His face softened, and she thought he might try for another kiss, when noise drew her attention to the door.
“Bailey?”
“Mom.”
Her mother rushed to her, her father not far behind, followed by Poppy, and she was clasped in hugs and rained with more tears. “Oh, honey. How are you feeling?”
“Like I’ve been hit by a truck.” She caught Luc’s wince, and grabbed his hand again. “I didn’t mean you.”
Her mother turned to Luc, and hugged him. “Luc, I can never thank you enough. From what the police say, Bailey owes you her life.”
“I love her, Mrs. Donovan. And I once promised to never let her down. And I mean to keep that promise all my life.”
Her mother glanced at Bailey, then back at him. “And I want you to know we’re very sorry we haven’t always treated you as we should have.”
“I understand.”
“You’re a more gracious man than some,” she murmured.
Like Bailey’s father, who had barely looked at Luc since entering the room. Bailey’s heart hurt.
Luc soon made his apologies for leaving, blew her a kiss, his exit pulling a plug on what remained of her energy, and she soon closed her eyes and fell back into sleep.
When next she awoke it was to see her father in the room, no one else. “Dad?”
He looked up from reading his Bible. He looked older these days. “You’re awake. Thank You, Lord. How’s your head feeling, sweetheart?”
“It hurts, but I think the meds they gave me before are helping.” She pushed up against the pillows. “Where’s Mom?”
“She’s at the studio with Poppy, seeing the police are finished there now. They’re covering your classes, as they figured that’d be easier than cancelling and giving all kinds of explanations.”
“And Luc?”
“He’s still at his meeting with the club.” He swallowed. “The police told us what he did, that he saved your life. I… I haven’t been fair to him, have I?”
She could lie and pretend in order to keep the peace, but those days were done. “No. Luc is a good man, and I love him. And I wish you’d learn to like him for my sake. And you know he only did that to protect me.” She smiled. “He’s obviously got as big a protective streak as you.”
Her father shook his head, and her heart dropped. Did her father still resent Luc?
“I should’ve been the one to protect you, but I didn’t know…” Her father’s gaze met hers. “I didn’t know about this stalker person. I wish you’d told me.”
“I didn’t realize it would escalate like that. I thought it was just a few random people and I didn’t want to worry you and Mom.”
“Because of my overprotective streak?”
In the quiet of the room with no one else here, perhaps this was the time to finally be honest. “Dad, I know you love me, but I am an adult. I’ll be twenty-five next month. And sooner or later you’re going to have to let me make my own decisions even if you don’t like all of them.”
“But honey—”
“No, Dad, please let me finish. See, I know you didn’t like some of my costumes or routines with Luc. You know I was given my outfits and told by the producers to make my routines more sexy.”
His nose wrinkled, and she realized that she’d never said that word aloud to her father before.
“And I’m sorry you were upset, but looking back on the experience I’m so glad I did it. You know they’ve asked me to do a second season?”
“That’s exciting.”
She nodded, then winced at the pain. “It is, but it means I’m going to have to put some new measures in place.” She swallowed. “Especially with the business.”
He frowned. “I don’t understand.”
Lord, help me to be honest. Help him to hear. “Poppy and I have been talking with the bank and we need a new accounting system to make sure things like fees and loan repayments get paid on time.”
“I can try and learn a new program.”
She reached to clasp his hand. “It’s okay. We’ve talked to someone who can help us who deals with this kind of thing all the time. But thank you.” There. That was kind and yet honest.
Her father nodded and looked down. “It’s hard to get older, seeing your children live their own lives. I want to help my children, and you and your mother always had dance in common, but I haven’t known what I can do. You know we’ve always just wanted to support you.”
“You do support us. I know you love me, but sometimes what I need most is a hug and a listening ear.”
She swallowed. This time of raw openness was so rare, it felt like God had opened this door to say what had been left unsaid for far too long. “I know both Rhett and I have felt supported by you, but I know that Chrissy would like that too.”
His lips pressed together.
“She’s hurting, Dad. She feels rejected by God and by us, and she’ll never come back unless she knows we want her home.” She motioned to his Bible. “She’s the prodigal daughter, and just like the Father ran to welcome the lost son, so we need to run and hug her.” Her eyes filled. “I miss her, Dad. I hate that she’s not around anymore.”
He squeezed her hand, but didn’t say anything, and she prayed that what he read would change his heart.
