Page 98 of Back for More

I have more questions.

I want my answers.

“What were you like before I was born?”

He laughs a little. I haven’t seen him laugh in…almost ten years. “I had a lot more confidence. I thought I knew everything. I thought I could do anything. When you were born, I knew it wasn’t true.”

“Why did you look at me the way you did? When you saw me leaving a letter with Fanny Brice on Wes’s porch? I need you to tell me.”

“I don’t remember how I looked at you.”

“What were you thinking?”

“I remember thinking…” He sighs, struggling to find the words. He fiddles with his wedding ring again. “Your mother was…is…the absolute love of my life. I may not understand you, Lily, but I do understand how important it is to choose the person you want to spend the rest of your life with. I understand how much it hurts to lose that person. A large part of me died along with your mother. I’m sure you don’t think I paid attention to you, but I saw how you were with Wes. Right from the start. I saw the conflict and the hesitation. I know how passionate and determined you are. I just wanted you to be sure.”

“Why did you make me his assistant?”

“I wanted you to be sure abouteverything. What you wanted in life. I’m not evil. I wasn’t trying to be manipulative. I’m just not good at being your dad, and I’m sorry about that. But I take comfort in knowing that for all the things you’ve never been able to get from me, you’ll always get what you need from Wes.”

I smile. It’s probably the first time I’ve allowed myself to smile around my dad when he’s said Wes’s name. “Yes. I take comfort in it too.” I have one more question. “Who are you besides the CEO of the Barnes Group and Calla Barnes’s widower?”

He finally looks over at me. “Your father. Whether you like it or not.”

I cross my arms in front of my chest because all I want to do is hug this man, but I think it might break him.

“Anything else?” He crosses his arms in front of his chest too.

“You have plans for tonight?”

“I don’t.”

“It’s opening night for my play tonight,” I say without looking at him. “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.It’s at the St. Mary’s Theater. At five pm. It’s sold out, believe it or not, but I’ll leave a ticket for you at the box office. One of the actresses sprained her ankle, so I’ll be in the show. I’d really like it if you were there. I understand if you can’t make it. But everyone I care about in Belford will be there. So you should be too.” I start to walk away, taking the dried-up flowers with me. “I have to go. I hope you’ll come.”

He nods. “Break a leg,” he says.

It’s the first time my dad has ever said that to me.

“Thanks.”

With each step I take as I make my way out of the cemetery, I feel like I’m actually getting closer to him.