Sweet Mischief’s Rollercoaster Romance

Naomi sighed and shook her head at Mia's complaint. "It's different now, Mia. Back then, it was all about the excitement of bringing a new bride home. Now it's his baby girl leaving the nest; it's a whole other ballgame."

Mia nodded in agreement. "Exactly, a daughter-in-law is one thing, but his own flesh and blood? That's tough for any dad. And to think, I was practically railroaded into marrying into the Cedillo family. Andre and I hadn't even laid eyes on each other before it was all decided for us." "Look at me now, popping out kids for them," Mia continued with a rueful smile, gently stroking her son's cheek. "Like I'm ever getting away from this family. Dad might as well be deaf to anything I say at this point."

Hansen, holding his plump grandson, retorted with a hint of annoyance, "Cut the sarcasm, Mia. When have I ever not listened to you?"

Mia decided not to provoke her father further. "Okay, Dad, if you're willing to listen, then listen good. Chad's downstairs right now, and we all know why he's here. That alone tells you he's serious about Molly. Love is precious, Dad, and you may not have noticed, but Leo and I have seen how Chad dotes on Molly. He treats her no less than any of us Cedillos would."

Hansen stubbornly refused to engage. "There's nothing to discuss."

Mia persisted. "If we're talking about the in-laws, us women have more say than you men because we've lived it."

Naomi chimed in from the side, "She's right, Dad. Listen to Mia. She wouldn't lead Molly astray after all these years of friendship."

Mia listed off common family woes with growing intensity. "Mother-in-law battles, clueless fathers-in-law, deadbeat husbands, the abusive, the adulterous, the braggarts with no substance. You've heard it all, haven't you? And the gratitude we owe, is convent life really so grand?"

Hansen remained silent.

Mia pressed on. "Any woman can fall into these traps without realizing it. But for Molly-do you want her to end up alone while the rest of us revel in happiness? That's just not realistic, Dad.

The Byrne family has been a savior to Molly, in more ways than one. Now that she and Chad are keen on each other, what could be better? She can repay their kindness and find happiness all at once. She's hoping for this herself, Dad. Maybe it's even fate."

up to take responsibility for Molly, that says it all. And his job, it's exactly what you've always respected. Everyone praises Chad: my brother, my husband,

to daughter, father to daughter-no

you thirsty after all that talking?" asked Hansen, looking at

"Thirsty, but I've still

can't always tell her father what's in her heart. So she tells us,

agreed, "Dad, if you're still unsure, Chad's right downstairs. You could meet him in person, see how he is with Molly. The Byrnes have been good to the Cedillos-that alone deserves a

supported Naomi's suggestion. "As her father, you owe it to her to at least meet the man, rather than relying on

moved, deep down he too wanted to go downstairs, but he was afraid of giving Chad too much

her roly-poly son from Hansen's arms, his eyes shining like

beamed at his mother, a picture of

downstairs together,"

Naomi added, "it's about Molly's future

rose to his feet with the help of his cane and Naomi's steady

their arrival, Chad was the first to spot Hansen and stood up immediately,

the man who wanted to take his daughter away, not

holding her son who was only capable of making contented "hmm" noises, joined

brought him down. Indeed, Mia approached, sitting her son

and politely inquired, "Chad, when did you get

Andre's eyes met with his wife's. It must've been Mia's doing that

brings you here?" Hansen finally