Page 37 of Broken Hearts

Mrs. Harper looks at my dad, who’s standing behind me, and she smiles. “I am not certain tonight, but I’ll see you again before you go back to school.”

I nod as she leaves, watching my dad follow her to the door, his posture awkward yet tender. The sound of their low voices drifts back to me, a gentle murmur of a budding relationship. I turn away, giving them a moment of privacy, and make my way to my bedroom, the sanctuary of my memories and dreams.

The familiar comfort of my room envelops me as I close the door behind me. I pause for a moment, taking in the sight of my old posters, the shelves lined with books, and the photographs capturing moments of a happier past. This room has witnessed my tears, my laughter, and my silent battles. Sitting on the edge of my bed, I let out a long, deep breath, feeling so many emotions swirling within me.

The door opens quietly, and my father steps in, a hesitant look on his face. “Eva, I… I didn’t want you to find out like this,” he begins, his voice laden with regret.

Looking up at him, I see the vulnerability in his eyes. “Dad, it’s okay,” I say, my voice gentle. “Mom’s been gone for five years. You deserve to be happy. She would have wanted that for you. I want that for you.”

He comes in and sits beside me on the bed, grabbing my hand. “I don’t want you to think I’m forgetting your mom.”

I squeeze his fingers. How could I ever think that? It was their love that made me believe I could have that too. “I’d never think that, Dad. Plus, I really like Mrs. Harper. Are you two… living together?”

“Call her Susan.” He sighs. “No, well, not really. I was waiting to see if you were okay with all of this.”

I turn toward him, and in a wave of emotion, I hug him, trying my best to contain my tears. My father has always put me first in everything, made all the sacrifices for me. And even now, when he seems to have a real chance at happiness, his concerns are still about me. This last thought makes my composure crack, and a few tears escape my eyes.

Dad pulls back a little, and his eyebrows etch in concern as he cups my cheek. “Sweetheart, why are you crying? Is everything okay at school? Is that why you came up early?”

I nod silently, trying to rein in my tears.

“What is it, baby? Tell me.”

“I just… I missed home, and I decided to come. I love you so much, Dad, and it breaks my heart that you think you can’t be happy if I don’t want that. You—” I clear my throat and shake my head. “I’m growing up, and it makes me so happy to know that you’re not alone. I love that there’ll be someone here with you to make you laugh the way I heard when I walked in. She obviously makes you so happy, and I love her for that already.”

My father’s face has a tense, almost pained look, and I know it’s how he looks when he’s overflowing with emotion.

He pulls me back into his arms and kisses the top of my head. “I could not have dreamed of a better daughter.”

“And I could not have asked for a better dad.”

He kisses the top of my head again, and we stay silent for a moment.

After a little while, he sighs and pulls back. “I’ve got to go to school. I have boys to torture.”

I laugh. “They love their coach.”

“What are you going to do in the meantime? Do you want to come? Walk down memory lane?”

I know my smile wavers at the chilling thought. The school holds many happy memories, excellent ones even, but the last months made it something I wish I could forget forever.

I stand up and grab my bag, trying to mask my emotions from my dad. He doesn’t need the burden of my pain, my complicated mess with Cole. He believes my high school date stood me up at prom, causing my upset departure, my accidental injury, and Max’s timely intervention. The truth is far more complicated, a web of lies and hurt I will never unload on him.

“I think I’ll unpack, maybe take a nap, and then see Max,” I say, keeping my voice steady.

My father purses his lips but nods. I know he’s not overly happy for me to spend that much time with an ex-Navy SEAL ten years older than me, but my father sees how much Max helps, and he backs away.

“Alright. Let’s have dinner tonight, you and me.”

I feel a surge of warmth at the thought. “No, have Susan join us too.”

His face morphs into a big smile. “She’ll like that.”

He kisses my forehead and stops as he reaches my door. “You’ll call me if you need anything, right?”

“Of course. Now go, we wouldn’t want them to think the coach is slacking!”

He snorts. “As if.”

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