Page 105 of Starting Over

The ringing of my phone pulled me back from my thoughts. Looking down, I saw my daughter’s name.

“Hey, baby girl.”

“Hey, Dad, can you come to the clubhouse for dinner tonight?”

Sitting down in my chair, I pinched the bridge of my nose.

“I don’t know. I’m not exactly welcome there.”

“Dad, we found out what we’re having, and I want you to be there when we tell everyone.”

Dropping my hand, I smiled wide. “I thought you wanted to wait?”

“Yea, well, Micah pointed out that everything I wanted to buy for the nursery was either for a boy or a girl, so if I want to get anything done before the little one gets here, then I needed to know.”

“So why don’t you just tell me now.”

“Because I don’t know.”

“What you mean you don’t know?”

“The doctor put it in an envelope and sealed it. We want to open it up with everyone there. Will you come?”

“Yeah, baby, I’ll be there after work.”

“Thanks, Dad. I’ll see you tonight!”

She hung up the phone, and I sat there for a few minutes, thinking about everything that had happened since I found my daughter. The things I’d done. The lines I crossed. All for her.

I wasn’t lying when I told Sal I wouldn’t change a thing. Was I happy my daughter had a hard life? No. But I couldn’t imagine her being anyone other than who she was. Could she be the same person, or better, if I had been in her life? Maybe.

One thing I knew for sure, King wouldn’t be the man he was today without the life he lived. Without a doubt, growing up in Boston would not have made him a better man. In fact, there was no guarantee he would even still be alive.

My mother did the right thing. My decision to follow her path was the right choice. No one would convince me otherwise.

Pulling into the clubhouse, I turned off the ignition and sat there for a few moments, watching the door.

Tapping on my window caught my attention, and I climbed out.

“Glad you’re here,” Blade said. “She would have been upset if you hadn’t come.”

“I will never deny my daughter anything that is within my power.”

“I know, and she knows. It doesn’t stop her from hearing her mother’s voice though.” Slapping me on the back, he said, “Come on. She’s champing at the bit. I don’t think she’ll make it through dinner.”

I followed Blade inside and found my daughter waiting. Pulling her in for a hug, I whispered, “I am so fucking proud of the woman you are.”

“Dad. Don’t make me cry.”

Stepping back, I added, “I mean it. You are going to be the most amazing mother.”

I wiped the tears from her cheeks and kissed her forehead. “Ok, so, is dinner ready?”

Beck laughed and hugged me. “Almost. Once everyone is here, we were going to make the announcement, then have dinner.”

Blade was right. She was too excited to wait. Looking around, I clocked King sitting at the bar. He cut his gaze to mine before looking away. Sal was right. I needed to talk to him. But I had to wait until he was ready.

Searching the faces around the room, I wondered who wasn’t here yet, when the door opened and Maureen walked in, followed by a big black dog.

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