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Despite my misgivings, my heart pulsed with feeling for this man.
I placed the lid back on the box of chocolates and carried them into the kitchen, not wanting to leave them in the same room as Emma just in case she was feeling in an explorative kind of mood. That was the kind of sugar rush that would ultimately turn into a tummy ache with her. She had a sweet tooth just like me. In fact, it was probably worse.
With the taste of strawberry still fresh on my tongue, I started to clean. His place wasn’t especially dirty, but I put my all into it anyway. I wanted to make sure to keep him happy because it was an easy job that paid decently well, especially with his extra tip last time. It took me a few hours to complete the job, but by the time I was done I was really happy with how it turned out. I ate a few more chocolates from the box during the day, simply because they were so good that I couldn’t resist any longer.
Every bite reminded me of him.
Before I left, I found a note pad and wrote him a thank you note for the gifts. I struggled for several moments, not knowing if I should say anything else that might lean on the more romantic side. Eventually, I decided to keep it professional even though I wanted to say so much more.
I didn’t want to rush anything, especially if there wasn’t anything there at all.
I hoped that wasn’t the case though.
I gathered up the trash and carried it downstairs. I found the dumpster with ease and tossed it inside before heading back up to get Emma. The two of us walked home together, her still enamored with her new doll and my head swirling with thoughts of the man that had seemingly captured my full attention when I wasn’t even looking.
Irma was at the counter, and she couldn’t hide even the slightest bit of her curiosity.
“You look like you had a nice day,” she began, unable to help herself.
“Kieran left me some chocolates,” I murmured.
“Look, Irma! He got me a Cinderella doll!” Emma exclaimed, while holding it up for the woman to see.
“Wow! So pretty!” Irma smiled. “You’ll have to make sure to bring her for our sleepover tomorrow.”
“I will! Are we still making cookies tomorrow?” Emma asked quickly.
“Of course!”
“Can we make peanut butter chocolate chip ones?”
“Is that what kind you want?” Irma’s eyes danced.
“Yes! I love peanut butter,” Emma smiled.
“Good. Me too. I’ve got the perfect recipe,” Irma told her. “And you,” she said while pointing to me, “have you come up with something to do tomorrow?”
“I’ve got a few ideas,” I began.
“Might they be at Murphy’s pub?” she pressed. Her excitement was really refreshing.
“Maybe,” I blushed.
“That sounds like a solid plan to me,” she chuckled.
Another customer came in and I nodded my goodbye. I pushed the stroller to the back of the shop and tucked it away before heading upstairs. I heated up some leftovers for the two of us and went through our usual evening routine. The two of us watched a movie together. Then I set up her bath and read her a story at bedtime.
I had to work at the pub that night, so I set up the baby monitor once she was fast asleep and headed out to work. Sean was in a good mood that night and the bar kept me busy. Earlier in the week, he’d gone out of his way to apologize for being grumpy the other night and that if anything ever happened like that again that he’d handle the crowd on his own. It put me more at ease than ever.
I was happy I’d found my way to here. Boston was really starting to treat me well and that gave me hope that I could make a permanent home here. In the back of my mind, I still worried about Trevor finding me, but I pushed that fear aside and focused on the present.
“Pint of Guinness,” a man called out down the bar.
“I got you,” I yelled out with a grin.
I could get used to this new life.
* * *
