caitlin, and good luck with your David.’
He left to return to her mother. Caitlin followed him out of the study, biting her lip to hold back the floodgates of affection that were welling in her eyes for her father. He was a wonderful man.
She ran straight into David as she was crossing the foyer to the lounge-room.
‘What’s wrong with you?’ he asked.
‘Nothing!’
Caitlin quickly blinked back her tears. David looked stern, angry and deadly serious. Something had upset him. Had Michelle been stirring up trouble behind Caitlin’s back? After everything David had done for the family today, it would be so dreadfully unfair if she had.
‘There’s one question you need to answer, Caitlin,’ he clipped out, his eyes as hard as slate.
Her heart fluttered in alarm. Her nerve-endings picked up the different nuances in the tension flowing from him. This was not David, the lover. This was David, the fighter. Something very important was on the line for him.
‘What is it, David?’