Page 9 of Until I Have You

Abigail opens her mouth to reply, but I’m finding it hard to shut up.“You know, Bonnie, love, I’ve known Abigail since she was a little girl.About your age.”

“Wow.”Bonnie looks at her.“Are you old, Abigail?”

“Uh, Bon, that’s not–”

Abigail maintains her icy air.“I found her in the seahorse alcove.By herself.”

“Yes, yes, we got separated.”I’m scrambling not to look like a bloodyarse.“Thank you.Beyond thanks.I’ve been running around looking for her like a bloody headless chicken and–”

Bonnie laughs, a sound I will never ever get tired of.“Daddy…”

“Anyways, thank you, Abigail,” I say with as much emphasis as I can.“You have no idea how… I don’t possibly know how I could repay you.I mean, my life wouldn’t even be enough.”

Now this is getting bloody embarrassing.

“I’m glad I was able to help.”Abigail’s face finally softens as she regards Bonnie.“I think we had some fun, all things considered.”

Bonnie gives a fervent nod.“She told me so manyfactsaboutthe ocean.”

“That’s good!That’s why we came, isn’t it?”

“She’s a scientist.A marine biologist.”

Abigail runs a hand through her long, red hair.Not auburn or mahogany, but exotic, natural red.She’s bashful, looking away.Somehow girlish and all woman at once.

I smile.“A marine biologist at the aquarium.Of course.Yes, I recall.You got your graduate degree recently, didn’t you?”

“Yeah, I did.”

“Congratulations, that’s quite a feat.”The only compliments I can give her without coming off like a creepy old man are on her brain.“I know your father is very proud.”

Abigail forces a smile.“Well, it was good to run into you, I guess.But–”

“Daddy, can Abigail walk around with us?”Bonnie asks, pressing her chin into my hip.

My eyebrows jump.“Oh, I don’t know, darling, I’m sure Abigail has places to be and fish to-to study, I suppose, and–”

“Please, Daddy,please.”

“Darling, I think we’ve had an eventful day already, why don’t we–”

With my hand held tight in hers, Bonnie lurches away from me and grabs Abigail’s hand too.“Please, Abigail?”

Abigail seems frozen, unsure what to say, so I reach out and pull on Bonnie’s wrist gently to have her free Abigail’s hand from her grip.“Now, Bonnie.It’s not proper to beg.”

To my surprise, Abigail’s hand tightens on Bonnie’s.“I could stay for a little bit.”

Bonnie leaps in the air.“Really?”

“Yes, really?”I gape.

Abigail gives me a fleeting glance, smile playing on her lips.“Like I said.We’ve been having a nice time, all things considered.I’m not going to deny a little scientist her facts.”

I ignore the warming in my chest, but blimey if Bonnie isn’t the way to my heart these days.“All right, but only if you really, really want to.And I mean it, Abigail.Don’t feel bad telling her no.She could afford to hear it more often than she does.”

“Come on, I want to see the belugas!”Bonnie releases my hand and yanks on Abigail’s.

“Bonnie–” I try to intercede.

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