by Lara Swann
Oh, wow. Yeah, this guy is living proof that life is unfair. How one guy sucked up all the gorgeous-golden-boy-genes for miles around, I don’t know…
“Thanks for this, Kelsey. I had no idea this one would be with you for so long - I do hope she hasn’t been bothering you.”
“No, not at all.” I smile back easily. “We’ve had ourselves a very nice painting party, haven’t we, Maya?”
“Yepp!” She enthuses again. “Daddy, look!”
He chuckles, turning from me to see what Maya has been doing all afternoon - and I watch his eyebrows rise in surprise.
“Hey, this is amazing, Maya.” He says, looking at the two paintings she’s holding up to him and ruffling the top of her head, which earns him a brief scowl. “I had no idea you were so good at that.”
“Kelsey showed me.” She says proudly, and I can’t help smiling at the interaction.
“Well, thank you again to Kelsey.” He says to her, but his eyes flick to mine again, and there’s something about the warmth there…
No. Not going there, remember? He’s beautiful eye-candy, sure, just so long as you don’t let it distract you.
“It was no problem - really.”
“She’s not a fairy, Daddy.” Maya says, her tone matter-of-fact as Liam gives me a slightly worried glance. “But that’s okay. She knows the fairies.”
“I hope you haven’t been asking any difficult questions, Maya.”
He glances between the two of us, his expression apologetic when it falls on me.
“I just asked about the fairies…” Maya says, folding her arms and frowning with a slight sulk.
“It’s fine.” I give him a reassuring smile. “I don’t mind. I like talking about fairies.”
“See, Daddy?”
He runs a hand through his hair, looking between us again with that mix of exasperation and uncertainty that I recognize easily.
“Okay, okay Maya.” He looks back toward me, the little helpless smile he offers with a shrug making my stomach flip again. “Well, thank you again, Kelsey. You’ve obviously made my daughter’s day - but we’ll get out of your hair now, won’t we Maya?”
“But—”
“Dinner’s almost ready, sweetie.” He says gently.
“But…I haven’t finished my painting.”
The disappointment in her voice is obvious, and I find it tugging at me.
“Well, how about I keep it here for you, with all the paints, and you can come back to finish it some other time?” I offer automatically.
It’s what I’d do for Katy or Lily, after all.
“You don’t have to—” Liam starts, but I shake my head.
“I want to.” I insist, meeting his gaze. “We had fun today - I’ve got no problem doing it again sometime, if Maya wants to and you’re okay with it.”
I give Maya a smile - and I’m surprised when she launches herself from the chair and throws her arms around my neck. I laugh a little, surprised, but I wrap my arms around her too and give her the hug I’ve been half-tempted to all afternoon, squeezing tight before letting her go.
“Thank you, Kelsey!” Maya grins at me, then looks up at Liam as she steps back. “I love painting!”
She announces it with such complete sincerity that I can’t help feeling that deep warmth again, especially when I think about her original uncertainty. I’m starting to think that - despite Liam’s devastating smile-and-sparkling-eyes combo - it might be his daughter who really got the charm in the family.
“Good.” I say, grinning at her. “Me too.”
Liam looks between both of us for a moment and I can’t quite read his expression but he eventually chuckles and shakes his head.
“Well Maya, if you’ve been making friends, then you’re doing a better job than me so far.” He glances at me. “I’ve got no problem with Maya coming over here if she doesn’t bother you with it - but if you want some peace and quiet, do feel free to say no. She can be a little…over-enthusiastic…sometimes.”
“Hey!” Maya frowns at him, obviously picking up on the tone of the comment, even though it’s clear from her expression she can’t quite figure it out.
“Enthusiasm is good by me.” I reassure them, then hand Maya her first painting.
“Do you want to take this one with you now?”
She nods.
“Okay, say thank you to Kelsey, sweetie, and then we’ll go and have dinner.”
“Thank you, Kelsey!” She parrots, grinning at me.
