Page 126 of The House Guest

She nodded.

“He told you to say that?”

“Yup.”

Hmm...Casey knew I was going to be meeting her for the first time this weekend. Perhaps this was his way of throwing me a bone, indirectly putting in a good word for me, though I was certain that couldn’t have been easy for him.

“Tell him I said hi, too, okay?”

“Okay!” she said with glee as I pushed her faster.

This little angel was blissfully oblivious.

Primrose finally sauntered over. “How are you guys doing?”

“Dorian has gum on his butt!”

Primrose looked down at my ass. “Oh wow. I see that.” She laughed. “I got you. Happens to us all the time, doesn’t it, Rosie? Nothing some ice and vigorous rubbing can’t fix.”

I wriggled my brows and whispered, “Sounds interesting.”

Primrose nudged me with her elbow. “How did that happen anyway?”

“Someone must’ve thrown it down the slide,” I said.

Her eyes widened. “You went down the slide?”

“Yep.”

“How did I miss that?”

“Well, you were busy talking and abandoned us.”

She winked, and now I was certain she’d left me alone with Rosie intentionally.

Late that afternoon, we took Rosie out for pizza, and then the best thing ever happened afterward. Rosie asked if I could come over to their house and watch a movie with them before bed. That was the easiest “yes” I’d ever uttered.

Back at their house, the three of us sat together on the couch. Rosie had changed into her pajamas and chosen the kids’ movieSing. It surprised me how much I enjoyed it.

At one point, Rosie leaned her head against my shoulder. I didn’t dare move. A profound appreciation for everything I’d been through from the moment I was born came over me. It was the first time I realized that even though I’d never be this little girl’s father, in a strange way, she was here because of me. If I’d done even one thing differently, it would’ve changed the course of my life, Primrose’s life, and the state of Rosie’s existence. If I hadn’t left Primrose out of fear for her safety, she’d never have met Casey and had Rosie. Indirectly, it meant Rosie was mine, too.Probably won’t bring that up to Casey, though.Still, that perspective made me feel warm inside.

Rosie broke my trance when I sensed her looking up at me for my reaction during the movie. I could tell the scene was supposed to be funny, so I gave her my heartiest laugh as I looked down to meet her smile. Her beautiful, innocent eyes sparkled in the glow of the television.Neither blue, nor green. Aquamarine.

EPILOGUE

Primrose

Two Years Later

Dorian had his arm around me as we strolled through the mansion.

My throat felt tight with emotion. “I can’t believe this is the last time we’ll ever see the inside of this place.”

We’d come out to Orion Coast for the weekend, and tonight was our last night. The new owners had bought the house furnished and would be moving in next week.

“It’s time. Don’t you think?” Dorian said. “Our life is in Ohio now. As much as I wanted to hold on to this place, it deserves new blood that can appreciate it and give it the care it deserves.”

“I agree. It just makes me sad for you to have to say goodbye to it.”