Page 119 of Until I Find You

Abigail moves to the front of the room. “Okay, okay, okay, who wants to toast?”

My father steps forward, Emma on his arm. “I’ll do it.”

I swallow.

God, what’s he going to say?

Camilla thankfully crosses the room to me, pressing herself to my side and looping her arms around my waist. Under my arm,like the wing of a bird, is where I like her to be. Somewhere I can keep her safe.

He clears his throat and adjusts the top button of his shirt like it’s too tight. “Well, I didn’t think I’d become a grandfather so soon after doing the fatherhood thing all over again, but…life happens as it happens.”

He glances over at Sonia who has managed to coddle Liam back into his slumber. There’s a lot of love there between them.

I’m so glad I understand it now I have my own.

“Anyway, Camilla, you’re a Lyons now, even if not in name. That would have been the case with or without your–” He stops and clears his throat. Is he tearing up? “New addition. But from the bottom of my heart, thank you for loving my son.”

Camilla’s arms tighten around me.

“And Jack…” Dad pauses.

The champagne in his glass bubbles, waiting for the next thing he’ll say.

“You’re going to be an amazing father,” he says.

The air leaves the room.

“I look forward to learning from you.”

I haven’t really conceptualized the fact my dad and I are going to be raising children at the same time, children in the same generation. They won’t even be a full year apart. They’ll be friends. I will have something in common with my father that many people will never experience.

And I’m surprised by how excited I am to share that with my dad. Relate to him that way.

Maybe that’s the second chance I’ve been looking for.

“Anyway, I’m…”

His lower lip trembles, and he lets out a breath, trying to quell any tears. “I’m just so happy for you both and for all of us too.” He lifts his glass. “Cheers.”

The restof the night is a blur of celebration. Camilla and I field many questions.

How long have we known? Where are we going to live? Are we getting married?

We’re good sports about it, but by the end of the night, we’re both exhausted. I see it on Camilla’s face, the tiredness pinching the corners of her eyes, making her smile droop. My poor baby girl. Her least favorite part of the pregnancy has been the exhaustion. She’s so used to working late into the night, pushing herself overtime, not resting until a task is finished that the whole idea she has to rest is foreign to her.

Luckily, she has me.

We take our leave before anyone else, passed around again for hugs and kisses.

I finally make it to my father who surprises me with, “Can we talk privately for just a minute?”

Right.

The moment alone he wanted. I smile.

I’d like that.

“Yeah, of course.”

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