Page 33 of Grace Notes
Smirking, I say, “I think I can handle that.”
I lead her to the dance floor, and she is content to follow behind me. Avery is already on the floor, dancing with Grayson. The song before, she was out here with Tayte. She loves having uncles she can boss around—and they are both dumb enough to let her, too. I chuckle, thinking about all the ways Avery has them wrapped around her little finger, and it will only get worse as she gets older.
On the dance floor, Emryn wraps her arms around my neck and looks up at me. “What’s that smile for?”
I shrug. “I’m just happy.”
“Me too,” she says, laying her head down against my chest, and I wonder if she can hear how my heart beats just for her.
We dance like that, me holding her and her holding me together, until the song ends and a throat clears behind me.
Emryn lifts her head and stands on her tiptoes to look over my shoulder, and when she sees who it is, a grin spreads over her mouth.
“Hey, Kip.”
I spin, turning to face my dad. He’s in a wheelchair—the events from today too much for him to handle on his own post-surgery. Emryn’s dad, Jonathan, stands behind him with his hands on the handles. Both men are dressed up and sport secretive smiles.
“Your dad has something to tell you,” Jonathan says, placing his hand on my dad’s shoulder.
Worry turns my stomach, but when I glance down at my dad, happiness shines on his face. “I’m cancer-free. The biopsy came back—the mass was benign.”
It takes a second for what he’s saying to sink in, but then the pressure that I’ve been on my chest since learning that my dad might be sick lifts at his words.
“Oh, Kip,” Emryn says, rushing forward to squeeze his neck, “that’s such great news.”
My dad returns the hug, enveloping her in his arms, and the two hold each other tight.
“Have you told Avery?” I ask, clearing my throat and trying to hold back my tears.
Emryn lets go of his neck, and Dad looks at me. There’s a wariness in the wrinkles of his face that tells me the answer. “Not yet. I can’t lie—I was a little nervous. I know it’s good news, but she avoided me there for a while.”
“Dad,” I say, my voice gruff, “I think she’ll be happy—especially if she hears it from you. Do you want me to come with you?”
He glances over to where Avery is still dancing with Grayson. Keeping his eyes on them, he shakes his head. “No. I think I want to do this on my own. Besides, I need to tell your brother too.”
Jonathan starts to push him toward the dancing pair, but deep in my gut, I know I need to say something.
“Dad,” I say. Jonathan stops, and my dad turns his head toward me. “I—I love you.”
Tears well in his eyes, and I have to blink several times to prevent the same from happening to mine.
“I love you, too, son.”
With a gruff nod, he is wheeled away, and I watch as he approaches my daughter. He stops in front of her and bendsdown to tell her the news. Avery’s eyes go wide, and she starts jumping up and down. Grayson smiles at our dad, clapping him on the shoulder.
A hand winds around my waist, and I tuck Emryn against my chest.
“I’m proud of you, you know,” Emryn says.
I look down at her. Her green eyes stare back at me, twinkling with the fairy lights around her parent’s yard. “For what?”
“For being willing to see past people’s mistakes. For being a good dad and husband,” she shrugs. “For all of those things and so much more. You take your pick.”
“I love you, Emryn Montgomery.”
She smiles, pushing up to kiss my lips. “I love you, too.”
Chapter 20
