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Her comment reminds me of the painting Dylan bought at my art exhibition. He still hasn’t seen it, but it would be a wonderful surprise if it arrived in time for Lola’s play.
The piece would be the perfect addition to his living room, bringing a touch of color to the space. I don’t miss the irony of shipping the painting to The Artist only for Gavin to have to ship it back to Aspen Grove.
“Daddy, can you help me practice being a daisy?” Lola asks Dylan.
“Absolutely, but considering Marlow’s expertise in flowers, I think it would be a fantastic idea to involve her, don’t you agree?”
“Yes,” Lola shouts for joy. “I can’t wait.”
I offer Dylan a smile of appreciation for including me in this. Since our relationship is new, I’m letting him decide how much time I spend with him and Lola, especially since we’re holding off on telling her we’re seeing each other.
Dylan’s phone buzzes in his pocket, and a serious look crosses his face when he checks the notification.
“Lola, it’s time to go,” he announces. “Nana and Gramps are waiting for you at our place.”
Who are Nana and Gramps?
Lola calls Dylan’s mom and dad Gigi and Papa, so I know he has to be referring to someone else.
“I can’t wait to see them.” Lola runs to the front door and races outside toward her house. Fortunately, I catch hold of Waffles before he can follow her.
“Wait for me, ladybug,” Dylan hollers as he chases after Lola. “I’ll be right back,” he calls over his shoulder before shutting the door behind him.
I’m left standing alone in my kitchen, trying to make sense of what just happened. Dylan hadn’t said he was expecting any visitors today, but then again, we haven’t had a chance to catch up since he got back.
My curiosity gets the best of me, leading me to peek out the window in my living room.
A couple, who appear close to Dylan’s parents’ age, are standing in his driveway. They warmly embrace Lola, and as they talk with Dylan, his posture becomes noticeably rigid when the woman gives his arm a squeeze.
Lola hops into the backseat of the car, and Dylan buckles her in while the couple gets into the front seat. They must have had a booster seat installed already because Dylan wouldn’t let her go without one. Once he’s finished, he closes the car door and waves goodbye as they drive away. I wonder where they’re taking Lola.
When Dylan heads back toward my house, I rush over to the couch and plop down. I don’t want him to think I was intruding by watching his interaction with them.
He knocks once before coming inside.
“I’m in the living room,” I call out.
He walks in and takes a seat on the couch next to me.
“I’m assuming you watched from the window?” he asks with a hint of amusement.
“Maybe.” I shrug. “You ran out of here without an explanation, and I was curious about who those people were.”
“They are Maddie’s parents,” he explains. “I forgot to tell you earlier that they were stopping by tonight to take Lola out for a few hours.”
”Do they live around here?”
He shakes his head. “No. They moved to Michigan after she graduated from high school. They fly in every three months to visit friends and now to see Lola. They usually take her out to dinner and a movie.”
I give him a puzzled look. “I didn’t think Maddie was in Lola’s life.”
“She’s not,” he says quickly.
“I don’t understand.”
He scoots closer until our legs are touching and looks me in the eye. “Maddie was inconsolable when we found out she was pregnant with Lola. She said she wanted to have the baby, but when Lola was born, she withdrew completely.” His voice lowers as he continues. “I came home from work one night to find Maddie waiting for me with her packed suitcases by the front door of our apartment. She said that after several conversations with her parents and therapist, she decided that she needed a fresh start that didn’t include me or Lola. That’s the last time we saw her.”
I can’t imagine what that must have been like for him. One day thinking they were a happy family, and the next, he was navigating the challenges of being a single dad.
