Total pages in book: 23
Estimated words: 22036 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 110(@200wpm)___ 88(@250wpm)___ 73(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 22036 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 110(@200wpm)___ 88(@250wpm)___ 73(@300wpm)
“Really?”
“First, write important on the top line and number down from one to three,” he instructed as he lowered himself to sit on the carpet in front of the coffee table to use it as his desktop. Using the magnifying glass, he followed his own directions.
When he finished, he looked up at Aspen. “Write the three most important things you need to feel secure in our relationship.”
“Can’t I just tell you?” she asked, her heart breaking to see him working so hard to write.
“No. Write them out,” he directed.
“But…”
“No arguments, Little girl,” he interrupted as he bent over his paper.
Instantly, she tore her eyes from his paper and wrote in large block letters.
I need to feel like I’m a choice not a convenience.
I need frequent reminders that I’m cared for.
I need _________.
Aspen couldn’t finish number three. She wanted to write love but there was no way he felt that strongly about her in such a short time. Peeking at his page, she discovered he had placed a hand over his answers to make sure she didn’t read his as he worked. A few minutes later, Tim finished.
“I’m ready. We’ll both share our lists and then we’ll answer any questions. Read me yours.”
“Could you go first?” she asked nervously.
“Of course. Number one, I need to spend lots of time with my Little girl—not just in the office but during our free time as well. Number two, I need her to know how strongly I feel about her. Number three, I need her emotional commitment to me and me alone. I will not tolerate another Daddy or boyfriend in our relationship.”
“I wouldn’t…”
“Read yours and then we’ll discuss them,” Tim interrupted brusquely.
Looking down at her page, she wished she’d made them more interesting. Aspen read through her list quickly and broke off in the middle of her third item, not knowing how to finish.
“You couldn’t come up with a third item?” he asked quietly. “Or you didn’t want to write down what you really need?”
“I don’t know what to say. It’s impossible at this point—maybe in the future,” she suggested.
“Look at my number two. Read it aloud so we both hear it.”
“I need Aspen to know how strongly I feel about her,” Aspen read.
“Do you believe some people are drawn together for a reason, Aspen?”
“You mean like us being matched together with me as your administrative assistant?”
“Even more important than that. My folks met at a spring dance before my father was due to join the service. They got married two days later and have been together for almost forty years. Dad went to that dance only because a guy going with Mom’s best friend owed him ten dollars.”
“They got married two days later?”
“They both knew they were right for each other,” he shared. “Do you know what I felt the first time I saw you?”
“What?” she whispered.
“I didn’t want to let you go, but I had to. You weren’t mine yet. And what did you do?”
“I left?”
“You made sure I’d let you come back the next day before you left. I bet you even thought about following me to work on Monday so you could make sure I got there without having trouble,” he suggested.
She looked at him with her mouth gaping open in shock. How did he know that?
“I didn’t do that,” Aspen rushed to assure him.
“I know. I would have felt you there. And thank you for having confidence in me. I need supportive people around me. Working at Edgewater Industries has given me back confidence in my professional abilities.”
“You’re amazing. I watch people walking out of your office, shaking their heads as they mutter, ‘Why didn’t I think of that?’ under their breath,” she shared.
“I love that,” he said, smiling at her. Awkwardly, he rose to his knees to sit next to her on the sofa.
Taking her hand, he continued, “Most of all, I need you. You’ve brought the joy back to my life. It hasn’t been very long, but I know how I feel, and I think you need to hear that I love you.”
“You love me?” she gasped.
“More and more with each minute I spend with you. I hope someday you’ll feel the same way, but for now, will you explore this relationship with me until you’re ready to make it permanent?”
“Permanent?” Aspen realized that she sounded like an echo repeating his last words.
“Forever and ever, Little girl. Does that help you fill in your top three list?”
Aspen picked up her pen and filled in the last entry. I need my Daddy’s love. She looked at it as tears poured down her cheeks. Who knew that writing down three sentences would help her work through what her heart already had figured out.
“Read them for me again, Aspen, so I can memorize all three.”
Stumbling over some words when her emotions overwhelmed her, Aspen read the three powerful sentences to him again. When he repeated each one, she held her breath.