“Morning, kiddo.”
She whirled around, warmth instantly touching the tension in her chest. Dad stood at the bottom of the steps, wearing jeans and his dark leather winter coat. “Guess I shouldn’t be surprised you’re here this morning,” she mused, even though Dad never showed up unannounced. Or hardly ever.
He gave his comforting smile and gestured at the road behind him. “Thought I could walk you to work this morning.”
“Sure, I’d love that.” She carefully headed down the porch steps and fell into step next to him.
The sunny day was most welcome, considering lately gray winter skies had taken over. The heat against her face was in full contrast to the crisp air biting her cheeks.
She grabbed her chunky mittens from her pockets and slid into them as Dad asked, “Is today a better day than yesterday?”
She shrugged, looking down at the sidewalk, as they passed by the biggest oak tree in the neighborhood. “I’m not sure what I am today other than happy that everyone knows.” That was the simple answer.
Dad laughed softly. “That was a grand way to tell everyone. Very much your style.”
She gave him a sidelong glance, staring into the sparkling pride in his eyes, and she laughed too. “I suppose you’re right. I can’t do anything small, can I?”
“Nope,” Dad said.
She took note of her father’s easy gait, both hands shoved into his pockets. It didn’t add up. “Okay, what gives. Why are you not surprised about me and Rhett?”
“Well,” he said, staring out in front of him to the snow-covered sidewalk before addressing her again. “We all knew something was up a long time ago. I’m a bit surprised you two didn’t happen sooner, if I’m being honest.”
While she’d had her very loving grandmother when growing up, who had been the nurturing maternal figure Kinsley needed, she and her father had always had this easy way of talking. He’d been the solid rock she could depend on. The one who gave her the talks about periods and sex and all the embarrassing stuff that no kid wanted to hear their parents talk about. From those talks, she knew what that tight set of his jawline meant. “But you don’t approve?”
“Whether I approve or not really isn’t for me to say,” Dad replied after a long moment of deep consideration. “You’re having Rhett’s child. He’s always been a part of the family; now he’s simply more so.”
Kinsley let that sink in for in a minute. If she boiled it down to simple terms, that’s all this really was. Rhett had always been there for as long as she could remember. He, Boone, and Asher had been inseparable since their first day of school. But if she were honest with herself, her heart hurt knowing that all they’d ever be were co-parents, only involved in each other’s lives because of their child. She wanted more, but those were her emotions talking. She knew what she deserved, and she knew that Rhett couldn’t give it to her. “I suppose you’re right,” she said with a smile that seemed more genuine than anything she’d felt since the motorcycle gang had sauntered into her bar. “We just gotta take this one day at a time.”
“That’s right, kiddo.” Dad nudged her shoulder. “You’ve got this handled.”
She slid her arm through his. “Did you have any doubt?”
“Never,” he said with a firm shake of his head. “You’re my girl.”
Silence and a whole lot of love drifted between them as they walked along her quiet neighborhood and took the next left, which led them toward downtown. When they hit Main Street, Dad stopped walking and turned to face her. “The traditional way of life isn’t always the right way,” he said. He must have overheard her conversation with the girls last night in her bedroom. “I did things right. I married your mother young. Provided for her. And that, as you know, didn’t have a great ending.”
Kinsley heart somersaulted in her chest. “You were an amazing father.”
He gave her a small smile that hinted at a long life filled with his own worries and pain. “Thank you for that, Kinsley.” That smile faded as he went on. “All I’m saying is, you’re going to be an incredible mother. And as for Rhett, it might take him a bit, but he’ll either get this right or he won’t, but that’s his situation to deal with, not yours.” Dad took her in his arms and hugged her tight. “I don’t need to remind you what you’re worth, right?”
He’d always said the same thing to her through every heartbreak. There’s no one in the world like you, Kinsley. Don’t ever forget that. Any man you accept into your life needs to realize how lucky he is. You should never need to remind him of that.
She leaned her cheek against the comforting warmth of his chest. “I remember.”
“Good.” He placed a kiss on her forehead then she laced her arm with his again, and they continued on toward Main Street. “By the way, in case I didn’t say it last night, you’ve made me very happy. A grandfather. What a beautiful thing.”
“You’ll be a good one too.”
He beamed as he patted her hand against his arm.
She hated the world for how it treated her father. It was the very same reason she felt nothing toward her mother. Dad never deserved the hardships her mother had hand-delivered to him. He deserved love and happiness. And she hoped one day a woman saw her dad how she viewed him. The goodness and kindness in him. How much he sacrificed to make others happy.
When they finally turned onto Main Street, she found the town already busy, with most of the shops open and tourists walking along the treelined street, taking in the eclectic shops. Vintage streetlights hugged the road, with benches and flowers adding to the picturesque scene, and there was no garbage littering the streets. The town kept good care of their downtown. Everything was freshly painted, and the shop signs were all a mix of cute and unique. Small towns had their quirks, but Stoney Creek had oodles of charm. When they got closer to Peyton’s lingerie shop, Kinsley spotted Boone leaning against her bar’s door, scrolling through his phone.
Dad must’ve seen him too and chuckled. “I guess I wasn’t the only one who couldn’t sleep much last night.”
Kinsley’s heart swelled as they passed Black Cat’s Cauldron. “Boone,” she called.