This is her life, her father, and she needs to decide if she wants that relationship or not. I won’t force her, not when he’s never once chosen to be a part of her life. Now, she will have to choose whether or not to have a relationship with a man who never wanted her.
I have to have some hope that even the villain in our story has a chance at a happily ever after.
“Lark.” I struggle to pull her away from me, tears drying on her face as she meets my eyes. “There is something very important we need to discuss.”
“You want me to try,” she whispers.
Licking my lips, I turn toward her, trying to come up with every possible scenario, yet my mind blanks as she looks at me with those beautiful brown eyes. “I’m not going to keep you from him.”
“But if you don’t, then he has a claim on me,” she counters.
“Oh, Lark, he was always your father, even if he didn’t sign that slip of paper.” I blow out an uncomfortable breath. “Kenzie will help us navigate this situation, but, Lark, you are going to have to decide if you want to try to have a relationship with him.”
“I don’t know,” she whispers, sinking down into the couch, resting her head against my shoulder.
I fold into her, stealing just as much strength from her as she is from me. “What are you thinking?” I ask her in a whisper.
“He didn’t want me.” Those words… She speaks them as though she isn’t twelve, as though she has seen the hurt this world offers and she’s conquered it. She speaks as though she is an observer of life and understands it on a level none of us could.
“Oh, honey,” I choke out. I want to give her the truth, the ugly truth he spoke to me on that fateful day. But looking back, I realize an angry teenager, just as terrified as I was, spoke those words. “You know, when I first saw that pregnancy test, I didn’t know what to do. I didn’t know how to react. I felt so many things all at once, many of which I still can’t put into words today. The biggest one was fear. I wasn’t expecting you, but life knew I needed you. I understood that faster than your father. I think he didn’t know how to feel thirteen years ago, and just like me, he reacted in fear.”
“But you wanted me?”
“With every breath of my being,” I answer. “I don’t think your father knew how much he needed you, and he spoke out of fear.”
“Do you think he wants me now?” This time, the question is full of curiosity.
“I think he’s unsure.” I grab her hands in mine. “His parents aren’t kind people. They prefer to show the world a mask, one of propriety and kindness, while behind closed doors, they rule with an iron fist. I think your father acted without thought.”
“Because he was afraid,” she finishes for me.
“Likely.” I squeeze her to my chest. “I don’t know if giving him a chance is the right or wrong choice. I do know that sometimes people deserve a second chance because no one gave them a first one.”
“You don’t think his parents gave him a chance?”
“I think his actions come from a place of wanting to do right by his parents.”
She hums under her breath. “Is Arlo your second chance?”
Surprised, I freeze, but the smile that stretches across my face at the mere thought of the man is full of possibilities and potential love.
“I think he is,” I reply.
Then this devious human says, “Would you ever give Christian a second chance?”
“Your father?” I question, unsure where she is going with this.
“If you end up with Arlo, you can never be with Christian.” She turns to face me, and I can’t help but feel trapped by her inquisitive gaze.
“I don’t think I could ever be romantically involved with Christian again.” I speak slowly enough that I hope she can understand what I’m saying.
“Okay. I’m ready to negotiate.” Her smile rearranges the freckles on her face.
“I didn’t realize we were negotiating.” I haven’t even had time for a shower yet. How in the world am I now negotiating with a preteen?
I should have had more coffee for this.
“You taught me that every decision holds the potential for a negotiation.” She juts her little chin forward and speaks with more confidence than I can accomplish at thirty.
