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“Daddy!”he wails.
Startled, I let him go and he tumbles over, crying.
“TJ!” Theo jogs my way, looking concerned.
“Mr. Markham, it’s me, Bernadette, we met—”
“I know, hon. It’s fine.” He bends to inspect TJ, but his daughter starts crying, too.
“I can take her.” I reach for the toddler.
“Thanks.” He hands her to me and picks up his son, who isn’t really hurt.
He’s wearing a helmet, elbow pads, and knee pads.
“Theo Markham Jr., you’re fine. Uppie.” He lifts the boy.
“I’m sorry.” I rock the baby. “I think I startled him.”
“He’s still getting used to this thing.”
“What’s going on?” Victoria comes out, wrapping a sweater around her shoulders. “I heard Theo yell.”
I swing around, holding her daughter. “TJ took a minor fall from his scooter.”
“I see you met my son and Rosie.” Victoria smiles at the little girl in my arms.
“Hi, Rosie,” I coo to her. “What a pretty name.”
The cute little girl with her daddy’s dark hair reaches for her mommy.
“She needs her nap.” Victoria presses her cheek against her daughter’s and after a kiss, she hands Rosie back to Theo.
“See you at home.” He kisses his wife, and the little girl touches his cheek at the same time.
It’s a heartwarming scene of a happy family. I can’t help wondering how it would work with three daddies.
It’s something Stella will face. Last I heard, they’re not doing a paternity test. She doesn’t know who the biological father is. She considers themallthe father. And they don’t want to know either.
They’re a family. My heart aches, but I think about Ford, Emery, and Ashton. They may share women to fuck, but I can’t see them wanting children with me and not know who the father is.
Emery has a daughter. That wouldn’t be fair to Jess.
“Nice seeing you again, Bernadette, and thank you.” Theo turns and walks down the street, TJ back on the scooter like nothing happened.
“Ready to see your dresses?” Victoria knocks me out of my thoughts.
“Yes. I’d still like to pay you.”
“Nope.” She shakes her head. “You’re a colleague. We help each other out. That app you showed me is gold. Are you sure I can’t persuade you to design for me? We can do a plus-size line for next Spring.” Her offer floors me.
“I really appreciate you wanting me, but I committed to Stella. She left a spot open for me. That’s why I feel so sick. That I was so careless with my designs.”
And dumb for trusting Michael.
“I have faith that Ford will get them back for you.”She puts her arm around me. “You can freelance, you know? License that set to her and then create a new collection for me.”
“I’m creatively blocked right now.” A pit forms in my stomach. “I’m so stressed, I can’t even draw.”
