- “You don’t sound sure.”
-
“Then I’ll keep saying it until I do.”
- I repaired furniture in the mornings, stocked shelves at night, and made deliveries on weekends.
- Rachel helped with breakfast, Nathan with homework, and the younger children looked after Sophie.
- One evening, Sophie asked, “Did Mommy leave because I cried too much?”
-
You don’t sound sure.
- “Nothing you did made her leave, sweetheart.”
- “Even when I was naughty?”
-
“Especially then.”
- “Did Mom ask about us?” Rachel asked.
- “Sometimes. I send her pictures.”
-
Nothing you did made her leave.
- “Does she ever answer?”
-
“Not anymore.”
- “Why don’t you tell her what you think?”
- “Because you’ve already been hurt enough.”
- “Dad, you need to move on. Find yourself a girlfriend. You deserve to be happy, too.”
-
I send her pictures.
- “With seven kids? I’d need to put up a warning sign.”
- “Dad!” Rachel laughed.
- “I’m kidding, sweetheart. I’m happy right here with you.”
- Still, I tried dating a few times. But once women heard I had seven children, they quickly lost interest.
- I never remarried.
-
You’ve already been hurt enough.
- Instead, I focused on my work, and the kids found ways to help.
- “Dad, I’ll photograph your furniture,” Rachel offered.
- “And I’ll build you a website,” Nathan added.
-
“Will that bring customers?”
- “Only if your chairs stop looking haunted.”
- They did. Eventually, I opened my own workshop.
-
I’m happy right here with you.
- ***
- For every birthday, I made something special. For Sophie’s twelfth, I restored an old wooden desk she’d wanted for months.
- “You’re still worried she won’t like it?” Rachel asked.
- “She wanted a tablet, too. I couldn’t afford both.”
- “Dad, she’s been talking about that desk for weeks.”
- “But a tablet would’ve cost more.”
-
Eventually, I opened my own workshop.
- “So? Since when does the price decide how special a gift is?”
- I smiled. She had a point.
- ***
- By the following evening, that tablet would be the least important thing in our house.
- Sophie’s birthday barbecue was wonderful.
- All seven children came home, along with her school friends and several neighbors.
-
I couldn’t afford both.
- When she unwrapped the desk, she screamed.
-
“DAD! YOU FINISHED IT!”
- “Unless you’d prefer another pair of socks.”
- She hugged me so tightly I nearly fell backward. “This is better than the tablet!”
- “You don’t have to say that.”
-
Sophie’s birthday barbecue was wonderful.
- “I’m not saying it for you!”
- “Can we put it in my room tonight?” Sophie asked.
- “After the party.”
-
“Promise?”
- “Promise.”
-
This is better than the tablet!
- She grinned. “Then I’ll do my homework at it tomorrow. Even math.”
-
“Now that’s a serious compliment.”
- Then someone knocked. I opened the front door.
- Vanessa stood on the porch wearing a cream designer coat and enormous sunglasses.
- Rob stood behind her holding several shopping bags. “Daniel! Surprise!”
-
I’ll do my homework at it tomorrow.
- “How did you know about the party?”
- “Rachel posted about it. I thought it was time for a reunion.”
-
“After ten years?”
- “People change. Besides, everyone loves a good reunion story.”
- “What do you want, Vanessa?”
-
Daniel! Surprise!
