“You owe me nothing,” I said as tears traced my cheeks. “I would do anything for you.”
“I know you would,ma chérie.”
“Who told the police that he was going to be here?” Mama asked, joining us. “Kathryn and I told no one.”
“She told me,” an elderly gentleman said as he slowly entered the parlor.
My breath caught as I pulled away from Papa. “Austen.”
Mama and Papa turned toward the door and stared at a man who was older than both of them—at least, in this path.
But he didn’t look at my parents. He only had eyes for me.
“I’ve waited fifty years for this moment, Kate,” he said with a smile, the wrinkles around his eyes softening and making him look more like his younger self. “I’ve always wanted to be your knight in shining armor.”
With a glad cry, I crossed the room and embraced Austen.
His arms tightened around me, and for a split second, I forgot that he was seventy-five years old. No matter how old Austen was, I fit perfectly into his embrace.
A sound behind me reminded me that my parents werewatching—and they’d never met Austen before. It was strange to leave his arms and turn to face them.
They were both smiling as I said, “Mama and Papa, this is Austen.”
I looked up at him, loving that his eyes had not changed. They were filled with affection for me—with just a hint of his former angst.
“Austen, these are my parents, Lucas and Grace Voland.”
“It’s an honor to meet you, Austen,” Mama said as she approached and took his hand. Her eyes filled with tears. “Thank you. For everything.”
“It’s my pleasure,” he said.
Papa shook his hand next. “We owe you everything. Not only for today, but for every day you’ve been by Kathryn’s side.”
Austen’s gray hair and wrinkles were a reminder of his age, but when he smiled at me, I saw his youth. “I would like to say it has been easy, but I would be lying.”
Mama and Papa laughed, and I gave Austen a look, though I couldn’t help but laugh, as well.
“I would deny it,” I said, “but no one would believe me.”
Austen’s smile faded, and he grew serious as he regarded me. “It hasn’t been easy, Kate, but it has been the greatest honor of my life.” He turned to my papa then and said, “I have been waiting fifty years for something else.”
“Oh?” Papa asked with a curious frown. “What is that?”
“I know this is all very strange,” Austen said, “but seven days from now, I will be celebrating my fiftieth wedding anniversary.”
It was my turn to frown at his words.
“Kate and I weren’t given a choice by her other father,” Austen said, “but I’ve always wanted to ask for your blessing to marry your daughter.”
My mouth parted as Mama reached out and took my hand.
“I married her anyway,” Austen said with a mischievous smile, “but I promised her that when the day came, I would officially ask for your blessing.”
“You married me?” I asked him.
He turned back to me and nodded. “Nothing could have kept me from it.”
“At St. John’s?” I asked, my heart warming.
