“Yes, Julia. She died when I was a little girl.”
“I’m sorry, Mommy,” she said as she put her little arm around me. I’m glad you’re not dead.”
“So am I,” a voice said from behind me.
Julia got up and looked at Connor as she put her hands on her hips. “I’m not talking to you right now,” she said as she stomped away.
I laughed and Connor sighed as he sat down next to me. “Please tell me it gets better,” he said.
“Sorry to break the news to you, but it’s only going to get worse.”
“Great,” he said as he put his arm around me.
Before long, Collin and Julia ran to where Connor and I were sitting. Julia ran up to Connor, threw sand at his back, and then ran away.
“Julia Rose Black, get back here!”
“Sorry, Daddy, but if you want me there, you’ll have to catch me.” She giggled.
Connor looked at me with a huge smile as he ran after Julia. Collin sat down next me and opened his hand.
“Look what I found.” He smiled.
Inside his hand, he held a beautiful pink rock. “It’s for you, Mommy, because it’s pretty like you.”
I took it from his hand and wrapped my arms around him. “You’re my sweet boy, and I love you, Collin.”
“I love you too, Mommy.”
Connor caught Julia and carried her upside down back to where we were sitting. Julia was laughing while begging him to put her down. Connor set her down and kissed her cheek.
“Look, the sun is about to set,” I said as I pointed out into the ocean water.
As I held Collin in my lap, Connor pulled Julia onto his and he put his arm around me as we sat there and watched the sunset over the ocean water as a family.
Epilogue
“Look at you,” I said as I walked through the door.
“Hi, Dad.” Julia smiled as she turned around and looked at me.
I took in a deep breath as I shook my head. “You’re so beautiful, Julia. You look just like your mother did on our wedding day. Where did the years go? My little princess is all grown up and getting married,” I said as my eyes started to swell with tears.
“Daddy, don’t. You’re going to make my mascara run and then Uncle Mason will kill you.”
“You’re right, and we can’t have that.” I smiled.
“I can’t believe I’m getting married. The last year of planning went by so fast.”
“Life goes by so fast. Just twenty-three short years ago, I was holding you in my arms for the first time. Now, before you know it, you’ll be making me a grandpa.”
“Not for a while, Dad.” She laughed.
I took in a deep breath and took her hands in mine. “I guess now is as good a time as any to have a little talk with you.”
“Dad, if you’re going to make me cry, please let’s save it until after the wedding.”
“You’re my little girl and you always will be. No matter how old you are, you’ll always be my angel. Today, I’ll be giving you away to your husband and as much as I like Jake, it’s still hard. Your mother brought light into my dark world and, the day you were born, you made it brighter. I want you to know that.”
“Daddy,” Julia said as she put one hand on my chest. “You have been the best dad any girl could ask for. You gave me everything I needed to be comfortable, you loved me even when I didn’t deserve it, and you taught me about life. You and Mom gave me the best childhood I could ever ask for, and you showed me what love was. The love that the two of you share and give is amazing and, thanks to you, I found that love with Jake.”
“I know you did, and I know how much he loves you. I can see it when he looks at you, and I’m proud to call him my son-in law.”
“He told me you told him that.” She smiled.
“He did?”
“Yes, after you took him out to dinner the other night to have your little talk.”
As I smiled at my little girl, the door opened, and Ellery walked in.
“Please tell me your dad isn’t making you cry?”
“Nah, we’re just having a little father-daughter talk,” I said.
“Which results in tears,” Ellery said as she looked at Julia.
Julia laughed and turned around and looked in the mirror. Collin walked in and told me he needed help with his tuxedo. As I started to walk out the door, Julia called my name.
“I love you, Dad.” She smiled.
“I love you too, baby.” I smiled back as I walked out of the room.
***
After I helped Collin with the cufflinks on his tuxedo, I walked into the bedroom and sat down on the bed. A few moments later, Ellery walked in.
“Are you okay, Connor?”
“I’m fine,” I said as I got up and fixed my bowtie in the mirror.
“You’re really having a hard time with Julia getting married, aren’t you?”