Page 138 of Off-Limits

“What?” I pant.

“I love you.”

“I love you, too, Blossom.”

“Good. Now take me to bed, old man, because I don’t think I’m going to be able to walk for days.”

EPILOGUE

DOTTIE

The week since Damon proposed to me, has been a beautiful bubble of bliss. We’ve not been able to keep our hands off each other, which I haven’t minded at all, even if I can feel him inside me every time I sit down or walk.

Smiling to myself, I turn upside down on the couch like Arrie and I used to do as kids and look out at the river and mountains. Sadness creeps in but I push it away.

I haven’t seen my dad since the night of the art show, and when I went to his place the following day, I was surprised and saddened to see he wasn’t there. Although when I entered the clean house,yes clean,I walked through to find all his belongings and my mother’s but no dad.

There was however a letter addressed to me on the kitchen table.

Pulling it from my pocket, I read over it for the umpteenth time.

Hey bub,

I guess you came to find me after the art show like I knew you would, but I don’t deserve your forgiveness, and I certainly don’t deserve your love. I’m clean, but these demons that live in my head haunt me daily; your mum haunts me daily. I miss her so fucking much it hurts, and I wish she was alive so I could tell her. But she’s not, and it’s my fault. The stress and pain I put her through is something I will forever have to live with, but I need you to know that I did love her with my entire being, in the only way I knew how. I’m damaged goods, but it’s not about me, bub, it’s about you. I’m so fucking proud of you, and I wish I was man enough and had the balls to do this in person, but I’m not. I’m a coward and I’m taking the easy way out. The house is yours, so do with it as you will. The title is in your name, and the documents supporting it is in your mother’s drawer. I hope to one day return to you, Dorothy, a better man, and a better father, but I’m not there yet. I have so many regrets and so many demons, and my demons, yeah, those fuckers know how to bury themselves deep. I am so proud of the woman you’ve become, and I know I don’t need to worry about you now, because Damon will look after you. Just know, that even though you can’t see me or talk to me, I am with you, and I love you.

Dad x

Another tear slides down my face as I turn myself back upright, folding the letter up and putting it in my pocket and then admiring my mum’s bracelet on my wrist. True to his words, my dad left me the house, but it will stay there until he’s ready to come back and reclaim it.

Swiping away the tears, I reach for my phone and dial Arrie again. She was supposed to be here to help me with wedding plans but that was hours ago, and the sun has well and truly set.

The phone rings five times before going to voicemail.

Hi, you’ve reach Arrie of Nonna’s Barrenridge, I’m sorry I can’t get to the phone right now, but if you’d like to leave a message, I will get back to you as soon as possible.

“Arrie for crying out loud, I’m getting worried about you. Call me, Wench.”

Ending the call, I throw the phone across the table and become one with the lounge with a deep sigh, my mind running rampant with the possibilities. Arrie was supposed to be at the restaurant until midday, but I’ve called, and she never showed up. Not to mention Adam and Connor haven’t seen her either.

Where could she be?

I hear the front door slam. Rushing toward it, I’m half hoping it’s Arrie, but I’m relieved to see Damon instead.

“Come here, baby, and give me a hug. I’ve missed you.”

Butterflies go off in my belly, and I close the distance between us as he throws his bag and slips out of his shoes and embraces me. Squeezing me, he sighs into my hair, and I sigh back, his warmth, love and familiarity enveloping me.

After a minute or so, he pushes away only to cup my face and kiss me, leaving me breathless, and although I’m always more than willing to take him to bed, my stomach is rolling, and I have this niggling feeling something isn’t right.

Breaking away from the kiss, Damon still holds my face in his hands as he analyses me.

“What’s wrong, where’s Arrie?” he asks, looking over my shoulder.

There’s no use playing it down, Damon knows when something is up.

“Have you heard from her today?”

“You said she was coming to help with wedding prep and staying the night?”