Epilogue

“I just thought I’d let you know that Duncan and I are still together.”

Amber was between classes on Monday, cell phone at her ear, biting her lip as she waited for her mom’s response. She was sure Mom was going to be ecstatic, but if she said anything, anything about his money, Amber was going to lose it.

“I’m happy for you,” Mom said. “Are you keeping the car?”

Amber closed her eyes. “Yes.”

“Good. I’m sure he was trying to do something nice for you by buying that car.”

“He was.” And she’d let him give her that. “He loves me, Mom.”

“Oh sweetie. You love him too, don’t you?”

“I do. So much.”

“Then it’s all perfect.”

“I just want you to know though, that just because he has money doesn’t mean that I’m rich. I made it clear to him that he doesn’t have to support me and he definitely doesn’t have to support my family.”

This was met with silence and Amber wasn’t sure if Mom was angry, hurt or something else.

“I understand,” Mom finally said.

“Um, there’s something else you should know. Dad is here in Chicago.”

“What?”

“He came to see me last night at work. We’re having dinner tonight.”

“Amber, oh my god, what does he want?”

“I don’t know. But it better not be money.” She rubbed her forehead, hating that she was so cynical. “Duncan’s going to be with me.”

“I should be there too. Dammit Amber, I could’ve been there if you hadn’t sent me home. I don’t want him hurting you again.”

Amber blinked at her mom’s protective tone. “I didn’t know he was going to show up. It’s okay, Mom. I’ll be fine.”

“Damn him.”

“I know, Mom, I’m still angry with him too. I don’t know how this is going to go. But he’s my dad, so…”

“Will you let me know how it goes?”

“I will.”

“Amber. I love you. When I got on that plane I was so upset. But I thought about what you said all the way home. You’ve done so much for me, and I started to feel a little ashamed.”

Amber’s throat tightened.

“I should have been looking after you. I was just so…destroyed…by what happened.”

“I know, Mom. It was awful. It would destroy anyone.”

“It didn’t destroy you. You kept your head up and did what you had to do, even though I know it was so hard. I’m proud of you, sweetie. And I’m going to try to do better. I asked today if I could increase my hours at the gallery. And I think I’ll move somewhere less expensive.”

Amber’s eyes widened. “Really?” She’d been trying to convince her mom to do that for years.

“I started imagining what would happen if you didn’t send me money and I kept living the way I have been. And just like you don’t want to be me…I don’t want to be your father. I don’t want to end up turning to crime to make money, and ending up in jail. I felt so victimized and hard done by after what happened. I felt someone should look after me and make it all right. I felt like I was owed that.” She paused. “It took my own daughter to show me strength and conviction. You love Duncan for who he is, not because he’s rich and famous. To the point that you would have walked away.”

“I thought you said that would have been stupid.”

“Well, yes.” She heard the smile in Mom’s voice. “It would be stupid to turn your back on love. But in a weird way, I had to admire that. It really made me stop and think about my own life.”

Amber’s throat closed up, aching ferociously. She blinked away tears. “Oh Mom.”

“Anyway, I’m proud of you and I’m happy and relieved that you and Duncan worked things out. A lack of money can be a huge problem in a relationship, but a lot of money can too, so however you two handle it, don’t let that come between you.”

Amber nodded. “Good advice,” she choked out. “Thanks, Mom.”

She ended the call and tucked her phone into her purse as a tear spilled from one eye. Great, now she had to go to a meeting with her thesis advisor. She needed to duck into a ladies’ room and get a grip before she could do that.

That conversation had not gone how she’d expected. She felt a little dazed as she cleaned up a little smudged mascara and washed her hands. Geez mama, she probably should have had that tough love conversation with her mom years ago, if she was going to finally get it. Or maybe this was just how long it had taken her to get it. Who knew?

Amber couldn’t beat herself up over it. She’d been trying to help, doing what she thought was the right thing.

Now knowing that Mom actually acknowledged it and appreciated what she’d done made her lift her chin and straighten her shoulders. She sucked in a long, shaky breath and stared at her reflection in the bathroom mirror. Now she just had to get through the meeting with her dad.

At least Duncan would be there.

Her insides warmed at the knowledge that he would always be there for her. She’d never ever wanted to have anything to do with professional athletes again, but somehow she’d found this amazing, talented, honest and honorable man who happened to play a sport for a living. And he loved her too.

Duncan picked her up at home later to drive to Dimple’s Diner. She told him about her advisor’s advice on her thesis, that she was on track and nearly ready for the presentation coming up at the end of the month. He talked about practice that morning and the upcoming road trip.

