Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 81718 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 409(@200wpm)___ 327(@250wpm)___ 272(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 81718 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 409(@200wpm)___ 327(@250wpm)___ 272(@300wpm)
The elevator ride to my father’s floor is quick, and before I know it, we’re knocking on his door before Nurse Lisa pushes me inside, followed by Brogan with my daughters. My dad’s eyes are closed, and he looks so peaceful.
“I’ll leave you to it. Just let a nurse know when you’re ready to come back and I’ll be here to get you.”
“Thank you, Lisa.”
She gives my shoulder a gentle pat and leaves the room.
“I don’t know how to do this.” My voice cracks.
My sister, my best friend, pulls a chair up to sit next to me. “I want him to be here with us, but I also don’t want him to be in pain anymore,” she confesses.
“They’ll never know him,” I say as tears break free. “He’s the greatest man I know, and I know he would have loved to spoil them rotten.” I glance over at my sister. “We’re all that they have.”
“We will be everything those two little angels need, Briar. There will never be a single day that they don’t know how much they are loved. We’ve got this.”
“I love you, sister.”
“I love you too.” Brogan leans over and hugs me.
“My girls,” a croaky voice speaks.
We both wipe at our cheeks and answer, “Hi, Daddy,” making the three of us laugh.
Dad swallows hard. “Babies?” he asks, his voice gruff.
I smile. “Happy and healthy,” I tell him. Brogan stands, picks up one baby, and hands her to me. I can tell from the purple hat, it’s River, and she holds Rayne.
“So beautiful,” he rasps.
“Their names are River and Rayne,” I tell him.
“I always loved my time at the river,” Dad muses. “And the fish always bite better in the rain.” One side of his mouth kicks up in a smile as I lose my battle with my tears. They flow freely over my cheeks.
He gets it. I didn’t have to tell him, because my father is the greatest man I’ll ever know. He’s the only man I’ll ever love, and the only one who has ever held my trust. My heart aches knowing we’re losing him, but he’s not living. Not lying here in this hospital bed. It’s selfish of me to want to keep him here when his body is failing him.
“I promise they’ll know you. They’ll know you were an amazing father and that you would have spoiled them endlessly,” I say, my voice cracking through my tears.
“So proud of my girls. All four of you,” Dad says weakly. He closes his eyes, and we sit here with him, talking to him as if he’s in the conversation until it’s time to go back to my room and feed the girls.
At the time, I didn’t know that was the last time I’d talk to my father, but the memories we’ve made will last me a lifetime. Brogan and I will keep his memory alive, not only for us but for my daughters too.
CHAPTER
ONE
Forrest
The quiet of the shop surrounds me as I work on my sketch. The last client left a couple of hours ago, and so did everyone else. I stayed behind to work on a mock-up for a new client I have coming in a few weeks from now. It’s a large, intricate back piece that’s going to take several sessions, and I want to make sure I hit every detail.
Besides, it’s not like anything is waiting for me at home. My big ole house is empty now that my sister, Emerson, married one of my best friends and co-business owners of Everlasting Ink, and moved out. I’m not a fan of the quiet. In fact, it’s downright lonely. Sure, my sister, best friend, and baby niece, Lilly, live next door, but that’s their home. Not mine.
And yes, one of my other best friends and co-business owner, Legend, and his wife, Monroe, live across the street. I know I could knock on their door as well, and they’d happily invite me in. It’s nice having them so close, but it’s still lonely and too damn quiet.
Standing, I place my hands on the small of my back and stretch. Glancing at the clock that hangs over the door, I see it’s past eight. My stomach growls, reminding me I haven’t eaten since lunch.
I make quick work of cleaning up my area and locking up the shop before heading home. The drive is short, and the house is dark when I pull into the driveway. I can see the soft glow of light from Emerson and Roman’s house next door. Glancing in the rearview mirror, I see the same from Legend and Monroe’s.
I know that I’m welcome at either place at any time, but this is their family time. I won’t intrude on that. Emerson invites me over every single night for dinner. I take her up on it sometimes, but not often. She worries about me living here alone, but she shouldn’t. She has her husband and her daughter to focus on.