Chapter 53 – Dad
Chapter 53 – Dad
Hey, kiddo. I don’t know if you’ll ever see this—or hear this? Or however you talk with those ‘observers’ you’re always talking about, assuming that they’re observing. Anyways, dad just wanted you to know that I'm so, so, so proud of you and everything that you’ve become.
Dad’s watched you grow up every step of the way. All the way since you were just a little girl fussing about going to school. When you were learning about the world... about others... about yourself, and your own wants and your own feelings... dad's been keeping an eye on you every step of the way. And now you’re all grown up. And you've become such an amazing adult. And dad couldn't be more proud. But dad’s still going to keep watching over you forever even though you’re all grown up. Because that’s what dads do.
And I just wanted you to know... that no matter what happened, dad’s heart has been so filled with love for you the entire time. That’s why I had to brag about my amazing Thia to everybody in the neighbourhood. And at work. And at your school. And the grocery store. And book signings. And the park. And... anyways.
Just know that dad has always been the #1 Thia fan in the whole wide world.
Until today, that is.
Yes. It’s with a heavy heart that dad finally passes on the mantle of #1 to a worthy competitor. Well, it’s more of a ring than a mantle, really. But you know, dad has to admit that Amy’s been a worthy Thia fanatic from day one as well... Almost as much as dad. Almost. Just a smidgeon less. But dad admits that she was a worthy shoe-in for first this whole time, so I’m not too worried about her being officially crowned as #1 today.
You found the perfect one, Thia. You really did.
You both did.
Amy and Thia, dad knows that both of you will be together forever, and that you’ll be the biggest source of joy in each other's life. Just like you already are. But even more so after this. Dad knows you’ll be even happier every day that you’re together, and that you’ll experience more and more beautiful things from now on.
So don’t worry about dad. I'll be cheering you on from the sidelines like always. And dad’s going to be happy for the rest of his life just knowing that the two of you are happily in love.
My precious, amazing, wonderful daughters.
Daughters, with an ‘s’, officially now. Well not exactly now. But it’ll officially be official in just a few minutes, and dad couldn’t be more happy about that.
I truly, from the bottom of my heart filled with nothing but love, wish both of you the best.
Since the very first day that you came to me talking about terms, and laws, and all those classic Thia things, I knew you were special. I knew my daughter would be amazing. Well, you were already amazing from day one, but I knew you would also be amazing in the future, too. So that's why, even though you always say that forever is impossible... that it’s too much of a price to be paid... dad knows that if anybody is going to make forever happen, it’s going to be you.
‘How does dad know?’
Dad knows that you would ask that if you could hear his thoughts.
Well actually, it would probably be ‘How does It's summoner know?’ But let’s not talk about that.
If you could hear dad’s thoughts—and honestly, most days, dad's convinced that maybe you actually can read minds. My daughter's always been so smart and perceptive. I guess that's what makes you good at all this law stuff. Well, either that, or the ‘observers’ you always talk about are really fast at playing telephone—
Oops, dad got distracted talking about how amazing his daughter is.
Right. So how does dad know that you'll make forever happen? Well... dad knows that you already know what the answer to that will be:
‘Because you're my daughter and I know everything about you.’
And so that's why dad knows that everything about your forever is going to work out just fine.
I placed the first wedding ring into Thia’s palm and cupped both of my hands around hers. Thia’s face, that she says always looks the same... Well it actually did always look the same. But dad could tell. Dad knew that his lovely, precious, amazing daughter’s face was filled with anxiety, doubts, trepidation, expectation, joy, love, and a thousand other conflicting feelings. Even if she didn’t know it yet. Dad could see the emotions like they were written on a Jumbotron with giant letters.
How can dad tell?
‘Because you're my daughter and I know everything about you.’
Just like dad knows that your forever with Amy will be forever. And that you’ll live happily ever after in the most beautiful fairytale ever written. A neverending story filled with ups and down, and joys and sorrows, and beauty and regrets, but always with love at its core.
Because you two are too filled with love for anything else to be possible.
