Chapter Nineteen

David

Soft clicking and footsteps coming from the hallway gently rouse me from sleep. The murmurs that come through my door as Scarlett and Cat whisper have my lips twitching. Scarlett’s whisper is similar to a stage actress pretending to speak softly.

I pull my phone from the nightstand and see that it’s a little after seven. Placing the phone back down, I yawn and let myself think about how my life has changed since Cat moved into the spare bedroom after the wedding.

Over the last four days, the three of us have fallen into an easy routine. Everyone, including Emmy, has effortlessly settled in, and the chaos that was my reality for the last few weeks has all but disappeared.

Cat has taken on the responsibility of getting Scarlett and Emmy ready in the morning without my asking. She’s an early riser, just like my daughter, making it easy for me to sleep in a tiny bit.

Only a bit, though, as neither Emmy nor Scarlett is truly quiet, but the days of screams and eighty pounds crashing into my ribs are all but gone.

I’m not going to lie, I miss the feel of Scarlett’s body as it slams into me, but there’s definitely something to be said for gradually waking up rather than having your heart feel like it’s being ripped from your body out of terror.

Shaking my head, I laugh at my daughter’s antics. She’s a good girl, but I may have spoiled her just a bit by not setting simple boundaries. Like how to wake me up without trying to kill me.

The sounds outside my room get louder as they reach the kitchen. Metal bangs, the refrigerator door opens and closes, and I can imagine them talking about what to make for breakfast. A few minutes later, a warm, cozy scent surrounds me like a hug.

Coffee. And bacon.

If I didn’t know what a big coffee drinker Cat is, I might think she was intentionally speaking my love language.

A tiny dip in my stomach reeks of disappointment that that’s not the case.

After Cat moved in, we had a long talk about her thyroid condition and how she and her new doctor are working to find the right dosage of medication. My worry over her episode has lessened, but after learning how much coffee she drinks, I can’t help but wonder what he would have to say about it.

Too much caffeine will make most people jittery…that could cause dizziness, right?

Scrubbing a hand up and down my face, I blow out a deep breath before tossing the blanket from my body. Rolling to the side of the bed, I rest my feet on the cool floor and pause for a second. My stomach knots as the daily emotional struggle resumes now that Cat is my wife.

The nagging sensation of having to worry about someone other than my daughter’s welfare tugs at my gut. Not to mention the memories of what it was like when Fiona got sick. I know a thyroid condition is not the same as Fiona’s illness, but I can’t shake the comparison.

Not with the feelings I have coming up.

Pushing down the weight of emotions I don’t want to examine, I make my way to the kitchen and the coffee that is beckoning me.

Not the woman who is capturing the hearts of my daughter, my dog…and me.

I stop and lean against the door frame to watch the scene in front of me, arms folded against my chest. Scarlett is standing on a step stool and coaching Cat how to make scrambled eggs. My mouth tugs at the corner as Cat nods, moving the spatula back and forth in the frying pan.

Then she effortlessly switches her attention to the skillet and flips the bacon. My gaze takes in how adorable she looks in a long-sleeved, fitted white thermal top, a pair of red flannel pajama bottoms, and a pair of white bunny slippers. They’re ridiculously adorable, just like her.

Wait, are those mine? No. Mine are pink.

My cheeks lift at my thoughts just as I hear Scarlett tell Cat all the different ways that Duncan, Ava, and I cook bacon. The ease of their conversation causes a warmth to spread through my chest.

A bump on my thigh has me glancing down to find bright eyes and a long tongue hanging over a jaw full of white teeth.

“Hey girl,” I whisper, running my hand over the top of Emmy’s head, and her grin expands before she looks toward her empty bowl. “Has no one fed you yet?”

A sharp, affirmative ‘woof’ echoes throughout the kitchen, causing two sets of eyes to turn in my direction.

“Daddy!” Scarlett crawls off the step stool and flies into my arms, squeezing my neck. I grunt as her weight slams into me, and my chest tightens. My little girl isn’t so little anymore.

“Good morning, peanut.” Kissing her on the cheek, my gaze drifts back to Cat, who’s still watching us. The affection in her eyes sends a flutter through my chest. She gives me a shy smile and turns back to the stove.

This routine we’ve fallen into over the last few days is comforting and yet…unsettling. We feel like a family. That sinking feeling in my gut returns, and I turn my focus back to the little girl in my arms. “Did you sleep well?”

Scarlett nods her head exuberantly, beaming at me.

“Coffee is ready if you want some,” Cat calls over her shoulder, not looking at me.

“You know I do.” A grin stretches across my face, and I kiss Scarlett on the forehead before setting her on the floor. “Why don’t you get Emmy her breakfast?”

