Chapter Ten
Axel had been aroundJoey’s parents many times in the past few months.He liked Marshall.Yes, the man had shown him his shotgun collection, as well as his hunting knives, and he didn’t feel nervous.Not as nervous as he did right now.
There was a little panic.A little fear.
Alice had opened the door to him with a big smile.She pulled him into the house, kissed his cheek, and offered to make him coffee.He was thankful for the coffee.He had blown a lunchtime with Joey to be able to sneak to her parents’ house.Alice had told him Marshall was in his study.
He got to the doorway and knocked on the wooden door.
“Come in.”
Axel couldn’t believe how nervous he was, and his hands were clammy.He tried not to let it show, but he stepped across the threshold into Marshall’s study.He was sitting in the corner, reading a thick-looking book that seemed to be a murder-mystery novel.This wasn’t good.He couldn’t help but wonder if he had done this on purpose.Marhsall was trying to tell him he knew how to kill, and how to dispose of the bodies.
There were those nerves.It didn’t feel good.Not even for a second.
“Hey, son, what can I do for you?We didn’t arrange to meet or anything and I forgot, did I?”
“No, sir, nothing like that.”
Marshall frowned.“Are you okay?You’re not looking so good.”
Alice came in and brought the coffees.He thanked her, but he wanted her to stick around, only she immediately left.
Axel needed a lifeline.
“Are you wanting to tell me something?”Marshall asked.
“Actually, I’m wanting to ask you something and it’s about Joey,” he said.
He watched as Marshall tensed up.
“It’s nothing bad.At least, I don’t think it is anything bad, and you don’t have anything to worry about.”He was not handling this well.
He had never gone to a father’s house and asked for a daughter’s hand in marriage.He had gone to his Uncle Rick and told him he realized Joey was the love of his life, and he wanted both Joey and Adeline.He wanted to make this real.
He wanted to be Adeline’s father, and Joey’s husband.He wanted to be there for them.At first, his Uncle Rick had been shocked.More than shocked.Then, that shock had turned to joy, and his uncle had slapped him on the back and offered him congratulations, which he had thanked him for.
But they had also agreed that the only way to do this was for him to come and ask Marshall’s permission.It was old-fashioned.Right now, he was assuming Joey would even want to be married to him.He had never cared about his reputation, until this very freaking moment.Now he cared, and now it mattered.
“I ...I know I’ve not had a very good track record with women, and that to many fathers I might not be the most ideal person to have dating your daughter, but what I wanted to say to you is that I love your daughter.I love her more than anything in the world.I know it has only been a couple of months, but there is no one else I want.I want to wake up with her in the morning and go to bed with her at night.Throughout the day, I can’t stop thinking about her.I want to be a father to Adeline, and I want to be there for both of them.I’d love for Joey to have my children, and I want to settle down.I want to be with her.I love her so much.Her smile, and the way she nibbles her lip when she’s concentrating.Her love of coffee, and how it has to be the perfect drink.I love it all, and I love Adeline.She is a great freaking kid.She makes me laugh, and I just want to protect her and tell her that not all men are assholes.She’s amazing.”He looked toward Marshall.“But to do all of that, I need to know you’re happy with me taking care of your daughter, and your granddaughter.I will not hurt them.I know Joey and I will probably argue.I mean, we haven’t yet, but there is always something, right?”
Marshall nodded.“Yes, there is.”
“May I ask your daughter to marry me?”he asked.
There was silence.
He had a feeling this was going to be tough.After talking to his Uncle Rick, he got in touch with Ashley and asked what the best course of action would be—to ask Joey to marry him, and then go to her dad’s.Ashley had advised going to her father’s first, then going to Joey.
“You know, when I found out Joey was dating you, I wasn’t happy.I thought my daughter was making a giant mistake.I know about your reputation and what you’re like.I’ve met men like you over the years.”
This was where he told him no.Axel didn’t know what he was going to do.
“However, I’ve seen the way you are with Joey and Adeline.I’ve heard people talking, and you have shocked the whole town with the way you are with my girls.You’re a good man, and I’m assuming up until now, you’ve never known what it means to be in love, but that has all changed.You’re in love, and I will not get in the way of your and Joey’s happiness.You love my daughter, then you can be with her.No questions asked.”
Axel was in shock.
At first, it didn’t quite register what he had said, and when it did, he couldn’t hold back.He closed the distance between them and threw his arms around him.“You won’t regret this.I promise.You won’t regret it.”
