Page 44 of Prudence (Balfe Family #1)

Derek

It was only meant to be a flying visit. I told Rhys I’d stop by with some items from the pharmacy that he and Charli needed, but then suddenly I was being handed a newborn by my best friend while Charli went to shower and Rhys dipped out for groceries.

Now Milly and my sister were here, and though Charli was just out of the shower, fully dressed and her wet hair combed out, I was still holding the baby.

I didn’t mind, only it was bringing back memories of my own kids at this age, and the nostalgia was getting to me.

“Oh, my goodness, she’s so precious,” Nuala cooed, holding her little finger out for baby Nadine to grip as all three women gathered round to gaze tenderly at the infant in my arms. “Charli, she looks just like you, and look at those big eyes. Definitely an old soul. You’ve been here before, haven’t you, Nadine? ”

“I can’t believe how thick her hair is,” Milly put in.

“She’s so beautiful,” Charli added. “But so fragile. Rhys and I just sit around staring at her, terrified that if we tear our eyes away for even a second something awful might happen.”

Milly cast her a sympathetic look. “How much sleep have you been getting?”

“Not a lot, but we weren’t expecting to sleep much,” Charli replied on a yawn. “Well, at least not for the first couple of weeks.” At her statement, Milly and I shared a look, both of us knowing that it would be a lot longer than a few weeks, but we didn’t have the heart to break it to her.

Nuala reached out to touch Charli’s shoulder. “Why don’t you go upstairs and take a little nap? I’ll tidy the kitchen and make some lunch while Milly and Derek watch Nadine.”

Charli looked torn, but then Milly cast her a gentle smile. “Take the nap, You’ll feel much better afterward. Besides, when’s the next time you’ll have a qualified doctor to babysit?”

“I did hear how great you were with Uncle Padraig when he fainted,” Charli allowed, chewing on her lip as she decided. “All right, then, but make sure you wake me up in an hour when she needs to be fed”

“Of course,” Nuala said, shooing her up the stairs to her bedroom before glancing back to Milly and me. “Right, I’ll make a start in the kitchen.”

Then I was alone with Milly, my gaze softening when I saw her smiling down at the baby. “I almost forgot how small they are at this age,” she murmured.

“Do you want to hold her?” I asked, and she nodded eagerly.

Carefully, I transferred Nadine into her arms and felt my lungs constrict at the sight of Milly holding her.

Nadine made a little gurgling noise, like she might start crying, but then Milly gently swayed her as she went to sit on an armchair, her entire attention focused on the infant.

Nadine quietened back down. She stared up at Milly in quiet fascination, and again, I felt that tightening in my lungs.

I’d always thought I wouldn’t have more kids, but gazing at Milly had my mind wandering to places it had no business wandering.

I’d been so busy I hadn’t even had a chance to take her out on a proper dinner date yet, but here I was, imagining a scenario where she was holding our child in her arms.

I’d made the decision not to push her to come clean about her aunt and my father, about why she truly hadn’t wanted to marry me all those years ago. I didn’t want to stress her out, and we were in such a tentative place. I’d decided I’d let her reveal the truth to me in her own time.

A very soft knock at the front door distracted me. “I’ll go get that. Will you be all right alone with her?”

Milly nodded, not taking her eyes off Nadine as she waved me away, and I went to see who was at the door.

When I opened it, I found my mother on the front step, several food containers stacked in her arms. “Oh, Derek, I didn’t know you’d be here,” she said, keeping her voice to a whisper.

“I wanted to stop by with some pre-made dinners for Charli and Rhys. I was just going to drop them off and go.”

My lips twitched. “Why are you talking so quietly?”

“Well,” she replied, still whispering. “I don’t want to wake the baby if they’ve just put her down for a nap.”

“She’s awake. Milly has her at the moment, and Nuala’s cleaning the kitchen while Charli rests upstairs. Rhys is out grabbing groceries.”

Mam brightened. “Oh, well, in that case, I might just pop in for a very quick visit.”

I smiled as I moved aside to let her in. She set the containers in my arms. “Pop these in the fridge for me. There’s a good lad.”

Once in the living room, Mam made a beeline for Milly, sitting next to her and beaming down at the baby like she was the most fascinating being in the entire world.

I went into the kitchen and found Nuala mopping the floor.

“You don’t have to clean the place from top to bottom.