Scarlett immediately whips into action with Emmy hot on her heels. I watch for a moment, and my smile grows impossibly bigger at the silent conversation the two of them are obviously having.

Turning my gaze back in Cat’s direction, I walk over to the cabinets and pull open a door.

Grabbing two mugs, I set them on the counter.

My pulse is racing, and I force my breathing to slow as I try to pretend that the woman making breakfast just six inches from me isn’t the reason for my increased heart rate.

Pulling the carafe from the hot plate, I fill both cups. Then, I grab two packages of sugar and add them to one of the mugs. Lastly, I add a little creamer to each and stir. Pushing the cup with sugar toward Cat, I lift my mug to my lips, and a small moan escapes. “What do you put in this?”

“That’s a secret.” Her cheeks lift, but she doesn’t look at me. “Breakfast will be ready in two minutes.”

I let my gaze roam over her face. My chest tightens, and the air in the room suddenly feels charged. Putting my mug on the counter, I reach into one of the cabinets. I pull out plates, grab silverware, and head to the dining room.

I need space.

After the table is set, I walk back into the kitchen and pick up my mug. “I’m gonna hop in the shower before breakfast,” I say just as I reach over Cat’s shoulder and grab a piece of bacon from the plate beside the pan.

“Hey!” She swipes her hand at me just as I shove the bacon in my mouth and grin.“You know that’s rude, right?”

“What’s yours is mine, Mrs. James.” I shrug, my mouth still full. “I can’t control myself when it comes to bacon.”

Her chuckle follows me as I walk back to my bedroom, and a spark of warmth flits around my heart just as guilt pools in my stomach.

This ping-ponging of emotions is exhausting, and I’m not sure how to navigate them. Especially since I’m pretty certain the bacon isn’t the only thing I’m having trouble controlling myself around.

An hour later, Cat is getting into her car with Emmy, and I’m getting into my truck with Scarlett. Today is game day, which means that I don’t need to be at the stadium until this afternoon.

“Do you think Emmy will be too tired for Bark In The Park later if she goes to Love-It and Leaf-It all day?” Scarlett’s concern is obvious in her eyes as she watches Cat and Emmy pull away.

“She won’t be there all day.” My gaze flits to the rearview mirror. I see her chewing on her bottom lip. “She’ll have a chance to get in a nap when Uncle Duncan picks both of you up this afternoon. You won’t head over to the stadium until later.”

“Uncle Dunky is coming tonight?” She beams, and the corner of my lips lift as I dip my chin. “What about Aunt Ava?”

“I know she’s going to do everything she can to be there, but she won’t know for sure until later.”

Scarlett nods seriously, and my lips twitch. I’m not sure I’ll ever get tired of how quickly Scarlett moves through emotions, and honestly, I hope her ability to do that never changes.

“Daddy?”

“Yes, peanut?” My brows pull together, and my gaze snaps to hers in the rearview mirror. Her soft, hesitant tone is very un-Scarlett-like.

“I like having Cat around.”

My heart constricts, and I swallow hard. “I do too.”

“Me and Aunt Ava think Mommy would’ve liked her.”

My brows shoot up, and I’m unable to keep the surprise out of my voice when I ask. “You talked to Aunt Ava about Cat?”

I pull up and park in front of the school, resting my hand on the back of the passenger seat so I can look at her. She grabs her backpack and nods.

When her hazel gaze meets mine, something in me breaks as I see the truth staring back at me. My daughter is just as captivated with Cat as I am.

Duncan’s question steamrolls over my thoughts, and my heart lodges in my throat.

What will losing Cat do to Scarlett? She was too young to fully process what happened with Fi, but Cat? Cat she’ll remember.

Did I just set my daughter up for her first heartbreak? Did I set myself up for another?

Tears burn the back of my eyes, and I swallow past the lump forming in my throat.

A tap on the window interrupts, and I see a young boy waving at Scarlett. My eyes narrow, and my lips press together. The smile that crosses my daughter's face reminds me that life is filled with the possibility of all different forms of heartbreak.

I now have a whole different reason to worry, even as a wry grin tugs at my mouth.

Maybe I can figure out a way to wrap her in protective bubble wrap? Keep her safe from all the dangers of the world.

Scarlett turns her face to me, and the zest for life reflected there has my breath catching.

She goes to push the door open, but it’s locked.

“Let me out, Daddy!” She orders, making me chuckle.

Pressing the unlock button, her door flings open. “Have a good day at school. I love—”

The door slams as Scarlett turns and gives me a quick wave before beaming a bright smile at the boy walking next to her.

“Steven,” I grumble.

Steven’s look of adoration as he walks with her makes me realize my daughter will be the one breaking hearts everywhere she goes.

The tiny fissure that cracks along mine right now is proof.

As for Cat…I’ll think about her and our hearts later.