“Lyra asked if she can spend her birthday night with you.” Her voice changed to a happier tone as she changed the topic. A breathtaking smile was present on her face. “She asked if she could spend the night.”
“She did?” I asked. I knew Lyra would be spending her actual birthday with me.
“Yeah.” Her smile grew. She was glowing with beauty. Suzanne was right. “I told her I would have to speak with you first. I'm not sure if you wanted to have her over given that you and Chelsea are…” The smile faded from her face.
“My parents are actually down for that weekend.” I didn’t want to tell her about Chelsea just yet. It still hurt her, and a part of me needed to hold that over her for a bit longer. “I told my mom I would have Lyra for her birthday and I rented a house in Laguna Beach for us all to stay.”
Emilia’s eyes glowed with happiness. “How’s your mom? And Mama?”
“Really good. They can’t wait to meet Lyra.”
“I’m glad.” Her eyes looked deep into mine. “We're having a small birthday party for her the night before. It would be really nice if you could swing by. I know she would love it. And then maybe after we cut the cake she can go with you.” She cocked her head to the side and gnawed on her lower lip.
“I don't want to intrude on your party.”
“It's not my party, it's Lyra’s party, and you're her father. You should be there.” She placed her hand on my knee for a second and pulled it away.
“Okay, I'll be there.” An awkward silence passed between us before I stood. “I'm going to go up and see Sally and Axel.” I didn't wait for her to reply as I walked away.
“Weston?” I turned to face her. Her gaze was kind. Her shoulders were hunched forward and she huffed. “Thank you for making it easy with Lyra.”
I shrugged and gave her a sideways grin. “Anything for my little girl, babe.”
5
I rang the doorbell to Emilia's home late Friday afternoon. The sun had painted the sky with orange and red streaks. As I waited for someone to answer, I noticed the For Sale sign by the steps. That was new. Of course they were moving. Why live in a condo when you’re planning to grow your family? I shook my head and took a deep breath.
I drove off.
I didn’t stop her from marrying him.
I couldn’t complain that she was moving on with her life.
I had to do the same.
“Cool it, Weston,” I mumbled under my breath.
Emilia opened the door. A princess crown was atop her head and her eyes were wide as she greeted me. “You made it!” She seemed genuinely happy to see me.
“Of course,” I replied.
She held the door open for me. “Come on in.” This was the first time she had invited me inside her home. Just like her apartment with Leslie, she had colorful pillows, abstract art, and furniture that didn’t match.
People I had never seen before were situated between her living room, dining room, and kitchen. I followed her through the house as she introduced me to parents of the kids I could hear playing in a different room.
The cake table was decorated in a princess theme. A cake sat in the center with cupcakes around it and candy along with other treats covered the remaining surface. Bunches of balloons were tied in every corner of the house. She even had streamers strung on the ceiling.
“Lyra, love, someone’s here for you!” she sang. Little footsteps came running around the corner toward me.
“Daddy!” Lyra screamed when she saw me.
I crouched down and caught her in my arms. Her little arms wrapped around my neck, squeezing me tight. “Happy Birthday, my little princess!” I lifted her off the floor and hugged her tightly.
Lyra released her grip around my neck. “Come, Daddy.” She pointed toward the hallway. “I want to show you my room and I want you to meet my friends.” I looked at Emilia quizzically. I didn't want to overstep my welcome, nor did I want to parade through her house.
“Go on,” she said and tickled Lyra’s back.
Lyra’s room was pink, very pink. And it was filled with little ones who cheered when I walked in. It seemed anything she ever wanted, Emilia got for her. Dolls and little doll furniture were neatly placed on one side of the room. A bookcase filled with what I thought must be every children’s book ever written was catty–cornered facing her bed.
“Here, Daddy, you need to wear one, too.” She placed a plastic crown on my head.
It seemed awkward to socialize with Emilia’s friends, so I sat at the small child size table and had my first imaginary tea party. Lyra’s school friends and their dolls played along with us.
