Free The Skye Trilogy: Isle of Skye, Isle of Night, and Isle of Dawn. * Bonus: Scrumptious Skye Confections Cookbook* by Shannon Barczak Page B

very amusing Cormac,” Cecily admonished. “Wish me luck. This conversation is not going to go smoothly."
     
    "You’ll be fine,” Cormac said as he offered his hand to help her off the couch.
     
    "Yeah, tell her I said hey,” I said somewhat sarcastic
     
    As my mom walked out of the room and went into my dad’s study, I heard the door close and my father sank onto the couch next to me. For a few minutes, we didn’t say anything and I appreciated the silence. There were so many thoughts and questions that were crowding my mind, but I didn’t know where to start. Even though, I had just proclaimed my adult status to my parents I slowly turned over on my side, put my knees up, and curled up under my dad’s arm.
     
    No matter how old you, sometimes a girl just needs her daddy.
     
    My father started speaking with a sigh, “When we found out that your mom was pregnant I was filled with so many emotions. I felt profound happiness, disbelief, but most of all fear. I wanted to gather your mom up and head to the Island or Fairlia as quick as possible. She was adamant that she wanted to stay here in America. For months we went over every aspect of us staying here, everything we had to do, everything we couldn’t do. Then you were born, and life changed. My perspective shifted the first time we took you for a walk in the park. I remember looking around at the children and young families, and I thought we can do this, we can have this simple life, and so we did.”
     
    “I’ll never forget the day soon after you graduated college,” he continued. “You came to the front door and knocked; all dressed up in a business suit, and asked me for a meeting. I sat there and listened to you with your business outline for the bakery. Spreadsheets, PowerPoint presentation, you had done all the research. I was so proud of you, but I was also sad. How could I back this venture when I could see that in a few short years we would have to ask you to leave it? The clock was slowly becoming a ticking time bomb but instead of saying no I said yes. One day, when you have children, you’ll understand that if it’s in your power you will move heaven and earth for them. Your mother came home that day, after you showed her the building, completely devastated. She was so happy and proud of you, but she knew, better than anyone, what this would do to you. What would happen when this day came? We had hoped to break it to you gently. We wanted to give you six months or so slowly to accept and acclimate to this news. To give you time to tie up loose ends and say goodbye. Again though time is not on our side and for that we are truly sorry.”
     
    “You know it’s funny, I truly do get everything you both have said but I feel like I’m in a dream. That none of this is happening. That I will wake up, have a good laugh and go on about my day. You both keep talking about wanting to protect me but what you seem to forget is that I am just as protective. I would never to do anything to put you and mom in harm’s way. I will do everything in my power to make sure we are all safe. You aren’t alone in this. You need to trust me though. Let me in because we need to do this together, as a family, that’s the only way we’re going to get through this,” I finished getting out of my dad’s arms and looked up at his face intently.
     
    “You always slay me princess,” my father said. “Whenever I think I’m in control, you come waltzing in and crumble everything inside of me. You turn me into a mush ball.”
     
    “Mush ball huh?” I asked. “So would now be a good time to ask for the gorgeous, large diamond hoop earrings I saw at the jewelry store today?"
     
    My dad let out a big sigh and laughed. “You never fail to make me laugh but yes now probably would be a good time to beg for those.”
     
    We smiled at each other, and both looked up as my mom came into the room. Although her face was lined with worry a small smile lit up her face.