His words touched me, and even though I wanted his hands to be touching me too, this was a moment to cherish. He wanted me, really wanted me. He didn’t just want to be the guy who shared my bed when we both needed release, he wanted to be mine.
“I’m sorry. I would have loved for you to have come with me.”
Elliot’s lips curled into a sly smile. “Plenty of time for that tonight.”
Laughing, I rolled my eyes at him, sure I was grinning like an idiot.
Now for both of us to try to keep it together.
Chapter Twenty-Five
In the morning, I looked down at my phone as it vibrated in my hand. I hadn’t heard from Nicola since the wedding, but she must have spoken to Dad.
I really need to talk to you. Are you at home today?
Sighing, I tapped back. Everything’s fine. Don’t worry about it.
Elliot and I were serious, and all was good with the world. As much as I knew Nicola and I needed to talk, I really didn’t know if I could deal with this right now.
Tell me when you’re home and I’ll come over. I really do need to talk.
Okay, whatever.
I’ll be home after lunch I think. I’ll text you.
Elliot had gone home in the night to make sure Ruby was okay and brought her back over now. She was warmer this time, more familiar with her surroundings.
“Do you want to go shopping today?” I asked her.
The plait in her hair went flying as she nodded. It was scruffy, and at best guess I’d say Elliot was responsible.
“Want me to tidy up your plait?”
She grinned. “Elliot did it.”
“I can see.”
We shared a look that exasperated Elliot, judging by the sighing sound he’d made. “I tried my best. I never plaited a girl’s hair before and Ruby specifically asked for it.”
I laughed, rubbing his shoulder. “You didn’t do too badly. I’ll just tidy it up.”
“Girls.” He grumped, but the grin on his face told a different story.
“You love it,” I said.
Steering Ruby to the couch, I sat her down with her back to me. Elliot hadn’t done too bad a job, but the plaits were uneven with wisps of hair sticking out.
“Your dad didn’t do too bad a job, really.”
“My mummy does it better.”
I opened my mouth to say something, maybe divert the conversation to something else, but the words caught in my throat. As I met Elliot’s eye, he seemed to be struggling too.
“I bet. Let’s see if I can get it almost as good as her.” My voice was croaky, but at least the words came out.
Ruby seemed happy, sitting still as I tidied her hair and bouncing up as soon as I patted her shoulder to let her know she was done. She studied her reflection in the television.
“That’s how you do it,” she said to Elliot, completely deadpan.
And with that little comment, the tension broke and he smiled. Somehow we would all get through this. We’d keep the memory of Ruby’s mother alive while creating new memories.
* * *
Ruby’s eyes were like dinner plates as we made our way around the shopping mall. There was nothing like this in the small town she’d come from, and there were so many different clothing shops, we could try on a whole bunch of stuff for her.
She’d clung to Elliot at first, but now she and I walked together, hand in hand. From the first store, it had been really clear that Elliot was in way over his head. He didn’t know how to deal with little girls and buying dresses and underwear, so I’d taken over.
“Becca, look.” She already had her own name for me, after hearing her father call me either Rebecca or Becs. It was too cute, and she giggled as I squeezed her hand when she said it.
By the side of a food store was a ride-on Thomas the Tank Engine. I let go of her hand, nodding, and she ran to it, jumping in and frowning as she pressed the buttons and no sound came out.
“Hang on, sweetie,” I said, fishing in my purse for coins. I grinned as I pulled out a two-dollar coin, sliding it into the slot. The machine came to life, growling and grumbling as it rocked gently back and forward, hissing and tooting as Ruby pressed the buttons.
Elliot slid his arms around my waist from behind. “What are you two doing?”
“She’s having fun. This place has been a little overwhelming for her I think. Maybe it’s good for her to enjoy this.”
“Softy,” he whispered, planting a kiss on my neck.
“Becca, Becca,” Ruby called, waving at me. I waved back, nodding to acknowledge her as she tooted the horn again.
