Page 151 of Until I Have You

I don’t know when she started using my nickname for Bonnie, but I love it when she says it.

Abigail hugs Bonnie close, her face pressed into the side of my daughter’s head, eyes fluttered shut.Seeing them together tugs at my heartstrings.

This is what I’ve always wanted.And I realize I’ve never gotten it.Never had the full experience of fatherhood I wanted to because Esme and I were not good parents together.Esme wasn’t the mother I desired for my child, and I wasn’t the husband she desired for herself.

Life has a funny way of chewing you up, spitting you out, and putting you back together again.

“I missed you,” Abigail says to Bonnie, running her hand over her head.

A lump forms in my throat as I watch this reunion.

“I missed you too!”Bonnie squeaks in return.“And–”

Bonnie turns away from Abigail and reaches for my hand.“Daddy missed you too!”

A devilish grin appears on Abigail’s face.“Did he?”

Bonnie connects my hand with Abigail’s, and the electricity returns, crackling through me.

I keep myself from throwing my arms around her and kissing her with all my might.Have to be strong, have some semblance of maturity for my child.

Abigail’s fingers interlock with mine, her face warm and oh so stunning.

“Welcome home, Abigail,” I say, my voice a bit unsteady.

Her eyes sparkle.“It feels so good to be back.”

Abigail is going to move in with us.We were good roommates before, and there doesn’t seem to be a reason to complicate it.

“Okay, now kiss!”Bonnie demands from between us.

Both Abigail and I laugh, blushing and looking away from each other.

“Bonnie,” I admonish, though I’m more entertained by my child than anything.

“Kiss, kiss, kiss!”

Abigail leans in toward me, snagging a closed-mouthed, precious kiss from my lips.A kiss that says forever.A kiss that suggests there’s more where that came from.

And boy, I know there is.Our sex life is better than it’s ever been.There’s less of it, but each time matters more.Deeper and stronger.

“Come on!We have to get you unpacked!”Bonnie exclaims, grabbing the handle of Abigail’s humongous suitcase and hefting it down the hallway.

I smile at her.“You got it, Bon?”

“What, you don’t think I’m strong enough, Dad?”Bonnie retorts with sass.

My chin drops to the floor.

My daughter is a sweetheart, a ball of emotions.Sassy?Not at all.Until now.

Abigail leans into my ear.“She’s starting to take after me.”

“Oh, you little devil,” I mutter.

Abigail grins.

“You coming?”Bonnie calls out.

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