“That’s a beautiful thought.”
I clenched my jaw trying to keep the sob in my throat from overflowing. When I managed to tamper it down, I replied, “My late mother, Irina, used t-to say t-that.”
Sympathy radiated in her eyes. “I’m so sorry.”
“T-Thank you.”
“And just who is this with his arms around my wife?” Sarah’s father demanded.
Grace tittered nervously. “After all these years, are you still jealous when a young, handsome man gives me attention?”
To my surprise, Hollis smiled. “Of course, I am.”
Sarah swiped her eyes. “Dad, this is my friend, Maksim.”
“Did she say fiance'?” Hollis asked me.
Fucking hell. The sadness overtaking me got blown away with his words, only to be replaced with horror. “Uh, no, sir. I’m just Sarah’s friend,” I quickly replied.
He eyed me up and down. “Pity. You’re a strong, strapping young man. The kind she needs.”
“Dad,” Sarah said, her eyes wide with horror.
“What? Can’t a father want his daughter to be happy?”
“Yes, but–”
After eyeing me again, Hollis wrinkled his nose. Motioning to his neck, he said, “You could do without all that coloring on you.”
While I merely chuckled, Sarah argued, “Dad, there’s nothing wrong with Maksim’s tattoos.”
“It makes him look like a gangster.”
A strangled noise came from the back of my throat while Sarah bit down on her lip to keep from laughing. Grace patted the front of Hollis’s shirt. “I kinda like them.”
“Gracie, what’s gotten into you?” Hollis teased.
She giggled. “I don’t know. I just can’t seem to help myself tonight.”
Hollis started to bypass me to go in the living room. Since I didn’t want him to see the disaster inside, I stepped in front of him, blocking his view. “It was nice t-to meet you. Sarah has told me so much about you.”
“I’m glad to hear that. She talks a lot about you.”
As Sarah’s face fell, I smiled at Hollis. “You and your wife d-did an amazing job raising her. She’s smart, kind, and successful. Her p-patients and their parents adore her. I know you’re very p-proud of her.”
A broad smile curved on Hollis’s lips. “She is the sunshine of my life. She always has been and always will. My beautiful, little girl.”
“Thank you, Daddy,” Sarah said, her voice overwhelmed with emotion. I wanted to go over to her and draw her into my arms. To do anything that might give her some comfort after this shit-show of a night. But I was too afraid to leave my spot and have Hollis see the living room.
“Hollis, didn’t you say you were hungry?” Grace asked.
His silver brows show up. “I did?”
She nodded. “Back in the bedroom, you said you wanted some of the leftover roast.”
“Right. I did say that.”
“I’ll go heat you up some.” Glancing between me and Sarah and me, she asked, “Would you two like some?”