When they walked into Dimple’s, she looked around, remembering that first night Duncan had brought her there. This time they sat on the same side in the booth, waiting for her dad to arrive.

Duncan picked up her hand and rubbed his thumb over it. “I think I fell in love with you the night we came here.”

Her mouth fell open. “What? Really?”

“Yeah. When you blew the straw wrapper at me—I was a goner.”

She laughed and leaned her head against his shoulder. “Oh, Duncan. Truthfully, I probably started falling in love with you that night too. You were so not what I expected. Bringing me to a place like this. I loved talking to you, and then…going back to your place.”

He lifted her hand to his mouth and touched his lips to it. “Oh yeah.”

“Hi Amber. Duncan.”

Dad appeared next to the booth.

“Have a seat, Mr. Johnson.” Duncan stood and gestured, and Dad slid onto the seat across from them.

She studied him. Last night had been such a shock she’d been kind of out of it. Dad looked older, with grayer hair and more lines on his face. He wasn’t as big as he’d once been, though he was just naturally a big man, but he still appeared fit. She looked for signs of drug or alcohol use but he seemed completely sober and straight.

“I guess I surprised you last night.” Dad met her eyes. “Sorry about that. Like I said, I didn’t know how else to contact you.” He paused. “I never heard from you all the time I was in.”

She shook her head slowly. “No.” She almost felt she should apologize, but stopped herself. She was totally justified in not wanting anything to do with him.

“That hurt,” he said quietly. “But I knew I deserved it.”

Her chest ached and Duncan gave her hand a little squeeze.

“You folks need a few more minutes?” The waitress beside the table flashed a red-lipped smile.

“Yeah.” Duncan smiled back at her. “Just a few. Thanks.”

They all picked up menus but Duncan set his down right away.

“Bacon cheeseburger?” Amber murmured.

“Yep.”

They shared a smile.

“I think I’ll have the cheeseburger this time too.” She laid down her menu also. “And definitely fries. And a milkshake.”

Dad’s gave moved over the menu. “Sounds good to me too.”

Amber remembered the last time they’d been there, how she’d tried to imagine her dad eating somewhere like this. And now he was sitting right across from her in the booth, ordering a cheeseburger and coffee.

It was surreal.

“Life is weird.” She hadn’t meant to say it out loud, but she had, earning smiles from both men.

“That is true,” Dad said. “So. Tell me about your life, Amber. I want to know what you’ve been doing. Why you’re in Chicago. How you two got together. I got the impression last night this is something new…?”

Amber nodded, looking down, hair falling over her face, gathering her thoughts. “Yes, pretty new.” She glanced sideways at Duncan, who reached for her hand again. “We actually had our first date here in this diner. About…two months ago?”

Duncan nodded, smiling.

“Wow, so much has happened.” Amber shook her head. “So. I moved here to go to college. I, uh, didn’t want to stay in LA after what happened, though I did for a while. Mom pretty much fell apart and I felt I needed to stay and make sure she was okay. It took a while for her to get back on her feet.”

She tried to keep her tone neutral and not accusatory, but Dad’s mouth tightened and he dropped his gaze to the coffee cup in front of him.

“I’m almost done college,” she continued. “Graduating next month, if all goes well.”

Duncan nudged her shoulder. “Of course she’ll graduate. Three point eight GPA.”

She flashed him a smile. “You remember that?”

“Of course.” He looked at Dad. “Your daughter is a very bright woman. Don’t know if you knew that.”

Dad frowned. “Of course I knew that.”

Duncan shrugged and picked up his milkshake. “She said nobody really told her that growing up. Or cared about her marks.”

Dad’s mouth fell open and his gaze moved back to her. “Really?”

She swallowed. “You were, um, busy, Dad. And Mom didn’t pay much attention.”

“Shit.” Dad rubbed his eyes. “Of course I knew you were smart.”

Amber licked her lips and forged on. “I already have a job lined up.” She told him about her new job and what she’d be doing.

“That’s not how I ever pictured your life,” Dad said slowly. “But it seems that’s what you’re passionate about.”

“I am.”

“That’s good then. You like living here?”

“I love this city. It has its problems, sure. Every city does. But I like the idea that I can work on those problems and make it a better place.”

“How’d you two meet?”

“At the Sin Bin.”

“Right, right. Jared Rupp owns that place, doesn’t he.”

“Yep.”

Dad fixed his eyes on Duncan. “And how about you, young man?”

Amber almost laughed at the paternal tone Dad took.

Duncan kept his chin up and met Dad’s gaze head on. “What about me?”

