Five years had come and gone, and while we hadn’t conceived on the day of our wedding, on our four-year anniversary, I had given birth to a beautiful bouncing boy. He was the most amazing thing I had ever laid eyes on, and every day I spent taking care of him was even more fulfilling than the last. I had adjusted to being a mother better than expected, especially considering that I’d never even considered having children before I met Owen.

Funny, how love can change a person.

That knowledge of how dizzying being in love could be made it a little easier to forgive my father for the mistakes he’d made in my life. He took a plea deal with the federal government, and after serving his five-year sentence, he moved back to Guam with the promise that he would live on the straight and narrow.

I couldn’t be sure that he would keep his word, but I entertained the hope, at the very least.

When he was freed, the first thing he did was ask us to visit. He wanted to see his daughter again, meet his son-in-law, and more than anything, he wanted to meet his grandson. My father had never been the sort to push the idea of grandchildren, but since Ron was born, it was only fair that he got to meet him.

Admittedly, I was a bit reluctant. My father claimed he had changed for the better, and he had been compliant with the feds, but I was sure that old habits died hard. However, Owen was determined that I should reward my father’s efforts in some way, so in spite of my reluctance, I agreed to fly out.

I knew the massive home that had once been ours was long gone, turned over to the FBI. Everything from my childhood, every memory, had essentially been wiped away. Still, I was blessed that my father seemed to be making an effort.

“Don’t be so fussy,” Owen murmured, and I glanced at him with a curious expression from my seat beside him.

“He’s not that fussy, especially considering it’s his first time on an airplane,” I said defensively.

My husband grinned and gave our son a little tickle on the stomach.

“I wasn’t talking to him, honey. I haven’t seen you look so anxious since we found out you were pregnant. I’m sure it won’t be as bad as you think. It’s not like your dad is gonna take our son and lock him up or something,” he assured me.

I sighed, not having realized that it was one of my fears until Owen pointed it out. They say a parent never loves anything more than their child…at least, until they have grandchildren. I could imagine that my father would want to protect little Ronnie from the world, but I was determined to let my son have a normal life.

“I just wish…I wish my dad was more—I don’t know—normal,” I sighed.

Owen laughed, reaching out to pinch my cheek.

“Well, if your father was a perfectly sane man, you and I never would have met. Our son wouldn’t exist. It’s nicer to think that the bad things in life happen for a reason, you know?” he said gently.

That thought was blessedly enough to keep me preoccupied for the rest of the flight.

When we touched down in Guam, I was nearly crippled with anxiety upon seeing the familiar sights. It should have been a comfort, but there was still an irrational fear that my father would trap all of us. The thought faded as Owen placed a gentle hand on my hip, holding me close as we walked out of the airport.

I saw my father almost immediately, looking somewhat gaunt, but the happiest I had ever seen him. I didn’t even think I’d seen him smile so much when my mom was alive.

Overcome with emotion, I rushed towards my dad and allowed myself to be swept up into his arms. He sighed contently, brushing a hand through my hair as he drew back to consider me. As he looked me in the eye, all of the love I felt for him rose to the surface. I kissed him on the cheek, actually happy to see him.

“It’s been so long. How are you?” I asked.

“Oh, sweetheart. I’m so happy to see you. I just…” he trailed off, glancing over my shoulder.

Owen stepped forward with Ron in his arms, gently waving our infant’s hand at my father. Tears welled up in my father’s eyes, and he touched his grandchild’s cheek as if he had never seen something so wonderful in his life.

“This…this is baby Ronnie? And you must be Owen, right?” my father asked, never looking away from our son.

Owen looked towards me for permission to let my father hold Ron. I nodded, watching with a grin that would not be contained as my father held his grandson for the first time.

“That’s me, Mr. Madden. It’s a pleasure to finally meet you,” Owen said earnestly.

My father laughed, looking between the two of us as he gently bounced Ron.

“I never thought I would thank someone for taking my daughter from me, but it took losing her to realize that all the ways I treated her was wrong. I thought what I was doing was in her best interests, but I see now that I was just being selfish. So, Owen, thank you. Thank you for giving my daughter the kind of life that she’s always wanted. Thank you for giving her the life she deserves,” he said fondly.

Owen looked a bit taken aback, but he wasn’t nearly as shocked as I was.

“It’s…not a problem, sir. I know you did what you thought was right in raising her—” Owen began, but my father laughed and cut him off.

“But it wasn’t right. I realize that now,” he breathed, turning towards me with tears in his eyes. “My sweet child, I’ve missed you so much. I wish I could have just seen how unhappy I was making you,” he sniffled.

I smiled, reaching out to brush a hand through my son’s hair. He burbled happily, reaching out to grip my fingers in his chubby little hand.

“Dad, what you did was wrong, and I spent most of my life feeling like a glorified prisoner. But Owen made me realize that everything happens for a reason. I’ll always wish I had a childhood without an absentee father, and I wish Mom were here to see her grandchild. But…I guess what I’m saying is thank you, and I forgive you,” I said confidently.

My father gently handed Ron over to Owen, pulling me into his arms and kissing me firmly on the forehead. For a moment, we simply stood there. It was a moment that I never could have anticipated, but reuniting with my father made me realize there was a chance we could really be a family again.

“Come on, you three. My house isn’t that big, but there’s plenty of room for you to relax and stay a while. No more five-star restaurants, but I think this special occasion calls for ordering pizza,” he announced, grinning.

I laughed tearfully, pulling the two men I loved most in for a big group hug. Ron whined and made bubbles with his saliva, and my father gazed at him for a moment.

“Where did you get the name Ron, sweetheart?” he asked after a long moment.

I hesitated, looking at Owen.

“When I told Owen about Mom, he wanted to pay tribute to her, somehow. We had planned if we had a girl, we would name her Veronica, after mom. But, instead, we got little Ronnie. Do you think she would be proud?” I stammered.

My father hesitated, looking skyward for a long second. I wasn’t sure what he was doing, but after a long moment, he looked back at me with a grin.

“Your mother would be honored. Now come on, let’s get to my house so we can enjoy our first family dinner!” he said, his voice heavy with emotion.

Owen and my father walked ahead, with Owen carrying our son. Feeling curious, I glanced towards the sky in wonder of what my father might have seen. In the sky, there was a rather strange-looking cloud that almost looked like…the shape of an angel.

Sniffling, I wiped a tear away.

“Thanks for the sign, Mom. I love you,” I whispered.

A breeze ruffled my hair, and I smiled to myself before jogging after my family.

I couldn’t have imagined a happier ending if I’d tried.