Page 40 of Bound by Love
“I didn’t trust you. I know that much.”
“Was your distrust specifically toward me, or was it a general mistrust of men around your daughter?”
“Both.”
“Really, and why was that?”
“You were too smooth. I could tell you were trouble.”
Sir laughed. “All I did was hand her a bottle she couldn’t reach.”
“But she trusted you enough to talk to you. I taught Brianna better than that.”
Brie thought back on that encounter and realized her dad was right. She had trusted Thane, even back then.
“So, how do you feel about it, knowing I would eventually marry your daughter?”
“How do I feelnow?”
“It was Fate, Bill!” Brie’s mother exclaimed excitedly. “It’s obvious these two were meant for each other.”
“To be honest, I’m in shock,” he replied. “If I had postponed the trip to Disneyland, would you two still have hooked up years later?”
“It certainly begs the question,” Sir agreed. He pushed it one step further. “If you could change the past, would you?”
There was a long pause on the phone.
The longer the silence dragged on, the more nervous Brie became. “Daddy?”
“In answer to your question, Thane, I guess I would have to say no. Even if I had the ability to change the past, I would choose to sit there and allow you to interact with my little girl. Despite everything.”
Brie felt a surge of relief.
“I am glad to know that,” Sir said, his voice tinged with emotion.
“You are good to my daughter, and I trust you will be the same to our granddaughter. However, I can’t stand the thought of her being a part of your kinky lifestyle.”
“I assure you that our child will be encouraged to think for herself and lead a life that is of her own design, not ours.”
“I trust you to do just that,” Bill stated firmly.
“So, did you like the ears, Daddy?” Brie prodded.
“It certainly was a surprise, and to find out that the four of us have met before is disconcerting, to say the least.”
“It was a surprise to us, as well—once we put two and two together,” she giggled.
“Whether Marcy is right about it being Fate or not, the simple fact is that we love you, little girl. We did then when we made your childhood dreams come true with a trip to Disneyland, and we do now as you are about to become a mother yourself.”
Brie felt her throat constrict, touched by her father’s heartfelt words.
“I’ll make you this promise, Brianna.”
Brie cleared her throat. “What’s that, Daddy?”
“I will wear these ears when we take our little granddaughter to Disneyland. How does that sound?”
“Like a dream come true,” Brie told him, tears filling her eyes.
