Daring Devotion. Elaine Overton

pleased to see his daughter. “Well, if it isn’t the prodigal daughter.” He held his arms opened for a hug, and Andrea resisted, but in the end she went into them, knowing somewhere in the back of her brain, the little girl in her was still looking for the daddy who would push her swing all the way to the top. The daddy who would bring home gifts from every business trip. The daddy who gave the very best belly tickles. Some part of her would always remember him that way.

      She hugged him briefly. “Hi, Daddy.”

      Andrew Chenault took in the kitchen with one sweeping glance, and seemed satisfied with what he found. He glanced at the brochures neatly stacked on the table. “Your mother tell you about our vacation?”

      Andrea nodded.

      “You know you’re welcome to come along.”

      Andrea forced a smile. “No, thanks, with the wedding less than four months away, I’ve got a lot of work to do.” Andrea knew she could’ve given a million excuses for not wanting to travel with them, but she always, always chose the one that involved Cal.

      Shameful as it was, she knew she used her fiancé like a battle shield. The two men, Cal and her father, had only met once, and had almost come to blows. Andrea knew her father was intimidated by a man that towered over him. Some dark part of her reveled in it.

      “I’ve got to be going.”

      “Sure you can’t stay for dinner? I’ve missed you.” Andrew tilted his head to look at her where she was still cradled in his arm.

      Andrea glanced at his face and was surprised to see sincerity in his eyes. “No, I’ve got to get going.” She broke free of his loose hold, hugged her mother, and headed out the back door.

      She hurried down the path, hopped in her car and pulled out of the driveway as quickly as possible. Andrea quickly let down her car windows and took in a big gulp of fresh air as the suffocating feeling began to subside.

      She picked up her cell phone, and pressed the speed dial button for Cal.

      “Hey, baby,” Cal answered on the first ring.

      “How much longer?” she asked, knowing that he was ending a rotation this evening. She was anxious to see him.

      “Not long, just finishing up some paperwork.”

      “What did you want to do tonight?” she asked, hoping he would not say crash at her place. Andrea was feeling the need to get out and do something.

      As if sensing the need, he asked, “How do you feel about carnivals?”

      “Carnivals?”

      “Yeah, there is one down the street from the firehouse. Wanna go? Maybe I can win you one of those giant pink elephants.”

      “Ooohh, a giant pink elephant,” Andrea purred. “You spoil me.”

      “I know. Wanna go?”

      “Sure, why not?” she said, while trying to stifle a yawn.

      “See, that’s what I love about you, your enthusiasm.”

      A few minutes later, when Andrea hung up the phone she was still smiling. In a matter of minutes, Cal had managed to lift the dark cloud that always followed her away from her childhood home.

      Sometimes, Andrea felt as if she were a prisoner who’d been forced to spend an eternity in the darkness, never knowing what it felt like to have the sun on her face. Until Cal came into her life throwing open the shutters, and guiding her into the light of love and laughter. Despite whatever doubts she had about their relationship, Andrea knew that life with Cal meant never having to live in the darkness again.