CHAPTER THIRTEEN

"Hey, can I grab a cup of ice cream?" I casually asked the young ice cream vendor, and he gave a nod, disappearing into the van to whip up my order.

Luckily, the snow had taken a break; otherwise, I'd be freezing without a sweater. He handed over the cup, and after settling the bill, I strolled over to one of the benches in Rendell's Park.

This park had been a city gem for as long as I could remember. Back in the day, my old man used to bring me here for all the fun and games. Now that he's no longer around, it's become my go-to spot—a place where I can soak in the memories of the good times and remind myself just how awesome a dad he was. Truly, he was my hero.

As I sat there, the scenes of yesteryear played in my mind. I could see a younger version of myself swinging away while Dad played the cool pusher, and Mom giggled in delight. A soft smile etched on my face as the sun bathed us in its warmth, my little feet hanging above the ground. But then, the mental reel switched, and I fo