Part Six
On my way towards the backyard I notice Uncle Shane talking to Paul. I�ve missed him, and I make a point to speak to him before the day is over. However, just before I reach the back door, a hand stops me on the shoulder.
�Hey, babydoll,� Dad greets me as I turn around to face him. He hugs me tightly, and although it�s hard, I still somehow manage to keep from crying.
�That was a beautiful speech you made,� I tell him as I pull away. I know that everyone else was as surprised as I was when he had been the first one to step up to the podium.
�Thank you, Ci,� he says with a smile. �I meant every word.�
I frown slightly, wondering why he would say that. �I know you did.�
He sighs, and is quiet for a moment. �I love Chyna, more than anything, but Stephanie was my first wife. She was the one who gave me Paul.�
Dad adores Paul.
I smile. �Paul is most definitely the best brother in the world.�
He looks stricken for a moment. �And you,� he quickly adds. �Stephanie gave us you.�
�Dad, it�s okay,� I tell him. �I understood what you meant.� Although I wasn�t being completely honest with myself. I did understand, but I was still a little hurt. I know that Paul is his biological son, but I had been his daughter for six years. Hell, I still am. I hope I still am.
�I�m sorry, Ci.�
�Don�t be.�
He looks away for a moment. �You know, I miss her so much already. I really did love her when we were together.�
�I know, Dad. You don�t have to tell me.� But he acts as if he didn�t hear me.
�When I first heard the news, I was stunned. I refused to believe it.� He pauses. �Then I got to thinking about our time together. We were happy. Well, I always thought we were happy.�
I think to more than twenty years ago, and although I don�t remember as much as I�d want, I do remember being happy with my family. �We were always happy, Dad.�
He finally looks at me again. �Do you think there�s such a thing as missing someone too much?�
I start to get a little apprehensive. �Dad, are you and Chyna having some�problems?�
He just smiles sadly. �This isn�t the time to be discussing such things, you know that,� he admonishes lightly. �I just wanted you to know that everything I said, I meant every word. I did love your Mom a lot, and in a way I still do. Maybe I always will. I�m glad to know that she found happiness with Jericho.�
Although Dad and Chris got along fine, they aren�t exactly the best of friends. He still calls Chris by his last name. �She was also happy with you,� I tell him.
But he shakes his head. �Not in the same way she was happy with Jericho.�
�And not in the same way you�re happy with Chyna,� I point out.
He smiles, but doesn�t say anything. I begin to worry about him as well. I hope that they aren�t having any troubles.
�I�m worried about him,� he says, looking out towards the backyard. And I know he means it. �How is he?�
I shake my head. �He�s not the best.�
�Go talk to him. He needs you.�
But I don�t move for a few seconds, just looking at him in confusion. �Dad-�
He leans forward and kisses me on forehead. �I may not be your biological father, but you�ve always been my daughter.�
�You are my father,� I insist.
�We�ll talk later, okay? Right now, someone needs you more than I do.�
