"Caught one," Lilly announced, pulling out a small brook trout, then unhooked it and dropped the fish into the bucket.
It was silent after that. That is, until I broke it.
"You stink."
Lilly rolled her eyes at me. "Real mature, dad."
"You know I never did mature, honey," I told her, and she smiled at me. "Besides, you're a hypocrite."
"What?"
"You expect me to be mature when you're an adult and still rolling your eyes at me," I told her. "Where'd all the respect go?"
"I believed it died when you showed up to my senior prom in a disco suit."
"Those were the days," I sighed, smiling at the memories.
I glanced at Lilly and she did the same, then we both laughed. It was nice to get to spend time together like this.
"I missed this," Lilly confessed, resting her head on my shoulder.
"Me too," I sighed, wrapping an arm around my little girl. "I don't think we've done this since your senior year of high school."
"I'm sorry, dad," Lilly whispered, but all I did was kiss the top of her head.
"I always knew it was coming."
"Knew what?" Lilly asked.
"My mom said the same thing to me, but I didn't believe it until you were born," I told her. "After high school, you were whisked away to college, and then you only came to visit on holidays. Your summers were spent in classes or internships, and the most that you've stayed at home was maybe two weeks."
Lilly stayed quiet as we looked out at the water. It was a nice feeling, just the two of us on a boat fishing in the middle of the lake. There was something about the color of the water and the rocking of the boat that calmed a person.
"I wanted to spend more time with you," Lilly confessed. "I just felt like if I got college out of the way, I could have time to do what I wanted to do."
"I know you did. I was in your position once, too, you know," I told her.
"When was that? The ninth century?"
"Haha, very funny," I sarcastically remarked.
"I know I am," she said with a dramatic flip of her hair, then groaned when some hair made its way into her mouth.
"That's karma for you," I laughed, letting go of her so that she could tie her hair up.
"This is like the time I peed my pants onstage in first grade," Lilly huffed, finishing with her bun. "You wouldn't stop laughing for weeks!"
"It was funny!"
"I was six, dad."
"Your face made it even funnier," I grinned.
"This is reason number one why I have my own place," she told me.
"You want to pee your pants in private?"
"Dad," Lilly groaned. "That was twenty years ago. Let it go."
"If I get the same reaction from you now like I did two decades ago, I'll keep doing it even in my grave."
Lilly frowned at my answer, and I knew that she didn't like it.
"It's just a joke, sweetheart."
"I didn't like it," she told me. "I still want you to walk me down the aisle."
"And I will," I promised her. "But, Lilly, even if I'm not there, you'll get through life without me. You're a lawyer, you go whisked off your feet by the man who is now your fiance, and now you're pregnant."
Lilly blushed at my comment. "How did you know?"
"You drank grape juice in a wine glass."
"You always have been the alcohol expert," she grinned, but then it faltered. "I don't want you to leave, dad."
"You're the one marrying the doctor. If anything, you're leaving me."
"I'm leaving you for the adjacent state. You're being whisked away by the grim reaper so you can be tucked six feet under."
"Hey, that's my thing."
I could tell that Lilly grew incredibly frustrated. "Can you be serious for one time in your life, dad?"
"I am serious. Whisking is my thing," I grinned, then I grew serious once I saw that she wasn't going to let this go. "I can't be here forever, Lil."
"I know that," she said, the tears already brimming and ready to fall. "Can't you leave later?"
"I don't control it," I told her. "Besides, if I leave you, at least I know that there's going to be two reliable men to take care of you."
Lilly furrowed her brows in confusion. "Max is one, but who's the other?"
I pointed at her belly. "Him."
Lilly looked at the bucket in front of her, then back at me. "You mean the fish?"
"The baby, Lil."
"You don't know the gender."
"I've got a feeling," I said, winking at her, then she rolled her eyes. "There goes the disrespect again."
"I'm sorry, dad," she said, reaching across to hug me. "I love you."
I embraced her in my arms, kissing the top of her head. This moment reminded me of when I held her for the first time almost three decades ago, when she was barely bigger than a football. Her hair wasn't as dark as it is now, and her eyes were never this blue. I smiled and held her in my arms protectively, remembering the promise I made to her. I wanted to protect her forever, but I always knew I wasn't going to be the only man in her life. I always knew she'd be whisked away and carried off her feet, and I was glad to see that she would be safe in someone else's arms if not mine. "I love you, too, sweetheart."
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