Beating Hearts [Knight's Rest #1]

35

"Dad!" She called as she closed the front door behind her. "Where are you?" She asked as she slipped off her shoes and placing them on the shoe rack before padding down the hallway in her socks.

"I'm in the kitchen." He replied, his voice carrying through the house as he spoke over the sound of the kettle whistling.

"There you are." Elijah grinned when he finally spotted her. "How was university this week?"

"Long." She huffed and sat down on one of the vacant bar stools, dropping her weekend bag by her feet.

This had become their routine for the past couple month– since they had their huge falling out. Luckily, they were able to move past it by communicating more clearly with each other and just being transparent and more honest in general. She was just glad that time healed, otherwise she would still be painstakingly mad at her dad, not that he didn't deserve it, of course.

Darcy spent the weekdays with Thelonious and studying at university while she came home for the weekend. Sometimes he would join and travel back early on Sunday morning to get back to the hotel but since he had a couple of deliveries coming in that day, he couldn't make it that weekend.

While she was disappointed, she understood and was supportive of the fact that his hotel was his business and very high in his list of priorities. She knew that if he could, he would follow her down here in a heartbeat.

"Green tea?" Her dad offered, already sliding the mug across the counter in front of before taking a seat himself.

"Yes, please." She sighed and accepted the cup of tea graciously.

"Did Thelonious not come down with you?" He asked, glancing at the door almost as if expecting her daughter's boyfriend to peek his head through the door. He had even made a third cup of green tea specifically for him.

She shook her head, no. "He's busy with some hotel business today and tomorrow so he won't be joining us this weekend."

"So, he's free on Sunday?" His voice was laced with a hint of hope.

Darcy eyed her father suspiciously over her mug. "I guess, maybe. Why?"

He avoided the question. "When are you heading back up to London?"

"You've got me all weekend." She stared at her father warily. "Is there a reason as to why you're asking these weird questions?"

Elijah coughed to clear his throat and warmed his hands with the mug. "There's actually something I want to talk to you about."

"Is it something serious?"

He chugged a large gulp of his tea, nervous. "Pretty serious."

"Dad, are you okay?" She was concerned now. Her mind travelled in all sorts of directions as she was met with silence, her father clearly thinking of the best way to break the news to her.

"I'm going to propose to Stacey." He finally blurted out.

Darcy stared at her father, shocked. She hadn't expected that. "What? Really?" The words rushed out of her mouth.

Elijah chuckled at his daughter's reaction. "Yeah, I've been thinking about it for a while now. What do you think?"

"I think it's a great idea."

"Really?" He asked, hopefully.

"Of course!" She insisted.

"I won't propose if you don't want me too." He told her jokily. There was only a small amount of truth in his words.