Impossible To Resist (BWWM Romance Book 1)(105)
Reggie watched it all from his place up against the wall. He knew how mad Harold was. He had been around Harold a long time, and he knew that Harold didn’t take anything from anyone, and that having Connor in the house would be more than Harold was willing to put up with. But he also knew that Connor and Catalina needed a chance to talk things out, and as he stood there watching them both, he saw the change in them as it took place, and he knew that the visit he had made that morning had been exactly the right thing to do.
Catalina looked from her father up to Connor and she shook her head. “It doesn’t have to be this way, Daddy… it doesn’t. I can love you both. We can have a whole family together if you just let your anger go! Please, Daddy…” she begged, but Harold shook his head.
“Don’t you dare choose that bastard over me. I am your father! I am your family! You are my daughter and I am telling you right now, if you walk out of that door with that man, you are never going to walk into this house again. Do you hear me?” he shouted at her with tears in his eyes, and Cat looked back at him and shook her head, reaching for Connor, who wrapped his arms around her and began walking with her to the front door.
“Catalina!” her father yelled out more in pain than in anger. She shook her head again and they moved toward the front door together.
“Daddy, you are always going to be welcome in my home, and I am always going to love you no matter what,” she said tearfully as she walked with Connor out of her father’s house, and she heard her father howl in rage as the door closed behind her, and Connor took her by the hand and walked with her to his car.
Reggie watched through the window from inside the house, and he stayed where he was against the wall until Harold had thundered into his room and slammed the door closed. Then he went into Catalina’s room and gathered some of her favorite clothes, tossing them quickly into her suitcase, and he walked quietly out of the front door, closing it gently behind him.
*
Epilogue
The snow fell softly, perfectly coating the earth on a January morning as cars pulled into the parking lot of the little church. Connor stood before a long mirror, straightening his tie and looking at himself critically. He looked like a groom. He felt like a groom. He just couldn’t quite believe that in one hour he was going to actually be a groom, but this knowledge made him happier than he had ever been, and the wide smile on his face showed it.
In a room much like his on the opposite side of the church, Catalina was sitting on a chair running her fingers through the flowers in her bouquet as she wished for the umpteenth time that her mother could be there with her. She touched the ring on her hand, twisting it back and forth, looking at the design and color and remembering fondly when her mother used to wear it.
Then she stood up and walked over to the mirror, gazing at her reflection, staring at the bride who was staring back at her. She could barely believe that she was looking at herself standing there in a church in a wedding dress on her wedding day. It was more than she ever had believed would happen with Connor, but there she was.
She looked at her left hand, her ring finger bare for the last morning of her life, and she smiled, thinking about the weeks she had spent with him living at his house. It was a beautiful house and she had loved being able to be there with him, to share it with him and to be a couple out in the open in front of everyone. She had never been so happy, save for one thing.
She closed her eyes and wished from her heart that her father could forgive her someday and be part of her life again. She missed him terribly.
There was a knock at the door and she looked up and called out that it was open. Reggie poked his head around the corner and she grinned at him.
“Hey! There’s my man of honor. I thought you were going to be late!” she gushed in relief, happy to see him. He shook his head and whistled at her.
“My God, you look incredible.” He walked over to her and smiled. “Listen, you know if it doesn’t work out with Mr. Perfect in there, I’m waiting on the sidelines and I’ll step in any day!” he half teased her and she laughed at him and bashed him lightly with her bouquet.
“Reggie!” she scolded him.
He laughed and shook his head. “I’m just kidding! Just kidding. Kind of.” He winked at her and took her hands in his. “Listen, though, in all seriousness, I have a special wedding present for you.”
She shrugged. “You can give it to me later!” she told him with a smile.
He shook his head. “No, I think it would be better if I gave it to you now,” he assured her.
She tipped her head. “Okay, fine. Now works, too.” she said lightly.
He looked at her earnestly. “Close your eyes.” She closed her eyes and she felt him walk away from her and when he told her to open them, he sounded much further away.
He was further away; he was standing by the door holding it open, and there in the doorway stood her father, wearing a white tuxedo and holding a thin silver box in his hands.
Catalina gasped and stared at him as tears filled her eyes and she slowly walked toward him. “Daddy!”
He looked up at her sheepishly. “May I come in, please?” he asked her quietly.
She nodded enthusiastically. “Yes! God yes, Daddy, please come in!” She rushed to him then, and threw her arms around him, holding him tightly.
He lowered her face and kissed the top of her head, wrapping his arms around her and holding her close to him. “I’m so sorry, baby. I can’t tell you how sorry I am. I really fouled things up big, didn’t I?”