I look away.
Daddy’s not having it. “Look at me, Melody.”
I turn my gaze back to his because I have no choice.
“Do you want to get a teaching position on the mainland?”
I swallow. “No,” I whisper.
“Then why are you planning to do that, and why didn’t you talk to me about it?”
I shrug. “It’s what people do.”
He chuckles again, but not making fun of me. “Since when do either of us do ‘what people do’?”
I blink at him, not sure how to respond.
“We’ve been living together for two years. You’ve been in graduate school that entire time. Have I ever once suggested you needed to get a job the moment you graduated?”
“No, Sir.”
“Then where did you get that idea?”
I’m still confused about why this topic is the one he’s homed in on of all the things I listed as bothering me. I shrug.
He strokes my cheek. “I kind of thought you might want to write a book. You’ve mentioned that several times over the years.”
My eyes widen. “I do want to write a book.”
He narrows his gaze. “Then why are you planning to get a teaching job?”
“I figured I would have to do both. I’ve been living rent free in your home for two years. You take care of everything. I should contribute. It’s my turn to bring in an income. If I bury myself in my office writing a book, I’ll be lucky if I see any income for several years, if ever.”
He frowns and leans closer, tugging my bouncy seat so it’s between his legs now. “We seem to have had a breakdown in communication, baby girl. Not only have I never once cared if you got a job after you graduated, but I honestly don’t really think it’s the right thing to do.”
“Why’s that, Daddy?” I’m so confused.
“It’s not your passion. I’d rather see you doing something you love. I don’t give a shit about you having an income. I love you. We’re a unit. If I thought you were passionate about teaching, I would support you, but I don’t want you doing something you don’t even care for just because you think you should.”
“Oh.”
He smiles and shakes his head. “I prefer when you’re at home anyway. I like having you close by.”
“But when we go back to the mainland, you won’t be there anyway. You’ll be at the office, and I’ll be home or at work.”
“What if I started working from home fulltime?” His eyes are dancing now.
My mouth falls open. “You could do that?”
“Sure. Already spoke to my boss. He thinks I got more done working from home this summer than when I’m in the office where people constantly pull me into meetings.”
I smile. “I like that.”
“Me too. Now, back to you. Wouldn’t you rather stay home with me and work on the next great novel than get a job teaching?”
I smile. “Yes, Daddy.” I feel lighter.
“Then that’s settled. I think we proved this summer that we enjoy each other’s company and never tire of being together. Didn’t we?”
