“You didn’t even like having to go to school. You said it was too far,” Avaleigh reminded her.
“I know. But I didn’t have Boon at my side,” Angelle said.
“What happens if you get there and you want to come home?” Avaleigh asked.
“Then I come home.”
“What if you want to stay there?” Daniel asked.
“Then I’ll be happy, and you’ll be happy for me,” Angelle said, looking at both of them.
“I’m guessing you talked about this today,” Avaleigh said.
Angelle smiled, her happiness almost contagious. “We talked about everything. Everything!” she exclaimed. “I don’t know if I’ve ever talked so much in my life.”
Avaleigh walked over to her and hugged her. “Then I’m happy for you. So very happy, my girl.”
Angelle hugged her back, then looked at Daniel when Avaleigh let her go. “Daddy?”
“I’m happy for you, too,” Daniel said. “I just want to be able to see where you’re going be living, meet the people, see what your life is going to be like before you move in there forever.”
“Daddy, I’m not moving yet. I’m just going to see. I may like it, I may not. But I know I like him.”
Daniel walked over to Angelle and swept her up into a hug, actually lifting her feet off the ground as she laughed like she always used to when she was little and he’d do the same thing.
“So, it’s okay if I go for a visit?” she asked, still grinning when Daniel put her down.
“Of course, it is. You don’t have to ask permission,” Daniel said. “But I appreciate that you did.”
“When are you going?” Avaleigh asked.
“I don’t know. I mean, tomorrow, the next day. With Tempest, or Mrs. Lily taking us there, it’s only a matter of seconds — I think. That’s how it works, isn’t it?” Angelle asked.
“It is some strong magic either way,” Avaleigh said with a sage nod.
“I guess I’ll talk to Boon tomorrow and figure out when he wants to leave. I’m so excited,” she said, doing a little shimmy as she looked back at them and grinned again as she left the room.
Daniel stood where he’d been standing when he’d hugged Angelle, and simply watched the place he’d last seen her as she headed toward her room.
“You alright?” Avaleigh asked.
He shook his head. “I was wrong,” he said.
“About what?” Avaleigh asked.
“About trying to keep her home to keep you from having to let her go. It was me I was trying to protect. My little girl is leaving. She doesn’t need me anymore,” he said, turning to look at Avaleigh.
Avaleigh hurried right to his side and wrapped her arms around him. “It’s going to be okay.”
“I know. I do know that. But damn I’m not ready for this.”
“She’s twenty, Daniel. How long did you think we could keep her here?”
“Forty at least,” he said, trying to sound lighthearted.
Avaleigh laughed. “Look at it this way… we raised two very capable, very opinionated adults, who are finding their way, striking out on their own to build their lives. It’s something to be proud of.”
“Do you think they’d let us move in, too?” Daniel asked.
