“What?Why do you say that?”
“’Cuz I saw him kiss you in the kitchen.”She stops to think about this for a moment, and then adds, “And on the couch.And on your bed.”
My mouth gapes open.Dane chuckles, then bites down on his lip in an effort to contain the sound, and I want to kick him in the kneecap.
“When did you see that?”
She shrugs, but it’s apparent that we haven’t been as stealthy with our hookups as we thought we were.Lenni must’ve witnessed some of that over the course of the last few weeks.
Dane jumps in to save the conversation and keep me from dying of embarrassment.
He lifts Lenni’s hand and places a kiss on top of her knuckles, his dark lashes framing his gray eyes, which have turned soft and light.
“Lenni, your mom and I like each other.A lot.In fact, I love her.That’s why you saw us kissing.”He glances at me with a tender expression.My eyes grow wide from his admission.But I set it aside for now as he continues.I watch the Adam’s apple in his throat bob up and down as he swallows.“We liked each other a lot a long time ago, and that’s why you were born.”
I mean, it’s not exactly the full birds and bees explanation, but at least it gets the point across to a five-year-old as to how she came into being.There is truth there.
“Do you understand what Dane means?”I ask, searching her face to see if she is grasping this explanation.
She nods but purses her lips in consideration.“But how come I didn’t know Ax” —hesitates for a moment and then floors me when she changes the name—“I mean Daddy, before?Why doesn’t helivewith us like Elise’s daddy does?”
Oof.That’s the million-dollar question.
Okay, I’m prepared for this.Aren’t I?I’ve thought long and hard on how I’d answer this in a way a little girl could comprehend.
“It’s complicated,” Dane and I both say at the same time.We laugh, and it eases the tension as he gestures for me to continue.
“Baby, when you were growing in Mommy’s tummy, Dane—your daddy—was far, far away.He didn’t know I was pregnant with you.And he didn’t know when you were born.”
Lenni jumps in excitedly to add her take.“But Ax is here now and that’s why he can be my daddy now?”
My eyes connect with Dane’s, and I see a certainty and commitment reflecting back at me.I know unequivocally that this is the right thing to do.
He deserves the chance to be involved in his daughter’s life, and Lenni deserves to have a dad who loves her, will protect her and be there for her as she grows, even when and if he doesn’t live in the same city as she does.
My heart swells with love for the future these two will share together.
“I would love to be your daddy, Lulu Lennon,” Dane says, wearing his heart on his sleeve as he stares at his little girl with tears in his own eyes.He extends his arms, and in a flash, Lenni jumps into his embrace, throwing her arms around his neck.
“Do you love me, Daddy?”
Dane lets out a booming laugh and falls backward onto the floor with Lenni on top of him.He tickles her ribs, and she squirms and giggles while my heart explodes with love for them both.
“I love you, my daughter,” Dane whispers into her ear, hugging her to his chest.And then he pins me with his gaze.“And I love your mom too, very much.”
“Fowever and always,” his daughter replies, and I can’t help it.The tears come hard and fast.
She pushes up from Dane’s chest and stands, taking the two steps toward me.She reaches up on tiptoes to cup my face in her hands, and gives me the most earnest look I’ve ever seen.
“It’s okay, Mama.I still love you too, fowever and always.”
Forever and always.
EPILOGUE
Dane – 1 Year Later
“Daddy’s home!Daddy’s home!”
