My name is Shelby Whittemore. I am the daughter of Melody and Jackson Whittemore.
Shelby smiled at him, enjoying the moment. If he only knew how much she really loved him. He was her super hero. Even now. Even if he were broken down and sobbing, he would still be her hero. Because he always fought through. He never gave up. Jackson was always strong for her, even in his weakest moments. Because wasn’t that what made a person the strongest? Having their weak moments and pulling through? Brushing it off and moving on. Becoming even stronger for it? No one was a stronger person than her father. He was so incredibly brave, and Shelby had to wonder if he knew that. If he knew that for the few times he had mentioned how his parents only showed love with what they bought him that she had never once doubted if Jackson loved her, or ever questioned if his love was unconditional. She knew. For all the things he could have bought her, for all her whimsies he could have given in to, he had given her so much more than she could have ever asked for. He was her strength. She always knew that no matter how hard life was, or how alone she felt, her father was there, holding her hand the entire time. She was the most spoiled child on the planet and not because he had gotten her an Audi, or all the designer clothes she had ever wanted. Not because she had a flat screen on the wall of her room, or a queen sized bed, or had had more toys than any child could possibly know what to do with. But because he loved her more than any other parent in the world loved their child. And she loved him back just as much.
Shelby nodded. “Ice cream for dinner. I’ll get the spoons.” She walked around the corner and took the rings and note, shoving them in the pocket of her pants. She didn’t want him to keep it, to mull over, and analyze. Not right not. Maybe once he had healed some, and had pulled through, and was okay again. Maybe then. But for right now, he didn’t need to see it. Pulling two large spoons from the drawer, she smiled a little at him. “We have Ben and Jerry’s. Phish Food and Chunky Monkey. Take your pick, daddy.”
Jackson nodded, watching as she shoved the note and rings into her pocket. She could keep them. He didn’t want them. Keeping them for himself would be too painful. Melody’s engagement ring was specifically designed for her, there would never be another like it. Jackson had made sure of that. He could only hope that Shelby would keep it, hide it away or something.
He walked up behind her, reaching over her shoulder and grabbing the Phish Food. “What do you wanna watch? I’ll put in a movie and we can eat on the couch.”
Shelby smiled as he grabbed the Phish Food. Chunky monkey was her favorite, and Jackson knew that. That’s why it was kept in the house. She handed him his spoon and turned towards him, grabbing her ice cream. “The Hoosiers.” It was a good movie. And she could say every line from how many times she had watched it with her dad. But it wasn’t her favorite. That was the point though. To get her dad’s mind off of everything. The Hoosiers was a good way to do just that.
