Page 30 of Paper Flowers (Stonebrook #1)

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

DAYNA

O nce I got home and showered, I texted Cara how things went with Luke and Sadie this afternoon.

Now that I had time to think about Luke’s words.

I still need to talk to him about why I broke up with him.

He was honest with his feelings about his late wife.

I need to open up and tell him what exactly happened all those years ago.

It might ruin a relationship but that is his problem now. It’s time for me to not live in fear.

My phone rings and breaks me out of my thoughts. Reaching for it, I see Cara’s name on FaceTime.

“I am so happy things are working out for you and Luke. And Sadie? Does she know anything?”

“Not at the moment.”

“I’m sure when the time is right, Luke will tell her.”

“Yeah, I just hope she likes me.”

“Are you kidding? She practically loves you!”

“She loves Vice Principal Dayna, not the woman her dad is dating.”

“You are overthinking things. Just be yourself.”

“Maybe you’re right.”

“You know I am. Get some rest and we’ll talk tomorrow.”

“Thanks, Cara. Love you. ”

“Love you more!”

I walked to Luke’s classroom after school.

With the door open, I take a peek inside and see that he’s sitting at his desk grading his students’ classwork.

Sadie is doing her homework on the desk closest to his.

He has on his black-rimmed eyeglasses, wearing a gray pullover henley sweater, dark denim jeans with his matte black Doc Martens.

He does casual Fridays so well, it makes my stomach flutter in the best way.

He finally catches me staring and my face feels hot as he rakes his eyes slowly over me.

Thank God, I’m wearing an oversized cable-knit sweater or else he would be able to see how hard my nipples are right now.

Crossing the threshold of his classroom, he stands up and gives me a quick hug.

“I wish I could kiss you right now.” He said into my ear as the scent of Citrus and Pine lingers before pulling away.

We walk to the side table where he has the roll of butcher paper and paint supplies ready.

“Daddy, maybe me and Dayna should paint by ourselves.” Sadie said anxiously.

“You don’t think I can handle a couple words?”

“No way—” Sadie and I both said laughing.

“Yeah, okay— I’ll sit this one out.” Luke hands over his paint brush to his daughter.

He turns on his playlist and the music comes through his bluetooth speaker on his desk.

He sits with his forearms resting on his knees on the vinyl flooring next to me and Sadie.

We have the butcher paper rolled out and we begin to work on the banner.

After two hours of painting and talking about our day, we finished the banner and hung it up on Luke’s whiteboard to dry. Luke begins to put the painting supplies back in his storage cabinets. Sadie and I start rinsing out the brushes in the classroom sink.

“Daddy, I am so hungry. Do we have to get pizza tonight?” Luke looks at me with questioning eyes, “How’s the Italian place across Alfredo’s?”

“ Road to Italy is so good. Cara and I go for our birthdays every year.” Putting the brushes down on a paper napkin to dry, I wash my hands.

“Do you want to try that for dinner?” He asks Sadie, and she immediately nods her head in agreement. I move out of the way so she can wash her hand as Luke talks to her. “Put your homework away and grab your things.” She skips happily to the desk she was using to retrieve her things.

“Would you like to join us for dinner?”

“I’d love to! Give me a few minutes to get my things and I’ll meet you out front?”

“Why don’t you drop your car off at my house and I’ll pick you up? Meet you in about 15 minutes?”

“Okay, that’s perfect.” I tell him as I’m walking out of his classroom.

We walked into Road to Italy and the tuscan style restaurant is small and intimate with warm lighting and covered in stone walls.

The tables are covered in white table cloths with matching white cloth napkins.

The hostess sits us at a table by the side window overlooking Stonebrook’s grassy park.

Sadie sat by the window next to me, and Luke is directly across from me.

Luke and Sadie are looking over the menu but I know exactly what I’m getting.

The waitress introduces herself and drops off a basket of bread and butter for our table.

She proceeds to take our drink order. Sadie got lemonade with extra ice, Luke and I both ordered water with lemon.

“What are you getting?” Luke asks as he’s nose deep in the menu.

“I like their Chicken Parmesan and Fettuccine Alfredo.” He pushes his glasses up with his long index finger so smoothly and looks up, “I think I’ll take what you’re having, Sadie, does anything look good to you?”

