CHAPTER NINETEEN - CHANCE
I’d never asked a man for permission to date his daughter, and the more I thought about it, as we walked toward her father’s door, I’d only taken the time to meet a few.
Carrie had awakened a part of me though, a part that wanted to do things right. I wanted to take care of her and make sure that she never wanted for anything. I had the money to do it too. All that time I’d brought those women to my castle, it was on my terms. My way. But it wasn’t about my needs anymore. She’d taught me that.
We stopped outside a door in the hall of the assisted living home, and Carrie knocked. “Hey, Daddy?” She pushed the door open, and I was surprised to find the man on the other side of the door had her eyes. He was also much younger than I’d expected. He wasn’t in the home for his age, though, and by the gray color of his pallid skin, I could tell he needed care.
“What’s happening, Ladybug?” Her father’s eyes lit up as I entered behind her. “To what do I owe two visits in such a short morning?” He raised his bed higher to a sitting position.
“Daddy, I wanted you to meet Chance.”
Her eyes met mine with a wide, blank look and I realized she still didn’t know my last name. “Chance Stevens,” I said, extending my hand.
“This is my father, Brent Chase.”
He gripped my hand with all his strength, and he had a pretty mean grip for someone who seemed so frail. “Pleasure to meet you, sir. Are you a doctor?” Her father looked back and forth at us with narrowed eyes and a lot of uncertainty in his voice.
“No, Daddy. Chance and I are dating.” She glanced at me as if to say now’s your chance.
“I wanted to meet you to ask if I may have permission to date your daughter, actually.”
“We met while Lindy and I were away.” She pulled her lips into a tight line as if she hated lying to father, but truly it was best.
“Well, that’s wonderful, and I’m sure if my daughter sees you’re worthy, then you’re all right with me.” He offered his hand again, and we shook as if making a bargain.
“He’s very worthy, Daddy.” She sat beside her father and took his hand. “He’s opening a business here in town that will employ hundreds of people.”
“That’s wonderful, and just what this town needs. We’ve grown a lot lately. This facility is one of the newer additions.” I looked around at his room, and while it was a nice facility, it just seemed a bit depressing.
“You know, Mr. Chase, I have a home in New York, and well, Carrie told me a little about your condition, and I’d like to offer you a place to stay there, closer to the city where you could get better care.”
“And I talked to the doctor; the procedure is being arranged.” Carrie smiled proudly.
“But that’s so much money. We talked about that, Carrie.” She looked at me, putting her head down, her face bright with a stain of blush.
She gave him a pleading look. “I’ve got the money, Daddy. It’s already scheduled.”
He shook his head, and his face pinched with worry. “But how? You didn’t sell the house, did you?”
“No, Daddy.” I knew she couldn’t tell her father that she’d allowed herself to be bought.
I had to speak up. “I put up the money, sir.”
His eyes narrowed. “That’s awful generous for someone we barely know. That’s a lot of money.” He stared down at my shoes and back up as if he were trying to figure me out. I wondered if he thought that his daughter had gotten into something bad, mixed up with a drug lord or something, so I thought it best to let him know more about me.
“It’s nothing, really. I wanted to do it. You see, I’ve been rather fortunate in life and I’ve worked hard. I own a multi-million-dollar company, and I’m an investor in a few others. My net worth is just over five billion dollars, so it would mean the world to be able to help you and your daughter.”
Her father wiped his brow and then brought his hand to his mouth. “I don’t know what to say.”
It was a reaction that I’d gotten used to. Not many people knew how to react to the amount of money I was worth. It had always set their brains into overdrive as they thought of all the things they could do with my money.
“It’s very generous, but I couldn’t—”
“It’s already done. And I’d like to talk to you about that move. I think I could make your recovery much more comfortable, and well, quite honestly, I’d prefer to have Carrie closer to me and where I live.”
“I don’t want to impose on your lives.” He looked to his daughter. “If that’s what you want to do, you go ahead. I’ll be fine here.”
“No, Daddy. If I went, I’d want you to go too. I’d miss you, and I need to know that you’re being cared for. It killed me that you had to come and stay here.”
“I’ll be back at the house as soon as I’m on my feet.”
They went back and forth, and I could see that Carrie grew more and more upset by the minute.
“With all due respect, sir, is it that you don’t want to move?”
“I just don’t want to be a burden to my daughter.” He turned and looked at her as she took his hand. “You’ve found your Prince Charming, Ladybug. You should start a life with him.”
“You’re my life, Daddy. You always will be, and I want you to come along. You’re no burden, and things will be much easier for the both of us in New York.”
“If you’re sure?”
“I’ve got one of the prettiest housekeepers you’ve ever seen, and I’d guess she’s just about your age.” I gave him a wink, and he chuckled.
“Can we hire a pretty nurse, too?” He glanced at Carrie who rolled her eyes and stepped away from the bed.
“You two are going to be trouble together.” She crossed her arms and laughed.
“So, is it a deal?” I held out my hand, and the old man shook it for the third time.
“You drive a hard bargain.” He chuckled and gripped my hand.
I met Carrie’s eyes. “The best news is, I think we could get your doctor to do the procedure back in New York. That way we won’t have to wait to relocate.”
She came around the bed and hugged me right in front of the old man whose face lit up with a smile. “You’re amazing, Chance. Thank you.”
“Only the best for my girl and her daddy.” I planted a kiss on her forehead, and we took a seat on the small sofa in the corner of his room. We sat talking and making plans, and I really liked her father. He seemed like a cool guy who had always done his best for his daughter until his health had gotten in the way. With the procedure, the doctor had been sure he’d live a normal life, and that was Carrie’s hope, to see him well again and back to his old self.
I sat listening to them as they talked about what to do with their home and I told them to keep it. They might want to come back home for visits, and when I came for work, I’d have a place to stay.
Carrie’s father had also mentioned that she was going to have to give her notice at Angelo’s, and I realized she hadn’t told the man about her morning. She looked so ashamed as he mentioned it. I confronted her when we left.
“You know, you don’t ever have to tell what happened, and you don’t have to tell him you quit, but I don’t want it to bother you, either. I’m happy how things turned out, aren’t you? And if we hadn’t gone through all of it, if we’d changed one little thing, maybe it wouldn’t have worked out this way. So, the next time you’re feeling bad, just remember that. You were doing what you thought was best, and it turned out for the better.”
“Thanks. It’s just that I’ve never lied to him about anything so big before. I’m just ready for what’s to come. When do you think we’ll be ready to move?”
“As soon as possible, I’d hope. I don’t want to be another day without you. The past few have been hell.” It had taken those few days to realize that I was crazy in love with her.
“They were, but I was so mad at you.” She let out a long breath and narrowed her eyes at me and grinned.
I pulled her into my arms. “You’re not still mad at me, are you?”
“No, but you’re going to have to make it up to me.” She rested her forehead on mine and giggled.
“Mm. That’s going to be heaven.” I brought my mouth to her and knew I couldn’t wait much longer to have her. “Do you have some place we can go?”
She let loose a sigh of relief. “I thought you’d never ask.”