I stayed in Lyra’s room until a woman with short black hair came in to get us. She tapped on the door gently and smiled. “You must be Weston.” She walked in and extended her hand to me. “I'm Colleen, Lyra’s Pre–K teacher.”
I stood and shook her hand. “It's a pleasure to meet you.”
“Miss Colleen, would you like some tea?” Lyra held up an empty cup.
“No, thank you, sweetie. I'm actually here to tell you that your mommy said it's time to cut the cake.”
“Cake!” the kids shouted all at once.
Before I realized what was happening, they were sprinting out of the room. “I guess it's a good way to clear a room,” I said to Colleen.
“They’re with me every day. I know what makes them run. Usually, it’s recess or sweet treats.”
“Yeah, I guess that’s about right. Recess was my favorite subject in school. I'm still very new to this,” I said, removing the crown Lyra had given me.
“You're doing great.” Colleen leaned in and rubbed the side of my arm. “And Lyra idolizes you. You’re all she talks about in class.” I didn't know if it was an innocent touch or not, but it felt awkward.
“Shall we?” I nodded toward the door.
Colleen and I had walked out of Lyra’s room when Emilia appeared in the hallway. The corridor seemed to shrink in size. She stopped dead in her tracks and locked her gaze with mine. I knew that look. I had seen it many times before. I witnessed it when I first saw her at Yorks. I saw it when she’d see me with another girl. It was the look she had on her face when she met Chelsea. It was the look she gave me when she was trying to hide her jealousy. There was a crease that formed between her eyebrows. It was an adorable look that I hadn’t seen in a long time.
“Lyra is asking for you,” she murmured.
“Excuse me.” Colleen pushed her way between the wall and Emilia.
Emilia refused to pull her gaze away from mine while her head slowly began to shake.
“What?” I raised my hands innocently.
“You know what.” She crossed her hand over her chest. “Do you think your fiancé would appreciate that?”
“I didn’t do anything wrong. I was getting to know Lyra’s teacher, that’s all.”
“Sure.” Her lips puckered.
“Are you jealous?” I took a step toward her. She took a deep breath and filled her lungs with air before slowly letting it out. I wanted to touch her. I wanted to reach across and place the palm of my hand on her cheek and tell her there was no Chelsea and that no other woman would be her to me.
“Emmy.” Jeremy’s voice made her jump.
She turned to face him. “Coming.” She walked toward him and I followed.
“Hey, man, thanks for coming.” Jeremy extended his hand. I wanted to hate the man, but he made it hard when he was always polite.
“I wouldn’t miss it.”
I walked into the dining room and stood next to Lyra. She stood on a chair, her eyes wide as she looked at the castle cake in front of her. Happiness radiated from her pure soul.
The group of guests gathered around the table and Emilia stood on the other side of Lyra with Jeremy behind her. She gave Lyra a big kiss on the cheek and began singing Happy Birthday.
I would no longer miss any birthdays.
“Go on, sweetie, make a wish,” Emilia said to Lyra when
the song ended.
Lyra tapped her little fingers on her lips, contemplating what her wish should be, then took a deep breath. She closed her eyes as she blew out the four little candles that sat on the top tier of the cake.
“Okay, big smiles this way,” Jeremy’s sister said, holding a camera in our direction. I stepped out of the picture to let Emilia and Jeremy pose as a family.
“No, Daddy, come in the picture, too.” Lyra reached out for me.
I looked over at Emilia, who gave me a kind smile and nodded slowly. I shouldn't feel like I was imposing on them. She was my daughter, too.
Jeremy's sister snapped the picture and Emilia began to cut the cake. I scooted around the table and headed into the living area. I sat on the couch, my hands folded in my lap and my head lowered as I stared at the white coffee table. I couldn’t help but feel like a misfit in Lyra’s life.
I was brought back from my haze when Lyra charged at me and wrapped her arms around my head. She still had frosting on the side of her lips. “I'm ready for our slumber party!” I cocked my head to the side and looked at her with furrowed eyebrows. “Slumber party?” Then I remembered she was referring to my parents.
