The Lure of White Oak Lake by Robin Alexander Page B

Morgan strolled around Brad’s backyard with her dad. She knew that Tonya was devastated by the miscarriage. Brad was trying to be positive for Tonya’s sake, but Morgan could tell that all he wanted to do was hide himself away in his misery.
    Robert shuffled along, his expression grim. “When something like this happens to you, it’s terrible, but to watch your baby suffer is just gut-wrenching. Their highs are your highs and the lows…” Robert sighed. “Sometimes, there’s just no way to shield your children from heartbreak. It liked to have killed me when your mom died. I was brokenhearted, but you and Brad were so pitiful, you especially, because you understood more then. He was so little, all he knew was that she was gone. It was such a double whammy because I struggled with my own sense of loss, but yours tore me in two.”
    “I’m sorry you had to go through that, no one should. Life just sucks sometimes, doesn’t it?”
    “It does.” Robert sighed as he reached out for the picnic table and slowly lowered himself to the seat. “I remember the first time I saw you. They laid you in my arms, and I stared at your little face. It was the most terrifying moment of my life because I never dreamed how protective that I’d feel, vulnerable. You were so dependent on me, and it was humbling.” He smiled. “But at the same time, I felt a love so strong. I loved your mother, but this was different, something so amazing.”
    Morgan reached over and took his hand. “You’re a great dad.”
    Robert smiled wanly. “Not always, baby. When you started to grow from a little girl to a young woman, I made some stupid decisions. It’s so hard to watch your daughter change like that, and in your most formative years, I wasn’t there. I told myself that I was working so much to provide a future for you, but I was just keeping my distance. I let Mrs. Meyers, the lady who sat with y’all while I was at work, handle things I was uncomfortable with. I thought you needed more of a female influence, and I guess you did, but I lost something then, and I couldn’t get it back. Y’all were in bed by the time I got in from work, and at that time, I only saw you on the weekends. With every one, you seemed to have grown so much that I barely knew you. As I look back on my life, that’s one of my greatest regrets, and I’m so sorry.”
    “You did what you had to do. It’s okay.”
    Robert shook his head. “It’s never okay to turn your back on your kids, not for any reason. I need your forgiveness.”
    “There’s nothing to for—”
    “Morgan, I need you to accept my apology.”
    “Done,” Morgan said and meant it.
    Robert nodded. “Thank you. I know you think having kids is not in your future, but it could happen. You may meet a woman you want to build a life with and you may decide that you want babies of your own. You need to understand that you’re gonna make plenty of mistakes, but learn from mine and don’t follow the same path.”
    Morgan would never admit what she said next to anyone else but her father. “I think about it sometimes. I wonder what it’d be like to have kids of my own, but right now, I have to build my career so I can provide, and I’m not there yet.”
    “That’s very respectable, but understand that life will pass you right by when you’re making preparations. I truly admire your work ethic, baby. When you were sixteen and worked at that ice cream shop, you were so serious, so diligent, and I knew then that you’d always do well in life. I’m so proud of what you’ve accomplished, but I hope you’ll take time for yourself. These visits seem to be the only time you take a break.”
    Morgan shrugged. “My job is demanding. If I slack off, there’s always someone else waiting to step on me to get ahead.”
    “Are you happy?”
    “Yeah.” Morgan’s response didn’t sound as sincere as she would’ve liked, but with her father, she couldn’t bluff her way through anything. They