A week later Calum and I were laying in bed watching the evening news when my phone began to ring.

"Hello?" I answered.

"Hey, Ab. It's Dad."

"Oh, hey." I said, hoping Calum couldn't hear his voice.

"I'm flying to Florida tomorrow and as soon as I land i'm checking in to my hotel and then getting a flight to Atlanta."

"Okay. I can pick you up from the airport. What time are you landing?"

"Actually I was thinking we could meet downtown for dinner."

"Yeah we could do that too. Where would we go?"

"Bacchanalia. I'll make us a reservation for 7:00."

"Okay. We'll see you then."

"See you."

I ended the call and Calum looked at me.

"Was that your dad?"

"Yeah. We're meeting him tomorrow at Bacchanalia at 7:00."

"Bacchanalia? That place is expensive." His eyes went wide.

"Well you're not buying so don't worry about it."

"I have to. I have to look like I can afford to take care of you."

"Cal. Let him pay." I rolled my eyes.

The next evening Luke came over to watch the boys while Calum and I left his house all dressed up, Calum driving my car.

He was wearing a button down with a black suit jacket over it and a tie while I had on a little black dress, my shoulder length brown hair in loose curls.

"Okay, he chose this restaurant to intimidate you but don't let it. He's going to show you what he thinks I deserve and that he's the best at taking care of me. He's going to brag and boast but he's just testing you to see if you're humble. Don't let him freak you out."

"Too late." Calum gave me a nervous look.

My dad had called earlier that morning to confirm and I had to remind him to call me Nessa, but he seemed excited.

I was excited as well for him to meet Calum.

When we arrived in downtown Atlanta, Calum parked in a parking garage and then we walked to the restaurant, my arm looped through Calum's.

"I'm really excited for you to meet my dad." I looked up at him. "I know it's intimidating but I promise if he knows I love you then he will too."

"I've never been this nervous to meet a girls parents." He laughed and I leaned up to kiss his cheek as we turned the corner.

"You'll be fine." I kissed his cheek again.

"There's my baby girl!" I heard the voice of my father and I looked ahead to see my dad waiting outside the restaurant for us.

"Daddy!" I grinned and let go of Calum and ran to my dad who took me in a strong hug.

"I've missed you so much." He said as he hugged me tightly.

"I've missed you too."

He let me go and I stepped back to where Calum was standing.

"And daddy, this is Calum." I introduced them.

"It's nice to finally meet you in person." Calum shook his hand.

"You as well, Calum. I hope you've been taking care of her."

"Yes Daddy, he's been taking very good care of me." I lightly pushed my dads arm. "Now lets go inside."

Inside we were taken to our table, Calum sitting next to me after my dad had pulled out my chair for me.

"So, how has work been going?" I asked my Dad.

"Busy. I'm actually thankful for this business trip. It'll be like a vacation." He smiled at me. "Have you gone back to work yet?" He then asked.

"Not yet. Calum and I decided i'll go back next week." I said.

"But she's been cleared by the counsellor." Calum said.

I smiled at Calum and then opened my menu to see what I wanted.

I reached for Calum's hand under the table and he took it, resting our hands on his knee.

We decided on what we wanted after we each got a glass of wine before my dad spoke up.

"So Calum, tell me how you met my daughter?" My dad said after he took a sip of his wine.

"Uh, well my friends and I go into this corner store everyday to get lunch, and one day we walked in and Nessa was standing behind the counter. And after a while she started to babysit my kids and then I asked her out on a date and here we are." He smiled.

"And you were married before."

"Yes, my first wife died about two, almost three years ago of a cancerous brain tumour."

"So it must be difficult to let another woman into your life."

Calum nodded.

"It was at first, but Nessa's worth it." He smiled and then squeezed my hand.

"Well my little girl means the world to me so you better treat her right." My dad gave Calum a stern look.

"Yes sir, I will." Calum gave him a serious nod.

