“I don’t know,” she answers honestly. “Here, I’ve found peace for the first time. We’ve made some beautiful memories here, Declan, I don’t want to lose that.”
She avoids looking at him as she grabs some cream and starts to heat it on the stove. Declan watches her work and smiles.
“London, we’re going to make many more beautiful memories, as long as we’re together. How could we not?” she lifts eyes full of emotion to his.
He kisses her softly, and she sighs.
“Thank you.”
Chapter 37
New York
London steps out of the bank and grips her bag tightly. Her mind is full of company names, numbers, price, and volume of stocks from reading the ticker tapes. Most of her days are spent managing Sheridan Furniture, she is finally fully engaged in her life. In her free time, she still trades and advises friends. Christmas is two weeks away, and Declan was right, she smiles. They have made many new memories, including a surprise shopping trip where she was ambushed by Declan and Dillon, who outfitted her with a full trousseau!
The driver, Stanton, is waiting for her as promised outside of the bank.
“London,” an unfamiliar male voice calls to her when she steps out, the moment she turns she gasps.
“Lady Sheridan, do you know this man?” Stanton asks, moving beside her.
“Daddy?” her eyes fill with tears. Everything in her wants to run into his arms, but she holds back. “Give me a minute, Stanton,” she whispers.
“Yes, my lady,” he moves away from them a few steps, close enough to help if needed. She glances away, trying to calm her heart.
“I understand, London. I see it in your eyes the question, is he sober?” her father says. Her eyes drink him in taking note of the clean clothes and clear eyes. Time has not been kind to him but drinking has a way of aging a person. She stares at him and sees the shame weighing him down. It's in the way he stands, as if ready to take flight.
“I don't understand, Tessa said you were…” she steps toward him, and he flinches. Her heart breaks again, this is the man who taught her chess, who read her bedtime stories, who chased away her nightmares before her Mother died. The love is still there, even if she'd forgotten for a little while.
“Can I buy you a cup of coffee?” he asks.
“I’d like that,” she says, “give me a moment.” London hurries to Stanton who agrees to move the carriage and meet them outside the cafe.
She glances back half, expecting him to be gone, but he's staring at her, and she feels hope for the first time.
They walk beside each other, not touching but simply being and sit with a fresh cup of coffee, inside the café. She stares at him.
“You look so much like your mother,” his head drops, and he closes his eyes against the image.
“Is that a bad thing?” she asks.
“You’re beautiful, London. I’m so happy that you found someone to love you the way you should be loved.”
“You’ve yet to meet my husband, how do you know he loves me?” she snaps.
“It's in the way you hold yourself. You are glowing with the light of that love. I've seen it before,” he looks away from her and sips his coffee.
“What happened when Tessa picked you up? I didn’t know that she was…”
Christopher lifts his hand, “I know that. I don't blame you, London. I deserved my fate. You needed to take care of yourself now.” He falls quiet for a moment, “You should know that I thought about it.”
“Thought about what, Daddy?” she asks.
“Letting the drink take me to your mother, but I didn't. I don't know why or if I won't in the future, but I do know that I won't ever put you through this again. I'm leaving for England. My brother has agreed to let me stay with him in Sheffield.”
“You’re leaving me again,” she sets her cup down and looks up at him, expecting to feel anger, but all she feels is sad mixed with a little relief. Shame has her closing her eyes.
“I'm sorry I shouldn't have come. I wanted you to know that I was sober, and instead of using her cash to drink myself to death. I managed a few trades and made some money. A lot of money.” He grins when she glances up in surprise.
“That’s great,” she whispers.
“It's too hard to stay, you look so much like her,” his voice breaks, and she grips his hand, surprising them both.
“I understand.” He grips her hand and takes a deep breath. “Thank you.” Releasing her hand, he stands and drops cash on the table. London is shaking when they step outside.
“I'll send word when I reach England, so you don't worry.” He steps away from her turning to leave and panic strikes her.
“Dad!” she sobs and flies into his arms. He hugs her tightly and closes his eyes, allowing his own tears to flow freely.
“I love you, and I'm so proud of you, London.”
She gathers her strength and pushes back to look at him.
“Through all of the chaos of the past few years, I didn't know the Lord was leading me to this life. Never again will I question the path because even in the madness, he never left me. I know you think you're alone, Dad, but the Lord is waiting on you to turn to him,” London says and wipes her tears with a handkerchief.
He smiles at her, and she catches a glimpse of the man he used to be. “Maybe I'll look him up once I'm home.”
“I will pray that you do.” She squeezes him once more, and
