rubbed noses with Emerson and said, “Did you have fun with Grandpa and Auntie Piper?”
After Bridgette walked away, her father said, “Honey, about Ben. He didn’t change because Aurelia asked him to or because the courts demanded it for his daughter. He discovered parts of himself that had always been there, and he rearranged his life in such a way that would allow him to become the man he wanted to be for them.”
“I guess that’s true.” Her mother’s laughter sailed loudly through the air. “Did you change when you met Mom?”
Her father laughed. “Believe it or not, you and Bridgette are a lot like your old man.”
“That’s weird, because Bridge and I are nothing alike.”
“Hm. I’m not so sure. But I never thought I’d settle down. I used to love to have fun and run around with women before I met your mother. I was pretty wild.”
Piper tried to stifle her disbelieving chuckle.
“I was. Just ask your mother, or better yet, don’t. I don’t want to relive those years. You asked if I changed when I met her, and the answer is yes, but my changes came from within. When I looked in the mirror, I didn’t see the man she deserved. It was simple. I loved her, and I wanted her to be proud to be with me.”
“Did you want Mom to change when you met her?”
“Never. She was the brightest star in the sky, and I wanted to reach her so badly, I’d have climbed mountains, swam across oceans. I needed your mother’s earthiness in my life. She centered me in a way I never knew I needed. We had wild times together, and as the years passed, I found a more serious and responsible side of myself. An undiscovered part of myself that had always been there, just like Ben and the rest of your siblings have. I just lost touch with that responsible side of myself for a while when my father lost his job and things got hairy, which was about the time I met your mom. But we don’t need to talk about that. Here’s a bit of reality for you, pumpkin. If your mother told me she wanted me to get out of the contracting business and move to Africa, or take a flight to the moon, I’d do it, because other than our children and grandchildren, she’s all that matters.”
“You’d give up contracting?” Piper couldn’t imagine that.
“In a heartbeat, and here’s why.” He glanced lovingly at her mother; then he looked thoughtfully at Piper and said, “I was worried about retiring from my position with the university to start Dalton Contracting. Starting a business is risky, as you know. We had to take those loans, and there was always the chance that we could fail. But your mother convinced me to take those risks. She made it clear that if we lost the house and had to start over, it wouldn’t be the end of the world, because we have only one lifetime to fulfill our dreams. She said if I didn’t try, I’d always wonder what if . . . If she wanted to travel, how could I leave her wondering what if?”
“So you’d change for her.”
“No. I’d be the man I wanted to be for her. When you love someone, you want them to be happy. Does it take concessions? Sure. But that doesn’t mean changing who you are. It means deciding whether you possess the qualities they need at that time, and shifting priorities. And sometimes that changes, too.”
“That’s what I’m worried about. I feel myself changing, and it kind of scares me.”
“Ah, now I see where you were headed. We’re talking about you and Harley.”
She glanced around the yard and said, “I didn’t expect it to be this easy.”
“I don’t imagine Harley thinks it’s been easy.”
“Dad! Am I that bad?”
“No, pumpkin. You’re that smart and that strong. You won’t put up with nonsense, and you demand respect. Those are good qualities. But if you think any of my girls are easy, you’re wrong. It takes strong men to handle Dalton women.”
“Come on. Bridge is as gentle as they come, and so is Talia. Even Willow is sweet, although she does have a mouth on her. I’m the only one who doesn’t have a sweet bone in my body.”
Her father’s eyes narrowed. “I really don’t like when you say things like that. You have spent a lifetime watching out for everyone else, making sure your sisters didn’t get