Page 26 of Protecting His Woman
“It’s fine.”
“No, I should have fucking been there.I should have gotten you checked sooner, and then I could have ...fuck.You’re a Thames, Vicki.”
“I don’t want to change who I am.I’m not joining your family, I want to remain a civilian.”
She didn’t want anything to change.
Neil nodded.“That’s fair.”
Within families, she knew members when they were old enough could opt out of the family, choose to become a civilian, and make it work without them.There could be no consequences for those choices, and she knew it was very rare for members to do that.In most situations, it was impossible, as they had lived in their family’s world and didn’t know what it was like to be a civilian.This was different for her, as she had only ever lived life as a civilian.
“I want to get to know you.”
“Neil, Dad, I, uh...”Wow, that felt strange.She had never said the word “Dad” before.Well, she probably did when she was a kid, but that was a long time ago.Now the word seemed strange to say, unlike “Mom.”She was used to saying Mom, not Dad.“I have my brothers and sisters, and I don’t know if you know this or not, Frank might be joining The Lords.Again, I don’t know for sure because he doesn’t tell me anything, but I don’t know how that is going to work with you knowing me, or if it will have any impact.”
She tried not to wince.This was hard.
“No, it won’t.I know what Frank is doing.We all know, but that is not going to affect our friendship.I am happy to get to know you and your family, Vicki.I know I’m the leader of the Thames, and I’ve done a lot of bad shit.”He then stopped.“I want to get to know you.I want to be there for you.”
“I don’t know how to do that,” she said.
“I guess, we take it one day at a time,” Neil said.“So, I guess we start with, hi, I’m Neil, your father.”
This made her smile.“Hi, I’m Vicki, your daughter.”
He held his hand out, and she took it, giving his hand a shake.“Would you like some lunch?”
“Actually, it wasn’t so long ago that I ate.”She saw how disappointed he was when she refused, and she quickly thought about it.“How about tomorrow?I’m working here tomorrow.You could stop by.We could have lunch?”
“I’d like that.”
“Great.”She looked toward the time.“I’ve got to head back.I’ve got to get Betsy.”
“Say no more.”Neil got to his feet, and then shook her hand.“I’m glad, about the news.”
“Me too.”She offered him a smile, although, for her, it didn’t really change anything.
He left the diner first, and Damion came to her side.He placed a hand on the center of her back.“You okay?”
“Yes and no.I mean, I never really thought about my dad, you know.There was no reason to think about him.”
“And now?”
“It hasn’t sunk in.He’s my dad, but ...that is all it is right now—a title.I don’t know what I should expect.Should I call him my dad?”She shook her head and frowned.“I have no idea what he expects from me.”
“I imagine right now he doesn’t expect anything from you.He just wants the chance to be with you when you need him to be.”
She looked up at Damion and nodded.
“You ready to head back to the high school?”
“Yeah, Delphine was okay with taking care of Betsy, right?”
“Sure is.She thinks she is adorable.”
Vicki laughed.“Everyone loves Betsy.”
He pulled her close and kissed her head.Vicki didn’t realize how much she needed his support until that moment.She had never really thought of what it would be like to meet her father.She certainly hadn’t expected it to be so hard.
