“Great. I’ll put on the jacket.” Keith is already half-turned when Merida jumps from the couch.

“Wait, Dad. Just let me check again. Maybe I can find something better in your closet. Please?” She clutches her hands close to her chest.

“Okay. Just one.” Keith shakes his head before slumping next to me as Merida disappears into his closet.

“I think your tux selection will be longer than Clementine’s dress fitting,” I tell him.

Clementine Hawthorne is Keith’s girlfriend and is returning from Italy today. Merida is determined that her dad look his best when he meets Clem at the airport.

“You don’t say. If Merida could, she’d propose to Clementine on my behalf.”

“So is a proposal planned soon?” I ask, not at all surprised. Clementine is perfect, not only for Keith but for Merida too.

“I’m forty, man. I don’t have time nor interest in anything casual. What about you?” He nudges his foot with mine. “As long as I’ve known you, I haven’t seen you with anyone. Living alone, without true love, is a painful way to live.”

Of course he’d think this way. Keith married his childhood sweetheart, and after she passed away, it took him ten years and Clementine coming into his life to open up his heart again. I don’t think he’s been with anyone during that time.

“Are you hiding a secret girlfriend somewhere that no one knows about?” His words have my palms sweating.

Fuck! If he only knew.

But before I can find some nonsense excuse to give my friend, Merida walks out holding two more white shirts in each hand, and I know we’ll be here for a long while.

* * *

In the afternoon, I’m bringing Merida home from school. We’re halfway to the Kings Security campus, listening to Eric Clapton, when she lets go of a deep sigh.

“I love the music you listen to, Uncle Lukas.”

I chuckle at her remark of “Tears in Heaven.”

“You need to hang out with kids your age more, Mere. We’re too old for you to spend all your time with.”

She giggles. “I love spending time with you all, but I can’t wait to see Clementine again. I think Dad might propose to her soon.” She bites her lip, but there’s no hiding the growing smile on her face and the gleam in her eyes.

My chest inflates to see her this happy. This kid has suffered a lot.

“I can’t wait for you and your dad to have a new start with Clem.”

“What about you? When will you settle down? How old are you, anyway? Thirty-five?”

“Thirty-four,” I comment, bringing my aviators up to my forehead and giving her a stern look.