Page 75

“Yes.”

Dad nodded slowly. “Then help me understand. Because I’m trying here.”

I opened my mouth and immediately realized how difficult it was to explain. How did you explain certainty? How did you explain the feeling of meeting someone and immediately knowing they belonged in your life?

“I don’t know,” I admitted. “Everything just feels easy with him.”

Dad listened quietly.

“I’ve never had to pretend with him. I’ve never felt judged by him. I’ve never wondered whether he actually cared about me.”

“That’s a good foundation for a relationship.”

“It is.”

“But it isn’t a reason to get married after eight weeks.”

I sighed. “I knew you were going to say that.”

“Because deep down you know it’s true.”

Despite myself, I smiled a little.

Dad’s expression grew more serious.

“Look, I don’t dislike Richard.”

That surprised me.

“You don’t?”

“No. I actually like him. He seems smart. Driven.”

Some of the tension left my shoulders.

Then he continued. “But I think you two are moving way too fast.”

I looked down at my hands.

“Maybe.”

“Maybe?”

“Okay, probably,” I sighed.

His expression softened. He folded his hands together on the table.

“Let me ask you something.”

“Okay.”

“How much of this is really Richard, and how much of this is the timing?”

I frowned.

“What do you mean?”

“His parents died less than two months ago, sweetheart.”