Chapter Fifteen
David
“Daddy?” Scarlett stares up at me, grabbing my hand, worry filling her hazel eyes. “Do you think Emmy likes it there?”
‘There’ is the Love It I know she’ll be excited to see her.
It’s telling her we’re getting married that has my stomach rolling.
How will Scarlett feel? Will she be angry? Hurt? What if she thinks I’m trying to replace Fiona? I didn’t think about what her reaction would be to any of this.
Truth be told, I haven’t even taken the time to look too deeply into how I feel .
Making a left, I turn down the street Scarlett’s school is on. When I pull over to the curb and put the car in park, I glance in the rearview mirror to find Scarlett beaming.
“When is she coming?” She unbuckles her seatbelt and scooches up toward the center console. “Emmy will be ecstatic!”
My lips curve up at her and her big words. Turning in my seat, I place my thumb under her chin. “Aunt Ava is coming home for a few days, so the five of us will have dinner tonight.”
“Tonight?!” Scarlett shouts in my ear again, before kissing me on my cheek and scooting out of the truck. “Today’s going to be the longest day ever.”
Rolling down the window I yell, “Have a good day at school!” She tosses a hand over her shoulder and I shake my head slowly. A crooked grin creeping up my face. But then I see her glowing expression as she marches toward a young boy with light brown hair, and my smile falls.
I wonder if this is the ‘Steven’ I’ve been hearing about. Pinching the bridge of my nose, I blow out a sigh. My daughter’s first crush is adorable and heart-wrenching at the same time.
I linger as she walks into the building, mixed feelings at this new part of life she’s experiencing.
My job as Scarlett’s father is to help her grow into the best version of herself, confident in her own path, whether she chooses to share it with someone or not. But no one prepared me for the fact that the search would be starting so soon.
Scrubbing my hand up and down my face, a buzz comes from the cup holder. Finn’s name filling the screen. I answer it the same time I put the car in drive and pull away from the curb. Leaving behind the reality that my daughter is growing up too fast.
“Looks like Tea Time found out who your mystery woman is,” Finn crows, his voice blaring through the speakers. “The two of you look super cozy together.”
“ Tea Time ,” I grumble, pulling onto the highway and heading toward the stadium. Raking a hand through my hair, my brows knit together. “How do they manage to get these photos?”
Granted, Cat and I were in the park yesterday, not hiding, but I didn’t see anyone around. Squeezing the back of my neck, I think about yesterday, wondering how I could’ve missed someone watching. But the truth is, I wasn’t focused on my environment. I was focused on Cat.
The feel of her in my arms, the scent of her floral perfume, and the fact that I was enjoying a woman’s company for the first time since Fiona. The back of my throat constricts as a memory of Fiona’s laughter tugs at my heart.
Here I am worried how my daughter will feel about me marrying someone else, but I haven’t taken the time to think about how I’ll feel calling someone else ‘my wife’.
“You’re on their radar because of Duncan and Ava,” Finn teases, pulling me from my concerns. “But after those pictures of you and Cat they have a better reason. I’m certain there’s more to the story than the two of you being old classmates.”
“There is.” I pull into the nearly empty player’s lot, find a parking spot close to the clubhouse entrance, and kill the engine. “I didn’t want to say too much the other day in the locker room, but since it’s all going to be coming out, I may as well tell you now.”
Finn listens quietly while I fill him in on my history with Cat, not holding anything back. I talk about the feelings I had for her, our only kiss, and then her moving away. Lastly, I talk about how Fiona and Ava moved to town a year later.
Conflicting emotions rise to the surface and wash over me in waves. A sharp pain stabs me in the chest, and my stomach sours.
“Woah,” Finn huffs out.
I pull on the back of my neck and blow out a heavy breath. “Yeah. But there’s more.”
“More?” He chuckles, anticipation in his voice. “I’m not sure this could get any more exciting.”
