Beautifully Damaged(45)

"He never knew love as a child and something dark from his past has left him believing he is unworthy of love. He's a fighter and he's lethal with his hands."

"I know. I've heard of him."

That surprised me but I moved past that and continued on. "He's good, Daddy. He stands up for what's right and under it all, there's a man who is desperate for love, both giving it and receiving it. Next to you, he's the finest man I've ever known."

My dad was silent for a moment which had me asking, "Do you think you could like him, Daddy?"

He reached over to take my hand as his eyes held mine and then he said, "He brought you home in a tank and didn't argue being put up in the attic even though that boy could probably bench press me with little effort." A smile touched my lips thinking of that one day in the grocery store.

"But mostly, Ember, when he looks at you, he reminds me of how I used to look at your mother so, yes, I can see myself liking him."

I threw my arms around my dad and held him close as he whispered in my ear, "Welcome home, Emmie girl."

My dad went downstairs to brew some tea and I continued putting my things away. There was a knock at the door and I called for Trace to come in. I gave myself a moment to look at him filling the doorway of my childhood room.

"How's your room?"

"I think if your dad could have gotten a cot on the roof he would have."

"I'm his baby girl."

"I know and that's why if he had gotten that cot on the roof, I would have slept on it with no complaints."

"He likes you."

His eyebrow rose at that. "How do you know that?"

"He told me." I walked over to Trace, ran my hands up those arms, which, sadly, were covered under a sweater, before resting them on his shoulders.

"He said that the way you look at me reminds him of how he used to look at my mom."

Trace's arms came around me then and, when he spoke, his voice was hoarse. "If that look is the one where I can't believe that you're mine and I'd do anything to make you happy, then I'm guilty as charged."

"All I need to be happy is you."

"You have that, Ember, you already have that."

Trace and I joined my dad in the kitchen where we all sat around the table drinking iced tea and discussing our plans for Thanksgiving.

"How many are coming, Daddy?"

"Four. Hank, Jimmy, Dougie and Jerry. I've got the turkey already defrosting in the refrigerator and bought the potatoes, string beans, cranberries and crescent rolls. Dougie's bringing the wine, Jerry's picking up some pies from Reading Terminal, Jimmy's picking up some pastries from Termini brothers and Hank's bringing the beer."

"Cool. Trace and I can pick up the last few things and I'll start prepping some of the dishes tonight."

"Tell me where and when you need me, Emmie, and I'm there."

"Thanks, Daddy. I think snipping the beans and peeling the potatoes like always is enough."

"You got it. Now, if you don't need Trace, I'd like to show him around the neighborhood and introduce him to some of the guys."

"Take him to the docks and throw him in." I said with a grin but my dad was looking at Trace and shaking his head.

"If anyone is taking a swim, it wouldn't be him. I couldn't budge him with a backhoe. What do you bench press?"

Trace's grin was wicked when he replied, "How much do you weigh?"

My dad's laugh was so nice to hear as he slapped Trace affectionately on the back. "Yup, I like you. Come on, let's go scare my buddies."

Trace stood and placed his glass in the dishwasher before turning to me and pressing a kiss on my forehead.

"See you later, love."

"Have fun. Behave, Daddy."

He kissed my head before he replied, "Always."

I was cuddled up on the sofa in the living room reading Wuthering Heights when I heard the sound of heavy footsteps coming up the front steps. The door opened and in walked my dad and Trace. Judging from the smiles on their faces, their night together had been a success. I bookmarked my page as I pulled my knees up and wrapped my arms around them. Trace saw me first and the look in his eyes had my heart pounding in my chest. My dad turned and smiled as he started for the stairs.

"I'm calling it a night. I'm not as young as I used to be." He turned to Trace and put out his hand which Trace immediately shook.

"Thanks for hanging with an old man."

"Thanks for letting me."

"See you in the morning, Emmie."

"Good night, Daddy."

Trace settled next to me, pulling the blanket I was using over his lap, too. He wrapped his arm around my shoulders as I rested my head against his chest and snuggled more firmly against his side.