Page 26 of Kink in the Road
I took a deep breath, steeling myself. “It’s about Aiden and Finn.”
His head came up, his eyebrows rising. “Oh?”
Heat flooded my cheeks. “We... something happened last night. Between the three of us.”
Understanding dawned on his face. “Ah. I see.”
We stood in silence for a moment, the only sound the ticking of the old clock on the wall.
“Are you happy?” Dad asked finally.
I examined his face, noting his shock of thinning white hair and the additional wrinkles that time had carved into his face.
For decades it had been just the two of us, now I had a chance to double our family—and I wasn’t sure how he’d react.
I nodded slowly. “I think so. But I’m also terrified.”
“Of what?”
I swallowed hard against the lump that had formed in my throat. “I know I shouldn’t—but the thought of losing them…. I know what I lost when Mum died. But you? It was like your light blinked out.”
Dad stiffened beside me, and I immediately regretted my words. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean?—“
“No,” he interrupted gently. “No, you’re right to be scared. Losing your mother... it nearly destroyed me.”
I blinked, surprised by his candor. We’d never talked about Mom’s death, not like this.
“But you know what?” he continued, his voice soft. “If I had the choice, knowing how it would end, knowing the pain that would come. I’d do it all over again in a heartbeat.”
I turned to look at him, seeing the mixture of pain and love in his eyes. “Really?”
He nodded. “Really. The years I had with your mother were the happiest of my life. The pain of losing her was... indescribable. But the joy of loving her? That was worth everything.”
I felt a tear slip down my cheek. “I’ve been so afraid to take a chance,” I admitted.
Dad wrapped an arm around my shoulders, pulling me close. “Oh, sweetheart. I’m so sorry. I never meant for my grief to hold you back from finding love.”
I leaned into him, letting out a shaky breath. “It’s not your fault, Dad. I just... I didn’t know how to open myself up.” I chuckled dryly. “I’m not exactly known as the warm-fuzzy type.”
“You get that from me.” He squeezed me tight. “We’re echidnas, you and I. Spikey little beasts who just want someone to love what sits under all those prickles.”
He was quiet for a moment, his hand rubbing soothing circles on my back.
“Natalie would be so disappointed in me if she knew I’d never taken another chance at love.”
I pulled back slightly to look at him. “She would?”
Dad nodded, a wistful smile on his face. “Aye. She always said life was too short not to grab happiness with both hands when you found it. She’d be furious with me for shutting myself away all these years.”
I felt a weight I hadn’t even realized I’d been carrying lift from my shoulders. “So... you think I should take a chance? With Aiden and Finn?”
“I think,” Dad said slowly, “that if they make you happy, and you care about them, then yes. You should absolutely take that chance.” He squeezed my shoulder gently. “Love is precious, Riley. And it’s rare to find it once, let alone twice. If you’ve found two people who love you and who you love in return, don’t let fear hold you back.”
I took a deep breath, closing my eyes as a calm settle over me.
Don’t let fear hold you back.
Opening my eyes, I grinned at him. “Thanks, Dad. I... I needed to hear that.”
