Page 105 of Love Overboard
“This is a treat. First, I get to see you on our cruise, and now we get to talk on the phone.” Rustling sounded. “Usually, your mom fills me in.”
“I stay pretty busy.”
“You’re an important person. Those Monarch people better be treating you right.”
“They are.” Lacey picked at a loose thread on the carpet. “How are you doing?”
Her father moaned. “Same as usual. I have my good days and my bad days.” He launched into a lengthy explanation of his latest malady. A volley of complicated health terms rolled off his tongue like he was reading a medical dictionary.
Lacey shifted positions on the hard floor and looked at the clock on her bedside table. “Dad,” she interrupted, “I just realized this is when you take your nap. You were probably in bed.”
“That’s okay. It’s worth it to talk to you. I’m glad you got over your little snit.”
Lacey jerked forward. She sprang to her feet. The old bitterness jumped inside of her like a dog with its teeth bared. “It wasn’t a … I didn’t.” She squeezed her eyes shut and whispered a desperate two-second prayer. “God, help me do this.”
She sank to her mattress. “You know what, Dad? I hope you get better soon.”
“Me too, Lacey-bell. Me too.”
Her pulse calmed. “You’d better go back to bed and rest.”
“I should. Thanks for calling.”
“Dad …” So embarrassing. Could she skip this part?
“Hmm?”
Lacey took a deep breath. “I forgive you.” She almost choked on the words.
“For what?” Genuine confusion colored his voice.
“For … whatever.”
“Thanks, honey … I forgive you too.”
“Bye.” Lacey ended the call.
She stared at the phone in silence. A teardrop fell on the glass screen, and she wiped it away with her thumb.
That was harder than I thought, God. But I’m glad I did it. Thank you for pushing me.
It turned out forgiveness wasn’t a one-time thing. She suspected she’d be saying those words again over the years. But she felt … better.
As Abby would put it, lighter.
Like someone had opened the blinds in her brain and let the sunshine in.
CHAPTER 48
THE SWIVEL CHAIR CREAKED ASJon swung left and right. Monarch kept a branch office in Cozumel to handle any problems with the city, port schedules, and passengers who’d been left behind. His foot bumped the side of the desk. If he swung the chair all the way around, he could look out the third-story window and see the MSBuckinghamdocked at the pier. But he didn’t.
Lacey was there.
Which meant he wanted to be there. But duty and family obligation called him home. Ever since he was old enough to remember, he’d dreamed of following in his father’s footsteps. That was a lot to ignore just so he could be there for a woman who continued to abandon him at the slightest sign of trouble.
Okay. The latest trouble hadn’t been slight. It was the biggest screwup of his life.
Jon leaned forward and banged his head twice against the desktop. He stopped at the sound of gum popping, raised his face, and glared at Collins sitting on a brown leather couch with his feet propped up.
