Page 108 of The Mistletoe Mix-up

“You don’t care about that kind of thing,” Wren said, suspicions swirling through her. “Why didn’t you want us to come see you?”

Her father’s face turned beet red, and he muttered, “Because I had a date.”

Now Wren had heard everything. “You had a date to the winter games? Who is she?”

“I’m not ready to talk about it yet,” he said, trying to close the door on her, but she stuck her hand out, stopping him. “We’re just taking things slow.”

Wren laughed. “I want to meet her.”

“You’ll meet her in due time.”

“No, I’m gonna walk out there and tell everybody that you are dating someone unless you tell me who she is.”

Robert scowled at her. “If I tell you, you’ll keep your trap shut?”

“Yes, I will.”

“Fine. Margot Jenkins.”

“Miss Jenkins.” Wren mulled the name over before everything clicked into place. “My fifth-grade teacher?”

“Yes.”

“You are dating Miss Jenkins?”

“Yes,” he sighed. “I am dating Margot Jenkins. What?”

Shock rushed through her as she tried to picture her burly dad and the plump, sweet Miss Jenkins getting it on. “How long?”

“Six months or so.”

Wren’s mouth flopped open and closed several times before she blurted out, “You called her an uptight California interloper.”

“That was back then,” Robert said calmly. “Woman makes a mean pot of chili.”

“Oh my God. Six months?! That’s a long time, especially—” He gave her a dark look. “Especially for someone who is getting on in years,” she finished.

Robert laughed. “Don’t say anything. She’s got grown children, too, and we haven’t quite figured out what we are going to do.”

“Are you talking about living together?” she asked.

“I don’t know what we’re talking about. All I do know is that I’m not lonely anymore, and she makes me laugh, and we have a lot of fun together. I just want to be happy.”

“Me, too. I want you to be happy, too, because you deserve it,” Wren said and kissed his cheek. You really were a good dad. You had a few hit-or-miss moments, but I’m glad you stuck around.”

“Me, too, or you’d have been raised by your Uncle Floyd.”

“Who is Uncle Floyd?”

“You don’t wanna know,” Robert said as he made a move toward the door. “Come on out when you’re ready, but just remember you need to start living your life for you and not using all these excuses to hold yourself back.”

“Thanks, Dad.”

He exited the bathroom, and she stared at herself in the mirror for several seconds before holding her ring finger up, imagining the heavy weight of a band on it. It didn’t terrify her. It didn’t make her wanna run in the other direction as long as Sam was the one she would be marrying. If her dad could move on, even if it had taken him a little bit of time, maybe she could, too.

Wren stepped out of the bathroom, and when she came back into the living room, everyone was standing except for Sam, who was bent down on one knee. In his hand was a ring box, open to reveal a glittering diamond ring.

“What the hell?” she said.