A quick freshening up is all that’s needed,” I told her as I placed the food Mam brought in the fridge.

Nuala shot me a sheepish look. “I may have gotten a little carried away.”

I shook my head with a chuckle and returned to the living room where Milly and my mother were conducting a hushed conversation.

“I just can’t get enough of her little curls.”

“She’s definitely the cutest newborn I’ve seen in a long time,” Milly agreed.

“I need to get back to the office,” I said, glancing first at Milly then at Mam.

“Oh, before you go,” Mam said. “I’ve been meaning to mention.

Kayla will be arriving in two weeks. She managed to secure that apartment she was looking at.

It’s only around the corner from your place.

Your Aunt Faye told me to tell you that Kayla said you were such a gentleman to show her around and that she’d love to see you again once she settles in. ”

I tensed as my gaze flicked to Milly. Mam was oblivious to what was going on between us.

Therefore, she saw no problem talking about another woman’s interest in me right in front of the woman I was currently infatuated with.

I wasn’t attracted to Kayla, and though she was very pretty, I felt no connection there.

To be perfectly honest, the only reason I’d offered to show her around on her last visit was because I’d known Milly was eavesdropping on the conversation, and I’d wanted to piss her off.

Make her jealous. It had been petty, yes, but I’d been in a fairly petty mindset at the time, resenting her reappearance in my life and how much I was still drawn to her even after so many years apart.

Angry at how easily she still got under my skin.

Now it was different. The heat between us was sharp and instinctive. More mature. But it didn’t burn me; it grounded me. Much like her presence in my life.

I wasn’t just drawn to Milly. I was falling for her all over again. Or maybe I never really stopped.

Clearing my throat, I responded to my mother, “I’m not interested in seeing Kayla again.

” My eyes were on Milly. She had her focus on the baby, but I could tell by the stiff lines of her shoulders that the idea of me with another woman was an uneasy thought.

Good. Because I felt the same way about her being with anyone else.

“But she’s so lovely,” Mam said, like she couldn’t understand me at all. “You could certainly do a lot worse. Maybe if you spent a little more time with her, you’d find that you actually quite like—”

“I don’t want to see her, Mam,” I reiterated, my tone final. “So just drop it.”

Mam’s eyes flashed with surprise at my abruptness. I glanced at Milly again, who was still studiously focused on the baby. Not being one to miss social cues, Mam quickly noticed how I was staring at Milly, and some kind of realisation dawned because she suddenly looked at Milly with brand new eyes.

“I see,” she said, looking back to me again.

“Well, we’ll leave it at that, then.” A mirthful smile began tugging at her lips as she glanced back and forth between Milly and me with a spark of delight.

A short moment passed, and I could sense Milly’s awkwardness even though she hadn’t made a single contribution to the exchange.

“Will we be seeing you for dinner tonight?” Mam asked then, and I nodded.

“Yes, so long as I can get finished up at the hotel early enough, I’ll be there.”

Then, with forced casualness, Mam turned to Milly, “Would you like to join us for dinner, too, dear? I’m making my famous Beef Wellington, and I always end up with leftovers.

We’d love to have you over. You can tell us all about this new job you’re starting soon.

Nuala tells me you’re going to be a college lecturer. ”

Even though Mam was clearly meddling, I strangely hoped for Milly to say yes. Being apart from her because of work had been torture, and I’d take any extra moment to spend time with her that I could get—even with my entire family for an audience.

“Oh,” Milly said, blinking like the invite had blindsided her.

She obviously had no idea about my mother’s excellent deductive skills.

Somehow, within the awkward silence of me declining to see Kayla again, she’d figured out that something was going on between us, and if I knew my mother, she’d be merciless in pushing us together until we finally admitted that we were quietly seeing one another.

Though, as I said, opportunities to actually date Milly had been few and far between now that I’d taken over Dad’s role at work.

“Sure,” Milly went on. “That sounds nice. I’d love to come to dinner.”

Satisfaction swept across Mam’s face as she cast me a pleased look, and I resisted the urge to roll my eyes like a teenager whose parent knew he fancied the girl next door.

At the same time, my chest warmed with happiness that she’d said yes, and I’d get to spend some time with her.

Dragging a hand through my hair, I emitted a quiet breath and then said, “Well, in that case, I’ll see you both later. I’d better go.”

“See you later, Derek,” Milly replied quietly, while Mam said, “Goodbye, son.”