I smiled. "Yeah, I think so." Delilah jumped up into my lap as I spoke, and I scratched her behind her ears as she purred. "I'm feeling better. She invited me and the kids over for dinner Sunday. She said you'd be home."
"That's wonderful! I can't wait to see you all." He was quiet for a second. "Did she talk to you about the party?"
"Yeah. She wants me to chat up Joseph Druthers. Figures he's lonely."
My dad groaned into the phone. "Don't worry sweetheart. I'll talk to her."
"Thanks, Daddy. I just, I, um." I felt myself start to tear up.
"Hey, hey, you don't have to date just to date, or to make your mother happy. You're a wonderful mother, Melanie, and I'm proud of you. And if you ever want to start dating again, any man on earth would be lucky to have you. I love you, Doodlebug."
