Page 4 of Redemption

I laughed despite the misery of the day. “Get outta here.” I nudged him, and he chuckled before squeezing my arm and heading over to August.

“What are you reading at the moment in book club, Augs?” he asked.

“Pride and Prejudice,” August replied.

He rolled his eyes theatrically. “That wassolast year, it’s all aboutEmmanow, catch up.”

She snorted at him. “Says the man who prefers Matthew Macfadyen as Mr. Darcy.”

Leo pshed. “Hey, he did a good job, better than wooden Colin. The hand flex is iconic.”

“Colin Firth’s wet shirt is iconic!” August argued back.They continued their debate, and he managed to play and win a round of rock, paper, scissors with Daisy at the same time and the atmosphere felt lighter than it had in days.

“Lock him down, Maddy, before a buckle bunny does. I’m begging you,” I said out the corner of my mouth.

She had the gall to look shocked again. “What do you mean?”

“You know what I mean.”

She flicked her hazel eyes over to him, her lips quirking up in a smirk before she looked sad. “He’s not interested,” she replied.

“Do I need to have a word with him?”

Horror filled Maddy’s expression. “God, no! You don’t have to do everything Daddy would do.”

I laughed at the thought of my father having a stern conversation with Leo, whom he loved like a son and let get away with all kinds of mischief. “Daddy wouldn’t have said shit to Leo.”

Maddy snorted. “You’re right about that.”

We continued cooking, watching as the dreary day finally gave up and let the night take over, the rain continuing to pour. August set the table and Daisy got the dishes ready. Tilly made everyone drinks while Leo washed up. Then we were all seated, looking towards the empty chair at the head of the table where Daddy would have been.

Leo cleared his throat and lifted his water glass. “To Charlie.” He was the only one who would have been able to say the words, I just knew it.

We all raised our glasses. “To Daddy,” we chorused. Tilly promptly burst into tears and Leo pulled her into a fierce hug and reached across the table for Maddy’s hand. I hugged August next to me and she in turngripped onto Daisy. When Leo raised his head there were tears in his eyes too and I felt guilty at how much we had relied on him lately when he was also grieving.

After a moment, we began eating and eventually chatter resumed. After dinner, Leo and the girls retired to the living room to watch a movie together and I excused myself to the porch with a glass of wine.

I opened the front door. As the sound of the rain intensified, peace washed over me. I inhaled the distinctive scent and listened to the patter of it on the wood. I turned and headed over to the old Adirondack chairs we had and settled down, leaning back and tucking my feet up under me.

And then I felt him sit down next to me with a deep sigh like he used to. When I looked over, the chair remained empty but I knew he was there.

“Oh Daddy, you’ve done it now, ain’t ya,” I sighed before I finally released the sob that I’d been holding back for hours. Hell, I’d been keeping it in for weeks now. “How could you leave us all alone?”

I pressed my tongue into my top lip as the tears scalded my cheeks. “I know you didn’t have a choice. I bet you fought every step of the way, didn’t you? At least you’re with Mama now; reunited finally and you get to watch over us all.”

There was no reply though I don’t know what I’d been expecting exactly. Just some words of comfort, some reassurance,something.

The rain continued and I took that as a sign he was still here.

“Just promise me you won’t stop hanging around us. Don’t stop guiding us. You always knew what to do and I have no clue what we do now. I’m winging it, Daddy. Flying by the seat of my pants, which isn’t good for anyof us. So don’t be afraid to send me signs, put me on the right path. But don’t jump out at me, you know I hate that ghost shit,” I joked weakly.

I sat there for hours, sipping my wine, listening to the rain and just being alone in my grief and thoughts. I didn’t realize I wasn’t alone until I felt a hand on my shoulder and looked up into Leo’s warm brown eyes.

“You need anything, Kat?”

I covered his hand with mine. “No Leo, you’ve done more than enough.”

He nodded. “Alrighty then, I’ll be back in the morning. Just holler if you need me before then.”

---