worse, they are helping me.”
“It still doesn’t seem right.”
Knowing that even under the best of circumstances that their time together was ultimately going to be short, Arthur didn’t want to spend it talking about his illness. “So tell me what you did last night after you left here
.
Anything exciting? Have you looked up any of your old friends?”
Gina smiled. “Last night
,
Mac came by and we shared a pizza by the pool.” She stopped before she blushed. “I think that his folks asked him to look in on me.”
Arthur chuckled. “I wouldn’t doubt it. I’m glad they didn’t cancel their trip on my account. I know that you didn’t want to stay at my place because you’ve never been there but if you change your mind, just say the word.”
“I appreciate that, Dad, but the Montgomerys ’ guest house is just fine.”
He nodded in understanding. “Actually, I have a favor to ask.”
“Anything,” she said, leaning forward and taking his hand. “What can I do?”
“Well, there are just some things from home that I’d like; a couple of different pairs of pajamas, some of my books…I’ve got a list made. Would you mind stopping by there and bringing them with you when you come back tomorrow?” He looked both hopeful and wary at the same time.
“Of course I don’t mind,” Gina said sincerely. “Is there anything else that you need? I don’t mind going shopping if you’re missing something.”
“That won’t be necessary,” he said and leaned over to his bedside table and opened the drawer. He pulled out a yellow legal pad and ripped off the top page and handed it to his daughter. “I put directions to the house on there, too, even though I am sure that you have a navigation system in whatever car you’re driving.”
Gina told him about William lending her his beloved convertible and they laughed. “I know Monica gave him hell for buying that car,” Arthur said. “He was feeling so proud of himself for buying such a ‘hip’ car but he really did look a little ridiculous.”
“Well, his loss is my gain while I’m here,” Gina said with a sassy smile. “My car back home will never be the same to me.”
“So get rid of it,” he suggested. “Go out and get yourself whatever car you want!”
She waved him off. “Please; you know that mom is a safety fanatic. If I came home with a sports car she’d have a coronary.”
“Gina,” he said solemnly, “isn’t it time that you stopped letting your mother dictate your life to you? You are an intelligent, gown woman. You are entitled to have happiness in your life and if that damn car makes you happy, then you should have one.”
Reaching out she patted her father’s other hand. “It’s just a car, Dad. It’s not a big deal.”
Arthur was so tired of discussions like this. It wasn’t often that Gina shared something that she liked or wanted because his ex-wife always found a way to discourage her from getting it. Well, if he was only going to have a few short months left on this earth, he was going to voice his opinion.
“You are a good daughter, Gina; no parent could ask for a better child. But it is time for you to start living your own life. I sat back and held my tongue for far too long and while I thought I was doing the right thing and making your life easier, it seems like all I did was allow your mother to take away your right to think for yourself.” Gina went to interrupt him but he held up a hand to stop her. “I blame myself for not fighting more for you, Gina, and I regret my cowardice more than anything. All I ever wanted in this world was for you to be happy.”
“I am happy, Dad,” she began.
“Are you? Because I’ll tell you what I see when I look at you; I see a beautiful, intelligent woman who is unsure of herself. You look to others for approval rather than taking action and doing what feels right for you. I know
“It still doesn’t seem right.”
Knowing that even under the best of circumstances that their time together was ultimately going to be short, Arthur didn’t want to spend it talking about his illness. “So tell me what you did last night after you left here
.
Anything exciting? Have you looked up any of your old friends?”
Gina smiled. “Last night
,
Mac came by and we shared a pizza by the pool.” She stopped before she blushed. “I think that his folks asked him to look in on me.”
Arthur chuckled. “I wouldn’t doubt it. I’m glad they didn’t cancel their trip on my account. I know that you didn’t want to stay at my place because you’ve never been there but if you change your mind, just say the word.”
“I appreciate that, Dad, but the Montgomerys ’ guest house is just fine.”
He nodded in understanding. “Actually, I have a favor to ask.”
“Anything,” she said, leaning forward and taking his hand. “What can I do?”
“Well, there are just some things from home that I’d like; a couple of different pairs of pajamas, some of my books…I’ve got a list made. Would you mind stopping by there and bringing them with you when you come back tomorrow?” He looked both hopeful and wary at the same time.
“Of course I don’t mind,” Gina said sincerely. “Is there anything else that you need? I don’t mind going shopping if you’re missing something.”
“That won’t be necessary,” he said and leaned over to his bedside table and opened the drawer. He pulled out a yellow legal pad and ripped off the top page and handed it to his daughter. “I put directions to the house on there, too, even though I am sure that you have a navigation system in whatever car you’re driving.”
Gina told him about William lending her his beloved convertible and they laughed. “I know Monica gave him hell for buying that car,” Arthur said. “He was feeling so proud of himself for buying such a ‘hip’ car but he really did look a little ridiculous.”
“Well, his loss is my gain while I’m here,” Gina said with a sassy smile. “My car back home will never be the same to me.”
“So get rid of it,” he suggested. “Go out and get yourself whatever car you want!”
She waved him off. “Please; you know that mom is a safety fanatic. If I came home with a sports car she’d have a coronary.”
“Gina,” he said solemnly, “isn’t it time that you stopped letting your mother dictate your life to you? You are an intelligent, gown woman. You are entitled to have happiness in your life and if that damn car makes you happy, then you should have one.”
Reaching out she patted her father’s other hand. “It’s just a car, Dad. It’s not a big deal.”
Arthur was so tired of discussions like this. It wasn’t often that Gina shared something that she liked or wanted because his ex-wife always found a way to discourage her from getting it. Well, if he was only going to have a few short months left on this earth, he was going to voice his opinion.
“You are a good daughter, Gina; no parent could ask for a better child. But it is time for you to start living your own life. I sat back and held my tongue for far too long and while I thought I was doing the right thing and making your life easier, it seems like all I did was allow your mother to take away your right to think for yourself.” Gina went to interrupt him but he held up a hand to stop her. “I blame myself for not fighting more for you, Gina, and I regret my cowardice more than anything. All I ever wanted in this world was for you to be happy.”
“I am happy, Dad,” she began.
“Are you? Because I’ll tell you what I see when I look at you; I see a beautiful, intelligent woman who is unsure of herself. You look to others for approval rather than taking action and doing what feels right for you. I know
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