“I want Chicken Marsala.”

Did she just say she wants Chicken Marsala? My face must have shown what I was thinking because Luke laughs. “Sadie has been to Italy with Juliette. They were there for three weeks and when they got back the only thing Sadie wanted to eat was Chicken Marsala.”

“Wow, Sadie, that’s so amazing!”

“My mommy loved to take pictures, and I loved their gelato.” This little girl doesn’t skip a beat when it comes to ice cream does she.

The waitress comes back with our drinks and takes our dinner order.

Luke begins to rub my leg with his boot underneath the table.

I also notice the stolen glances my way when I feel his eyes on me.

My body shudders in all the right places.

I ask Sadie to tell me any stories she wants to share about her mom and more on their trip to Italy.

“Did you know it’s shaped like a boot?” I act like I have no idea and she begins to talk about her mom.

“Mommy said I was her twin, and I had Daddy’s attitude.

” Luke laughs at her statement. I can definitely see the similar attitudes between the two.

Shy yet outgoing when comfortable with the situation.

With the photos I’ve seen, she is her mother’s twin.

What I love most about this evening is witnessing the glimmer in her eyes when she talks about her mom. It’s breathtakingly beautiful.

The waitress brings out our dinner and everything looks so good. Sitting here with the two of them I see how Sadie is so well mannered and well behaved. She truly is a great kid, Luke and Juliette did amazing raising such a beautiful soul.

Although, it makes me second guess myself.

I don’t know the first thing about raising a child.

What if she resents Luke in the long run for dating me?

So close to losing her mom. I know how important it is for him to be a great father because his dad never supported any of his dreams. I don’t want to ruin what he has worked so hard for with her.

I didn’t give much thought about having him in my life again.

I feel my mood shifting and my overthinking is getting the best of me.

Underneath the table Luke double taps my leg gently to get my attention.

I met his eyes and without saying a word he asked me what’s wrong with a single look.

I shrug my shoulders slightly. I see he fists his hand on the table as if he wants to reach over to mine.

With frustration visible he smooths his beard with his other hand.

Sadie glances outside out the window. I take the opportunity to squeeze his hand to let him know it’s alright. He squeezes back and nods cautiously.

The waitress asked if we wanted dessert and Sadie immediately asked for Tiramisu. Luke orders three to go and I can’t help but giggle. “I have never met anyone who loves sweets as much as you do.”

“My mommy called me her Sweetheart.”

“Awe, Sadie, that’s a lovely name to be called.”

The busboy comes to clear our plates as we are waiting for our dessert when Sadie tugs on my sweater. I lean over to her to give her my attention. She’s been so talkative the entire night. I can see where the sugar rush goes.

“Do you watch baseball? Daddy loves baseball.”

“I do watch baseball. My favorite team is the Boston Red Sox.”

With a shocked face Sadie yells, “That’s our favorite team too! Daddy, I’m so glad she isn’t a Yankee’s fan. We wouldn’t be friends.” She sounds so relieved and I feel my stomach drop.

Luke stares at me over the rim of his glass as he takes a slow drink of his water.

His face gives nothing away. My heart twists as a memory flashes through me.

“Our kids could never be friends with Yankee fans.” I tell Luke as we’re lying down reading our books on my sofa.

“We’re going to have so many babies, one of them is bound to like the Yankees, babe.

” I swat his book out of his hand. “Oh you’re going to get it.

” I squeeze my eyes shut as if it’ll stop the memory of us.

At that moment, the waitress brings back the check and drops off the white paper bag with our desserts.

Luke puts his credit card in the black folder, I leave a cash tip.

She brought the receipt back and told us to have a great night.

I see the usual cars outside Alfredo’s wondering if anyone notices Luke and I are absent from Pizza Night Friday again.

We walk to his truck in silence, I feel the tension between us.

Did it really only take half a dinner for me to get scared of ruining what we could have?

I was happy with just being in his life.

Now I feel the pressure of not being able to live up to the standards he needs for Sadie.

Luke opens Sadie’s door, and jumps up to her seat and she buckles herself. Luke is holding the bag of Tiramisu for her to grab .