“Guess we’ll see.” I roll my eyes and force out a nervous laugh. To my amazement, Finn doesn’t say a word. “You know what the laws are for getting married in Colorado, right?”
“Did you just ask me about the marriage laws in Colorado?” Finn spits out, enunciating every word.
Of course Finn knows the marriage laws for Colorado, which answers the question Cat had about him helping Adam Daniels with his marriage. He also reminded me that I’ve been married before.
“So you’re telling me all I need to do to marry you is say ‘I do’?” My arms wrapped around Fiona’s waist, her body pulled snug against mine. Her eyes danced with humor.
“Well, technically, we still need to get the license from—”
“That’ll take all of five minutes,” I laughed, kissing her neck gently, her lavender scent enveloping me. Her contented sigh told me everything I needed to know.
Alone with her memory, my heart aches. Can I do that with someone else?
A car door slams, reminding me I’m still sitting in my truck in the parking lot. I look up to see Logan wearing a wide grin as he heads in my direction.
Confusion tightens my chest. I run a hand through my hair and take a deep breath.
For the first time in years, I feel a spark of life again. Having Cat come back into my life after losing Fi feels like I’ve come full circle, but it doesn’t make this situation any less conflicting.
My phone buzzes, and Cat’s name lights up the screen. The vice in my chest loosens—her message a lifeline pulling me from the abyss.
Cat:
Front office is not only on board but EXCITED about the news.
I’m not getting fired!
A slow grin crosses my face.
Cat:
One down, your family to go. biting nails emoji
My family.
I start typing a reply, but stop, unable to find words with the roller coaster of emotions taking me for a ride. With Logan getting closer, I shove the phone in my pocket and get out of the truck, pulling my duffel from the back seat.
When Logan catches the expression on my face, his teasing grin collapses, and his brow furrows.
“You okay there, James?” He asks, slapping me on the back. “I thought I’d find you happier based on the pictures of you and Cat in Tea Time ’s most recent spread.”
“Ha,” I force through a tight throat. Logan’s hand lands on my shoulder, forcing me to stop.
“I’ve known you a long time, David. I remember when Scarlett was born. I remember you and Fiona together.” he says gently. “I remember how crushed you were when she died. I think Fi would’ve loved Cat—she’d want you to find someone special.”
Tears burn the back of my eyes, and I swallow hard.
“We weren’t sure you’d be able to come back from that, but you did. Fiona would want you to have someone in your life who makes you happy again. She’d want you to live a full life. Not just a functioning one.”
He squeezes my shoulder a few times before letting go, and I nod. The tension in my body eases. “Thanks, Logan.”
“Now you’re gonna need to tell me the real story about you and Cat.” His teasing grin is back. “Because there is no way you just met her a few days ago.”
The corner of my lip tugs up, and I shrug. “Maybe someday I’ll tell you.”
“Maybe?” He snorts, throwing his hands up.
“Yeah, maybe,” I chuckle, pushing at his shoulder. “I’m not sure you can handle the truth.”
“Them be fightin’ words, James!” He turns with his back toward the building and lifts his hands as he air boxes, and I snort.
Gratitude fills me for Logan’s friendship as we head into practice. I realize this life change with Cat will require me to take my emotions as they come.
One at a time.
The same way I handled stepping onto the baseball field for the first time after losing Fiona. Each moment felt impossible, but I eventually found my groove.
I did it then, I can do it now. Even if our marriage is in name only.
Table of Contents
- Page 1
- Page 2
- Page 3
- Page 4
- Page 5
- Page 6
- Page 7
- Page 8
- Page 9
- Page 10
- Page 11
- Page 12
- Page 13
- Page 14
- Page 15
- Page 16
- Page 17 (Reading here)
- Page 18
- Page 19
- Page 20
- Page 21
- Page 22
- Page 23
- Page 24
- Page 25
- Page 26
- Page 27
- Page 28
- Page 29
- Page 30
- Page 31
- Page 32
- Page 33
- Page 34
- Page 35
- Page 36
- Page 37