Free Cart Before The Horse by Bernadette Marie Page B

Her conscience had her slipping her left hand behind her back.
    “I just thought I’d drop by and say hi.” He gave her a careful scan and she lifted up her hand. “Oh good. I figured him for a smart man and I’m not disappointed.”
    “Oh, Daddy.” She wrapped her arms around his neck and looked at the ring she wore with a deception attached to it. “I can’t believe you did that.”
    “It was important to my grandmother.”
    Holly took a step back and breathed through the sickness that washed over her because of the lies she’d woven together. “Thank you.”
    “Your mother is already making plans, you know. She might have been a little put off by the news, but she’s already sent lists to the caterer.”
    Holly felt the blood drain from her head. “Dad…”
    “I told her to let it be and when you were ready to start planning you’d let her know.”
    “Thank you.”
    “And when you’re ready for that baby shower, she’ll be prepared too.”
    This time Holly retreated a few steps and sat in the plush chair behind her.
    Her father shut the door and gave her an all-knowing nod. “I knew there was something else you needed to tell me. Do you want to tell me now?”
     
    Holly shook her head. “No. I don’t want to tell you.” She laughed through the tears that formed. “But you’re going to make me say it out loud, aren’t you?”
    “It would be nice to hear I’m going to be a grandfather.”
    In an attempt to steady herself she pressed her hand to her stomach. “You’re going to be a grandfather.”
    “Thank you.” He knelt down in front of her. “I’m very happy, by the way. Very happy.”
    “Really?” She wiped away her tears.
    “You have no idea.” He pulled Holly into his arms. “I was sure that was what you wouldn’t tell me at lunch, and when I went to meet Gabe he did everything not to tell me either. Why would you feel you had to keep it a secret?”
    Holly clenched her fists and released them, trying to let go of the tension that riddled her body. “I was worried that you would be upset with me.”
    Her father’s lips curled into a warm smile that always calmed her. “You’ve established a wonderful life for yourself, and you’re very successful. First, a baby isn’t going to ruin that. Second, you’re old enough to have made your own decision on this. Had you been fifteen it would have been a different story. You’re not. You’re a grown woman in love with a wonderful man who vowed to your father that he was going to always take care of you.”
    Holly’s chest tightened. She sat back in her chair.
“He did?”
    Her father nodded. “Oh, he’s scared. But he meant it. I saw it in his eyes.”
    Holly had seen something in his eyes too—duty.
    Her father stood and walked to the couch. He sat down and then patted the seat next to him with his hand as a silent invitation for her to join him.
    Holly sat down next to him, and he draped his arm over her shoulders. “You’re still going to have to be the one to tell
your mother.”
     
    Holly dropped her shoulders and moaned. “Cart before
the horse.”
    “That’s what’s always made you so special.” He chuckled and kissed the top of her head. “It’s not so bad, Holly.
It’s a gift.”
    Every muscle in her body began to ease as her father co mforted her, patting her shoulder. He was an amazing man, Holly thought. She couldn’t have chosen a better father. Never had he belittled her or even put her on a pedestal as most did because of her intelligence. Her mother was often jealous of her ability to learn and excel. Not her father. She was still just his little Holly no matter what greatness she was achieving at any given age. And now she was going to be a mother, and he was embracing that too.
    “Holly, I know you don’t want a big fuss made over the wedding, but she wants to be part of it. She’ll never be able to tell you she’s proud of you. She wasn’t raised that way. I was the first person to