Page 28 of Condor’s Vow

Hattie sat down in the chair which had become her home from home. “His name is Clay, and he’s an FBI agent here in San Antonio.”

“He treats you right?”

Hattie couldn’t fight the grin, happiness overriding everything else that she could talk to her dad about the man she loved. He may forget it in a moment, but she had this now and cherished every second. “He does, Dad. He reminds me of you with Mom, actually.”

“Good, all a parent wants is for his kids to be happy. Todd has Kai, and I worried about you and Martin, but I see now you’ve found someone who will love you when I can’t. I wish Martin would find a good woman.”

“I know you love me, Daddy, even when you don’t know it.” Her voice was thick with emotion, but she needed him to know that she understood.

“I feel like this damn disease is robbing me of seeing my grandkids, not that you lot have gotten on with it yet.”

Hattie chuckled, giving him a lopsided grin. “Steady on, Dad. I just met him.”

“When you know, you know, Hattie.”

“Yeah, I think you might be right.”

“Bring him to see me. I’d like to meet him.”

Hattie forced herself to keep the smile on her face as she felt her father become confused again and didn’t tell him he’d already met Clay plenty already.

“I will, Daddy.”

“When is my daughter coming in? I want some soup.”

“Soon, she’ll be here soon.”

Hattie was glad for the small moments she had with her father and never took them for granted, but it broke her heart every time she lost him again.

By the time she pulled up outside her home, she was wrung out.