Page 104 of The Island Villa

Adeline gasped and glanced around. “Do you have to share that thought with the whole of the hospital?”

“Just saying.”

“If you could just say in a quieter voice, that would be good. Or maybe not at all.” Adeline paused as her father emerged from the room and gestured that one of them could come in. She turned to her sister. “You go next.”

“Are you sure? Thank you.” Cassie kissed her on the cheek and all but sprinted up the corridor.

Adeline sat back down on the hard chair and her father joined her. His step was lighter, his frown lines less pronounced.

“How is she, Dad?”

“Better,” he said. “Feeling a lot calmer.”

“Stefanos is on his way.” She said it casually. “In case we need anything.”

“I’m sure I’m not the reason he’s coming, although there is no doubt he’s an excellent young man.” Her father stirred. “How’s it going between you and him?”

“I don’t know what you mean.”

“If that’s true, then you’ve just made me sad.” He put his hand on hers and gave it a squeeze. “Thank you for being here, Addy.”

“Of course. I’m relieved she’s going to be okay.” She paused. There was so much she needed to say. “I’m sorry if I made things difficult for you, Dad. I love you so much and I feel as protective toward you as you do toward me. But I can see now that I handled it badly. I just want you to be happy, I hope you know that. Do you forgive me?”

“Nothing to forgive. You didn’t understand, and frankly I don’t blame you. Some things aren’t easy to explain or comprehend. They just are.”

“Maybe.”

They sat side by side in the hospital corridor. She’d forgotten how good this could feel. How the presence of someone you loved was often enough to offer comfort.

“You look good in that dress, Addy.”

“I look ridiculously out of place in this dress.” She tugged at the hem, but it refused to sit anywhere but above her knees. “It’s not exactly suitable for hospital visiting.”

“I disagree. I think you should dress like that more often. It suits you. You look relaxed, instead of buttoned-up.”

She sighed. “I sense another lecture coming on.”

“Not a lecture. Advice.”

“You always used to say that you wouldn’t give me advice because you didn’t know what you were doing.”

He gave a soft laugh. “That was because I found being a father terrifying. I wanted you to make your own decisions so that I couldn’t be held responsible.”

She smiled. “You were a brilliant dad. You still are.”

“I don’t know about that, but I try. And it’s because I’m trying to be a good dad that I’m giving you advice,” he said. “After all, you gave me advice.”

She turned to look at him. “You ignored my advice.”

“And you’re free to ignore mine, but I hope you won’t.” He squeezed her hand again. “Let him into your life, Addy. I know you’re scared. I know you’re protecting yourself, but when you shut out risk, you shut out happiness. If you walk away from this relationship, I’ll never forgive myself.”

It should have been unsettling that he knew her so well, and in a way, it was, but it was also comforting. That was love. Allowing someone to know the real you.

“Firstly, it’s not a relationship. And secondly, since when have you been responsible for my love life?”

“I feel responsible,” he said. “Maybe not for your love life but for the emotions that drive all your safe choices.”

She tugged at the hem of her dress again. “Safe choices are underrated.”

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