Our Girl

Fathers & Daughters

Levi and I were at lunch with Robert. He asked us to meet him because he had something important to ask us.

I wasn't sure what he could possibly have to ask us. There were really only two viable options. One, he wanted to know if it'd be alright if he moved in with us. Or two, the worst option of them all.

Lunch was going smoothly, until the question was asked. Then everything fell apart.

The room became too suffocating to stay in. I stood up from the chair and left Levi and Robert sitting there alone. I wasn't trying to be rude, I just couldn't think. Everything inside of me wanted to scream at him. I wanted to scream at the world.

I passed people enjoying their meals, happy to be in each other's company. A man opened the door to come into the restaurant and I slipped out right after him. I needed the fresh air.

I didn't go far from the front of the building. As soon as the wind touched my face I closed my eyes and tilted my head up to the sky. The warm sun smiled down on me. I concentrated on the sounds around me. The passing of cars, the birds chirping, the chatter of people walking by.

I felt the presence of someone standing beside me. I didn't need to open my eyes to know who it was.

Levi pulled me in for a hug. I accepted his hug, because right now I seriously needed one. His head rested on top of my own. He didn't say anything. I'm not sure if it's because he didn't know what to say or if he was waiting for me to gather myself.

The screeching of a motorcycle's tires brought us out of our mini trance.

"Olivia, we have to give him our blessing. He won't propose otherwise." He spoke into my hair, soft and careful not to betray his own emotions.

I knew he was trying to keep me calm but the child inside of me switched on. I jerked out of his arms and started to walk down the sidewalk. "No."

"Yes."

"No."

"Yes."

"Please tell me no." I stopped walking a few stores down. My body turned towards him and watched him come to a halt before me.

Levi opened his mouth but then immediately shut it. He was baffled, you could tell by the look on his face. If this wasn't such a serious moment, it would have easily been funny.

He shook his finger at me. "Just because you confused me doesn't mean you won."

I crossed my arms in front of my chest and chewed on my bottom lip. "How can you be okay with this?"

"Because when you love someone you make room."

"But I love Mom, not Robert."

"And Robert loves Mom."

I looked at our reflections in one of the shops downtown. My eyes closed in hopes to blink away tears forming. "He doesn't even know what today is."

Levi mirrored my actions. "Why would he? That's our story, not his."

"But we're a part of Mom's story which makes it his story."

"No it makes it our story. He's creating his own with her." Levi sighed and put his hands on my shoulders turning me towards him to look him in the eyes. "You can't deny them happiness just because he's not Dad."

"I didn't deny Dad happiness when Belle wasn't Mom. It's just different now."

"If Dad were here he'd want this for Mom."