Daddy’s Girl

Carlotta’s physical therapy went very well. After two months, they declared her stable to return to a normal level of activities. They advised that she do a few minutes of cardio workouts to help her maintain her health. They also suggested to her to continue walking with her cane because the left side weakness would not go away.

Life as I knew it had gone back to normal. Carlotta continued to paint and do light cardio workouts. I spent my days in my garden or out at the river fishing.

Joshua had gotten a job at the theater in hopes of advancing in his music career.

Layla had started her senior year of high school and was still completely head-over-heels for Kevin.

He had been visiting her one day when he pulled me aside. He told me he planned to propose to my daughter and asked for my blessings. I told him I wouldn’t want to see her be with anyone else. I even offered my mother’s wedding set to him but he politely refused and showed me the ring he had bought for her.

They were engaged that evening. I was overjoyed for my beautiful little girl. What a wonderful life they would have together.

The rest of Layla’s senior year blazed past and before I knew it, it was memorial day and I was headed to the school once again to witness my kin celebrate her completion of high school. I sat in the middle row and listened to Layla give her valedictorian speech. It was so moving, nearly everyone was crying by the end of it. She floated across the stage and accepted her diploma, and when the time came, she lead the whole class out of the building out into their futures.

I gave her my congrats, but she was more focused on what was to come that night.

Rather than having a graduation party, Layla and Kevin decided to have a private wedding at my house. I was saddened that she didn’t want to have anything big or extravagant, but I respected her wishes, and the whole family stood witness to their ceremony.

Instantly following the wedding, Layla turned to me.

“Dad, the reason Kevin and I wanted to get married right away is because… I’m pregnant.”

I could tell she had been worried about my reaction. I was very excited for them, and for me, I was going to become a grandpa!

I insisted that she allowed me to buy them a small starter home so they wouldn’t have to all cramp together here. Layla agreed right away, but Kevin tried to talk me out of it. I would hear nothing of it though. I had been saving up money over my life to give to my heir, which would be Joshua. However, Layla needed a home for her growing family, and I decided that money would be best spent on my baby girl.

Right away we started looking at homes for sale. The only homes in our budget were one bedroom trailers that were in very poor shape. The last place we had to look at was a home nearly 100 years old, it was very small and looked to be deserted. We went over to check it out and the young couple instantly fell in love with the place.

It was two bedroom, brick on the outside, and a great place to start out. The price tag was nearly 18 thousand dollars, just under budget. The seller was so desperate to get rid of it that he even threw all the furniture into the agreement for the same price.

We arranged a quick sale and the next month they were moved in.

I came over every night to visit Layla and her unborn child.

She hadn’t had any morning sickness and really had no trouble with the pregnancy at all. I was greatly anticipating becoming a grandparent, and my only wish was to live long enough to see and hold my grandchild just one time.

Chapter Twelve: Dying Wish