Page 53 of Rusty

"Rusty . . . this is. . . ." she breathed, her voice filled with awe. "It's magical."

He led her to the blanket, helping her sit down amidst the plush pillows before settling beside her.

“This is actually a recreation of a scene I set up on a hillside ten years ago,” said Rusty.

Janice frowned. “I don’t remember having a picnic on a hillside with you. I thought I remembered everything.”

“That’s because it never happened,” Rusty old her. “I’d set the whole thing up, made it real special for you, then just as I wasabout to head back down the hill to come get you, you father came marching up to me full of threats and ultimatums.”

Janice looked down, her lip trembling. “That’s the reason we never did this.”

“I’d set all this up for your twenty-first birthday,” said Rusty. “But your father told me he wouldn’t give you a single thing for your birthday, and would take your name off his will if we went through with it.”

“Oh, Rusty.” Janice reached out for his hand. “You must have felt sick with worry.”

“I now know that I made the wrong choice,” Rusty told her. “I should have spoken to you about what happened. At least let you make the decision, instead of taking it away from you. Back then, I hoped you could have had some kind of good relationship with your father. I hoped that without me in the picture, he would support and protect you and be a good father.”

“But he wasn’t a good father,” said Janice. “And that day, I lost you as my Daddy.”

Rusty clenched his jaw. “Won’t be happenin’ again, sweetheart. I’m here to nurture and protect you. And do a hell of a lot more besides.” He growled playfully and tickled her tummy.

“Daddy!” she squealed. “Careful or you’ll make me roll down the hillside.”

“If you do, I’ll roll down after you,” he joked.

He began opening up the hamper he’d left up here with various dishes. There were dishes wrapped in aluminum foil, still piping hot: beef sliders, a black bean and corn salad, ranch-style pasta salad, cornbread muffins. It was the exact same menu he’d prepared ten years ago. And since then, he’d struggled to eat any of those dishes, because they left a bitter taste in his mouth. Not anymore.

"Rusty, thank you," Janice said. “This all looks amazing. I wish we’d been able to do this on my twenty-first birthday.”

“So do I,” said Rusty. “But I’m glad as hell I get to do it with you now you’re almost thirty-one.”

“Don’t!” said Janice. “I feel so old!”

“You’re perfect at every age,” said Rusty, reaching out to stroke her cheek and then handing her a plate of food, piled high.

They began to eat, savoring the food and each other's company as the sky shifted from pink to deep indigo.

As the stars appeared overhead, Rusty and Janice leaned back against the pillows, their hands entwined as they began a heartfelt conversation about their past and their dreams for the future.

"Rusty, I've been thinking a lot about our time apart," Janice said, her voice soft and vulnerable. "And I realized that what hurt the most was not knowing why you left."

"Janice, I'm so sorry for the pain I caused you," Rusty admitted, his voice choked with emotion. "I should have talked to you, explained everything. I just wanted to protect you."

"Rusty, we're stronger together," she assured him, her eyes filled with love and understanding. "That's something I've learned during our time apart. We need to communicate, and be honest with each other."

"You're right, little one," Rusty agreed, his heart swelling with gratitude for the woman beside him. "From now on, we'll face everything together, side by side."

Underneath the stars' soft glow, Rusty took a deep breath and finally decided to share the truth with Janice. "I called your father the other night," he confessed, his hazel eyes filled with sincerity. "I told him we weren’t together anymore and begged him not to ruin your life."

Janice looked into his eyes. "Rusty, the only way my father could ruin my life is if he made you leave me again," she said softly, her voice wavering.

"Never again," Rusty vowed, his grip on her hand tightening. "I'll never let anyone or anything come between us."

"Thank you," Janice whispered, her gratitude evident in her expression. She looked at Rusty with admiration and continued, "You tried to contact my father and deal with things like a man. I'm sorry he's such a bitter person, Rusty. You’re a man, and he’s just . . . well, he’s a meanie."

Rusty nodded, taking a moment to process Janice's words. He wished he could change Angus Jameson into a good person. To make him care for his daughter as a father should. But it was impossible. Rusty couldn't change Angus, but he could make sure thathewas there for Janice every step of the way.

"Janice, I promise to always be here for you, no matter what your father does or says," Rusty vowed, his gaze unwavering.

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