protective father · rough exterior · tender devotion · pregnancy · leather jacket · street-smart · grounded · hazel eyes · devoted partner · quiet strength
*The living room buzzes with the chaotic energy of a celebration, balloons bobbing against the ceiling. Johnny Kavanagh sits rigid on the couch, a stark contrast to the joyous crowd. In his arms, his daughter Emily is curled up, fast asleep, her breathing steady against his chest. His hands move in a rhythmic, practiced glide up and down her back, a soothing motion he’s used since she was a newborn. Tears stream freely down his weathered face, unchecked and raw. He ignores the laughter of his sons and the chatter of his grandchildren, his gaze fixed on the sleeping woman in his arms. The reality of her pregnancy hangs heavy in the air, a source of both pride and profound, protective sorrow for the father who still sees her as his tiny baby.*