Three Years

seventeen

"My daddy? He's here?" Sierra was flabbergasted. Never in her wildest dreams did she think she would meet her father. Her eyes immediately started to brim with tears of happiness and Kirstin had mistaken them for tears of sadness. 

"If you don't want to meet him you don't have to, I understand that it might be confusing for you, sweetheart," Kirstin stroked Sierra's hair in a soothing manner. She still remembered how confusing and scary it was to meet her own father after ten years without him in her life; she didn't want to put her daughter to experience the same fear, even if it meant Avi had to receive the bitter end. Sierra's well being was more important.

"No! I do want to meet him Mummy, I promise," Sierra shrieked, causing Kirstin to almost spring off the bed in shock. "I'm crying tears of happiness, they are not sad tears," she said a bit softer now. Kirstin contemplated whether it was still a good idea to bring Avi in, but she didn't want him to have travelled all this way here for nothing. She nodded her head softly before walking to the door where Avi was pacing back and forth. He stopped once he saw Kirstin standing there, and immediately jumped to conclusions. 

"She doesn't want to meet me, does she?" Avi was already making his way to the exit when Kirstin grabbed his arm in order to stop him.

"Quite the opposite actually, she's waiting for you inside," Kirstin said with the biggest grin on her face. Avi's disheartened look turned into euphoria. He picked up Kirstie and spun her around his arms all while Kirstin was giggling like crazy, like something out of a movie. Their faces were so close together, they could feel the other person's breathing. Avi found himself leaning in more and more until he managed to stop himself just in time, they were in a hospital and it wasn't appropriate. With a face that was a red as a tomato, Kirstin cleared her throat and said, "We should probably go back inside, Sierra's waiting for us." Avi faintly nodded and followed Kirstie who leaded the way. 

She stepped in first and said, "Angel, I have someone who you would like to meet." 

"Daddy?" Sierra asked and Kirstin nodded quickly in response. She indicated for Avi to step in - which he did - and once he laid his eyes on the little girl in the bed, he immediately felt the tears well up in his eyes. Sierra was the splitting image of Kirstie, inheriting most of her gorgeous looks but there was one specific feature that told him that this girl in front of him was his daughter. She had piercing, almost electric-like green eyes that were shining bright. He took a cautious step closer towards the bed, his eyes never leaving hers. Finally, after what felt like an eternity's silence, Sierra asked very innocently, "Can I have a hug?" 

It was music to Avi's ears, he didn't even need to be told twice. In a very gentle manner - being careful of the arm in a cast - he wrapped his arms around Sierra and allowed the tears to fall. "You have no idea how happy I am right now. I'm so sorry I wasn't there for the first part of your life, but I promise from now onward that I will always be here for you, whenever you need me." 

"It's okay, Daddy. I love you very much," Sierra said, and hearing those five words come out of her mouth made his heart explode from the amount of love he was feeling. 

"I love you too," was all Avi managed to choke out as he was too emotional for another sentence. While all of this was happening, Kirstin stood on the sidelines and watched with tears running down her cheeks, but a happy smile on her face. Seeing the two people that she loved connect on a deep level was a wonderful, warm feeling. Peeking over Avi's shoulder, Sierra noticed her mother stare at them and called her over. 

"Mummy! Come and join the hug." Kirstin strolled over to where the two of them were sitting on the bed and sat on one side so Sierra was squished between her parents. They were a mess; a bundle of happiness and tears, but mostly love.

"My two beautiful girls," Avi said while ruffling their daughter's hair and glancing over at Kirstin with endearment in his eyes. Kirstin returned his gaze before looking over at their beautiful creation; Sierra.

Their little family was finally complete.