“Thank you too, Maya.” I say, meaning it.
I’ve had a delightful afternoon.
“Well, I’m sure we’ll see you around.” Liam smiles at me, but there’s an edge of uncertainty in it this time, which only piques my curiosity some more.
He’s an interesting guy, I can’t help thinking as he leads his daughter - firmly clutching her painting - back into their house.
In fact, I’d say I don’t know anyone else quite like him. Sweetness and charm, muscles sharp enough to feel dangerous - and that occasional hint that there’s something else going on there, underneath the charm and ease.
I wonder at that casual comment about making friends, too. Ashton is a friendly place and he’s been here three weeks…I can’t imagine he hasn’t been invited to a dozen events already.
As I watch them walk back, my eyes catch on the limp Elizabeth mentioned this morning. It’s subtle, barely there - just a slight rolling of his gait - but once I notice that, it’s impossible not to see.
Despite all my attempts to resist it, I can’t help the curiosity that grows within me, lurking at the periphery of my awareness.
Just who is the man that moved in next door with his adorable little girl? What’s his story?
Chapter Five
Liam
“I’m sorry, little monkey.” I say, as we flop down onto the couch together.
“I’m not a monkey!” She giggles. “I’m a princess!”
“You were a monkey today.” I tell her. “Climbing all those trees and scaring your Daddy half to death.”
She shakes her head. “You weren’t scared. You’re never scared, Daddy. And you climbed them too, monkey!”
I grin at her, gathering her up in my arms and planting a kiss on her forehead, which she promptly wipes away with a screwed up face.
“I love you, little girl.”
“I love you too, Daddy.” She says, then leans back and lets out a big breath. “That was a long adventure.”
She looks exhausted, and I’m not surprised. We walked a long way before she finally gave up and accepted that we weren’t going to find it. I was even a little concerned we wouldn’t find our way back, with how far off the established routes we’d wandered, but luckily once she did get too tired to continue, it didn’t take too long to get back.
Going hiking with an excitable, distractible eight-year-old is a bit of a challenge, but mostly a fun one. Hiking back again with an exhausted, grumpy eight-year-old is another thing entirely. I was glad I’d managed to subtly direct us around in a circle while she insisted we keep going just a little further, just in case.
I chuckle. “I’m sorry we didn’t find a fairy pond.”
After spending yesterday afternoon with our new next door neighbor, all she talked about for the rest of the evening was Kelsey and her magical fairy pond - so I wasn’t too surprised when she woke up at the crack of dawn insisting that what we do today was go hiking in the woods to look for it. I should probably thank Kelsey for that, actually - anytime that sort of activity is Maya’s suggestion and not mine, that counts as a win in my book.
That sort of thing is exactly why I wanted to move up here - and if I could, I’d spend far more of my time hiking and camping and exploring everything Oregon has to offer.
Eventually. You’ll get settled. Everything won’t seem so new and different forever.
“That’s okay, Daddy.” Maya says easily. “I knew we wouldn’t find it.”
“Oh really?” I
ask her, one eyebrow raised as I start lightly tickling her sides. “That’s not what you were saying earlier.”
I don’t think I’ve ever seen Maya so determined. She’s always had an impressive focus when she wants to, but this morning…that was a girl on a mission, as deadly serious about finding that fairy pond as I’ve ever been about the missions I faced. Made me think that maybe she takes after me more than I think.
“It’s a secret.” She says importantly, her attitude only slightly disrupted as I increase the tickling, making her wriggle a little as she tries valiantly to continue what she’s saying. “We need—Kelsey—to show us—Daddy—Daddy—stop!”
She giggles, squirming and pushing at my arms as the conversation about the fairy pond dissolves into a tickle fight, ending with both of us laughing on the floor.
“Daaaddy.” She says, in the sort of exasperated voice that no eight-year-old has any right to. Then again, she probably picked it up from me. “I hate it when you tickle me.”
