Page 84 of Without Regret

I pinched the bridge of my nose. “You know what? I don’t need your money. I never have. What I’ve always wanted was simply that you be proud of me. Is that too much to ask? I’m not following in your footsteps by taking over your company. I’m sorry if it disappoints you, but I am setting out to do something that makes me happy.” It was the first time I’d confronted my father and now that I had, it was all pouring out.

He was quiet for a moment. “I’ve always been proud of you, son. And it’s me who should say I’m sorry if you’ve never felt that. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t disappointed you don’t want the company I started, but I’d be more disappointed if you took it and were miserable.”

I let out the breath I was holding. “Thank you. Now I have to go. Need to get on a plane shortly.”

“For the job?”

“No, actually. For a girl.”

“I’m guessing Emma from the party.”

“How did you know?”

“I saw the way you looked at her.”

It felt strange but good to be sharing something this personal with my father. “I love her. But I have to convince her of that.”

“You will.”

I didn’t know if it was my dad’s general overconfidence making him say this or his true belief. “What makes you so sure?”

“Because I convinced your mother. Once a Newhall man falls, they fall hard, and they don’t let go.”

I smiled. “No, I suppose they don’t.”

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