AllFreeNovel
Share Us
A warm feeling envelops me as I gaze down at Marlow and Lola together.
On my way home, I imagined every worst-case scenario. Nothing could have prepared me for the reality—finding my daughter snuggled safely in Marlow’s arms.
Like she can sense someone is in the room, Marlow opens her eyes, giving me a sleepy smile when she sees me standing by the bed. But her expression quickly morphs into panic when she becomes more alert.
I press my finger to my lips, gesturing to Lola, who remains sound asleep. Marlow nods in understanding and slips out of the bed, tucking the blanket around Lola and Waffles. She follows me into the hall, closing the door behind her.
When she faces me, her chin is trembling. “Dylan, I’m so sorry,” she utters.
I’m not sure she even knows why she’s apologizing. She just assumes I’m upset with her.
“I was in meetings when you called earlier. I tried calling back, but you didn’t answer,” I say in a low voice so I don’t wake Lola.
“I must have left my phone downstairs… Oh god, it’s a disaster down there,” she says with a mortified expression. “I swear I’ll clean up before I leave.”
“It’s okay.” I place my hand on her arm, rubbing gently to reassure her. “I called the doctor’s office on my way home, and the nurse filled me in. How was Lola before she fell asleep?”
“We stopped to get soup, popsicles, and Pedialyte on our way home, and she was exhausted by the time we got back. She refused the soup, but I persuaded her to have a popsicle and sip on some Pedialyte while watching an episode of Bluey. After that, I took her upstairs for a nap. She wanted to sleep in your room and begged me to lie down with her.” Marlow nervously tucks a piece of hair behind her ear. “I must have fallen asleep shortly after she did. I am sorry I missed your phone calls. You must have been worried sick.”
“Waffles looked like he was rather enjoying my memory foam pillow,” I say, half-kidding, nodding toward my bedroom.
Mental note: Wash my sheets and throw out my pillow.
Marlow gives me a guilty look. “Lola begged me to bring him over, and I didn’t have the heart to tell her no.” She drops her gaze to the floor, refusing to look at me.
Given my past reactions it’s no wonder that she’s concerned I’ll be upset. I’ve been harsh with her in the past, getting upset over minor issues, and leading her to expect it as the norm. While I can’t erase the past, I’m determined to treat her with the respect she deserves from now on.
She handled today’s events admirably, and if the roles were reversed, I doubt I would have been as understanding, taking care of a sick child and unable to reach her dad.
I step forward and lift her chin with my hand. Her tear-filled eyes meet mine. “Please don’t cry, sunshine.” I wipe away a stray tear with my thumb.
To say I don’t like seeing her sad is an understatement. I have an urgent need to fix the situation, but unlike Marlow, I don’t have a manual handy with a section on “How to Console a Beautiful Crying Woman.”
Acting on impulse, I pull her in for a hug with one arm wrapped around her shoulders, holding her tight, and the other cradling the back of her head. She tenses at the unexpected gesture but relaxes into my embrace, circling her arms around my waist and resting her head against my chest. It feels inherently right to have her so close, but I’m not prepared to unpack those emotions right now.
“I was so scared,” Marlow whispers. “Lola was burning with fever, and I wasn’t sure what to do. I couldn’t reach you, and your mom’s phone went straight to voicemail. Thank goodness for that ridiculous binder of yours, or I probably would have called an ambulance.” She takes a slow, deliberate breath. “Are you sure you’re not upset?” she asks in a strained voice.
“I’m sure,” I say, as I rub small circles on her back.
The lingering unease I experienced on my way back from New York has dissipated entirely, allowing me to see things with a newfound clarity.
“Thank you.” I lean back to meet her gaze. “I’m glad you were with Lola today. She’s fortunate to have you in her life.”
Marlow squints at me with suspicion. “Okay, who are you, and what have you done with Dylan Stafford?” she playfully demands.
“What if I said you make me want to be a better person?”
I rush to judgment more often than not, and Marlow doesn’t deserve that kind of treatment. I’m a cynical son-of-a-bitch with exacting standards and view the world through a critical lens. Whereas she is sunshine personified. An eternal optimist who brightens any room she walks into. When I’m with her, my surroundings appear sunnier, inspiring me to see things in a more positive light.
A comfortable silence settles in as I wrap my arms tighter around her. She hasn’t made a move to leave my embrace, and I take the moment to appreciate having her this close.
“I have a confession,” I say softly.
“What is it?” Marlow looks up at me.
“Lola isn’t the only one I missed while I was gone.”
“She’s not?” Her eyes widen at my admission.
