Page 96 of Wilderness Daddy

I furrow my brow, emotions thick and ripe. “What do you mean? I won’t be running it alone. I have you.”

“For now. But Akari... I’m sick.”

It all makes sense now. Why Mom fusses over him, why he looks so frail now. Why he was redoing the insurance.

“How bad?” I swallow the tears and emotions threatening to turn me into a weak little girl.

“Sweetheart, the merger was so you wouldn’t be on your own. It’s too much even for someone as brilliant and special as you. And the marriage, that was for you. I knew Landon would be good for you. You need someone strong enough so you can let your guard down. Someone that will take care of you even when you think you can take care of everything and yourself alone. I want you to have a partner.” He looks to the kitchen door. “Someone who will take care of you no matter what.”

“How bad?” I ask, this time more urgently.

“It’s terminal but we have time. I’m in the early stages of ALS. Best case is ten plus years but more commonly it’s only three to five years. It’s progressive and will take away my mobility and speech and eventually I’ll be unable to breathe on my own. It’s time to give up the business.”

I nod and look at my lap, trying to be strong, but I’m barely holding it together. There may as well be a boulder on my chest. “What about George? Does he know?”

“I’m meeting George and his partner later. I plan to give George my blessing on his art and his relationship.” My father gives me a rare smile. “He’s good. I asked around at the art center. He’s really good.”

“I know. He deserves to do what he loves.”

“Yes, he does. And he will because I’m selling Takahashi Sports. Your mother and I will travel and enjoy life while we can.” He pats my knee. “Akari, you do love Landon, yes?”

“I never thought I could love anyone, but yes, I do. So much.” I grin when my father smiles again. It’s nice to see.

Despite his smile, worry is etched around his eyes. “I would never have married you off to Hattori. It was an old man’s bluff. And if Landon wasn’t for you, I wouldn’t have forced it either. I needed you to give it a try though. I just want you to be happy.”

“It was manipulative and proves you never believed...” I stop, lowering my head and take a breath. I’m angry and maybe I always will be, but as I look at my father, frail and fretful, I bury it. His health is more important right now. “Thank you, Dad, for wanting me to be happy and cared for.”

He squeezes my knee. “Our family means everything to me, even if it hasn’t always seemed that way. I need to know you’re okay before I... I just love you so much.”

“I love you, too.” I swipe the tears from my face and we hug. His embrace wanes quickly, but I hold on tight enough for both of us.

We have biscuits and tea and when Landon comes to get me, I let him and my father chat while I help my mother tidy up in the kitchen. She gushes excitedly that George is coming over later with his boyfriend. I don’t prod her about my dad’s illness either. There’s an underlying sadness in her eyes that I don’t want to pull to the surface yet. We’ll all need to talk but I understand they need time.

Landon and my father are shaking hands when I go back into the living room. My father is wearing a smile again. As much as I like him smiling, this one seems suspiciously conspiratorial and I narrow my eyes.

“What were you two talking about?”

“About you moving in with me in a more permanent way.”

I nod. “You okay with that?” I ask my father.

He gathers a breath. “If I’ve learned anything as of late, it’s that you’re more than capable of making those decisions yourself.”

I go to him, wrapping my arms around his neck, and hug him tight.

As Landon and I walk to the car, he takes my hand in his. It’s so natural, as if we’ve been doing it for years. It makes me realize how much has changed over the last few months.

“Did you finish your errands and talk to your dad and brother?” I ask as he holds the truck door open for me and helps me up. I chuckle to myself at the time I kicked up a fuss over his chivalry. Now I love it. He only winks at me knowingly as he shuts the door, answering my question when he hops in the driver’s side of the truck.

“I did.”

“And did they explain about the Wilderness Man stuff?”

“Yes, while you’ve been resting Grant and I have gone through a little bit of the footage. It’s fantastic.” He pauses, his eyes softening on me. “And, apparently, you’re made for the camera. Light up the screen, they say.” He leans over to me, kissing my cheek while grabbing my seatbelt. “Buckle up, baby girl, you’re gonna make Daddy a rich man.” He smirks and I laugh, despite my cheeks warming at the compliment.

“You’re just saying that.”

“Nope, the guy Grant’s been working with from the network said it when he saw the half-hour clip we made for him. Mostly the stuff before you came but we included the part where you saw the bear.”

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