Page 128 of The Mistakes I've Made
Lizzie’s hands patted my waist, and it was then that I realized she was still here.
“Why don’t you go find Taylor and see if he needs any last-minute help with setting up for the ribbon-cutting ceremony?”
She nodded before hopping off toward the door.
Silence settled around the two of us after her departure as my father began to take a slow stroll around the lobby. With his hands neatly tucked behind his back, he checked out every detail—from the beautifully polished floor to the subtle color palette that offset the dark wood tones and vibrant green plants.
“You’ve done a good job here,” he finally announced, giving me an approving nod.
It was the first compliment he’d ever given me.
I would feel proud of myself if I wasn’t already.
“Thank you,” I answered.
He continued his perusal of the room, ending in front of the large window, his eyes steady on the gentle waves rolling up to the shore.
“Why are you here?” I asked, walking up to stand next to him.
His gaze turned sideways. “I’d like to re-offer your job to you.”
I sputtered out something between a laugh and a cough. Matthew had made the same sort of noise this morning, right before he upchucked breast milk all over me.
“What?” I said. “Are you kidding? Dad, I have a family now. Or did you not get the memo briefing from your robot assistant?”
I saw a brief hesitancy in his eyes.Was that remorse?
“I know, Leilani. I’m not asking you to move. You can stay here.” He swallowed hard before continuing, “I want you to take the role you were supposed to have in our company. Come back. It’s where you belong.”
“And how does Becky feel about this?” I couldn’t resist the jab. Honestly, I couldn’t.
“I don’t want to leave our family legacy to my wife,” he said. “I want to leave it to my daughter.”
I turned away, my heart racing.
It was everything I’d wanted…once upon a time.
My father’s approval.
The birthright I’d been denied.
All I had to do was say yes.
“No,” I answered fiercely.
Turning back around, I met his disappointed gaze.
“No?” he echoed.
“You want a daughter to leave your company to, but ever since I can remember, Dad, all I ever really wanted from you was a father.”
“Maybe we can both get what we want?”
I forced a smile, sadness tugging at the corners of my lips, disappointed he was still willing to make a deal when it came to our relationship. “I already have everything I want right here, Dad.”
It was getting late, and I had a ribbon to cut. Turning toward the door, I left him standing there, watching the waves tumble in. But, before I left, I offered him one last breadcrumb of hope.
He was my father after all.
