“Because I want to kiss away every tear.”Then he gently swipes his lips over mine, “I’ll be back.”
“You don’t seem nervous.”
“I’m not. The only thing that scares me isnot being with you,” he says as he runs his hand down my arm,heading off in the direction of my father’s chambers.
Ryan strides over to where Miles is waitingin the back of the courtroom. He enters, then Miles closes thedoor. And I just can’t help myself; I walk brusquely after him,past the bench and up to the door. Then I press my ear against thewood. What I wouldn’t give for a warrant and a wiretap rightnow.
“That’s incredibly rude,” Miles bristles.
“Your existence is incredibly rude,” I snap,then return to eavesdropping.
It surprises me how clearly I can hear theirvoices through the dense wood. “Alana has told me some interestingtidbits about you and your brother. I don’t take my daughter for aliar Mr. Pierce, but I would like to hear it from you.”
Ryan is silent for a second before helaunches into the story of him and Sean.
Sean. Ryan doesn’t know about Sean yet and Idread having to be the one to tell him. This day is nowhere nearclose to a happy ending.
The last thing I hear Ryan tell my father is,“Sometimes I feel sorry for him, sometimes I feel fed up and tellmyself it was his choice to ruin his life.”
There’s a long pause.
“That must be a very difficult thing to livewith,” my father comments.
“I’m sure I don’t have to tell you it is,”Ryan responds.
Then another long pause.
“How emotionally invested are you in mydaughter?” my father asks bluntly.
“I want to marry her, sir,” Ryan repliesopenly, and it makes me wish my father would officiate right on thespot.
“And is my daughter aware of this?”
“Yes.”
“And she’s agreed?”
“Um, no, not exactly.”
“Would you like to explain thatstatement?”
“She didn’t tell me yes or no. She just saidI had to ask in order to find out her answer.”
I hear my father grunt, and I don’t know ifthat’s good or bad. “I see. And were you going to ask my permissionfirst?”
“No,” Ryan says frankly, “but I did ask yourbrother’s.”
What?When the hell did he dothat?
“My brother?” my father counters, assurprised as I am. “Do you know John well?”
“Yes, sir. I designed the logo for his lawfirm.”
More silence.
“I’ll be honest,” my father finally says,“you’re not my ideal choice for Alana. Not by a long shot. But shewas willing to risk everything for you, and because of that, I’llgive you one chance.One.”
I can’t believe what I’m hearing. Is thatreally my father in there?