Elliot chuckled, his chest vibrating against me as he did. “Someone’s popular.”
“She’s awesome. Such a sweetheart.”
“I’m glad you two are getting along.”
I pulled his arms tighter around my waist. “It’s easy. She’s so much like you.”
He took a deep breath. “I honestly think you being part of my life is going to make this easier on her. It’s been a tough few weeks.”
I reached up, hooking my arm around his neck. “I can’t imagine what you and her have been through, but I can be here for both of you.”
Elliot pressed his nose to mine and despite us being in the middle of the shopping mall, people milling around, it was like no one else was there.
It might have lasted if a little someone hadn’t started tugging on my jeans.
I looked down. “Did the ride finish?”
She nodded. “Can I go again?”
“How about we go and find you some new clothes instead? We can come back another day,” Elliot said.
Her lower lip wobbled as she looked up at him with the biggest puppy-dog eyes I have ever seen. Elliot reached for his pocket, and I didn’t have to ask to know he was going for another coin.
“How about we go and get some clothes and then go for ice cream? Would you like that, Ruby?” I asked.
The ride forgotten, she pulled at my arm, slotting her hand in mine when I lowered it.
“But. I just …” Elliot looked bewildered, his eyes flicking between the two of us.
“Shopping and sugary stuff. Two key elements to a girl’s heart. Sometimes one isn’t enough.” I smiled sweetly.
Elliot’s eyes looked upward. He looked as if he was fighting an eye roll. “I’m completely outnumbered, aren’t it?”
“Uh-huh.”
He sighed. “Come on then, let’s get going.”
Shaking his head as he walked a little head of us, I looked down at Ruby, sharing a conspiratorial smile.
We were going to get along just fine.
* * *
Ruby had a whole new wardrobe of clothes, Elliot telling me off for taking over buying them when he ran out of money. But she had months of day-care to go to, different seasons to dress for, and then he’d have to think about school uniform. I liked to plan ahead and her mother hadn't had a lot of money to buy clothes for her, a lot of her things were second hand.
I unlocked the door at home, Ruby running past me and into the living room, pouting as she realised the pens and paper weren’t still out for her.
“You can come and draw another day,” I said. “You’ve got to get home and unpack all your new things.”
Elliot grabbed me by the waist, pulling me tight against him. “Thanks for being there today. I would have gotten lost in the skirts and shirts and underwear.”
I rubbed his biceps, squeezing them gently as he waggled his eyebrows. “I enjoyed it. Shopping for her was fun.”
He release me from his embrace. “Ruby, let’s go. We’ve dropped Rebecca off. Now we have to get your things packed away.”
Ruby’s bottom lip dropped.
“Come on then, pumpkin,” I said, nudging her arm.
“I’m not pumpkin, I’m Ruby.” Ruby laughed loudly. “And your name is Rebecca. Like Rebecca Rabbit in Peppa Pig.” She laughed so hard I thought she was about to puke, and I bent over, tickling her ribs.
<
br /> She squealed, trying to tickle me back and failing miserably to reach me. Two large hands landed on my waist, fingers wriggling as Elliot paid me back on behalf of his daughter.
We all fell about until we couldn’t breathe for laughing, and I lay flat on my back on the floor, panting to recover.
“We’ve got to cook Nan dinner and Ruby has to get some sleep,” Elliot said, reaching down to stroke my hair.
I nodded.
“I’ll come back over after she’s asleep. Unless you want to come over for dinner too?”
Pulling him down for a quick kiss, I shook my head. “I promised to text a friend when I got home this afternoon, and she sounds pretty anxious to see me. Next time?”
He frowned. “Everything okay?”
“When you come back later I’ll tell you all about my dad and his girlfriend. The one who is half his age and went to school with me.”
His lips formed an O. “Come on Ruby, let’s get going. Give Rebecca a cuddle.”
