Back to Alyssa's POV
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When we walked inside of my dad's room his eyes lit up.
"Heeey dad," I said as I walked over to him. I leaned in to give him a hug.
"Hey babygirl," he grinned.
I rubbed his arm. "How you feeling?"
"I'm feeling okay," he smiled. He looked up at Kevin and put his hand out for him to shake. "What's up son-in-law. It's good to see you," he smiled. Kevin shook his hand. "It's good to see you too sir. You had us worried out there."
"Well no need to worry anymore," he chuckled. "I'm feeling much better."
"I'm glad to hear that," Kevin grinned.
I looked over him. "Daddy," I started, "what happened back at the house?"
He exhaled. "Well. I went outside to get some fresh air and I started thinking about all the good times we had in that house throughout the years. It made me realize how sad I was to lose your mother. Before I knew it I started having sharp pains up my arm and started to feel tightening around my chest. The next thing I know I'm waking up in here."
He sighed and looked up at me.
"Between you and me," he said, "I don't want a divorce. Your mother does." I squeezed my dad's hand. I really felt for him. "I tried to convince her that we could make it work, but the fact of the matter is, you can't make someone stay if they don't want to. With that said, I agreed to the divorce to appease her. I love your mother very much and I want her to be happy even if that means living a life without me in it." I started to get teary-eyed.
He looked over at Kevin. "Son, you'll understand what I mean when you marry my daughter. You're probably already experiencing a little bit of that now aren't you," my dad grinned. Kevin chuckled. "Yeah. A little bit."
My dad squeezed my hand and looked up at me and then he looked back at Kevin. "Take care of my babygirl. She's precious to me. The day you say I do, I'm entrusting you to protect her for the rest of your life. And Alyssa," he said looking at me, "you better do the same girl. Stand with him when it's easy and stand with him when it's hard. Hold him down. You hear me? And most importantly love on each other every chance you get. Don't let the day go by without telling your spouse how much you love them. That goes for the bad days too, because those exist in marriages as well."
My dad looked up at me again. "Girl why you crying," he laughed. "I'm just talking to you. I'm not going anywhere. I'm still young. Listen. I'm only fifty-three, right. So that means I got a good thirty years left in me at least," he laughed. "I'm alright. I'll be out of here soon." I leaned down and kissed him on the forehead. "I love you daddy."
"I love you too babygirl."
"Knock, knock," Keyona said at the door. "Are we too late for the party," she said walking in with everyone else behind her. "Get in here Key," my dad laughed loudly. The quiet hospital room now became full and noisy.
Once all the commotion settled down we all stood around the room. "I love y'all so much," my dad started.
"Uh oh. You ain't bout to get mushy on us are you," Faye teased. We all laughed.
"Boy shut up. I'm trynna talk," our dad chuckled. "I want y'all to know that I am so proud of each and everyone of you. Today made me realize I don't say that enough. Now. Just so we clear," he said cocking his head to the side and grinning, "I had to make sure I said that while y'all were all here. I don't want y'all lying on me talmbout 'I'm daddy's favorite.' No ya not. I can't stand none of y'all."
We laughed. "We love you too dad," Tyreek said. "And we're proud of you too," Mya chimed in.
"I feel a group hug coming on," I smiled.
