"James, please allow me one more selfish request," he said. "After I'm gone, give Emma one last chance. She's spoiled by me, so she's very willful, but I'm sure of one thing—she loves you and has never wronged you." Holding my hand, he continued, "But if she doesn't appreciate what she has, then you don't have to consider me in any decision you make."
"Alright." I nodded. That was just my father. To exaggerate a bit, finding fatherly love had redeemed me, a man ready to die for such a father.
"Let it be," he murmured, slowly closing his eyes.
After my father-in-law passed, I called Emma several times, but she never turned her phone on, and when I called Dave, he answered but ignored me. I could overhear their conversation.
"Dave, you don't think something really happened to my dad, do you? After all, a man with such pride knelt before me."
"Emma, you're not a man. You don't understand men, but I am a man, and I understand men best. He is just jealous, and that means he cares about you even more."
"But I'm still a bit worried."
"Oh, don't worry. Come on, Emma, let's do something exciting..."
The call ended there.