"Oh, sweetheart!" My dad then turned to me. "I have a bottle of that perfume you like in my briefcase."

"Oh thank you." I smiled.

"Have you bought her perfume yet, Calum?"
My dad asked him and Calum shook his head no. "Ah well her favourite is Chanel."

"I'll keep that in mind." Calum said.

"Daddy, Calum doesn't need to get me fancy presents." I said.

"Every man needs to get his girl nice gifts, it's how he shows his appreciation."

"I think he shows me enough appreciation." I smiled. "Oh and we're going to have dinner with Calum and his kids tomorrow night so you can meet them."

Calum nodded.

"You're going to love them." I smiled. "They're so sweet."

Once our dinner arrived we made conversation about Calum's job, my dad asking him for details.

My father then ordered dessert for us.

"Calum, do you want another glass?" My dad asked.

"No sir, i'm driving tonight but thank you."

"I'll have another." I said.

As my dad flagged down our waiter Calum leaned over to me.

"Slow down baby, you're on your third glass."

"You're not the only one who's nervous." I said and he smiled.

"I think it's going well. Do you?"

"I think he likes you." I smiled.

When the dessert arrived I took a bite of the creme brûlée and then sipped my wine.

"So Calum is going to drop us of at my house and then I was thinking that tomorrow I could show you around town and then go to Calum's house for dinner."

"Sounds great, sweetheart." He smiled at me and I could just tell he was happy we were reunited.

After dessert the waiter brought by the check and when he set it down Calum looked at me.

"No." I mouthed to him and he bit his lip.

My dad paid for dinner and then we went to walk to our car, my father walking with us while I held Calum's hand.

"Nice car you have here, Calum." My father said as we got to my jeep wrangler.

"Actually it's your daughters car." Calum chuckled. "She got it in the insurance settlement."

I sat in the backseat as my dad sat upfront with Calum who began to drive us back to Dahlonega.

We made small talk until we arrived at my house where Calum's car was parked in front.

He got my car door for me and then walked with my dad and I up the driveway. I unlocked the door and turned on the lights.

"Nice little place you got here." My dad commented as we walked inside.

"Thank you." I smiled and then turned to Calum.

"I'll see you tomorrow?" He checked again and I nodded.

"Yes."

"Alright, I love you."

"Love you too." I leaned up to kiss him.

He kissed me back and then waved at my dad before leaving.

I shut the door and then turned to my dad.

"So? What do you think of Calum."

"I think he's perfect for you Abby." He smiled. "Honestly, I do."

"He makes me really happy." I said as I went to sit on the sofa. "So have you talked to Seth lately?"

"He's been by a few times randomly, I think to see if you're there, but he's not telling me anything. I think he knows i'm in contact with you because he knows I wouldn't let you go without knowing where you were."

I shook my head.

"I should've just stayed away and never gone in that building."

"You can't take back what you did, but it was self defense."

"I know that." I sighed.

"So have you thought about ever telling Calum the truth?" He asked as we sat down on the sofa.

"A million times. But I have been given this chance to start over and I don't want to ruin it."

"Can you see yourself marrying him one day?" He asked and my heart fluttered at the thought.

"I don't know." I said. "I don't see how I could marry someone being that I am not who I say I am. Dating is one thing but...marriage is another."

"But if that's where he sees it going, don't you think that you shouldn't give him false hope by dating him."

"Probably, but I don't want to pick up and start over until I have to. As long as Seth doesn't know where I am then I will be fine."

"And if he finds you?" My dad asked.

"If he finds me, he either kills me...or I kill him."

My fathers eyes pained at this, but he knew I was right, eventually, it would come down to just me and Seth, and the only way it would end would be with one of us dead.

—

Yay I finally had the chance to update!!

I'm excited for the chapters to come! It's all going to go pretty fast!

What do you think about what Nessa had to say to her dad?

much love xx-m