Some people say that a relationship is 50/50. But listen to dad when he says that in a real relationship—in a real, loving relationship—everyone gives each other 100%. That's how it was with me and your mom.
But somehow—now, even dad doesn’t know how this one is possible... but somehow dad knows that, rather than 50/50, you two will always be 200/200. Dad knows that you’ll always give your 200% for Amy to be happy. And dad knows that Amy will always give her 200% for your sake, too. And that’s a big doozie of a math problem, because after you're married, you two will share everything. So I don’t know how that’s going to work. But that’s okay. Nobody ever got hurt from infinite love. So dad knows that you’re going to be okay.
Better than okay, dad knows that you’re going to be happy.
Better than happy, dad knows that you’re going to be happy together forever.
And before you ask again... dad knows all this because you're my daughter and I know everything about you.
...
I love you, Thia. More than you can ever know.
My precious, amazing, wonderful daughter that I would do anything for.
And dad is so happy that you’ve found such a wonderful partner to spend forever with.
I wiped my eyes.
"...Thia? Can dad give you a hug? I know you don’t like hugs, but can today be an exception?”
“It accepts the premise. Continue.”
I wrapped Thia up in a great big hug filled with all the love and warmth in the world. “Thank you, Thia. I love you. And I'm so happy for you.”
“It accepts the premise. Continue.”
“After I give Amy her ring, too.” I let go of my precious daughter and smiled, seeing her face filled with safety and comfort and warmth and love. “Dad would keep hugging Thia forever and ever, but today’s your special day, and I need to get that other ring to Amy before she explodes from anxiety. Phew, it’s hard being a double dad. Maybe I should have accepted the offer from that shady clone salesman earlier.”
“It reminds It's summoner that the clones were a scam.”
“Well, you’ll both just have to thank dad later for doing double the work, then.”
“Understood.”
“Dad loves you, Thia.”
“It accepts the premise. Continue.”
My heart bubbled over and I patted Thia’s hands. “After the ceremony.”
I walked down to the middle of the aisle and knelt down to ask the cutest, most precious, most adorablest, most wonderful and amazing ringbearer in the entire world if she could pass me Amy’s ring.
Thia—my first Thia, that is. Little Thia—expressionlessly handed me a small, unadorned black box.
“Thank you, Thia.”
“Yes.”
“Thia, can... Can dad give you a hug, too? Just like I did with Big Thia? Today... Today’s a special day. And I haven’t... I haven’t seen you in so long. Would... that be alright? Just this once?”
“I accept.”
"...Thank... Thank you...” I squeezed Little Thia close to my heart and took a deep, shaky breath. "...Thank you, Thia... Thank you. Thank you. Thank you for being here. Thank you for being you. Thank you for being my daughter—the most precious, wonderful, amazing daughter in the whole wide world. Dad loves you. Dad has always loved you. Dad will always love you.” I looked at my wife sitting in the front row. “Thank you for keeping mom company. Thank you for being such a wonderful and patient girl. I love you. I love you so much, Thia. I know it’s been a long time since we’ve seen each other, but dad promises he’ll be back with you and mom soon. It’s just... I can’t go quite yet. But I think about you every day. And I miss you every second. And I’ll spend the rest of forever with the two of you after I’m gone... but dad can’t just leave Big Thia and Amy all alone, either. So..."
“I understand.”
“Thank you, Thia. I love you. My precious little girl. I love you so, so, so, so much.”
“I accept the premise.”
“When the time comes. I’ll find you, I promise. Even if I have to wade through hell to heaven and back, I’ll be by your side with mom in the afterlife and every life thereafter. I love you.” I gave Thia one last squeeze. “I love you.”
“Me too.”
I stood up and furiously blinked my eyes dry. Being the dad of three amazing, wonderful daughters was like having a thousand-foot roller coaster running loops from your heart to your stomach. Today of all days, it was even more so. But dad was so blessed to have each of them. And dad wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world.
Amy stood on the other side of the altar, affecting patience and nonchalance, but dad could see that she was nibbling at her lips and rubbing dead skin off the side of her fingers.
