AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Lola, why don’t you and Waffles head into the bathroom?” Dylan suggests. “I’ll be there in a minute to help get you washed up.”
“Okay, Daddy. I love you, Marlow.” Lola waves goodbye.
“I love you too, lolabug,” I call out after her with misty eyes.
Once she and Waffles have left the room, Dylan turns the camera back to himself, his face etched with concern as if he can read my mind.
“Should I come home early?” I blurt out. “I shouldn’t have left you alone with Lola and Waffles, especially considering how busy work is for you.”
Stafford Holdings began construction on the Vanburen development, so Dylan has been putting in long hours.
He’s been working from home more frequently, and his parents have been watching Lola in the mornings and afternoons until I get back. They’ve been equally supportive as Dylan, and I couldn’t be more grateful.
“Sweetheart, I’m fine,” he reassures me. “I will hold the fort down until you’re back. I promise.”
“But what about the mess?” I point to the glitter-covered portion of Lola’s room.
“It’s just glitter. I’ve had plenty of experience cleaning up messes. I’ll survive this one,” he says with a chuckle. “You need to stay and learn as much as you can, because when you get back, I can’t promise that I’ll ever let you go again.”
I hope he never does.
How did I get so lucky to find someone so remarkable? His caring nature, thoughtfulness, and unwavering support for my dreams is beyond compare.
“Daddy, Waffles got soap all over his head,” Lola cries from the bathroom.
“Oh dear, you better go,” I hurry out. “I love you, Dylan.”
“I love you too, sunshine.”
After he ends the call, I’m hit with a wave of nostalgia. I want to be there to help clean up all the messes, to watch Waffles and Lola chase each other around the kitchen before dinner, and curl up next to Dylan as he reads to Lola before bed. It’s the little moments that I miss the most, and I can’t wait for the day I’m able to be a part of them again.
36
MARLOW
“HEY, DYLAN, IT’S ME AGAIN. Please call me back as soon as you can.” I hang up, anxiously tapping my finger against my lips as I walk down the street toward my apartment.
I’ve been a nervous wreck all day. Dylan sends me a text when he wakes up every morning, and we usually squeeze in a video chat before he starts work. However, he hasn’t reached out today, and I’m worried something happened to him or Lola.
I tried checking in with Johanna, but she hasn’t responded to my messages either.
If anyone in Aspen Grove has any information, it would be Quinn.
“Hey, stranger,” she answers in a singsong voice. “Only one more week. God, it feels like you’ve been gone for ages. Andi and I can’t wait until you’re back. Brunch isn’t the same without you.”
“Have you seen Dylan or Lola?” I cut right to the chase, tightening my grip on my floral tote.
“Marlow, what’s wrong? You sound upset.”
“I haven’t been able to reach Dylan or his mom, and I’m worried something is wrong.” I dodge a passerby who’s jogging past me, barely missing hitting him with the canvas tucked under my arm. “Have you heard any news?”
“Johanna stopped by Brush & Palette on her way to Brew Haven this morning, but everything seemed fine.”
My shoulders slump forward, and I let out a sigh.
“Okay, well if you—” I stop when I hear a child’s voice calling my name. When I hear it again, I turn around, and sure enough, Lola’s bounding down the street toward me. Pigtails flying. She’s a ray of sunshine in a bright yellow jumper with a short-sleeved white shirt underneath and silver sneakers that match mine.
“Marlow, are you there? Please tell me your surprise finally arrived,” Quinn says, full of excitement.
