"Oh, sweetheart! We didn't hear you come in." The sound of my mom's voice pulled me back into the present, and I moved quickly to dash the tears off my cheeks.
"I didn't mean to interrupt."
Mom stepped back and ran her hands down her cream-colored pants to straighten them. "Nonsense." She gazed at her watch before moving toward the kitchen. "Actually, I need to finish dinner. Thank goodness you showed up when you did or I would have overcooked the roast." She bolted from the room, and I understood not to follow. She needed a few minutes alone to compose herself. My father's illness was even harder on her than it was on me.
"You mind dancing with your old man, Lilly Flower?"
I beamed at my father and pushed off the doorway, stepping into his loving, familiar embrace. "Not at all." Up close, I could tell he wasn't feeling as well as he pretended. It had only been weeks since he told me he was dying, and already his body was starting to show signs. He was thinner than he'd been, almost frail. His complexion was sallow, dark purple smudges rested beneath his eyes. But he still smiled just like he always had.
"How are you feeling, Dad?"
He moved me around the room with such grace. "Couldn't be better, sweetie. But right now I have the two most beautiful women in the world under one roof. What more could a man ask for?"
We grew quiet, and I rested my head on my father's chest as we danced to Clapton's "Change the World."
"How's the dance school?" he asked a few minutes later.
"It's good." I thought back to the classes I'd instructed earlier in the week, and Sophia came to mind. Such an animated, energetic little girl. "I have a new student, Sophia. She's … " I stopped and laughed. "She's a handful in the best way."
He chuckled beneath my cheek. "Sounds familiar. I bet she runs her parents ragged."
My smile faded a bit. "It's just her dad. His wife died in a car accident a few years ago."
"I'm very sorry to hear that." The song came to an end and Dad sucked in a breath. It hurt to see him so weak, but I maintained a neutral expression as I helped him over to the couch, taking a seat next to him.
"Yeah," I continued, knowing not to question how he was feeling. He hated being treated like an invalid. "It's really sad. But you should see him with her, Dad. He took her and bought all of these bright-colored leotards because that's what she wanted. He's just so … big and rugged. I can't picture him going into a dance shop and loading up on all these sparkly tutus and leotards." Dad gave a small laugh. "Oh! And he even put her hair in a bun for her first class." Now it was my turn to laugh. "It was a disaster. Like, really bad, but you could tell he tried his hardest."
Dad's face grew thoughtful as he studied me. "Sounds like his daughter's not the only one who's caught your attention."
"Oh, no. It's nothing like that," I argued, even though it was a lie. Quinn had done more than catch my attention, but it was pointless. I knew that much. "There's nothing going on there. He's … he's a good guy. I don't know him all that well, but I can tell."
Dad's lips quirked up in a tiny grin. "Sure doesn't sound like there's nothing there."
I shook my head and whispered in a defeated voice. "Daddy, he still wears his wedding ring."
I watched as his face grew sympathetic. Reaching over, he patted my hand. "I'm sorry, sweetheart."
"What? No words of wisdom? No advice for me?" I asked in a joking tone while really, I was hoping my father would have some sage wisdom when it came to Quinn.
His head shook just slightly. "No, honey. I'm sorry. When it comes to matters of the heart like that there's no one that can help the person move past that kind of loss. It's something that has to come from within. All you can do for someone like that is be his friend. Give him a shoulder to lean on, an outlet for his pain. That's the very best gift you can give that man."
I leaned against him, letting myself enjoy the warmth as he looped his arm around my shoulders and held me. "How'd you get to be so smart?"
"Trial and error, baby girl," he chuckled. "When you've lived as long as I have, you experience a lot of trial and error."
A wave of sadness crashed over me. It wasn't fair. He should have had years left.
As if reading my thoughts, Dad's arm around me gave a tiny squeeze. "I know what's going on in that head of yours, and I want you to stop it right now." I pulled in a stuttered breath and clenched my eyes closed as he continued on. "I've had a good life, Lilly Flower. An amazing life. I'm sad that it's being cut short, but I got you and your mother so I can't regret a single day. I don't want you to be sad for me. When I'm gone, I want you and your mother to remember all the good times."