I walked up and gave Amy a big hug. “Sorry for the wait, Amy. Dad wishes he could have been by both of your sides at the same time so that neither of you would have to feel anxious. I just mentioned this to Thia, but I was thinking about getting a clone from that shady guy in the third row? Wouldn't that be nice? Then you could tell everyone you had two dads.”
Amy laughed. “Having one dad is more than enough. The house doesn't have room for a second Shrine. And that clone guy is totally out to steal souls. Don't fall for it.”
“What if we converted the old living room? It's not like we used it much anyway. I think a second Shrine would make a great addition. But I guess I'll have to give up on that. My soul is for you kiddos and I don't have a spare.”
“Aww, you're so sweet, dad. But no more Shrines. Don't try to pull a fast one. We used that living room every day.”
“What if me and dad-two (hypothetical, name pending) shared the same Shrine? But it was a really big one?”
“A two-versus-one matchup isn't fair. Stop trying to out-Shrine my Thia Collection Log. You can't prevent me from stealing your daughter even if you win.”
“Okay, okay. I give. But only because it's your wedding day.”
“Thanks, dad.”
“Ah, it’s hard being a double dad. I just keep having to give things up. First, Thia. Then my hypothetical double Shrine. And now, you..." I held Amy’s shoulders. “But I wouldn't have it any other way. Seeing you two so happy makes it all worth it. You both have my blessings forever.”
“Thanks, dad.” Amy smiled. “And thanks for the distraction. But you don't have to worry. Just seeing Thia from across the altar is enough to make all my worries melt away. The long range Thia charging beams are working really well today. They're normally pretty finicky.”
"..."
"..."
I gave Amy a squeeze of encouragement. “Dad knows you’ve been dreaming about this day since you were just a kid. And dad’s really so, so happy for the two of you. You've always been wonderful, and you’ve always brought out the best in each other. So dad knows that you'll keep being each other’s lights forever.”
“Thanks, dad... That means a lot.”
“Yup.”
“...” Amy took a deep breath. "You know, today might just be the happiest day of my life. Honestly, I keep thinking that it's a dream, or that my soul’s about to leave my body, but Thia keeps telling me that it’s properly housed.” Amy giggled. “So I think we’re going to be just fine.”
I patted Amy’s hand. “Dad’s really happy to hear that.”
“...”
“...”
“...”
“You ready?”
With a tight smile, Amy nodded. “As spaghetti.”
“Well, then... this is it, kiddo.” I let go of my (almost official) new daughter and opened the ring box for her. “Careful. Don’t drop it.”
“I’ll drop you,” she said. “I’m not going to drop the ring.”
“Heh. Maybe I should have warned Thia instead.”
“You didn’t? That was bold of you. Speaking of spaghetti...”
“Luckily, Thia didn’t drop anything this time, so it turned out alright in the end.” I chuckled and looked at the front row. “I guess God’s been looking out for the two of you on your special day.”
Amy laughed. “And Lulu. Don’t forget Lulu.”
“...And Lulu.”
“...”
“...”
“And…” Amy looked between the ring box and the little ring bearer sitting in the front row whose legs were dangling off the edge of her chair. Amy bit the inside of her lip. “Is that...?”
“Yup. That's her alright.”
“Hah... I had a feeling from the start. I knew it. I just thought it was too tinfoil-ey to believe.”
“Mhm.”
"...When did you find out?”
“Pretty early. Probably since the day we got back from the hospital. Because I’m Thia’s dad. And dads know everything about their daughters.”
“Me too. I cried my eyes out the day she started being weird. Erm. Weirder than usual? Uh. Weird for Thia? You know what I mean.”
“Yup. Same here. But she ended up being such a sweet, kind soul, didn't she? And she was so much like Thia in so many ways that it was hard to tell sometimes.”
“She really did... She really was... She really is..." Amy smiled with all the warmth in the world. “And I love everything about her. For now and for always. And even though the start was... strange... and it took some getting used to... I think I always have. Loved her, that is. Loved It, that is. And I know I always will. From now until Forever.”
I wrapped Amy in a big dad hug. “Like father, like daughter. Go get ‘em, kiddo.”