Marrying the Man in the Dark

Sunlight danced across the gold–trimmed furniture of the luxurious suite, catching in the golden strands of Serafina’s hair as Beckham patiently combed them. “Come on, I want Pigtails, Grandpa!”

Her voice was as bright as the diamonds on her tiny fingers, “Pigtails are so cute! Mommy and Daddy will love them!”

But before Beckham could agree, a small voice cut in, a hint of disapproval lacing in its childish tone. “Not yet, Sera,”

Soren said, his brow furrowed. “He’s not our Daddy… yet. Calling him that now might make him a bit too full of himself.”

Serafina’s face fell, her bottom lip trembling. “But he is! Grandpa said so, he even guaranteed!”

Beckham smiled, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder. “Exactly what I was thinking.”

Serafine spun towards Soren, her eyes, like dark jewels, locking on his. “Look in the mirror, mister! You’re practically Daddy’s twin! If he’s not our Daddy, then who is?”

say he isn’t,” he mumbled, “just… maybe let’s hold off

to barely a whisper. “Whether early or late, he’s still our

brushing my hair? Sera never knew that Grandpa could do a girl’s hair!”

Cherise was this young, she was still a mountain girl, running barefoot through the fields. And he, as her father, had

daughter; he only knew that after Charisa disappeared, Gwenn was the last connection between

like a lifeline after his wife disappeared, the last piece of her

her into someone independent and fearless. Perhaps this love blinded him.

with his bong with Gwenn that he convinced himself blood didn’t matter, that their bend, stronger than family, would always be enough.

didn’t realize, in cherishing Gwenn, that he’d unintentionally neglected his real daughter. And now, as he gently brushed Sera’s hair, remembering his first mistake,

brushed your mom’s hair when she was little. The