No More Waiting, She Chooses Love

A man approached me, tipping his hat politely, "Sorry, my little one's been a bother."

"Ha, no bother at all. I'm adorable," the girl immediately corrected her dad, her smile infectious.

I couldn't help but smile back, "Hannah's a delight. I'm quite fond of her."

"Ha, like you too," she said, her words a bit muddled.

I patted her head and turned to her dad, "For a moment, I thought both her parents were from overseas."

The man's expression darkened for a split second. Though it was fleeting, I caught it.

Realizing my blunder, I quickly added, "Sorry..."

He just nodded slightly and reached out his hand to Hannah, "Come on, sweetheart, time to board our flight."

"Can't you come with us?" Hannah clung to me, unwilling to let go.

I was about to tell her we weren't on the same flight when Dustin came over, brandishing our boarding passes.

He extended a hand to Hannah's dad, "Nice to meet you."

to me,

shaking Dustin's

Hannah protested, clearly no stranger to the ways

deep, dark eyes. Clearly, she was a beautiful mix

fuss," her dad gently chided, but she wasn't

fly with you," she said, her eyes brimming with hope,

who apologized, "Sorry, she's quite

that, he scooped up Hannah and nodded at

back at me, "Miss... I'll

back, silently echoing her sentiment,

watched them

the notion that crossing paths with someone might be destiny,

fond of kids?" Dustin's voice brought me

said, settling back into

happy talking to that

had forgotten everything else

Dustin took a seat beside me, "When you decide to settle down, would you prefer a son

it, Hannah's cute face flashed before my eyes, "Someone