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“I’ll be there tomorrow,” I tell Dakota.
“Yes,” she sings.
She does a little leap and twirl and I grin and attempt the same moves, and her head falls back as she laughs.
“I’ll never turn down treats…with Sweets…” I sing…or attempt to.
Marlow’s still wearing a concerned expression, but she’s smiling too by the time I turn to leave.
When I open the door, she reaches out and touches my arm. “Listen, Wyatt,” she says under her breath. “You don’t have to do this. I’ll talk to her.”
“I’m not letting that little girl down,” I whisper. “Let’s not make it more complicated than that. Okay?”
She’s somber as she lifts those hazel eyes to mine, nodding. “I didn’t know they made guys like you, Wyatt Landmark.”
CHAPTERTWENTY-ONE
ANXIETY PRECIPICE
MARLOW
I pull into the preschool parking lot and see Wyatt’s car already here.
I’m hanging somewhere between mortified and so moved that he would come to this. I don’t want anyone to get the wrong idea…I know how it looks. Here I come, crashing into town, quite literally, with a little girl and in the middle of a divorce, and from the outside, it could seem like I’ve not wasted any time, going after the town’s most eligible bachelor, snagging a job at his hospital and then luring him in through my daughter.
I jog inside the door, grossed out by myself, even though I know that’s not what I’m doing. Wyatt is rounding the corner ahead of me and I turn just in time to see him walk in Dakota’s class. She bolts to him, hugging him hard, and the teachers, kids, and parents all swarm around Dr. Wyatt like the star he is.
Not wanting to ruin the moment or make anyone think about how weird it is that I showed up…I turn and hurry back to my car.
Since when do I care what everyone thinks about me?
I’m amped up like I’ve had three cups of coffee and I haven’t even finished one yet. In my hurry to go by Dakota’s school and get to work on time, I put my coffee in a to-go cup and haven’t gotten back to it. I call Sofie as I pull into the hospital parking lot, still a few minutes before I’m supposed to clock in, but it goes to voice mail.
Scarlett, April, Holly, and I are supposed to go over there tonight to work on these little gift baskets all the guests can take home at the wedding. I love how much fun Sofie’s having with all the details. Cash and I eloped—it was a Tuesday at the end of our lunch break. A justice of the peace did our vows and we were married and back to work by one thirty in the afternoon. That night after work, we went out to dinner with Sofie and Cash’s friend, TJ, and I was so exhausted and nauseated from my first trimester, I think I was asleep by nine o’clock that night.
I was already an embarrassment to my mom for ditching the pageants and a baby out of wedlock really didn’t help. So I went with quiet and didn’t even bother with the simple touches I could’ve done to make a wedding more beautiful and enjoyable.
Seeing Sofie’s joy in making their day special, not only for her and Theo but for everyone who loves them, has been an eye-opening experience of how it should be. Her bridal shower is this weekend at the lodge, in the sunny atrium with the gorgeous mountains as the backdrop, and I love that she’s surrounded with such beauty during all the wedding festivities, but I honestly think the two of them could get married in their barn with no decorations whatsoever, and it would still be the most spectacular wedding ever. Their love is that pure, that true.
I’ve talked myself somewhat down from the ledge by the time I’ve worked an hour. And then Wyatt walks up to my desk, catching me by surprise after I’ve leaned down to pick up something off the floor.
“I was properly donuted,” he says, knocking on the counter.
“Excellent,” I say awkwardly. “I really hope that wasn’t too uncomfortable for you—I know you’re not—”
“Are you kidding? It was great. Free donuts. Your ray of sunshine daughter…what better way to start my day?” His eyes crinkle at the edges and I blink in slow motion, momentarily stunned by everything that is Wyatt Landmark.
“Did anyone ask why you were there?”
“I jumped in before anyone could ask and said her dad can’t be here as much as he wants, so she invited me since I’m a friend of the family.”
“It was really…so nice of you to do that—”
“I’m honored she asked me, but I’m sure any of my brothers would’ve done the same for her too. The two of you are part of us now. You’re not alone, Marlow. Remember that.”
My air catches in my chest and I pick up a folder to fan myself, hoping I don’t start crying right here at work.
He smiles and knocks on the counter again before walking away, and I’m left here speechless and all up in my feels.
