Page 5 of The Billionaire Dating Dad (The Holidates #18)

Dimitri

“ Y ou are really hungry,” Dimitri said. He was impressed. The child had eaten a serving of roast beef, two slices of ham, and more vegetables than he’d consumed at five years old.

“Mom makes glazed ham just for me on special occasions.”

“But you can have some too.”

“Thank you.” His first thought was they didn’t have enough food, but the spread on the table was generous. “Special occasions?”

“Uh-huh,” Maddie said, swallowing her broccoli. “You know… my birthday, holidays, Sundays, and when I’ve been very good at school.”

He cut a sidelong glance toward May who kept her gaze trained on her quinoa salad. “You’ve covered all the days of the week,” he said.

“No silly. A week has seven days. Sunday is only one day. On other days, I’m a pescaty like mom.”

“Pescatarian,” May corrected, fighting a smile, before mouthing to Dimitri. “ She’s not .”

“Yeah, that.” Maddie nodded.

“I see,” Dimitri murmured, although he was beginning to think Maddie enjoyed baffling him. Having a conversation with a child was akin to solving a riddle. “Did you say you’re good at school?”

“Mrs. Bell says I’m very good, but she wishes I would sit still.”

“I see,” he repeated. He recalled Maddie’s enthusiasm when she’d opened the door and wondered how much energy the child had.

“She’s smart,” May said, in reassurance. “And she's as energetic as any child her age.”

“I’m sure.” He didn’t mind Maddie’s curious or rambunctious nature and didn’t mean for his short answers to be taken as criticism. “I was the same at your age,” he offered. “I gave Alexei more than one near-death experience when he babysat.”

“Who’s Alexei?”

“He’s your— he’s my brother.”

“You aren’t a very nice brother for making him worry,” Maddie whispered the last word with a glance toward her mother who seemed content letting them run the dinner conversation.

“He might agree with you,” he whispered back.

Maddie’s eyes widened. “It isn’t nice to hurt your brother.” She sipped from her cup, then wiped her mouth along her arm. “I’ve always wanted a brother or sister but Mom says she’s glad she has me all to herself.”

May cleared her throat. She didn’t meet Dimitri’s gaze. “Speaking of family, if you’re finished with dinner, I can tell you why Dimitri is here over dessert.”

“Ice cream?”

“Chocolate chip.” May nodded. “We can even eat it in the living room.”

May’s bravado didn’t fool Dimitri. As the evening wore on, he’d seen the quiver return to her fingers and exhaustion darken her eyes. “Let me.” He took the tub from her hand.

“You’ll get ice cream on your suit.”

“I can purchase a new one.” He added three scoops to each bowl before replacing the lid on the tub. He had no idea how much sugar was too much for an energetic child before bed but he had the good sense to know he needed all the good favors he could muster. “Are you sure about this, May?”

“Have you changed your mind about Maddie?”

“No.” Maddie was his and nothing in the world would stop him from getting to know his daughter. “I meant, are you sure about uprooting her life?”

“Believe me, if I had a choice I wouldn’t. I would give anything to save my baby from pain.”

Dimitri searched her face. She hadn’t told him what the hell was going on or why she was suddenly willing to share their daughter.

“Telling Maddie is the hard part. Once we get through this, I’ll tell you what you need to know.”

He followed May into the living room, his body heavy with joy and fear.

For fucks sake, he was a grown man who’d seen his mother’s listless face the day the ambulance took her from him, who’d moved and built an empire with his siblings.

Surely he could tell one little girl she had gained a father.

But how would he tell her that her life was going to change?

The easy smile that came to his face at seeing her twirling in the open space warred with the bittersweet knowledge that what they were about to say could make or break Maddie.

“Ice cream!”

“Three scoops,” Dimitri said.

“Yummy!” She took the bowl from her mother and sat on the sofa, crossing her feet under the dress. “They are way bigger than mom’s scoops.”

“Are you complaining young lady?” May reached for the bowl, but Maddie clutched it. “Aha. I said that so he wouldn’t feel bad about forgetting the sprinkles.”

May pressed her lips together but it barely hid the smile that curved her lips. These two were close. He saw it in the way they teased and spoke to each other.

