“Yet your version of my future would slowly smother me, day after day, until I couldn’t take it any longer. That just isn’t me, Daddy.”

“I’m learning that. It turns out I know nothing about my daughters.” He dragged in a ragged breath and reached over to clasp her hand. “When did that happen? I feel like just yesterday I was bandaging skinned knees and teaching you to ride. Where did I go so horribly wrong?”

Her throat knotted and emotion burned behind her eyelids. Daddy was the most confident, arrogant man she knew. Not once had she ever heard him doubt himself. “You did nothing wrong. In fact, you’ve done everything right. You and Mama have raised strong young women who know their minds and are comfortable in their own skins. Mamie is smart as a whip and Justine is the kindest, most honorable person I’ve ever met. Don’t you see? You haven’t raised girls to go along with the tide. You have raised girls who will change the tide.”

He gave her a small smile. “Like Joan of Arc?”

“Exactly. Show no fear, remember?”

“I remember.” He squeezed her hand and tugged her closer. “You know, despite what Mamie thought, I never cared about having daughters instead of sons. You three have been the joy of my life, along with your mother.”

“Even me?”

“Even you.” He kissed the top of her head. “You are the most like me, you know. Stubborn, willful. Never could sit still for five minutes. I think that’s why you and I disagree more often than I do with your sisters. Probably why you are Granny’s favorite, as well.”

She had no idea. “I always feel like I’m disappointing you.”

“My father wanted me to go to Yale. I went to Harvard. He thought baseball and boxing were beneath me. After I first brought your mother to meet him, he told me later she was too plain to ever keep my interest for long.”

“That’s awful.”

“I’m telling you this because strong-minded children often disappoint their parents. I didn’t fit the mold of what he expected, but he still loved me. Just as I love you.”

“Even if I drop out of society and open a casino?”

“Is there anything I could do to stop you?”

“No.”

He sighed. “Then I best come to terms with it, shouldn’t I? Just don’t expect miracles. I’m old and set in my ways.”

Chuckling, she dropped her head on his shoulder. “I love you, Daddy.”

They sat in silence for a long moment until he said, “The road you are choosing for yourself is a hard one. I wish I could spare you the pain and social recriminations.”

“Indeed, but the alternative is so much worse. I will be fine. I swear.”

“So, you and Madden. That’s done?”