He turns to walk away, but I follow him.
“Dad, come on. You have to give him a chance.”
“I don’t have to do anything.” His steps grow faster.
“Are you really going to cut me off as your daughter until I break up with him?"
“Yes.”
I stop.
He really said yes.
He spins around to face me.
“He’s not good for you. I raised you better than this. That family is poisonous."
“You’ve never had a problem with Grace or Gavin or even Wren.”
I’m met with silence.
“Dad, he’s not the same person he was.”
He shakes his head, the disappointment in his eyes clear as day. “I’m not changing my mind.”
Then he storms off again toward the station.
“Dad,” I call out as he keeps walking. “Dad!”
He turns the corner, and I suck in a breath.
I’m about to break into tears, but the music from Hudson’s Bar grows louder.
There are too many people around right now, but that doesn't really matter to me.
I turn for the bakery, marching inside to find the one person I know will make me feel better.
He’s helping two little girls paint sugar cookies, but when he sees me, he stands.
“What’s wrong?” he asks.
The two girls are happily drenching their cookies in sprinkles now.
“Nothing,” I say and join them. “Nothing.”
Because how can something be wrong when the one thing I’ve always wanted, someone to believe in me and believe in this place, is standing right in front of me?
Dutton Richford is everything I’ve been looking for.
I kneel next to him at the table, and he leans over to kiss my temple.
“Who thinks we should break the rules and decorate one more cookie each?” he asks.
I chuckle and the girls cheer.
Yes, he’s perfect.
And he’smine.