“I did my research, like I said. NCAA hockey in Michigan, first round draft pick, turned pro a year later. You’re a talented player.”

“Thank you.”

“That alone doesn’t make you good enough for my daughter.”

Duncan slowly shook his head. “You’re right about that. I’m honestly not sure I am good enough for your daughter. But she seems to like me.”

Amber leaned into him and smiled.

“What else do you do besides play hockey?”

Duncan told Dad about his cottage, his love of the outdoors, the hockey camps he ran for kids in the summers and almost as an afterthought, all the work he did for the Mini Aces, the kids he helped play hockey throughout the season, which she knew he loved doing. “Not much of a big city guy,” he admitted with a glance at Amber. “But I enjoy living here. More so now.”

Amber smiled.

The waitress arrived with their cheeseburgers and for a few moments, they worked on arranging plates and cutlery and passing the ketchup bottle around.

“What about you, Dad?” Amber picked up her burger. “What are your plans?”

He shrugged. “I’m not sure right now. I need to find a job, obviously.”

She bit her lip. “Is that going to be difficult? Given…what happened?”

“Could be.” He took a bite of his burger. “Mmm. This is great. I’ve got a few possibilities. Can always sell cars. Maybe work as a janitor.”

Amber’s heart squeezed. This was her dad. And she still remembered how worshipped he’d been by football fans, how talented he’d been.

“Might even stay here in Chicago,” he said. “Might be good to make a clean break.”

She stared at him. “Really?”

“Oh.” Dad looked from her to Duncan. “That might be a problem for you. You wanted to get away from me, didn’t you?”

Amber’s eyes prickled. It was the truth, but saying it felt harsh.

“Well, I do have friends still in LA,” Dad said. “Maybe it would be better to try to find something there.”

She hated seeing him like this. Fucking hated it. He was still her dad, and she’d loved him and idolized him as a kid.

“Are you clean, Dad?” she asked quietly. “No drugs or alcohol?”

“None. Clean.”

She nodded. “Those friends of yours…are they going to get you a real job? Or get you in trouble again?”

He met her eyes. “I know better, Amber. Believe me, I don’t want to go back to prison. Ever.” His eyes shadowed. “Worst years of my life. Especially knowing I hurt you, and your mom. I was an asshole.” He paused. “I made so many mistakes. Can’t ever make up for it. I know that.”

Emotion swirled inside her, reluctant love for him, appreciation of what he’d learned, fear that it could happen again. Forgiveness? She wasn’t sure.

“Why did you come here, Dad?”

He ate a french fry. “Just wanted to see you, honey. Make sure my little girl was doing okay. I thought about you every day I was away. And now…well, couldn’t be prouder of you. Smart and beautiful and successful, and looks like you’ve got a good man in your life.” He gave Duncan a narrow-eyed look. “You ever hurt her, I will fuck you up.”

To Amber’s surprise, Duncan grinned. “Understood.”

He didn’t want anything. He’d asked for nothing. He just wanted to see her.

Amber wasn’t sure if her heart could take any more of this emotional battering. She felt bruised and exhausted and yet, somehow…good.

She was never going to have her family back the way it was. She’d long ago accepted that. But maybe she and her mom could have more of a relationship than Amber constantly bailing her out and resenting it. As for her dad…maybe there was hope for them too, if he was really going to try to turn his life around.

“You can move to Chicago if you want,” she said quietly.

“You trust that I won’t get in trouble again and mess up your life?”

She bit her lip and cautiously met his eyes. “No,” she said honestly and she saw him jerk in reaction at that. But he held her gaze. “I can’t say I totally trust you yet. You’ll need to earn that back.”

“I get it.” He gave a short nod. “I plan to try.”

Air burned in her lungs as she inhaled, her chest so full of emotion. Duncan’s hand landed on her thigh and squeezed. For a moment, overcome, she leaned into him, turning her face into his shoulder and he slid his arm around her waist. He pressed his lips to her temples. “It’s okay, baby. It’s all good. Right here with you.”

She nodded, unable to speak, her throat clogged. When she could finally speak, she whispered, “Thank you.”

She didn’t need anyone. She’d proved she could pick herself up and look after herself. She didn’t need her mom or her dad, or a man. But she was so, so glad that she had them. Maybe her mom wouldn’t figure things out. Maybe she’d go through some tough times still and Amber would have to figure out how to help her. Maybe Dad would slip back into addiction and crime, or maybe he’d learned his hard lessons. And maybe she and Duncan would fight over money or how they were going to spend their summers or all the other things they could fight about, but if they loved each other they’d get through it. And that was what it was really all about…love.