Page 90 of L.O.V.E

“I wouldn’t say that.” He smiled. “But the kid has one helluva golf swing.”

Unbelievable.

“Ugh. Dad. What are you doing?” I threw my arms over my face.

“He’s your best friend’s husband’s best friend. That makes him your friend-in-law. He’s practically family.” Dad huffed and finally turned my way, his brows knitted. “I thought you loved the guy.”

“I fell in love with him on accident.”

“Nothing is an accident,” Mom piped in.

“And then I moved away. To get away from him. Because he was getting married!”

“He isn’t married anymore,” Dad said, looking truly perplexed.

“Because his wife is dead. And might I remind you, she was my mortal enemy.”

Mom’s turn again. “Might I remind you that if it weren’t for Victoria, Cole wouldn’t have come back to Seattle.”

“That’s true.” Dad gave Mom a high five over my head. “You never would have met him.”

“Oh. My. God. Why am I having this conversation with you guys right now?” I stood, aimed my ire at Mom. “And why are you on his side? What happened with the Caleb lore and all that destiny mumbo jumbo?”

“Oh, my God, honey. I just remembered something.” Mom sprinted up the stairs.

Dad eased off the couch, groaning louder than usual, and turned off the television. He limped to the stereo and pressedPlay.

Adding salt to my wound, Nat King Cole’s version of “The Christmas Song” played in surround sound.

I dropped my head back in surrender. Dad came my way, wrapped me in his arms, and sung along while he spun me around the living room, paper crinkling under our feet.

“Nat King Cole.” He laughed. “Natalie King and Cole. What are the odds?”

I only refrained from smacking my dad because he was the freakin’ bomb. And even grown up girls needed their father’s arms once in a while. I missed our impromptu dances and his incessant teasing.

When Mom returned, panting and wild-eyed, she slapped a photo into my hand. “Fate!”

“What?”

I looked down at the fading image. Mom was holding a brand spanking new baby—me, obviously. Next to her sat a woman, also holding a brand spanking new baby. Both women were smiling. I slept, my lips pursed, and the other baby’s face was hidden in the mother’s chest.

“Who is that?”

“That’s him.” She pointed at the baby as if that would answer my question.

“Him, who?”

“Caleb. Your soulmate. I found the picture when I was rummaging through the attic the other day.”

Mom studied the photo, wonder and tears filling her hazel eyes. “Her father-in-law was so happy to be a grandfather. So happy. That man whistled or sang every time he walked through the hospital.” She looked at Dad with a twisted grin. “Tell your Nugget what song that was, honey.”

Dad chuckled, his arms still around me. “Nat King Cole’s ‘L-O-V-E.’”

Of course, it was.

I was done. Rising to my toes, I landed a kiss on Dad’s cheek, then Mom’s, then headed toward my room.

“Where are you going?”

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