Page 167 of Taste of Addiction

I laugh as Graham’s entire security team surround him. Congratulations are exchanged. Pats on the back. Handshakes. Fist bumps. It is overwhelming. These people are ingrained into my life in their own way.

“Angie?”

I turn to see my dad standing in the background. “Dad?”

“It’s me.” He takes a hesitant step forward. “Congratulations are in order.”

I walk over to him and look into his solemn eyes. “I wasn’t expecting to see you.”

“It’s part of my therapy goals to make amends with all the people I have done wrong.”

“Therapy? You are—”

He nods his head, tears filling his eyes. “It was time. And that man of yours has helped me see all that I’m missing out on. You are very blessed to have found someone who loves you the way you deserve to be loved.”

I look back at Graham, as he winks at me while making conversation with Penny and Nic. “He helped?”

“Came to visit me weeks ago to ask me for your hand in marriage. I mean, first he had to officially introduce himself. I was in a very bad place. Have been for years. He got me into a rehab, and I've been working on myself slowly since.”

“Oh Dad, I’m so glad you’re taking these steps.” I take a deep breath.

“Seeing you this happy is everything a father dreams for his daughter.”

I hesitantly move closer. We haven’t hugged in a long time. I can’t even remember the last time. His arms open first, and I walk into them like I did as a little girl. The same little girl I buried deep within my soul on the day my mom died. Tears spring out of my eyes, and I shut them to prevent a flood. We stay like this, molded to each other, for several minutes. I sob. We both do. When I open my eyes, the entire patio is vacated.

“I’m glad you are here.”

“I’m glad just to be a witness.”

I rock on my heels. “I’m working on myself too, Dad. Every day. Making good choices.”

“You’ve inspired me unknowingly to start living again, Angie. I’m so sorry for not being the dad I should have been for you, when you needed me most.” He pulls back and looks at me. “Please forgive me,” he chokes out between sobs.

“I do. I do,” I cry, hugging him tighter.

“You know your mom would’ve been so very proud of you. James too. I miss them both with every ounce of me. I just had a horrible way of showing it.”

“I miss them too, Dad. Every day.”

“We just needed to learn how to walk again.”

I look up at him, with a furrow to my brow. “What do you mean?”

“Going through a new life without your mom and James required us to take fresh steps, knowing neither was coming back, no matter how hard we tried to pretend. It is okay to not be okay, Angie. I was not okay for years. I want to do better. I want to be better.”

“Me too, Dad.”

We pull away, wipe our tears from our eyes, and just breathe. When my heart has calmed down again, we move ourselves into the mansion and are overcome with an engagement party fit for royalty.

Ice sculpture castles hold the cold appetizer options of shrimp cocktail, vegetable medley, and mini charcuterie cups. Waiters walk around the gathering with trays of hot foods for everyone to select bite-size portions. Along the side wall, there is a bar set up with huge glass containers filled to the rims with different candies.

A harp player sits in the corner, strumming pop songs on her strings. I love the enchanted feeling of hearing music I relate to without the lyrics.

I find Graham across the room with his eyes on me. Even in a crowded space, I can still feel his presence. That’s how connected we are. He finishes up his conversation with his friend Logan and works his way over to me. I stare blatantly at the man of my dreams and smile as he approaches.

He leans his mouth into my ear. “You keep looking at me like that, sweetheart, and I’ll end this party early just to have my way with you in every room of this mansion.”

I look up at him and bat my eyelashes. “You make it sound like I don’t want the same thing.”

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