Page 78 of Mister Cowboy

“It’s beautiful. It suits you. When do I get to meet him?”

“It isn’t like that.” She sat straight and met his eyes. “We’re not together anymore. It was…” God, how could she possibly sum up what she’d had with Brecken in a word? “Brief.”

“I see.”

She rolled her eyes and slumped her shoulders. “What, Dad? I can tell you want to say more. Go for it.”

“It’s just, you don’t buy a woman jewelry unless it’s serious. Especially jewelry like that.” Again, he motioned to the ruby.

They smiled across the table at each other, the ice broken. “I thought it might be, serious that is, but it ended. He ended it.”

“I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay. I’m okay. Really. But thank you for coming here to check on me.”

“Well, I admit, my trip wasn’t entirely to check on you. I have some news as well. I’m getting married.”

“Married?” she managed to croak around the piece of bagel in her mouth. Tears welled in her eyes as she forced down the half- chewed food. He waited while she took a drink and cleared her throat.

“Yes. I’ve been seeing someone for a few months now. Beth. I think you’ll like her. She’s anxious to meet you, but I thought I should tell you myself first.”

She didn’t know what to say. Her father had rarely dated and had never spoken of getting remarried.

“You’re catching me a little off guard here. I want you to be happy, of course. I had no idea you wanted to get married again.”

“I didn’t for a long time after your mother died. It felt like a betrayal somehow, to her and to you.”

“Daaad,” she started with a sigh but he held up a hand.

“I know that isn’t true, but it was something I needed to work through in my own time. I’m finally ready. Only took me twenty-plus years.” He chuckled softly.

“I’m happy for you. Mom would be happy, too.”

“Thank you,” he said quietly.

“Can I ask you something?”

“Sure.”

“Before Mom died…” She shifted in her seat. “It’s just…I don’t remember us as a family. I want so badly to remember what that felt like.”

He ran a hand over his jaw and the faraway look in his eyes almost made her second guess her decision to bring it up. “It’s hard for me to remember, too, but I remember we were happy. So unbelievably happy. She loved you very much. She’d be proud of you.”

She had so many more questions, but she held back. It was a start. They’d opened a door.

* * *

She was fillingMichael in on her breakfast with her father while perusing the internet, scouring for every piece of information she could find about Brecken.

Michael did dishes behind her. He stopped with a wet plate in hand when she told him about her father’s upcoming nuptials. “Wow.”

“Right? They’re going to city hall next week and then flying to Mexico for their honeymoon.”

Michael gave her a half smile. “You okay with it?”

“I am. It’s weird thinking about him being with someone else, but I know it’ll be good for him.”

She sighed, and Michael glanced over at her computer screen. “I told you not to read that shit.” Michael’s frustrated voice came from beside her as he reached over grabbing for the computer. She blocked him, tossing an elbow for good measure.