My Love Until the Last Goodbye by Alut

[Sometime later]

"What are you thinking about, sweetheart?" Maximus asked as he approached Laura.

"Nothing, Dad. Why?"

"Come on, Laura. I'm older than you-I can tell when something's weighing on you," he said, watching how she tried to avoid his gaze.

"Dad... did you ever doubt the love you had for Mom?"

That caught Maximus off guard. And if he was honest with himself, it hadn't just been once-there were many times he'd questioned his feelings for Alexia.

"Yeah... I think I did. Why do you ask?"

"Okay... I'll tell you, but promise you won't judge me," Laura said, glancing at him nervously.

"When have I ever done that?"

"Never..." she admitted quietly.

"Then? I'm your dad, Laura. I'm here no matter what-whether I agree with your choices or not."

Adrian..." she said, her voice barely above a

figured," Maximus replied

"What?" Laura asked, surprised.

who can leave you

"Dad..."

asked

but... sometimes I'm not sure. I don't want him waiting around forever, not knowing if he's got a real shot. That's why I've been thinking through all the pros and cons of letting him into my life again," she said, her voice

something you figure out in your head. It's something you feel. What's your heart telling you?"

"What do you mean?"

not exactly hard on the eyes. And Adele? She's the perfect mix of you both. But all of that's surface-level. What really matters is how

think I

this isn't a maybe. It's

he takes my hand... I don't know, I

I haven't done in ages. We go to the movies-kids' movies, of course-but seeing that side of him

stay the same forever. Trust me, when I think about who I was at your age... I'm not

"Seriously?"

might leave a bitter taste in my mouth to say this-Sa good man. I've seen how hard he works, and honestly 'm proud he's the father of your daughter.

But you gave