Did he actually?
I look back down at the envelope, fingers tightening slightly around the edge. Dad must notice the way my eyes start to sting, because he stands and gives my shoulder a gentle squeeze. “Get some good sleep, okay? I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Yeah,” I murmur.
He turns toward the door.
“Dad?”
He pauses and looks back at me. “Yeah?”
I hesitate, my grip tightening around the envelope as I try to find the right words. “Do you ever wish you never met Mom?”
His brows pull together slightly. “What do you mean, honey?”
I swallow. “I mean… if you never met her, you wouldn’t have to miss her. Or feel hurt.”
For a second, he just looks at me. Then he walks back over and sits down beside me on the bed.
“I would fall in love with your mom in every lifetime,” he says quietly. “Even if I had to lose her in every single one.”
My chest tightens, my vision blurring as he continues.
“I miss your mom every day. Each morning I wake up, I reach to the other side of the bed, hoping she’s there. And each time, I have to remember she’s not.”
A tear slips down my cheek.
“But then I come downstairs,” he says softly, “and I look at you… and see parts of her. And when I look at you and Noah, I know that every moment I have to miss her is worth it.”
His hand comes up, brushing gently over my cheek.
“It was worth loving her,” he continues. “For all the time I had with her. It was all worth it.”
I let out a shaky breath.
“Losing people you love… or getting hurt by them, that’s part of life,” he says. “But some people are just worth the risk.”
I nod, even though I can barely see through the tears.
“I think I can guess who this is about,” he adds gently.
I don’t trust my voice, so I just nod again.
“You don’t have to figure everything out right now, honey,” he says. “But I know that he cares about you.”
That makes something in my chest ache in a completely different way. More tears spill over, and before I can stop myself, I lean into him. He wraps his arms around my shoulder, holding me tight. Then he presses a soft kiss to the top of my head.
He pulls back slightly, giving me a warm smile. “I’m so proud of the woman you are.”
I lean against his shoulder. “Love you Dad.”
“Love you too, honey.” He stands up and presses one last kiss against the top of my head. “You know I’m here if you need anything.”
I nod. “Thank you.”
“Goodnight, Mads.”
“Night, Dad.”
