Beholden (The Belonging Duet, #2)(54)

“I hope they behaved.”

“Oh, they were very nice to look at.” She winks and giggles a little.

I chuckle, “I’m glad.”

“Yes, they did beautiful work clearing the shrubbery,” Mary notes as she looks at the house. “Hunter would be very happy.”

I smile at the idea that he would be pleased, “I’m glad.”

“I’m sorry, dear, how are you?”

“I’m doing well. I’m moving to California in a few weeks,” I explain and her brow lifts.

“Oh, but you just got here. Why would you move all the way out there?” Mary asks.

We spend the next few minutes talking about the new job and about her grandson who came back from the west coast.

“I’m glad you’re happy, dear,” Mary says and puts her arm on my shoulder.

Happy? I’m excited about the job. I’m ready to take my career to the next level … but happy? In one aspect of my life, yes. In another … no.

Before I can say anything else, the realtor pulls up and hops out of the car. “Catherine Pope?”

Stepping forward, I extend my hand. “Yes, you must be Mindi.”

“Mindi Erickson.” She returns the handshake and nods. “Nice to meet you.”

I explained the urgency of my move and how the house has to be sold quickly. Not having a mortgage or any debt on the house weighs in my favor. She seems very optimistic and already has a few couples she would like to show the house to.

“How about we go inside?” she asks and I bid farewell to Mary.

After a few minutes of going through each room, we make a checklist of things that would make it easier to sell and what can be the new owner’s decisions.

“Do you think it’s doable?”

“Yes, absolutely. How quickly can you have everything removed from the house? I think it’ll show better.”

For a second my breath catches. I didn’t think about what I would do with all that’s left of my father. While we didn’t have any relationship, the last thing I want is to lose any ties I have to him. I don’t know why this never occurred to me but suddenly it’s as if a boulder is sitting on my chest.

“Oh, ummm, I didn’t—” I stop trying to think of how to explain that I never realized I’d need to get rid of everything.

“If you’d rather leave it, we can, but I think if selling quickly is the goal then we should have the house staged. It’s well worth the money. You’d need to have anything from here removed quickly. I can have this listed in a day if you tell me you’re ready.” She explains with a no-nonsense look, waiting for my answer.

“Okay, I just need to make a few calls,” I say looking away.

“I’ll put the sign up now, and then call me when you’re good to go. Here’s the number for the company I’ve worked with. They’re fair and efficient.” Mindi hands me a card and smiles. “I’m going to take a few pictures of the outside.”

I head into the bedroom and look around. There’s not much that’s salvageable, but these are his things. I grab a few shirts and photos, then enter the office. The box that sits under the desk is empty. Taking a few minutes, I pack anything I might want at some point.

Opening the drawer to the desk I see a VHS tape sitting in the back that says: Catherine Grace.

The office has an old television and VCR. Curiosity gets the best of me and I put the video in and press play. I hear his voice for the first time in almost twenty years.

“Catherine, what does Santa say?” my father says from behind the camera.

I smile at the sight of myself at two years old. I have a pink romper on with pigtails.

“Ho, ho, ho.” My mouth forms a tiny ‘O’ as I walk around saying it repeatedly.

“That’s right! And what does Daddy say?”

“No, no, no.” Everyone laughs and then my mother appears in front of the camera. “Hunter, put that down and come out here.”

The camera is placed on something and I see him. He has dark brown eyes that mirror mine and scruff along his cheek that gives him an almost Mediterranean look. My father looks at me like I’m the sun. His eyes beam and glow when he scoops me into his arms and holds me close.

“My beautiful girl …” he trails off and the camera flashes to another scene.

I’m maybe four years old lying on his chest asleep. My father turns the camera toward me and him as he rocks in the recliner.

“Hi, baby girl. Today’s your birthday and you’re sick. Each year since you were born you run a crazy fever and this year is no different. Your Mommy’s sleeping so I got up with you this time. I decided I had some things to say while you’re lying in my arms,” he pauses and presses a kiss to my head and my younger self snuggles deeper.

I sit here and see the man who held me in his arms when I was sick, yet I have no memory other than him walking away. There’s a part of me that finds peace, seeing it firsthand, knowing he loved me, and another part breaks because we missed out on so much.

“First, boys are stupid. Remember that. No boy will ever love you as much as I do. When I have to give you away, I’ll never really let go. You’ll always be Daddy’s little girl. Okay, we got that out of the way … The first time you said ‘I love you, Daddy’ was a day I’ll never forget. To see so much honesty took my breath away. You’re so beautiful, sweet, and perfect.” My father’s eyes shine with unshed tears. “One day, you’ll hate me, like every teenager does. I want you to know, even at your worst—you’ll always be the best thing I’ve ever done. You’ll be a part of my heart no matter how much you despise me. Nothing in this world will ever take that away. You’re a piece of me and I’ll always be here for you—even if something happens to me.” A tear falls from his eyes and he pulls me closer.