Dobie was sitting at the airport waiting for his daughter's plane to land. It was late, and he was sorry he had told Zelda he would be back soon. It would take at least a half-hour to drive back from the airport and he had already been waiting an hour. Zelda had called his cell phone to ask what was taking so long, and for once he had managed to answer it without accidently turning it off. She had sounded worried about him, but he convinced her that everything was fine and he would be back to the store soon. He couldn't ruin the surprise now.
This really was going to be a great surprise. He had been shocked when Gwen called to say she was planning to visit, but Zelda would be overcome with emotion seeing their daughter unexpectedly. Gwen rarely came home. She was always busy with work and Dobie felt like she wanted to distance herself from Central City and what little it had to offer her. His heart had been broken when his little girl had moved so far away after college. They had always been close, and Gwen had him wrapped around her little finger from the second she was born, probably even before. Yet he knew it had hurt Zelda even more to say goodbye to their daughter. While Georgie had inherited his father's free-spirit and funloving attitude, Gwen had Zelda's intelligence and seriousness. The two of them connected to one another in a way they never seemed to connect to anyone else. Zelda had cried for days when Gwen left for college, and when she moved to California for good, Dobie had been afraid his wife would never overcome her depression. Luckily, Georgie had still been in high school, up to his usual hijinks, and Zelda had to put their son's needs first, and eventually that made things easier. Dobie knew that after their divorce she had considered moving closer to Gwen, but now there were grandkids to consider and he was sure Zelda wasn't going anywhere. He wished Gwen would get the urge to move closer.
"Daddy!" Dobie looked up from his thoughts and saw his daughter rushing across the room towards him. Her dark auburn hair was hanging in loose curls around her face and her smile was contagious. His little girl was home, and he didn't care if she was forty-three years old…he felt the same way he did when they had brought her home from the hospital for the first time…proud and overjoyed. He stood up and she ran up to him, hugging him tight, "I'm sorry we're so late, but I guess that's the way things are with flights nowadays."
"I'm so glad you're home," he hugged her again and she leaned into him, relaxing in his arms. "Your mom is going to be so excited. You can be her Valentine's Day present this year," he teased and as he said it, he smiled. He had always considered Gwen to be his first Valentine's Day present from his ex-wife. It was on their first Valentine's Day that she had told him she was pregnant with their daughter, and even back then when he was scared to death, he knew their child was a gift.
"I'm so excited," Gwen beamed. She glanced behind her, motioning someone to come closer. Dobie looked at the man, now standing at his daughter's side. He was tall, thin, not exactly handsome in his opinion, but not ugly either. He looked average, safe, dependable…but what could you really tell from someone's looks? "Daddy…this is Jack." She looked at this man and Dobie knew he wasn't just a friend. He could see it all over her face; his daughter was in love. "Jack…this is my dad."
Jack extended his hand, "Mr. Gillis," he said as they shook hands. "It is so nice to meet you. Gwen talks all the time about her family. I know she misses you all so much."
"Not as much as we miss her," Dobie put his arm back around his daughter. He headed Gwen towards the door, leaving Jack standing behind them.
Jack rushed after them, "I'm going to get the bags," he said quickly. "Should I meet you outside?"
Gwen quickly turned around, releasing herself from her father's grasp, "I'll come with you," she offered. Looking at her father she grinned, "We'll meet you outside Daddy…Okay?" Dobie nodded. He was glad to see her so happy, but deep in his heart he knew he had lost his little girl to this man he didn't even know.
"Sure Princess," he nodded. Then he watched his daughter walk away arm-in-arm with a total stranger, and he wanted nothing more than to beg her to come home to stay.