wrapped her up in his arms. “You have to forgive her, Emma. Not for her sake. She doesn’t deserve it. But for your sake, so that you don’t become bitter like she is. I told her for years that she wasn’t doing the right thing by you, but she wouldn’t listen.”
“Maybe someday.” Emma moved out of his embrace and got to her feet. The happiness in her heart had nothing to do with the bank accounts and everything to do with the fact that at least one of her parents could be a part of her life.
“I should be going now. A word of advice, even though I don’t have the right to give it.” Wyatt stood up. “If you ever marry, make sure it’s for love. If it’s not, then you’ll be miserable.”
“I’ll keep that in mind. Thanks for coming to see me, and for what you’ve done about my finances,” Emma said. “I think I’m ready to manage my own life now.”
“I can see that, and if you ever need anything—and I mean anything at all—will you call me?” Wyatt took a step off the porch.
Emma stood up. “I’ll text you right now so you have my number. Will you keep in touch with me?”
“I’d love to do that,” Wyatt said as he looked down at the text on his phone. “Are you never going back to Dallas?”
“Not right now, Daddy. My plans at this time are to live right here in this trailer park.”
“Good for you. I haven’t seen you this happy in years. Not since you were a little girl and Sophie used to come to the house.”
“I’d love to hear that you and Betsy made it all right to Belize,” Emma said.
Could it be that she and her father might build a father-daughter relationship in the future? She hoped so. Having a parent in her life, and maybe someday a grandfather for her children, would be nice.
“I’ll do that. I think you’ve got a good life here with these people.” He turned around, stepped back up on the porch, and gave her another hug. “Take care of yourself.”
“I will,” Emma promised.
Wyatt’s smile was bittersweet, as if he wanted to say more, and the words wouldn’t come. “This isn’t goodbye.”
“No, it’s not,” Emma agreed. “And thanks again for standing up for me where my money is concerned.”
He just waved over his shoulder as he hurried away. In the blink of an eye, Josh was sitting beside her in the other chair. “Are you okay? We weren’t sure what was going on. He said goodbye to everyone real proper like and then got in his car and left. Can I do something for you? Do you need anything? I’m here.” His words tumbled out like a gush of water.
“I’m fine.” Emma reached over and took his hand in hers. “And for the first time in my life, I really mean that I’m fine. I couldn’t be better than I am right now. I’m home. You are right here beside me. Sophie has been rescued. The sun is shining, and my life is finally good.”
“So, you had a good visit with your father?” Josh asked.
“I really did, and there’s hope for something better between us in the future. Speaking of the immediate future, as in tonight. Are Teddy and Sophie making up?”
“I have no idea. They’re both still in her SUV,” Josh said, “and I haven’t heard any screaming.”
“Well, if they do make up, I might need a place to crash tonight,” she said.
“My trailer door is open tonight or anytime you want to stay with me,” Josh said.
“Thank you.” Emma’s heart skipped a beat and then raced with a full head of steam.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Josh had never thought he could be more nervous than he had been on the day he signed the papers to buy Hummingbird Trailer Park and all the acreage surrounding it, but he was wrong. That evening after supper, not even George Strait’s songs calmed him. He paced the floor and reminded himself that he had slept with Emma two nights already, and this wouldn’t be any different.
“If she isn’t talking about us sharing a bed or a couch, and she just wants a place to sleep, I’m worrying over nothing.” He tried to reassure himself as he checked everything one more time. Clean towels in the bathroom. Clean sheets on the bed. Pillow and blanket on the sofa for him, of course. Cookies on the bar, and plenty of milk and beer in