(Olivia)
The next morning, I was just finishing getting ready when I got a call from Dad. I hadn’t fully gotten used to calling him “Dad,” but lately, I found myself doing it more.
He seemed to enjoy it every time, and it was starting to feel more natural. Today, he sounded cheerful as he mentioned a company event he was hosting. He wanted Derek and me there, and I could tell it was important to him, so I agreed.
“Olivia, I can’t wait to see you both,” He said, his voice warm.
“We’ll be there, Dad,” I replied, and I could practically feel him smiling through the phone.
When we arrived at the event later that day, he was there to greet us. He gave me a big hug, and I could see a sense of pride in his eyes.
He welcomed Derek, too, with a firm handshake and a warm smile, which made me
