It had been a long time since Rebecca had heard the Greek term of affection, and it brought tears to her eyes. “Yes, Mana. He is my soul. And he tells me I am his croie.”
Dione’s eyes glistened. “Ah, he tells you that you are his heart? That is good.” Kane glanced over from where he was speaking with Jake and Michael at that moment, offering Rebecca a secret smile of lustful promise that was not lost on her mother. “He is strong, and virile. He will give you big, fine babies.”
“Mana!” Rebecca blushed, her hand going reflexively right to her belly as her mother’s eyes twinkled.
“It is something you must consider, Rebecca, and soon. Have you spoken with him about it?”
“No,” Rebecca said softly, averting her eyes, no longer able to hold Kane’s gaze. Perhaps it was something they should have discussed, especially given the inordinate amount of time the two of them spent doing everything that would result in making babies. Even the merest brush of thought sent flashes of heat through her body as remembered sensations of Kane stretching and filling her, consuming her body and soul with his own, releasing so fully and thoroughly that even now she could feel it deep in her womb.
In any event, it would be a topic she could not postpone for much longer.
Thankfully, any further discussion on the topic was halted by her father’s arrival. “I wonder if I might convince my daughter to grant her father a dance at her wedding?”
“Of course,” Rebecca said, allowing him to lead her out onto the floor, remembering her promise to Aidan. Despite everything that had happened, she did love her parents. Aidan must have spoken to them as well. If her father was making the effort, then she could do no less.
“You look beautiful, sweetheart,” Evan said quietly. “You’re glowing. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you this happy.”
“I am happy.” Rebecca moved easily with him as memories flooded her mind. She caught Aidan’s watchful gaze, the approval in his eyes. “Do you remember how we would dance together when I was little?”
Evan smiled. “You mean when you used to stand on my shoes in your little stocking feet?”
“Yes,” she laughed, catching a glimpse of Kane dancing with her mother, wondering if he would someday dance with their little girl on his feet.
“We could never get you to put your shoes back on.”
“I hated those shoes.”
“It appears that you still do,” he said, glancing down where her bustled gown revealed delicate feet clad only in white silk. “If I remember correctly, you hated the dresses and the stockings, too, but at least you had the presence to retain those,” he laughed.
Rebecca’s laughter faded along with those early memories, memories of when she had been his princess and her father had been her entire world. When he still assumed she would outgrow her stubborn, independent streak and blossom into the heiress role that he believed was her destiny. It was probably the only time Evan Harrison had failed in accomplishing what he had set out to do. And yes, Rebecca was quite sure he saw it as a failure on his part. No matter how many years passed or how grown-up she’d become, it would always sting a little.
“I’m sorry I’m not who you wanted me to be, Daddy,” she said softly.
Rebecca tried to keep the tears at bay, but it was hard. She might be standing a little taller now, but inside, just for a few moments, she was a little girl again, burying her face in her father’s jacket. Even now the faint aroma of cherry pipe smoke and some expensive Italian cologne teased her senses, sending her back into a world she had all but forgotten.
He pulled her closer against him. “Is that what you really believe?”
She rested her head on his shoulder, unwilling to look into his eyes and see the disappointment she knew would be there. “I’ve spent my whole life fighting you. The dresses, the private schools, the friends you wanted me to have and the men you wanted me to date.”
“I only wanted the best for you,” he said, and for the first time, she heard genuine regret in his voice. “I thought I was doing the right thing, right up until you left, Rebecca.” He paused, taking a breath to compose himself. “I was afraid we’d lost you forever. It was only then that I realized I’d pushed you too hard, pushed you away. I love you, Rebecca. Exactly the way you are. And I don’t ever want to lose you again.”
Rebecca shut her eyes against the tears that began to escape at the words she never thought she’d hear.
“Although I cannot say with any truth that the thought of you settling down doesn’t ease me.”
Smiling into his jacket, Rebecca said the words that had been held on her tongue for way too long. “I love you, too, Daddy.”
*