“Uhuh?” I ask, grinning. “Didn’t seem like it…in fact…you seemed to be laughing to me…”
I reach my hands forward threateningly and she shrieks and jumps off the floor, running around behind the table. I laugh, grinning at her as I sit up.
“Okay, little princess.” I say. “What do you want for lunch?”
“Cupcakes!”
I laugh, shaking my head. “You have too many of those as it is - I’m surprised you’re not bored of them by now.”
She gasps. “I’ll never get bored of cupcakes.”
“Maybe not - but lunch food. Sandwiches, soup, salad—”
“I hate salad.” She wrinkles her nose, and I laugh.
“I make good salad.” I tell her, and she shakes her head almost violently.
“No you don’t.”
“You wouldn’t know - you’ve never tried it.”
“Because it’s yucky.”
I shake my head. I don’t know why I keep forgetting how impossible it is to try to argue with an eight-year-old. It always ends the same way.
“Okay, so not salad.”
“Hot dogs?” She suggests, her eyes big and wide. “It’s hot outside!”
My stomach rumbles at the thought. Okay, maybe we have a few things in common. I’ll generally eat most things - I’ve always enjoyed experimenting in the kitchen - but sometimes, you just can’t beat pure comfort food. I have no idea how Maya manages to be so thin and waif-like with the food preferences she has, but maybe all that excess energy and running around makes up for it. And the fact that for all her initial enthusiasm, she rarely finishes more than half of what she chooses to eat.
“Okay.” I relent. “But you’re going to have to eat two pieces of fruit as well.”
I do try, at least.
“Okay.” Maya looks at me as if I’m being silly. “I like fruit, Daddy.”
Oh, it’s one of those days, is it.
Whether she likes fruit or not varies seemingly hour-by-hour.
I don’t have a grill set up outside yet, so I make them in the kitchen, but Maya is excited enough not to mind any of that. I fix us a salad anyway - I want some - and get out all the sauces as she goes back to talking about the fairy pond again.
“We have to go with Kelsey, Daddy. She knows where it is.”
“Okay, sweetie, but Kelsey might not want to—”
“She does! She told me. Will you ask her? Will you?”
I look at the excitement on her face and give in.
“Okay, Maya, I’ll try to work something out. If she’s busy, though, maybe she can just tell me where it is.”
Maya frowns. “I don’t know, Daddy. It’s a secret. And the fairies might not let us in if she’s not there.”
“Okay.” I relent. “I’ll ask her. But you have to be patient.”
I tap her nose and she giggles as she takes the plate from me and sits down.
“I am patient.” She announces, ignoring all evidence to the contrary.
“Mm.” I make a non-committal noise and we start eating.
That brings the discussion about the fairy pond to a natural close, and I try not to linger too much on Maya’s insistence on asking Kelsey to come hiking with us. The way she hugged Kelsey yesterday has stuck with me - clinging on tightly like that - and I can’t help wondering what might be behind it. Sure, from everything she’s said, it could easily be all about the fairy thing, but…
I can’t remember the last time she hugged anyone like that, apart from me.
Especially not a woman. Not even her Mom, the last few times they spent together.
It took me by surprise, and though I can’t quite say why, it was a little unsettling. Maybe it’s the idea that she’s looking for something else, something more than me.
A woman, maybe.
It’s something I try not to think about, but I’ve wondered the same myself. Does she need a female influence in her life? Am I enough? God knows, I’ve done enough research, but…it’s still not quite the same.
What if she’s come to the conclusion that I’ve been avoiding, subconsciously?
What does that mean for me? For us? Do I need to make an effort to make some female friends? Get to know some other Moms, maybe? Introduce more people into her life?
“I like Kelsey.” Maya says, the comment startling me out of my thoughts - and hitting eerily close to what I’d been dwelling on.
Her hot-dog is half finished and it looks like she’s starting to struggle with it, the initial excited sounds giving way to big, satisfied sighs and slightly full groans.
“It sounds like you had a really good time yesterday.” I say, smiling gently.
