Page 195 of Protecting You

Not really. Not yet. “That has to come first. So I don’t know… I mean, I’m gonna be unemployed, and probably live at home. Hopefully, my parents won’t make me live in the basement, but they might as well.” He took a breath, blew it out. “I’m saying I’m not exactly a catch. I have nothing to offer you.”

“Wow. You’re really selling it.”

“I’m sorry. I just…”

“Callan?”

He sealed his lips.

“I’m going to be out of work too. And the only reason I have an apartment is because Dad pays for it. I’m not exactly a catch, either. Does that change how you feel about me?”

“It’s not like you’ll be destitute, Paris.”

“You think I won’t love you if you have less money than I do? Or, let me rephrase. Than my father does? How could you love a woman who would do that?”

“I don’t… That’s not what I’m saying.”

“Should we not act on our feelings because of short-term joblessness and short-term living arrangements?”

When she put it that way… “I hear what you’re saying, but still, I have Peri.”

“I get it.”

“I don’t know how long it’ll take me to convince her she can trust me. It might be months. It might be years. Until I do that?—”

“I’m in no hurry.”

“That’s not fair to you.”

“I love you. And I love your daughter. I want what’s best for you—and for her.”

Callan took the words in, hope blossoming inside him as it hadn’t since…since Peri had turned up in his life.

His beautiful, perfect daughter.

He was coming to understand that maybe there wasn’t a right way and a wrong way to be a father. There was just doing his best. Maybe doing well sometimes. Maybe messing up royally other times.

Loving her, through it all.

Alyssa wasn’t finished. “I want you and Peri to have a strong bond. I’m no expert on this stuff, but I think that’s what love is supposed to be, right? Wanting what’s best? Sacrificial? Patient?”

“Yeah, that’s…” He swallowed a lump. “That sounds…right.”

“Then let’s not worry about what it’s going to look like. Let’s just…wing it.”

He grinned. “I thought you weren’t awing-itkind of woman.”

“I’ve been practicing.”

That she had, and she’d done it beautifully.

He lifted her hand and kissed her knuckles. “We’ll put our trust in the God who got us this far.”

“There’s a good idea. I mean, if He can do this…” She gestured toward the door. Toward the little girl who’d just walked out, and the men who’d risked their lives to rescue them. Toward the people who still breathed because Ghazi had been stopped.

Callan’s family was safe. Her family was safe.

“He can do anything.” Callan leaned in and pressed his lips to hers. Sealing their future with a kiss.

The End…

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