Chapter 22
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
Kate
I bounce Arleth on my knee while Olivia looks at a vintage satin wedding gown.
“You’re already married, Liv,” I point out. “I can put that on hold for Arleth’s wedding, but I’ll tell you what I tell every mother-of-the-bride who comes into the store. Let your daughter have the last say on her dress.”
She glances over her shoulder at me, her tongue sticking out. “Ha! I stopped by Liore today. They’re gearing up for a bridal lingerie shoot. I happen to be on a mission to find the perfect dress for the model to wear.”
“You’re on maternity leave.” I laugh. “Shouldn’t someone else in your office be on the look-out for the perfect dress?”
“I told them they needed to come here to find a wedding gown.” She tosses me a wink. “I want you to have the sale.”
“Thank you,” I mouth back silently as Arleth settles into my arms.
“If you rock her a bit she might fall asleep.”
I look down into the face of Olivia’s daughter. I was at the hospital the night she was born. I waited anxiously in the waiting room with Alexander’s sister until he came out to announce that Arleth had arrived.
He had tears in his eyes and the widest grin on his mouth.
Gage never got to experience that. He didn’t know about his daughter until she was walking and talking.
Precious moments were stolen from him.
Olivia turns to face me. “Have you talked to Gage since you found out about his daughter?”
I called Olivia the other night after I got home from Tilly’s house. I didn’t want her to hear about it from anyone but me. She understood how confused I was. She told me to take some time to absorb the news and that she was always around if I needed her.
I needed her today, so I texted her and asked her to come by the boutique.
“I saw him last night,” I whisper, not wanting to wake Arleth.
The store closed thirty minutes ago. We planned to go to dinner, but take-out may be a better option since I could spend the entire night cradling this sleeping baby in my arms.
“What happened?” Her hands dive into the pockets of the red jumpsuit she’s wearing.
“I went to Tin Anchor.” I shake my head. “I thought it would help in some way if I saw a picture of his daughter.”
“You were curious,” she states. “You wanted to put a face to the name. You wanted to see Gage’s child.”
I nod.
“Did it help, Kate?”
I shrug a shoulder, trying not to disturb Arleth. “She’s a beautiful little girl. She has green eyes like Gage and long brown hair.”
“She sounds lovely.”
Olivia’s phone buzzes. She drops her gaze to it. “It’s a reminder of our dinner reservation.”
I stare down at Arleth. “Do they deliver? I’m pretty content at the moment.”
“I’ll order something for us.” She smiles. “I don’t want to interrupt Aunt Kate and Arleth time.”
I pinch my eyes shut to ward off tears. Aunt Kate. That’s who I’ll be to this precious little girl when she’s old enough to speak.
Olivia steps away to call the restaurant, so I softly sing a lullaby to Arleth.
I love her with everything I am and I’m just her faux Aunt. I can’t imagine what Gage must feel for Kristin.
“Let’s change the subject,” Olivia begins as she pockets her phone. “Did you take my advice and jump all over Preston the other night?”
I chuckle. “No.”
“Why not? The best way to get over one man is to under another.”
I shake my head, shielding my smile with a dip of my chin. “I’m not feeling a spark with him, Liv. I met him last night to tell him that.”
“So that’s over?”
“It’s over.” Arleth stirs. I rock her softly as I elaborate, “I didn’t want to lead him on. He’s a great guy.”
“There’s still a spark somewhere inside of there for Gage, isn’t there?” She points at my chest.
I look down at the front of the light blue dress I’m wearing. “There shouldn’t be after all this time, should there?”
“I’ll take that as a yes.”
“It’s not a yes.”
“It’s a no?” She volleys back.
“I don’t know.” I answer honestly.
I’ve thought about Gage a lot since last night. If I’m being honest, he’s all I’ve thought about since I left Tin Anchor and went across town to Easton Pub to break off my situationship with Preston.
“You know.” Her head snaps to the right at the sound of a knock on the boutique’s doors. “They said they’d have the food here in no time. They weren’t kidding.”
“My credit card is in my purse.” I gesture toward my office with my chin.
“I have cash.” She leans down to root around in her bag for her wallet. “Tonight is my treat.”