Page 78 of Wild Nights

"Coffee, please."

"Same," Dad said with his hands clasped on the table in front of him.

"Be right back with your drinks," the waitress said before stepping away to take the order at the table next to us.

"I wanted to thank you for reaching out."

I let out a breath. This was just as hard for him as it was for me. "I'm sorry I let so much time pass without talking to you."

"Ginny reached out sooner."

"I know. She told me." I'd rationalized it by thinking she was younger when it happened and didn't bear the brunt of the ramifications.

"I realize things were different for you two."

"I don't think you understand how it was for us. We hopedyou were coming back, and when you didn't—" I shook my head, my eyes burning with unshed tears.

He dropped his head slightly. "I was clear with your mom on that. Especially when I realized she wanted to get back together."

"It was hard for her to accept that you weren't coming back."

"I'm sorry." When Dad lifted his gaze, I could see the regret shining through.

I let out a sigh. "I can hold onto this grudge, or I can let it go. It was starting to affect my relationship with everyone: Ginny, Mom, friends, potential boyfriends."

Dad winced. "I'm sorry for that. I acted selfishly back then, thinking that your mother and I weren't happy and that you could see that. It would be better if we weren't in the same house."

"Afterward, I had to pick up the pieces. Mom couldn't deal with the situation, and Ginny was still young. Too young to understand why you weren't there and why things weren't the same as they had been."

Dad reached out to touch my hand. "I'm sorry for all of it."

"Thank you for saying that." I just wanted to get it off my chest.

The waitress appeared again, and Dad pulled back.

I ordered a veggie omelet, and he ordered a stack of pancakes.

When she was gone, Dad said, "I want you to be happy, and I'd love to have a relationship with you and your sister, but I understand if it's not possible or it takes time."

"It was time to reach out and clear the air. Can we just see where it goes from here?" I wasn't ready to make any promises.

Dad nodded. "I'd like that."

"And if you're still with Juneau, can I meet her?" I asked as I added creamer to my coffee.

Dad nodded. "She would love that."

"I've held onto this grudge for too long." I felt the ever-present tightness in my chest easing.

"You were just a kid when I left. You did the best you could."

"I'm afraid I've turned myself off to finding love. I can't trust anyone to stay."

Dad winced. "It's good you recognize that. But I hate that I was the reason for it."

"You did something that hurt me, but how I react to it is on me. I'm an adult now, and I'd like to be different."

Dad's brow furrowed. "Have you met someone? Is that what brought this on?"

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