I didn’t even manage to get up before she rolled over me, giggling as I hugged her, kissing her face. “Thank you for spending time today with me, Miss Ruby.”
She snuggled in, and for just a moment I wanted to tell Elliot to forget about ever going back next door.
“I’ll see you soon, sweetheart.”
Nodding, she jumped off me and I sat up, taking Elliot’s hand as he helped me stand.
Waving goodbye, my heart sank as they walked away. We’d known one another five minutes and that little girl was already under my skin. Could I do this? Could I be what she needed?
* * *
Nicola appeared on my doorstep fifteen minutes after I sent her a text. She looked scared, her eyes downturned as if she was afraid to come in.
“If you think I’m going to yell at you, I’m not. Did you talk to Dad?” I stepped back so she could come inside, and she made her way to the couch, still very downcast.
She nodded. “I spoke to Neil. He said you were fine with us. I just wanted to be sure.”
I sat beside her. “I’m not going to cause a fuss. You’re both adults. Who am I to even try to interfere?”
“I love him, Rebecca. Really love him. I spent so long worrying about what this person and that person thought of me. Starved myself to be thin, ate to put on weight. When I’m with him, I just feel like I can be myself.”
“You don’t need to justify yourself to me.”
She exhaled loudly, her face twitching as she looked at me. What was she so nervous about if she’d just told me all that?
“Nicola, what is it? Clearly there’s something else going on.”
She licked her lips slowly, scanning my face as she seemed to struggle with knowing whether she could tell me or not.
“I’m pregnant.”
Holy shitballs.
“It’s your father’s. He’s been the only man I’ve been with for months, but I know this could put extra pressure on us.” The lilt in her voice grew as she picked at her fingers. I’d never seen her so nervous.
“What do you think I’m going to do about it? Make you get rid of it? Tell him to leave you? If you know him that well, you’ll know he’ll not want to walk away. He tried so hard with my mother because of me, and then he tried without her to take care of me.” I loved both my dad and Nicola, and as much as I wanted to be pissed with them, all I could do was let them be happy without my interference.
Her shoulders slumped, I guess in relief at my reaction. What was the point of being upset about it? If they were together, it would have only been a matter of time, especially with him seeming as serious about it as she now seemed to be.
“The day of the wedding—I am so, so sorry you walked in on us like that. I just have these wild, crazy raging hormones and when I want it, I have to have it. Neil is so accommodating like that.”
Oh holy shitballs times a million.
“See, that’s the bit I don’t want to know. If you love him, fine. If you have sex with him, fine. But I don’t want to know about it. That’s all I’m going to ask of you. Please don’t tell me more stories about how big my father’s penis is and how well he uses it.”
The nervousness disappeared as she burst out laughing.
“For him to sneak off like that with you in that kind of place speaks volumes for your sex life. I really don’t need any more details.”
She lunged at me, wrapping her arms around my neck and squeezing so tight I was sure she was about to break something.
“Thank you. I never wanted to hurt you. And when we were kids I never thought your dad was hot. But oh God, Rebecca.”
“There’s a line, Nicola …”
“Sorry. I keep saying sorry. Shit. How am I going to tell him about the baby?”
I gave her a gentle push to get off me. “What? You haven’t told him?”
“I found out last week. I keep trying to, but I’m so scared in case he doesn’t want it.”
I sighed, taking her hands in mine. “I saw his face when he told me about you. He loves you. He’ll probably want to do the right thing and whatever you want. Just be good to him.”
She grinned. “That’s the easiest thing to do in the world.” Her face softened, like she was in a dream. It took everything in me not to do the standard Rebecca response of pretending to put my finger down my throat. It was nice she’d found a man who would treat her well.
Besides, if he didn’t, I’d kick his arse.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Dinner with Dad. That was the next step. He wanted to take us somewhere swanky to meet Elliot and Ruby, and I let him just so they could have a nice night out.