“Maddie, do you remember what I said about today?” May set her bowl at her feet.

“That we were celebrating because it’s important to remember the good times.”

Dimitri placed his bowl on the floor, realizing the living room furniture was nothing more than a sofa and matching armchairs. Two large plants added life and calm to the space, while bright art filled every square foot along the white walls. Not just any art. They were all Maddie’s.

“But we always remember the good times, Mommy.”

“This time the remembering is for me, sweetheart.” May cleared her throat. “Do you remember what else?”

Maddie became more somber as seconds turned into minutes and he saw her retreat. Her small fist gripped her dress and her entire body grew rigid. She stared at Dimitri while she answered her mother. “You said I’d have to go away. But I’ve been so good.” She sniffed.

“Come here.”

Maddie launched herself into her mother’s lap, seeming small and less confident compared to the girl who’d answered the door.

“I couldn’t ask for a better daughter. No matter what happens, I want you to remember that.”

“But—”

“No buts. None of this is your fault. Sometimes things happen that we have no control over. It’s how we react to those changes that make us who we are.”

“But you can tell him to go away.” Maddie glared at Dimitri from under her lashes. “Fake Christmas is over and he can go home now.”

Dimitri winced. Maddison certainly didn’t mince words. Another Popova trait he laid at his older brother’s feet. Watching May stay strong while their daughter crumbled in her arms broke his heart. He had to trust that after five years May knew what she was doing, knew what was best for Maddison.

“If he leaves, you’ll leave with him and that means we won't get to spend tomorrow together.”

“No!” Maddison screamed. “I don’t want to go and I don’t want any more ice cream!”

Air whooshed from his lungs. Her rejection gutted him. For a moment his world dimmed. He blinked, but couldn’t focus his vision. His fear, the very thing that had kept him in the car suddenly felt real.

May took the half-eaten bowl, setting it into hers on the floor.

He waited for May to say Maddie didn’t have to go with him or that she’d changed her mind.

Neither came, igniting his anger. Why would she give Maddison up?

He didn’t understand any of this. He wouldn’t fight her for full custody, nor did he threaten it… so why put their daughter through this?

Did she want her life back? He shook the thought aside. She’d gone to lengths to put Maddison at ease with an elaborate dinner, and from the art on the walls, Maddison wasn’t an inconvenience but part of every fiber of May’s life.

“What about Mr— Dimitri, wouldn’t you like to know why I invited him here?”

“I don’t want to know anything,” Maddison cried.

May squeezed her daughter's hand. “Are you saying you’re not brave enough to find out?”

“I am brave!” She stared at her feet, not bothering to wipe the tears from her face.

“Yes, you are.” He watched May’s shoulders straighten before she turned in her seat to hold Maddison’s gaze.

“But…” Maddison hiccupped. “I don’t want to be brave anymore.”

“Sweetheart.” May opened her arms. “Come here.”

Helplessness paralyzed Dimitri as he watched them hold each other. He clenched his fist. There was nothing he could do to ease the hurt in their whispered words.

“Remember when you asked why Bailey had a daddy and you didn’t.”

Maddison nodded. “You said I had one and he loved me very much. But Bailey said my dad wasn’t real, that he is fictition —”

“Fictitious. And Bailey is full of crumbled pie! How else would you explain—” May pointed toward Dimitri. “Your father is sitting right there.” Maddison sank against her mother. “Dimitri, I’d like you to meet your daughter, and Maddie I’d like you to meet your father.”

“Pleased to meet you, Maddison.” He extended his hand although he longed to pull her into his arms.

“Aren’t you going to say hello?”

“No!”

“I thought you were brave.”

Maddison sat very still for a full minute before wiggling off her mother’s lap. “Are you my daddy?”

He swallowed past the dryness in his throat and nodded. “I’m your father, Maddison.”

Maddison stared at his hand, then retreated a step, bumping into May’s knees. “That’s not my name.”

“She prefers Maddie.”

Her small hands fisted at her sides. “Only my mom and my friends call me that,” she hissed before bolting from the living room.

He was neither family nor friend. Dimitri swallowed his agony.