Was Charlie about to kiss him too?

Charles looked at her, hope shining in his eyes.

The moment their eyes met, Charlie paused, caught mid-movement. After kissing her mom, she instinctively turned to nce at Charles standing beside her. His gaze was full of pride and joy-and underneath, a nervous, eager anticipation.

A sudden impulse welled up inside Charlie; she wanted to kiss him too. But just as she started to move, her thoughts flickered to her mom.

Would Mom be upset? Would she mind?

She knew things were still frosty between her parents.

Charlie shot a quick look at Evelyn. Her little body, which had leaned toward Charles, tilted back toward her mom. She wrapped her arms around Evelyn and didn''t look Charles''s way again.

Evelyn, who''d been watching her daughter the whole time, saw it all-the moment Charlie almost went to Charles. She knew, ever since she''d agreed to let Charlie keeppeting, that Charles would use every chance to be close to their daughter, to make up for lost time.

Charlie craved her father''s affection. She was easily moved by Charles''s kindness.

Evelyn didn''t meet Charles''s disappointed eyes. She just hugged her daughter tighter.

The audience burst into apuse, a few people dabbing at their eyes. This unexpected, heartfelt scene became the most memorable moment of the entire ceremony.

It wasn''t until the host gently nudged them that Evelyn managed to collect herself, though her arm stayed snugly around Charlie. She took the trophy from her daughter and held it high, but her eyes never left the little girl in her arms.

This honor, crowned by Charlie''s own hands, finally felt truly perfect-something no one else could match.

After the ceremony, everyone gathered for a lively outdoor celebration. Night had fallen, fairy lights sparkled everywhere, andughter filled the air.

Suddenly—

Whoosh-

Boom!

A thunderous crack split the night. A giant firework bloomed overhead, showering the sky in color. More fireworks followed, racing upwards and bursting into a dreamlike disy.

Charlie, still holding Evelyn''s hand, was drawn to the show. But her attention drifted-not to the sky, but to a spot nearby.

A little girl, maybe three or four, sat high atop her father''s broad shoulders. She pped her hands and pointed at the exploding fireworks, her giggles ringing out. Her dad looked up at her, his face soft with love.

A flicker of longing crossed Charlie''s face.

When she was little, she''d always envied other kids riding on their dads shoulders at the park or at festivals She''d secretly maghed her own dad lifting her up high, letting her see the world from above. But it had never happened  s

Her dad was always so busy.

She barely spent any time with him, let alone had those kinds of moments.

Still, Charlie did her best to hide that longing.

Charles, who''d stayed close to Evelyn and Charlie all night, was quick to notice. He remembered what Evelyn had told him at the amusement park—that he''d missed out on so much of Charlie''s childhood.

Without hesitation, ignoring his own difort, Charles crouched down in front of her. He opened his arms, his voice warm and steady. "Come here, Charlie. Let Daddy lift you up, too!"

Charlie saw what he meant and her cheeks turned pink. She took a shy half-step back, mumbling, "But... I''m already eight..."

She wanted to say yes, but felt she was too old for it now.

Charles stayed there, looking up at her, his eyes gentle and earnest.

"You''ll always be my little girl, Charlie. The one who needs her dad

lways.t

to lift her up missed

much before, but I promise, ?l make it up to you."  s

His words were quiet, but every one of themnded right in Charlie''s heart. "Whatever other kids have, my Charte will have too And if there''s something you want that no one else has, I''ll find a way to give it to you."  s

"Charlie, give Daddy a chance. Please?"fnd143 N?w ?ovel chapt?rs are published on FindN0vel/fnd143