It wouldn’t beeasy to go home defeated but for self-preservation, Emma would doit.
For years she’ddreamed of having them back in her life. But now the dream wasover, shattered. Instead of always looking back and wondering whather life might have been like if Dad and Michelle had stayed, itwas time to start looking forward.
She just had tofigure out how.
CHAPTEREIGHT
The one thing in theworld Lachlan didn’t want to be was that father.
The one whomeddled in his grown daughter’s life, second-guessing herdecisions, micro-managing her life and becoming a nuisance until,eventually, she asked him to stay away.
But when thecelebrant asked, “who gives this woman?” Lachlan dutifully placedSarah’s hand in Gene’s even as a voice in his head shouted, “No!I’ll never give her away! She’ll always be mine.” He pressedhis lips together and stood back, blinking away tears. She wasnineteen. What could she possibly know at nineteen? He’d beenclueless at the same age, already a father and trying to hold hismarriage together.
Even though shewould always be his little girl, the law had declared otherwise.She was legally an adult: free to make her own decisions; free todecide what she wanted to do with her life; free to get married atnineteen years of age.
Sarah turned.She reached for his hand with her right hand and pressed a softkiss to his cheek. “I love you, Dad.”
“I love youtoo, honey.” He smiled, a watery smile and moved back to take hisseat next to his parents.
His mothersniffed and wiped her eyes as the couple exchange vows.
It wasdifferent to when Lachlan got married. His was a brief exchange atthe local courthouse. He didn’t even own a suit back then, andDaphne wore a black dress, which, now that he thought about it,should have been the writing on the wall.
The staff atthe hotel had done a beautiful job of tastefully setting up for thewedding. No more than thirty guests, it was a touching, intimatewedding. White and pink roses adorned the room and their subtlescent was a lovely tribute to his Nan and the rose garden she hadwhen he was a little kid. Sarah had thought of everything.
He shook Gene’shand. “Congratulations. Welcome to the family.”
The wall on oneside of the small ballroom was pulled open, revealing a secondroom, complete with a band, dance floor and tables set up withfinger-food. Since it was a day wedding, Sarah hadn’t wanted aformal, sit down meal. She and Gene would be gone by mid-afternoon,to catch their flight to New York City to start theirhoneymoon.
Pink and whitestreamers and balloons decorated the room, and more bouquets sat inthe centre of each table. Waiters dressed in black and white movedthrough the room offering champagne and canapes as a photographertook the happy couple out to the pool area for photos.
Lachlan had topinch himself that he was really here, in another country, with hisdaughter a married woman.
He’d neverreally had time to grow up himself. At eighteen, he’d been livingat home, walking the floor with a newborn who wouldn’t sleep, whilehis mates from high school were out partying, getting drunk andhaving the time of their lives. With a newborn taking up everywaking moment, Lachlan couldn’t relate to drinking games, one-nightstands and creeping home at 3AM, and his friends couldn’tunderstand the need to keep quiet when the baby was finally asleep.Even though his friends adored Sarah, they didn’t want that lifefor themselves.
Over the years,they gradually left him behind.
But he wouldn’tchange a thing. Sure, there were times he’d wished he’d been moresensible. That he hadn’t married Daphne—instead working on somekind of shared parenting—even though he believed that wasn’t thebest for Sarah. But perhaps Daph wouldn’t have felt trapped either.Perhaps she’d have stayed and Sarah would have had her mother hereon her wedding day.
An arm slippedthrough his, and Lachlan turned to find his mother smiling up athim.
“It was abeautiful wedding, dear.”
“Thanks, Ma.You look stunning.”
She patted herhair and flushed at his compliment. “Well, we don’t get the chanceto dress up much these days. Sarah is the most beautiful bride I’veever seen.” Her eyes narrowed. “Quite different to yourbride, I have to say.”
“Ma— ”
“You know,seeing you become a parent at eighteen was the last thing we couldhave ever imagined for you, Lachlan.” She turned her glance toSarah, across the room. “Imagine if Daphne had taken the baby withher, all those years ago.”
Lachlan’s bloodchilled at the thought.
“I felt thatshiver,” Ma poked his side. “We’re proud of you, dear. Daphne willnever know what she missed, leaving you and Sarah like that. Thisis her loss, that’s for sure. Now,” she glanced around, looking forsomething. “That red velvet sponge was delicious, but Sarahmentioned something about a fruit cake. Have you seen it?”
Lachlan chokedback a laugh as his mother went in search of the missing cake.
Afterwards, hemingled with the guests, accepting their congratulations at what afine young lady Sarah had turned out to be. He would never tire ofagreeing. He was an incredibly lucky man.
“Hey, Dad.”Sarah slipped her arm through his. “Gene and I are heading up tochange for our flight.”
Already?Lachlan glanced at his watch as his heart sank. Their flight leftin a little over two hours.
He blinked backthe sudden moisture in his eyes. “Anything you ever need, you hearme? I’m your first call.”
Except hewasn’t. Not anymore. Now she had Gene, and somehow Lachlan had tocome to terms with not being needed so much.
“Love you,Dad.”
“I love you,too, honey.” He squeezed her in a hug that he never wanted to end,but then she and Gene were kissing and thanking their guests anddashing off to start their new life together.
The guestsslowly departed, his parents retiring to their room for a nap, andwhen everyone had gone Lachlan went upstairs, unsure what to dowith himself. It was just after two o’clock. Too early to settlein, and he was too wired to stay in his room. Instead, he removedhis waistcoat, rolled up his sleeves and washed his face. The room,despite its space and opulence was too quiet, too depressing tostay here alone. He decided to have a look around the hotel.
He’d promisedSarah he would be okay on his
