Page 134 of The Lucky Heart (Jamison Valley 3)
“I appreciate the explanation,” she said. “I get it, but please know, I won’t ever leave Silas again.”
“I see that now. Sorry it took me so long to pull my head outta my ass. I’m too stubborn for my own good.”
“Well,” she sighed. “I’m sorry I didn’t make that easier on you. And I apologize for flipping you off.”
Dad chuckled. “I may have flipped you off too.”
“You did?” she asked.
“Your back was turned. Sorry.”
She laughed and leaned further into my side.
“Why didn’t you ever tell me any of this, Dad?” I had missed out on a huge part of my dad’s life. I was mentally replaying so many arguments and discussions and seeing them from a new angle now. I would have done things differently had I known.
Dad shook his head. “Pride. I didn’t want my son to know how badly I’d been dumped. I was planning on telling you after Felicity left all those years ago but then we got into that big fight about you enlisting and leaving the ranch, and well, before we could talk, you were gone.”
Damn. I wished we had gotten the chance to have that conversation. “Well, I’m glad to know now.”
“I’m sorry, Silas. About everything. You said earlier that you wanted to run the ranch together. I’d really like that too, if you’d consider staying.”
“I’m done fighting with you, Dad.”
He held up his hands. “No more fights and I promise to be open to new ideas. Give me a chance to prove to you that I mean it. A month. Give me a month.”
We’d never gone a month without arguing. If we could make it thirty days, I might actually believe it was possible. “Okay. A month.”
“Thank you.” Dad clapped me on the shoulder. “We’ll make this work.” He stood and stepped down a step, holding out a hand to shake mine. Then he shuffled over and did the same to Felicity. “Welcome to our family.”
She shook his hand and smiled. “Thank you.”
“I’ll let you kids get home. Are you sure you’re not sick or hurt?” Dad asked her.
“I’m fine. We’ll tell you all about it tomorrow.”
“Okay,” he said. “If Olivia lets me back inside, maybe we could all have breakfast tomorrow?”
I nodded. “Sounds good. Night, Dad.”
“Night.” Dad walked down the remaining steps and across the gravel lot to the barn. When the door slid closed behind him, I scooted back behind Felicity, framing her legs with mine and wrapping my arms around her chest.
“Wow,” she said. “Did that just happen?”
“Ask me again tomorrow.” I chuckled. “I’m still not sure this isn’t all a dream.”
“I really hope he means it,” she whispered.
“Me too,” I whispered back. Only time would tell if Dad and I could run this ranch together. Only time would prove if he would treat Felicity like a member of this family. But we had time. And if it didn’t work out, we had each other.
Felicity rested her head against my chest. “Now what?”
“Whatever you want.”
“I want you to tell me that you love me.”
I smiled. “I love you.”
“I want you to kiss me.”
