Accepting the Fall
Page 20
“You guys are crazy,” she said to them, laughing as those who had followed them home shouted for them to move so they could come in.
Dad picked her up, just like he’d done when she was so much smaller, and twirled her around. Gone was the hair from the top of his head, replaced by a gleaming dark surface. He’d taken to growing a beard instead, and gray encroached at the edges. He reminded her, in a far less attractive way, of Tyson Beckford. He was just as strong as ever, broad and solid as he held her. He’d never once dropped her, and she knew he never would. He was still a firefighter, and over the years they’d had scares. He had scars to show for them, burns on his arms and a slash through his left cheek. He always came home, though.
Cole hugged her next, not lifting her but holding tight enough to steal her breath. His dirty-blond hair hadn’t started to gray yet, but when he let his stubble grow out the color was there, taking over the once reddish fuzz. His wedding ring, a band he’d worn for over ten years now, was cool against the skin of her arm. At the moment his blue eyes were watery, and he kept sniffling against her shoulder. He always had been easy to make cry.
Not wanting to start the tear train herself, Savanah patted Cole’s back. “I’m not leaving for another three months.”
“You’re leaving me all alone with your father,” said Cole mournfully.
Savanah knew he was full of shit. She’d seen her parents together over the years, and they were just as much in love now as they’d been at the start. She playfully shoved at Cole. “You can’t wait to have all the alone time in the world with Dad.” She wrinkled her nose, uncomfortably aware of just what alone time entailed. If only her parents could have been sexless monks. “You two are sickeningly sweet.”
“Harsh lies,” said Cole, grinning. He wiped at his eyes. “I can’t believe you’re all grown up.”
She laughed. “That makes two of us.” It felt like just yesterday she was small enough to sit on her father’s shoulders and be carried around the room. She remembered nights spent sitting between Dad and Cole on the couch, watching TV together and bickering comfortably. She cooked with Cole, and she’d gone to work with her dad sometimes. He’d let her slide down the fire pole a few times. Cole had helped her with her homework, sitting down and patiently explaining everything to her, until she reached a point in math where he’d thrown up his hands and said he was lost. She’d surpassed his knowledge.
It was weird to think she’d be on her own soon—though not actually on her own. Dad and Cole would always be a phone call away, and she knew they’d find excuses to visit her more often than they needed to.
She threw herself back into Cole’s arms. “I love you,” she said. “Thank you for being you.”
“I love you too, princess.” He kissed her cheek. “Why don’t you go be the belle of the ball now? Everyone’s dying to give you money and you’ve gotta eat that up while they still think you’re young enough.”
He went to find her father, and she went off to make the rounds of the house. The place was packed, and she stopped more than once, ignoring the people around her, to pet the herd of animals she’d be leaving behind with her parents. She’d gotten her wish tenfold when it came to pets.
Dad had moved them into Cole’s house in less than a year’s time from her graduating kindergarten, and she’d been surrounded by cats and dogs, horses and goats. She’d learned to ride and to take care of almost any kind of animal. She’d gone on volunteer excursions with Cole, and once they’d even done a trip without her father to help with a wildlife sanctuary in Africa for two months. Dad had clung to them for hours once they’d come home.
She glanced up from scratching Juniper, a mastiff currently wearing a tiara, and spotted her parents in the corner of the room.
Dad was boxing Cole in against the wall, and they were both smiling. Their expressions were soft and fond, as they so often were, and as she watched Cole tilted his chin and her father met him halfway for a gentle kiss.
The two of them fit together, like complimenting pieces of a puzzle.
About the Author
Meg Harding is a graduate of UCF, and recently completed a masters program for Publishing in the UK. For as long as she can remember, writing has always been her passion, but she had an inability to ever actually finish anything. She’s immensely happy that her inability has fled and looks forward to where her mind will take her next. She’s a sucker for happy endings, the beach, and superheroes. In her dream life she owns a wildlife conservation and is surrounded by puppies. She’s a film buff, voracious reader, and a massive geek.
For more information:
@cumberstone61
MegHardingWrites
megharding.wordpress.com
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