“Yeah, Mommy said I get to meet Grandma.” She cupped my face with her little hands. “Can we go?”
Cradling her in my arms, I stood and went to go look for Emilia. She was in Lyra’s room with an overnight bag in her hand. She walked over to Lyra and licked the icing off her face. “Did you say good–bye to your friends?” Emilia asked. Lyra nodded. “Did you say bye to Jeremy and Miss Colleen?” The question was for Lyra, but Emilia looked over at me. I tried not to chuckle. “Okay, come on, I'll walk you two out.”
Jeremy stayed by the door as Emilia walked Lyra toward my car. She helped fasten her into her booster seat and shut the door.
“If you need anything, just call. There’s a list of emergency contacts in her bag. She might have a tummy ache from all the sweets, not to mention she might be very hyper from the sugar.” She took the overnight bag off her shoulder and handed it to me.
“Thanks for inviting me. It was nice.” I leaned forward to kiss her good–bye but stopped myself, and looked over her shoulder to where Jeremy stood on the top of the stairs. I nodded, saying good–bye.
Walking around the car, I pulled my door open but stopped when Emilia turned back toward me. “Weston?” I raised my eyebrows, waiting for her to continue. She walked until her hand rested on the passenger car door. “Why didn’t you bring Chelsea?”
“Why would I invite her? It wasn’t my party.”
She took a deep breath and closed her eyes. The words were barely a whisper as they escaped her lips, “Don't fall in love with Lyra’s teacher.”
I chuckled and shook my head. We both knew Jeremy was far enough that he wouldn't hear us. I licked my lips and held her gaze for a few seconds before I responded, “Don't worry, babe. There is only one yellow gel.”
I heard her gasp as I climbed into the car.
* * *
Lyra and I sang along to the songs on the radio as we drove to Laguna Beach. She was the happiest kid I had ever seen. Maybe I was biased—she was my child after all, so of course she was perfect. I pulled my car into the driveway and noticed that my parents and my grandmother were waiting up for me. I looked at Lyra through the rearview mirror and noticed her staring at the house.
“You see those people over there,” I said, lowering the radio. She nodded, her gaze glued out the window. “That's your grandma and grandpa, and the other one is Mama. She's my grandmother so that makes you her great–granddaughter.”
She pulled her gaze away from them and looked at me, her mouth open with shock. “She’s your grandma?”
“Yep, that's my grandma, but do you know what’s the best part?” She shook her head eagerly. “They're all here waiting to meet you. They’re gonna love you so much. They’re your family.” I shifted the car into park.
“Okay.” She nodded and reached for the door handle. I escorted Lyra out of my car and up the cobblestone path.
My mother gasped, her hands over her heart as she looked at Lyra. They had seen pictures of her before but hadn’t had the opportunity to meet her until now.
I looked down at Lyra. Her little hand gripped my finger. “Lyra, do you think you could go give Grandma a big hug? She looks like she's very excited to see you.” You—the child I fathered, the child who loved everything, the child who had a heart of gold.
She released my hand and sprinted into her grandmother's arms.
“Oh my goodness,” my mother said as Lyra’s little arms wrapped around her neck and my mother kissed the top of her head. “It’s so nice to finally meet you! Happy Birthday, my sweet little angel.”
Mama walked over to them and gently patted Lyra’s back. She was too old to hold Lyra in her arms. Lyra reached over and hugged Mama. “Hi, I’m Lyra Skye Darcy, now Carter.” She beamed at them.
“I’m Mama.”
“And I’m your granny.”
I leaned against the hood of my car watching their exchange. Pop walked over to where I stood and joined me. “You did good, kid.” He rested his hand on my shoulder.
“Thanks, Dad,” I said. I was unable to pull my gaze away from Lyra who, in mere seconds, had found her way into my mother’s heart.
My mother carried Lyra inside the house and we followed behind as she showed Lyra around. Lyra noticed the balloons and gifts that were set out for her on the dining room table.
