AllFreeNovel
Share Us
"Good morning," I greeted. "Go brush and bathe. We have to go pick up Chloe."
"Remind me who's birthday it is again?" He raised a brow.
I frowned at him and he sighed in defeat.
"Fine, I'm going, yeesh," he turned and made his way upstairs while grumbling.
I felt like a mom again. But this time, with a… Dad…
I shook off the thought.
No negative feelings today. I just want to make Chloe's day, I kept reminding myself.
I went to my room and looked for the dress I had bought for her as a gift. It was a little yellow sundress and a cute hat with a sunflower print. I thought it would look good on her. At the same time, I wondered if it was an appropriate gift.
She was not my daughter. Are strangers allowed to buy dresses for kids? I was worried that she wouldn't like them.
"Stop the negative thoughts," I said to myself and got ready to have my bath.
When I was done, I switched into a dress that would be easy to move around in. I went downstairs and found Ben seated on the couch watching TV while waiting for me.
The picnic baskets I had made were no longer in the kitchen. I assumed he had taken them out. He turned to look at me. He was wearing a short-sleeved shirt that hugged his arms perfectly. Three of the buttons were undone, revealing a white inner shirt.
"We're going to a park," I reminded him.
He pointed at his legs and showed off his shorts. "I hope there aren't any mosquitos?"
"Doubt," I replied then handed him the bag with the dress I had gotten for Chloe. "You can give this to her. I'll wait at the park."
"No," he returned the bag. "You'll come with me and we'll pick her up together."
"Won't I be a bother? I don't want your mother getting bad ideas… I mean I did give her the wrong impression the first time we met." I explained.
"I'm sure you're the only one who's actually bothered about it," he said. "Let's go pick her up."
****
As we arrived at his mother's place, I grew nervous. I know we weren't official, but it still felt like he was introducing me to his mother. Chloe was already waiting for us holding her teddy bear along with her grandmother.
"Miss Olivia!" Chloe yelled as she ran to embrace me.
"I'm jealous," Ben pouted.
"Hi, Daddy," Chloe smiled at him and embraced his leg while he rubbed her hair.
Do I give it to her? I held the bag nervously, trying to figure out the perfect moment to give her the gift.
"Olivia has something for you," Ben said then turned to me. "Stop being nervous, she doesn't bite."
I swallowed and gave her the bag. I muttered, "Happy birthday, Chloe."
"Thank you!" she said sweetly and looked at her father for permission. He nodded, before she opened the bag and took out the dress. "Wowww!"
As she showed that she loved it, butterflies danced in my stomach.
"Thank you, Miss Olivia," she said as she hugged the dress, causing my heart to melt.
I could see my daughter doing the same thing.
