Page 138 of My Destiny

“Come,” he says. “I have something for you.”

“You do?”

“Your birthday gift.”

“Oh my god,” I say when we round the corner of the building and I see a bright yellow car sitting there wrapped in a big red bow. “This is my present?”

“Yes. Happy birthday, sweetheart.” He pulls a set of keys from his pocket and places them in my hand.

“John, I can’t accept this. It’s too much.”

He chuckles to himself. “Logan warned me you’d say those very words.”

“I don’t mean to sound ungrateful.”

“Come take a look at it,” he says, placing his hand on my elbow. “I had the graphics for the studio put on the back and the sides. It will be great advertising when you’re driving around the city.”

“That was really sweet of you, but…”

“But nothing. I’ve missed out on all your birthdays and Christmases. Besides, plenty of fathers buy cars for their daughters.”

“John.”

“Please let me do this for you.” Facing me, he places his hands on my shoulders. “It would mean so much to me if you’d accept this gift. You have no idea how bad I feel for not being there for you when you were growing up.”

I bow my head because I can’t stand to see the pleading look in his eyes. “It’s just…”

“Just what?” he asks, placing his finger under my chin and raising my face to meet his. “To be honest, I’m overwhelmed and a little embarrassed by everyone’s generosity. Just having you all here tonight is more than enough for me. I’ve never been materialistic, and I’ve certainly never owned a car as nice as this.”

“It’s only a Mini, not a Lamborghini.”

“It’s still nicer than anything I’ve ever had.”

Releasing me, he steps towards the car and opens the driver side door. “Come take a look.” Joining him, I bend down to look inside. “She’s a beauty, isn’t she?” I can smell the new leather from where I stand. The interior is so fancy. It’s black with splashes of bright yellow here and there that match the exterior colour perfectly.

“It’s beautiful,” I say.

“So you’ll accept it?”

Tears rise to my eyes as I meet his gaze. “If it means that much to you.”

“It means the world to me,” he says, wrapping me in his arms.

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome, sweetheart.”

“For the record, this present not only makes up for all my missed birthday and Christmas presents, it will cover me for the rest of my life,” I say with a small laugh, although I’m deadly serious. I don’t want or need to be showered with expensive gifts from him as well.

“Let me be the judge of that.”

Picking up one of the flower arrangements from the table, I bring it towards my face to inhale the sweet perfumed scent of the yellow roses. A smile creeps onto my face when I think of my mother. She would’ve loved being here tonight.

A sense of peace settles over me. Although I didn’t fulfil my promise to her the way I’d planned, I know she would be proud of me, proud of the direction my life has taken. For the first time in a long time, my future looks promising.

“Are you okay, babe,” Logan says, coming up behind me and sliding his arms around my waist.

“I’m more than okay,” I reply, leaning my head back into his shoulder.