Page 20 of Voyage with Dad's Best Friend
“The other day I tested his opinion,” she says, hesitating for a moment.
“What did you say?”
“He was asking whether I was dating any boys in high school, and I told him I liked older men.”
“What did he say?”
“He said it would be a bad idea,” she murmurs. “That he wouldn’t want any man his own age to call him father-in-law because it made him feel old.”
I chuckle despite my distress. Any father would say the same. This is the least of my concern. What I worry the most is the part of me being his best friend, but I don’t tell Elle. “Let me handle it, sweetheart. But is it what you want? Do you really want your parents to know you’re seeing me?”
Her eyes widen. “Yes, Dan! I love you!”
I hold her tight. “Baby, I promise I’ll make your dad change his mind.”
I’m getting ready for the dinner at John’s house. My hand is shaky when I button up my shirt and when I style my hair. My heart is threatening to hammer a hole in my chest whenever I’m reminded of my plan. I’m going to do it. I open the drawer of my nightstand and take out the velvet box. I purchased the ring at Tiffany’s earlier during the day. It’s a white gold with a rare diamond the color of Elle’s light hazel irises. I hesitate whether I should carry it with me. Would it be too hasty? I shove it into my pant pocket just in case I get lucky.
In fact, I’ve wanted to speak to John since the day we returned to the city. I couldn’t wait to ask him to give his daughter to me, but I forced myself to be patient. For one thing, I wanted to make sure that Elle wouldn’t change her mind. She could’ve lost her pretty head over me when we were on my boat, but would she still feel the same about me once she got home? But from what I’ve seen in the past month, my worries were unnecessary at all. She’s still crazy about me, for mysterious reasons I cannot fathom but thankful for.
During the fifteen-minute drive, I rehearse what I’ll say to my friend. I’ll tell him what a great son-in-law I will be. We can play golf together, sail together, and play the chess. We’re already best friends and know each other well. There isn’t even any need to investigate my family background. And he knows what kind of person I am, that I will never cheat on Elle, and I will always take care of her and protect her.
I take a deep breath before pressing the doorbell of John’s house. I remind myself to be confident. If I looked nervous, John wouldn’t trust me.
I hear the rattle of door chain and the turning of doorknob. I put on a pleasant smile to face my friend. When the door swings open, I see an angry face, and before I even speak, a fist lands on my face and knocks me a few steps back. I hold on to the wall to not fall when I see Elle running out of the house screaming.
“Ohmygod, Dan! Are you all right? Are you hurt?”
She reaches to touch my burning face, but John grabs her and drags her back into the house.
“You sick bastard, you have the gut to come see me!” he roars while standing in the doorway. “I trusted you with my little girl and you took advantage of her innocence!”
Damn. What’s happening? I quickly realize that maybe Elle told her parents already, for whatever reason.
I rack my brain for a proper response. “Calm down, please, John,” I say. “I didn’t take advantage of her. I would never do that. I loved her and we both wanted it.”
“Shut up!” he snarls. “Get lost. I don’t want to see you again!”
He’s going to close the door, but I block him and squeeze in through the gap. “I’m not leaving, John,” I say firmly. “Give me a chance, please. Even if you don’t care about me, it concerns your daughter’s happiness.”
After the door slams closed, he shouts again. “Okay. Tell me why anyone would sleep with their best friend’s daughter if he weren’t a selfish, morally degraded bastard!”
John’s wife Grace is standing next to him, and she chides her husband. “Please, John, let the man speak.”
Elle, my brave girl, comes to me despite the formidable look of her father. “Are you hurt?”
“No, sweetheart, I’m fine,” I say, holding her in my arms.
I clear my throat and say to John. “John, I know it’s hard for you to understand, but I am in love with Elle. And whether you believe it or not, I’ve been fighting my feelings for a while. I thought it was wrong and I didn’t want to hurt you or Elle. But after I found out the feeling was mutual between us, I couldn’t deny it any longer. Again, I’m sorry, I value your friendship, but I care about Elle’s feelings more. She needs me.”
I give Elle a longing look, willing her to confirm my words, and she does promptly. “Dad, I love Dan. I want to be with him. I’m already his…and I… I’m pregnant with his child.”
“What?” The three of us, John, Grace, and I utter the word simultaneously.
John and Grace look at each other while I pull Elle to face me. “When did you find out?” My voice trembles with joy.
Elle’s cheeks are burning. “Just an hour ago. That was why I got carried away. I thought I should give them a heads up. It turned out to be a bad idea.”
I can’t stop kissing her, despite her parents’ watchful eyes. “I’m going to become a dad! You’re making me the happiest man on earth, sweetheart!” I laugh like a maniac.
