Page 31 of Banking on Love

“What?” I shrieked. My attention was torn between looking at Nick, my father, Kimberly, and Kallia. They all seemed to be in on it. “What the hell is going on?”

“Don’t be mad at them, Kensi. Please,” my father whispered. “I didn’t want you to know in case I failed again. Didn’t want you disappointed in me… again.”

For being a stubborn old man, who was always full of confidence, right now he sounded broken. Years of pain and suffering danced in his eyes. For the first time since I could remember, he looked vulnerable.

“It’s only been going a couple of days so far. Nick here has been driving me every night and sitting at the meetings with me so I’m not by myself,” my father continued. “I know I’ve been a shitty father to you girls. I can’t undo the past, but I’m hoping I… I’m hoping I can fix the now and that A.A. is a good start.”

He shrugged as though his words were no big deal. Downplaying his feelings without a doubt. However, there was no chance his words wouldn’t affect me.

“Aww. Beautiful, don’t cry,” Nick whispered, wrapping his arm around me and pulling me against him. The tears poured from my eyes like a big ole baby. “It’ll all be okay.”

“I’m sorry, Kenz. I know you’ve busted your ass over the years to sober me up and I’ve been a huge pain in the ass. You probably think I’ll fa–” my dad said. I shook my head and he paused briefly. “I understand. Maybe over time, you can forgive me and we can–”

“It’s not that,” I whispered, looking at my father. “I’m so proud of you, Dad.”

“Wh… You are?”

“Yes,” I nodded my head and smiled.

“Even though it’s only day three?”

“It’s a start. That’s what matters,” I sniffled and laid my head on Nick’s chest. Nick rubbed my back and kissed the top of my head.

“You got yourself one hell of a guy, Kenz,” my dad chuckled. “He took me to the first meeting kicking and screaming.”

“Literally,” Nick grumbled. I looked up at Nick with wide eyes. Surely he was kidding. Nick must have sensed my question. “Not even kidding, Beautiful.”

“He tied me up with electrical tape!” My father busted out laughing. Kimberly, Kallia, and I looked at with wide eyes and our mouths gaped slightly open.

“He had given me his word that he’d go no matter what,” Nick shrugged then smirked. “It all worked out. No hard feelings. Right, Mr. Wallace?”

“No hard feelings,” my dad nodded.

Disbelief. The moment had me in utter disbelief. Nick had managed to get my father to go to meetings. And, for more than one day. My dad hadn’t even snuck out the back or pretended to be deathly-ill like he had numerous times with me. Nick had pulled off the impossible.

Sure to most three days of an alcoholic going to meetings wouldn’t be a big deal; however, this small step was huge for my dad. He had finally accepted help from someone. I didn’t care that it wasn’t me. I was just thankful that he was on the road to recovery. And I’d be behind him each step of the way.

“Man, this feels nice,” my dad announced. He looked out across Cupid’s Cove with a huge smile plastered to his face. He seemed genuinely happy.

“After this, wanna get some funnel cake?” Kallia asked hopeful.

“Ooo. That sounds good. I haven’t had that stuff in ages.”

“We have to get our pictures taken in the photo booth!” Kimberly stated.

“Can’t forget the jewelry-making tables too!” Kallia retorted.

“And the frozen hot chocolate!”

“And the Sweetheart’s Dance!”

My dad looked like a ping-pong ball as his head went back and forth between my sisters as they continued spouting off different things we should try at the festival. They must have listed fifty things before they finally stopped. They stared at my dad with hopeful looks.

“Sure, we can try all of that stuff,” he chuckled. They hugged him and cheered victoriously.

I couldn’t help but smile at the three of them. It had been years since I saw my dad hug either of them. He had been so distant since my mom passed away. Lifeless almost; outside the raging alcoholic. Seeing him being fatherly to Kallia and Kimberly was one of the best things I’d seen in a long time.

“I’m really glad you’re here, Dad,” I said, gaining his attention. When our eyes met, we both smiled.

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