“Youhave, Gabriella. You have.”
I should have pressed him right then about why he had chosen Chandler over me, as he had never given me a solid answer,but it was over with. It didn’t seem to matter now. Not when everything was falling apart. Chandler was gone now. My resentment toward him had no merit anymore, at least in terms of him taking the job I wanted.
“Now that Chandler is gone,” I said, trying not to choke on my words. “If we do get this figured out, if we do save the company, I can’t be in charge, Dad,” I said. I didn’t even know if it was a possibility anymore, or if he was still reluctant to let me be his successor for whatever reason, but I had to tell him.
He raised a surprised brow as he studied my face.
“I know he will need a replacement, but it can’t be me. As much as being CEO of your legacy has been all I’ve wanted. All I’ve worked for. I can’t do it.” I shook my head, and the words hurt me more than I expected them to. It was like watching a dream fly away.
He tilted his head curiously, waiting for me to continue. I took a deep breath, afraid to deliver the next words.
“I’m keeping the baby,” I whispered, my eyes filling with tears. “I can’t commit to the company when I have a baby to raise.”
He took a deep breath and gave a single nod as he sat back in his chair. I couldn’t read him. Was he angry? Sad? In shock? Whatever he was feeling, I was still glad the words were out. I had been wanting to tell him more about the baby ever since I knew I was going to continue with my journey of becoming amother, but since things were so tense, I hadn’t. But I needed my father.
“You’re keeping it…” he said, more of a statement than a question.
“Mhmm. And I know what you’re thinking. That I’m crazy and irresponsible and throwing my life away—”
“I’m not thinking that,” he interrupted.
“Y-you’re not?” I asked, surprised.
He shook his head and smiled, blowing out a breath through his lips. “I’m going to be a grandfather,” he said in quiet awe.
I laughed out loud, unable to hold it in.
“That’s right,” I said.
He grinned at me, excitement shining in his eyes. It filled my heart with so much joy, when it had been filled with so much dread over this moment.
“At least in all this mess, something good is coming out of it,” he said, looking at the piles of paperwork surrounding us. “An unexpected silver lining.”
I remembered the ultrasound photo in my purse and fished it out. I looked at it before turning to my father. “Do you want to see your grandbaby?”
His eyes widened and he nodded eagerly.
“I went to the doctor this morning…” I held out the photo.
His hand shook slightly as he took it and brought it closed to his face to get a better look.
“Wow,” he whispered. “That’s my grandbaby…”
He wiped a tear from his cheek and I choked on a happy sob.
“I heard the heartbeat and everything,” I said emotionally.
“And all is okay? All is good?” he asked, a hint of worry in his voice.
“Mhmm.” I nodded.
He let out a sigh of relief as he set the glossy photo on the table, amongst the headache of papers and numbers and accounts. It really was a silver lining in all this mess. I looked down at it fondly.
“You’re going to be a wonderful mother, Gabriella,” he said, reaching for my hand.
I hadn’t realized I was crying. “I’m going to try…”
“And Chandler?” he asked curiously.
