CHAPTER THREE:

Kayla‘s eyes widened in shock, as she stared at her father, her mind struggling to grasp what he was saying. Her fathers words seemed like foreign language, as her brain tried to process what he said.

“Dad, what are you talking about?” she said, her face fixed in a confused look.

“Kiddo, listen,” her father said, his voice weak as he held her hands and struggled to find the words. His face was etched with a look of defeat, his eyes sunken and his skin pale.

“You are my only source of happiness, Kayla. I am proud of the person you’ve become, more than anything in this world. Unfortunately, my clock is ticking fast.” he finished.

“Please, Dad, don’t talk like that,” she said, her voice shaking as she tried to hold back tears.

Kayla's father gently squeezed her fingers again before speaking, his voice barely above a whisper. “Kiddo, the doctor says I don’t have much time left, and I can feel it myself. The thought of leaving you alone is tearing me apart, Kayla. I’m ashamed of taking up so much of your young life. I feel like I’ve failed you in so many ways.” He said with a low voice, his head bowed in defeat.

“Dad,” Kayla spoke up, trying to reason with him.

Not allowing her to continue, he cut her off, his voice filled with emotions, “I want to see my beautiful baby married, with children of your own, building a life and a family and just… just be happy.”

“I feel guilty about all these, you’ve spent most of your life taking care of me, running the coffee shop, and putting your own life on hold. This is the one last thing I can do for you Kayla. Please, consider it. It would bring me so much joy and comfort to know that you’re taken care of and loved.” He said, staring at Kayla teary eyes.

“Dad, you’re asking me to marry someone I have never met,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper, her tone laced with incredulity.

“He’s not just a stranger Kayla. I met him while I was deployed in Italy, and I can tell you, he is a good person, with a kind heart. I know he’ll take care of you, kiddo. I would never put you in a position where you’d be hurt or mistreated. You have to trust me on this.” Kayla's father, Theo said with pleading eyes as he tried to reason with his daughter.

Theo was convinced that he had found the perfect match for his daughter, someone who would love and care for her the way she deserved. Someone who would bring her joy and provide for her in ways he couldn’t, due to his own limitations.

Meanwhile, Kayla was struggling to make sense of her emotions, her mind racing with thoughts and doubts. It would be foolish to deny the obvious - her father’s health was declining rapidly, and the tumors that caused his condition were taking a toll on him.

His once-strong frame had withered away, and his firm fingers now felt fragile as he grasped her hands. As Kayla held her fathers hands, she felt a tear roll down her cheek, and she gently squeezed his hands trying to hold back her emotions.

The steady beeping of the machine in the white hospital room where her father lay, interrupted her thoughts, bringing her back to the harsh reality of the situation.

Kayla had always made it a point to try and make him happy, to bring a smile to his face despite the challenges they faced. The tumors in his brain, which had developed years after her mothers passing, had left him physically weakened, a shadow of his former self.

“I just want to see you happy, Kayla, walking down the aisle in a white dress, with a big smile on your face, and a good man by your side. Someone who can provide for you and take care of you.” Theo said, his voice trembling as he struggled to speak.

“I’m begging you, Kay. Please consider this. I know I have asked a lot of you over the years, but this is the one thing I’m asking for. The one thing that will give me peace of mind. You can take all the time you need to think about it, to decide what is best for you.”

Theo gently reached up, and wiped the tears that were streaming down Kayla’s face, her cheeks flushed..

“You can…”

“It’s okay dad, I’ll do it. I understand.” Kayla said finally, trying to sound resolute, despite the turmoil of emotions inside her.

Kayla knew her father, she knew he cared for and adored her, and also knew he would never intentionally put her in harm's way. She trusted him, and so she made up her mind to go through with it.

Tears rapidly fell from her eyes for a different reason this time - the realization that her father’s time was running out and she would soon lose him.

Theo gave her a weak smile, and then laid back in bed, his tired body exhausted from the effort of talking and stretching. He weakly squeezed her hands, “Don’t cry Kiddo, at least now I’ll have plenty of stories to share with your mom when I see her again.” He said, attempting to lighten the mood and make her smile.

Kayla found no humor in this, and instead she continued to cry, her body shaking with sobs. Her only remaining parent, her father, was going to leave her, and the thought was almost too much to bear.

“You know, Kiddo, he’ll be here soon. I’ve told you, he’s a very handsome young man, and he’s also wealthy. But you know what, if you don’t like him, you can walk away. I want you to be happy, and if he’s not the one, do not feel obligated to stay. But please consider him, he’s a good lad.” Her father continued with a weak voice.

“Dad, please, it’s alright. I’m going to meet this man, get to know him and work things out with him. As long as it makes you happy.” She said, with a trembling voice.

“Thank you Kiddo, stop them tears now eh? It’s going to be fine. I promise you.” Theo said, his eyes growing heavy as he struggled to keep them open.

Kayla wiped her tears as she gazed at her father- a shell of the confident and muscular man he used to be. Before she could let out any more thought, the hospital room door burst open, and a loud bang filled the room.

To Kayla's complete horror, a tall, handsome man with dark brown hair rushed into the room, his presence commanding attention.

“Theo!” he exclaimed, his voice laced with panic and concern.

Kayla stood abruptly, her eyes fixed on the man in shock, taking in his appearance.

He wore an impeccably tailored suit that complimented his perfect build, one that was different from what he had on previously. His stubble, no more than a day old, accentuated his sharp jawline and the heady scent of his cologne wafted through the room.

The man paused as he locked gazes with Kayla, his dark piercing gaze filled with pure anger and disgust, his face twisted in a scowl.

Kayla stared back at him, her expression mirroring his anger and disgust as she took note of him.

“What the hell are you doing here!” She exclaimed, her voice loud and angry.