Page 70 of Vodka and Chocolate Drops

Family dinner. And John was here. Did she dare dream?

She joined them and John immediately passed her a shot of vodka. That couldn’t be good, if he thought she was going to need a drink for whatever they were about to say.

“Any nuts to go with it?” she asked, feeling the need to find common ground.

“As long as they’re not bar nuts,” he said.

“Oh,” Gloria said, rolling her eyes. “You two. The bowl of peanuts sitting on the bar at Brew Babies isn’t full of fecal matter.”

“Not quite accurate, Glori,” John said.

Glori?

“If somebody doesn’t wash their hands and then touches the nuts…”

“Why wouldn’t they wash their hands?” Amber asked.

“Drunk men.” John held up his palms, indicating there was nothing more that needed to be said on the subject.

“Amber, your father and I,” Gloria said carefully, her chest expanding as though she’d waited her entire life to say those words, “would like your permission to tell the town about your parentage.”

Father.

She was never going to get used to that.

Her mind caught up with her mother’s request and Amber sat down on the nearest chair, realizing the impact that one small announcement would make.

She had a father. John was claiming her as a member of his family. She would have someone to give a Father’s Day card to. There would be no more secrets in her life. Family dinners, holidays and celebrations would be more than just her and her mom. She had another half sister--Marisa. John was saying she could be a part of that. It was her choice. After all these years it came down to her.

This was huge.

“Are you sure?” she asked, watching John. His cheeks were flushed and he had one hand clapped in front of his mouth while he waited for her to reply.

“I’m sure,” he said. “I am your father. I’m incredibly proud of that fact and don’t want it to remain a secret any longer. I understand if you feel upset and as though you have missed out. I can’t make up for what we didn’t have, but I would like to be there for you in the coming years to the best of my ability. If you need me. If you want me there.”

Amber was going to need another shot. She felt like bawling. To go all this time and now have him so matter-of-factly state everything she’d ever wanted.

“I’m sorry,” he said stiffly. “For… for not being there.”

“You’ve always been a significant father figure in my life.”

The pinched line between John’s brow eased and he visibly relaxed.

Gloria was sniffing, waving away their attention when they turned to her. “It was my fault,” she said. “I denied you both your rights. And this is just… it’s so much more…”

John squeezed her shoulder. “Gloria, if you had come to me several years ago I am not sure I would have been ready. I may not have embraced this to the extent that I’m willing to now. Don’t blame yourself for what you did then--I’m not. I was the one who was a fool and pushed you away.”

Amber’s mother was crying. “No, I was the fool. I’m the one who was afraid to let you love me. It was me who felt I wasn’t enough.”

“And I didn’t help you feel any better about it. I’m sorry.” John pulled her into a hug, holding her close like a lover would. He gave her a kiss on the lips and said, “I love you, Gloria, and I have never stopped.”

Amber held back tears, half wondering if she should leave the room.

“Can we make up for lost time?” John asked, and Gloria nodded.

“I would really like that,” she murmured.

“So are you two a couple now?” Amber asked.

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