Chapter 23

Megan opened her eyes. She stared at an unfamiliar ceiling and suddenly everything rushed back.

My dad, Jon, the kiss. She turned and screamed into her pillow ,pummeling it viciously.

Why, oh why did she give in to his charms? Haven’t she had enough yet?

Enough? You’ll never have enough of him.

“Pumpkin are you awake?”

“We have to get going to the hospital. They called, daddy woke up this morning and he is looking for you.”

She shot right out of bed.

“I’ll be ready in a few minutes, mom.”

It was a nervous woman walking into the hospital room a while later. Her dad was sitting up, a nurse feeding him.

“Daddy?”

“Pumkin!”

He held his arms towards her and she rushed forward, resting her head gently on his chest, feeling his heartbeat against her cheek.

“Oh daddy. I’m so sorry about everything!  Can you forgive me for what I have done to you and mom?”

His voice was just as shaky as his fingers.

“Its forgotten already honey. It’s the past. Now show me that beautiful face.” He cupped her chin. His eyes were full of unshed tears.

They have lost so many years! The eyes staring at him wasn’t his little girl anymore but a full grown woman who has known pain and disappointment in her young life.

“I need you to forgive me for what I have done to you. Can you forgive this old fool?”

She shook her head and felt tears streaming down her face.

“There is nothing to forgive. You did it because you loved me. I just couldn’t see it at that moment, but now I know.”

‘Why did you stay away all those years?”

“I couldn’t face you and mom. I was embarrassed for what I have done and the hell I’ve put your through.”

He pulled her into a warm embrace.

“Oh Megan baby! You’ll always be my baby, my only. People make mistakes. You paid heavily for yours and I wish I could have taken it away. There are some things that will always be there…but you survived it and came out a stronger woman that I could ever have hoped for! I was to blame too. I was supposed to see what was happening.”

Father and daughter spent the whole day catching up on lost time. Mary blossomed and for the first time in years she had something to look forward to!