It wasn’t as posh as some places he’d taken me too. Elliot was in dress pants and a button-up shirt. I’d bought him a tie along the way to wear and even tied it for him because he hadn’t worn one since school. Ruby giggled as she stared at her father.
“You look weird,” she said.
For her part, I’d bought her a new dress. Any excuse to go shopping. It was a pretty little pink frilly thing as pink was the colour of choice, and she’d spun around in the little tutu skirt.
“Table for Wallace, please,” I said as we entered.
Ruby fussed as she sat, looking around at the opulent room. It was elegantly decorated, but for her, she might as well have been in a palace about to meet a king.
“Here he comes,” I murmured. Dad walked toward the table, dressed immaculately as always. His greying hair stood out as a stark contrast to the dark suit he wore.
Elliot squeezed my hand under the table. “It’ll be fine, Becs. You’ll see.”
“I know, I’m just on edge. You don’t know my father.”
“No, but I know you. He can’t be that bad if he raised you.”
His confidence was reassuring, but my father had been known to scare people into resigning with that damn glare of his.
I’m a grown-up. I’m a grown-up.
We stood as he approached, and he came around my side of the table to give me a kiss on the cheek, barely looking at Elliot.
“Dad, this is Elliot,” I said as we sat.
“Elliot.” Dad's gaze was fixed on him and my breath caught in my throat as I shifted my focus from one to the other and back again.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, sir,” Elliot said.
“It’s good to meet you too. Rebecca has told me a little about you, but not much.”
“And this is Ruby.”
Ruby waved from across the table and it was as if my father transformed from his poker face into the doting grandfather.
“Hi Ruby. I’ve heard about you too.”
I nudged him with my elbow. “Oh, so you’re just acting all cool toward Elliot then?”
“I was just trying to be the caring father, my dear.” He shifted his focus to Elliot. “Rebecca told me you haven’t settled on a career and you play music. Does that sum it up?” The poker face was back.
“Stop it.” I laughed. “Play nice.”
&nb
sp; He shrugged. “Tell me some more and then I’ll have more to talk about.”
“Well, I haven’t really settled into a career. I do odd jobs around the place, work when there’s work around, and spend a lot of time helping my grandmother. She’s getting on so I do what I can for her until she’s ready to go into a home,” Elliot said.
Dad nodded slowly.
“And I’m in a band. But it’s a fairly casual thing. Like most things in my life.” I cringed as Elliot tried to joke.
I swear my father’s eyebrow rose so high, it nearly took off into orbit. Just what he wanted for me. An unemployed musician. I had warned him, but I guess Elliot saying it just emphasised it.
“Dad, Elliot has plans, dreams. He’s looking for something permanent now. With Ruby being here, we’re hoping to be a lot more settled.”
Dad’s other eyebrow joined his first. I tried to plead with my eyes, and Dad shifted his focus from Elliot to me. Changing that unimpressed look to a concerned look, his brows now furrowed as he locked his gaze with my own.
“It’s okay, Rebecca. I’m sure Elliot will work out what he wants to do with his life. Sometimes it takes a bit of time.”
I opened my mouth to speak, I was so surprised at his words.
“Becs.” Elliot’s hand landed on my shoulder. “Your dad gets it. I’m prepared to do whatever it takes to be with Rebecca, Mr Wallace. I’ll take whatever job comes up. Anything.”
Dad nodded, his eyes fixed on Elliot’s hand. And I was sure I saw a glimmer of a smile.
“Find something you like doing. Don’t waste your life working in a job you hate. I spent so many years just working to get ahead and it was never enough. My wife and I split because of it. Rebecca bounced between us, and I never got to spend the time with her I wanted to. It was always about working to make sure she had the best.”
“I love Rebecca very much, Mr Wallace. Have since the moment I first saw her.”
That was news, and I looked at Elliot, who was looking at me with so much love in his eyes I wanted to cry even more. I was trapped between two men I loved, both of them looking at me as if I were the most important person in the world, and I had no idea which way to turn.
The Right One Page 16