Maya nods. “She’s really nice.”
“Yeah, it seems like it.” I agree.
The fact she spent her afternoon indulging my little girl is more than enough for me to agree with that - and still feel grateful to her. Grateful, and a little awkward. I have no idea what she thought about it - I mean, Maya is my daughter. I should have been entertaining her, really, but I had no idea opening a cupcake store could be so complicated. All the paperwork involved, just…gah. The baking, I can do, but paperwork has always been my downfall.
I just need a bit of time to get used to it - to sort everything out, work out what’s going on and create a system. Then I’ll have more time. Probably. I hope everything they say about small business owners working all hours isn’t entirely true.
“Looks like we lucked out with our next door neighbor, huh?” I offer, and Maya grins again.
“Yep! This is a great adventure, Daddy.”
The glow in her expression is enough to melt my heart - and make all those little back-of-the-mind worries fade for a time. That’s all that really matters - that Maya is happy. And if spending some time with Kelsey is part of the reason she’s happy to be here, who am I to question it too much?
“Well, if she invites you over there again - to do more painting or something - then you can go ahead, sweetie. She seems like a nice woman—”
“Yaaaay, thank you Daddy!” Maya grins at me, and I know I have no chance of resisting that excited little face.
“Only if she suggests it, though - and you have to be good for me—”
“I’m always good—”
“And if she’s too busy, that’s okay too, alright?” I continue, ignoring that comment. “Don’t forget, grown ups are very busy and need time to themselves, too.”
She deflates a little bit, but nods anyway. “Okay, Daddy.”
“Good.” I smile at her, feeling slightly better for having addressed her sudden interest in our next door neighbor.
Better this way, than Maya going over there and badgering the poor woman until she gives in. At least so far, Kelsey seems to be totally easy-going about the whole thing - and Maya hasn’t done anything too outrageous. As far as I can tell, she kept the marriage questions for me.
Let’s just hope it stays that way.
I push that thought out of my mind
as I finish my hot dog.
“But today is all about you and me, okay? We’ve got all day to spend together.” I say, with a big grin at Maya, hoping that might set the topic of Kelsey to the side for now. “So what do you want to do this afternoon, sweetie? We could go to the park, or if you’re tired out we could curl up together on the couch and watch a movie—”
A shrill shriek from outside cuts me off and I’m on my feet and halfway to the door, my heart pounding, before Maya has done more than turn around wide-eyed.
“Daddy?”
She doesn’t get out more than that before I push the back door open and step out into the yard, my head swiveling around and scanning the area before the rest of the noise hits me.
“You did it! You did it!”
“Aaaand she breaks the record - the new champion, Katy Adamson!”
The shrieking continues, but now that I can hear the giggles and whooping too, my brain finally manages to parse it as excited and not terrified. I glance over to the backyard next to mine, the inevitable source of the noise and see Kelsey high-fiving a little girl, as a second girl runs up and squeezes the first. She overbalances and they collapse onto the floor, laughing and shrieking as Kelsey looks on with a grin.
It’s not until I walk toward them, curiosity getting the better of me - and that edge of adrenaline not quite faded - that she finally notices me.
“Oh.” She flashes a sheepish grin in my direction. “Sorry, sorry, I hope we didn’t disturb you with all the noise. I’m not used to having a next-door neighbor to think about anymore. Girls - quiet down a bit, okay?”
“No, no, it’s fine.” I shake my head, smiling ruefully at my own over-reaction as she comes over toward the fence. “I wasn’t sure what was going on, that’s all - thought you might have seen a snake, or something.”
That’s not exactly what I thought - moments like that, thinking isn’t exactly what I’m doing - but it’s probably the only reasonable explanation for me rushing out here all gung-ho.
“Aww, and you were going to come dashing to my rescue? That is sweet.” She says, her eyes warm and twinkling as she looks around. “Maybe I should go hunting for some snakes, make it worth your while…”