“Are these for me?” she asked innocently.
Mama walked out of the kitchen, a small cake in her hands with four lit candles. “You can open your presents, but first you have to make a wish.” My mom pulled back a chair for her to kneel on.
Lyra’s cheeks had to hurt from how wide her smile was. For the second time that day, people who loved her unconditionally sang Happy Birthday. Once the song was finished, Lyra’s wide smile had been replaced with a small frown.
“What's the matter, Lyra?” I asked.
“I already made my wish today,” she whispered.
When I envisioned myself having children, I never expected them to have to celebrate two birthdays, have two separate holidays or live in two separate homes. “It's okay, you can make two wishes.” I leaned over and kissed the top of her head. She inhaled all the air her lungs could take and blew out her candles.
Once we were done eating cake and Lyra had opened all her presents, I walked her to her room. Though she had consumed an absurd amount of sugar, she was exhausted.
“Is this my room?” she asked when I twisted the handle.
“For this weekend, yes.” I tickled the top of her head.
“Granny and Pop Pop don't live here?”
“No, princess.” I helped her out of her dress and into the pajamas Emilia had packed. “Granny, Mama, and Pop live in a different house far away from here. We're staying in this house just to celebrate your birthday.”
“How come they didn't come to my other birthday party?” Her voice was drained from the excitement of the day.
“Because, princess, it just doesn't work that way.” I pulled back the sheets for her to climb into bed.
“I don't like that, Daddy.”
“I don't either.” I kissed her forehead.
“Can you tell me a story?” Lyra asked, hugging the blankets closer to her chest.
“I’m not really good with stories, but I can sing you a song. It's a song I've been working on just for you.” Stroking my fingers through her curly red hair, I began to sing.
You are the light in my sky,
My little star, you burn so bright.
I will hide away your pain,
I'll be the sun shining through the rain.
Being your dad means the world to me,
You are my little sweet princess, my little sweet pea.
I continued to hum the melody until her eyes began to drift close. Kissing the top of her head once more, I lifted from the side of the b
ed and walked toward the door.
“Daddy?” Lyra called.
With one hand holding the door, I looked back at her. “Is everything okay?” The hallway light let me see that her eyes were furrowed and she was hesitating with her next question. “You can talk to me, Lyra.”
“Do you think my wish will come true?” Her voice was hopeful.
I chuckled. “What did you wish for?”
“I want you and Mommy to give me a little brother. Or a sister.”
I tried to maintain a calm expression as I strolled back to the side of her bed, contemplating how I would answer her question. I leaned over and lifted the covers up. “What else did you wish for? Since you had two cakes.”
“I wished for my very own princess room.” Her eyes scanned the bedroom she was in.
I tapped the tip of her nose. “I think that can be arranged. Now close your eyes and go to sleep.”
“I love you, Daddy.”
“I love you more.”
I left Lyra’s room and headed out to the deck, my feet heavy as I forced them to move. I sat on one of the patio chairs and gazed out into the darkness. The moon illuminated the sky and down below I could hear the faint noises of the ocean. My elbows rested on my knees and my head hung low as I tried to calm the chatter inside my head. What would my life be like had I stopped that damn fucking wedding? Now they were planning a second child and I was a part–time father. Would Lyra want to spend time with me when Emilia gave her a sibling to play with?
I felt a hand tap my shoulder and looked behind me. Pop stood there with two beers in his hands. “You look like you need to talk.”
“What gave it away?” I asked and reached for a bottle.
“You should be happy. Your child is healthy and happy,” Pop sat next to me. I watched as he took a swig of his beer.
“I'm thrilled she's here. But I realized I threw everything away. I realized that, in this world, you can't have it all.” I brought the glass bottle to my lips and paused. “Emilia asked me to tell her not to get married, and I drove to the church, but I couldn’t get over my own shit to stop her from marrying him.” I nodded and drew my beer back.
Endless Love Letter (Love Letter Duet Book 2) Page 3
