Page 53 of Call Sign: Thunder
Zach couldn’t refrain from interrupting any longer.
“You are being too hard on yourself. Anyone can see how much you love her and she adores you.”
“Oh, there’s no doubt about that, but if I’d been doing a better job as a parent, maybe she wouldn’t be having this identity crisis right now.”
“I don’t understand,” Zach added truthfully before asking. “Why are you telling me all of this?”
“Because tonight when she came home upset, I really listened to her and realized you’re doing for her what I should have been doing already — helping her sort out what she wants for her own life, instead of just keeping her dependent on me. I admit, it scares the shit out of me to think about losing her, but the thing is, she isn’t mine to lose. Not really. You know how I know that?”
Zach added a quiet, “No.”
“She told me what you said to her tonight.”
He paused long enough that Zach had time to think back, trying to zero in on what he was referring to. They’d said a lot of things.
The senator solved the mystery by adding, “You told her she could go anywhere… be anything. Her mother said those exact words to me early in our relationship. She helped open my eyes to the possibilities available to me if I just wanted them bad enough and was willing to work for them.
“Not long after that, I made up my mind to go into politics and have won every election I’ve been in ever since. I’m not ashamed to say I never would have been brave enough to run for dog catcher without Kay in my corner. She was my biggest cheerleader.
“And that’s what I see you doing for my little girl. As much as I love her and that I only had the best intentions, I see now that instead of cheering her on, I’ve been holding her back — partly out of fear of losing her like I lost her mother — but if I’m honest, it was mostly because it was easier to just control her than it was to do the hard work of supporting her even when she made choices I didn’t like.”
“Is that what I am? A choice you don’t like?” Zach asked.
“I won’t lie. In the beginning, back at the hospital in Honduras, absolutely. But in my defense, I’d almost lost her. She’d been kidnapped and could have easily been killed, or worse. I know what happens to beautiful young women like her in these situations. I was frantic to keep her safe, and let’s face it, you were just doing your job when you saved her. I had no reason to think you’d ever see her as anything more than a successful mission.”
“Fair enough, but again… I’m still confused why you’re telling me all of this. Why now?”
For the first time since they’d just sat down, a pregnant pause fell between the men. Zach waited for his answer.
“What are your intentions toward my daughter?”
Zach smiled. “See, I knew you were going to ask that.”
The senator smiled in return. “Sorry. I can’t help myself, but I do have a bit of an ulterior motive.”
“Oh? What’s that?”
“Because if you’re as serious about her as she is about you, I’d like to help.”
“I told Allie, I don’t want your money,” Zach said defensively.
The senator smiled indulgently. “I’d expect nothing less, which is why I’m not offering you money.”
“Okay… I’ll bite. What are you offering? All I really want is Allison.”
“Which is the only reason I’m interested in helping at all. I’ve become a pretty good judge of character over the years, which is why I would be honored to have Allison marry you. We are talking marriage, aren’t we?”
Zach smiled. “Wow, no pressure at all.”
The senator nodded. “Sorry, it’s just… if that’s not the end result you see for you and her, I’d respectfully ask you to bow out now.”
“No offense, but you’re doing it again. This isn’t your decision to make for us.”
It felt like they were going around in circles. Finally, he asked a question her father might have insight into.
“I’m having trouble seeing Allison living on base with me. I don’t think she’ll appreciate military housing.”
He wasn’t comforted by her father’s chuckle. “Oh boy, wouldn’t that be fun to watch.”
