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“So, what you’re trying to say is that you’re happy here,” my father says, his eyes on me.
“Yes, Father. I’m very happy to be here.” I release a breath after I say the words.
“Good, good. You seem happy. I just wanted to confirm it.”
I frown at him, but he smiles.
“Well, as you said, it would be another story if you didn’t have your wife and child here. I’m not saying you would be miserable, but you would be alone. And son, that’s not a way to live.”
I nod because, yes, he’s right. There might be people who are happy on their own, but after meeting Camila and Ava, I can’t imagine my life without them.
“With that being said,” he begins and my eyes widen, anticipating what he’ll say next.
“I would like to formally step down as the head of Hacienda Carmen at the end of the month. Your mother and I have been talking about how we want to spend our time, and we’d like to travel three months each year, stay here in Chile during the summer, visit Gabo and Isabella for a month, and use the rest of our time to either stay home or travel some more. The point is, I don’t want to have any obligations tying me here.”
He eyes me warily. Perhaps in the past, the thought of taking over Hacienda Carmen would have sent me into a panic, but now I know I’m ready.
“That’s good, Father. I’m glad you have a plan. You both deserve to rest and enjoy yourselves,” I say sincerely.
For as long as I can remember, my father has worked very hard to keep our legacy afloat and thriving.
“Thank you,hijo. That means a lot.”
He gets up from his chair and makes his way to me. I stand as well, giving him a hug.
“I couldn’t be more proud of the man you have grown up to be. I’m thankful you’re my son.”
His voice breaks, and I can’t help the emotion that fills my eyes. I don’t think we’ve ever been this open with each other. He has always believed in tough love, but I’m glad he opened his heart to me.
“I love you. Thank you for pushing me to be a better man.”
“I love you too, son.”
He pats me twice on the back, breaking the hug and turning away to wipe his eyes. I smile but do the same.
“Okay, that’s enough feelings for today. Let’s go see what Ava is doing. I’m teaching her to play Ludo,” he says excitedly.
We make our way out of his office and into the living room, looking for our girls.
When we get there, Mother and Camila are laughing at something Camila is showing her on her phone, while Ava is coloring.
“What’s so funny?” I ask, settling on the arm of the sofa where Camila sits.
“Oh, I was just showing your mom this video,” Camila says as she wipes tears from her eyes.
When she passes her phone to me, I see two people trying to stop an umbrella from flying off a table in the middle of a rainstorm. Heavy wind and rain lash around, making the scene even more chaotic.
The kicker? Celine Dion’sTitanicsong plays in the background, adding a dramatic touch.
I smile but shake my head as I return her the phone.
“Are you ready to freshen up?” I ask her as I stand and offer my hand.
“Yeah, sure.” She stands and intertwines her fingers with mine. “Ava, are you ready?”
Our duckling frowns as she looks at us with pleading eyes.
“Can I please stay here? I don’t need to change.”