Chapter 27
TWENTY-SEVEN
DECLAN
Once the movie is wrapped, Zoe, Daisy, and I get on a plane and fly to New Zealand.
Zoe’s parents have yet to meet Daisy—in person at least, and now I really am retired, I have all the time in the world.
At some point I’ll have to do some promo work for the movie, but that’s it. Unless there’s a special reason for me to show my face in public, I really am done this time.
And I couldn’t be happier.
It’s a little extreme to fly a baby first class, but my girls are getting the best of everything from now on.
This time, there’s no sign of Zoe’s parents in the yard, but as soon as the car comes to a stop, the back door of the house bursts open and Serena runs toward the car.
Zoe opens her door and gets out, embracing her mother while I get Daisy’s capsule out.
“Where is she?” Serena asks.
“Right here.” I say .
She rounds the car and clasps her hands together. “Oh, she’s so precious.”
“Why don’t we all get inside, Mum?” Zoe smiles.
“Of course. I’ll make coffee. And then cuddles with the baby. How was your flight?”
“It was fine. Daisy slept for a lot of it, so I’m not sure how tonight will go.”
They chatter as they walk into the house, and I trail along behind them.
“That was your grandmother, little one. Now to see if your grandfather likes me better than last time.”
Daisy stares at me.
“I think you’re the key to my full acceptance. Not going to lie—I’m going to use you to maximum effect.”
She beams a brilliant toothless smile at me as if she knows what I’m saying. Yeah, we’re a team.
“I’d high-five you if you were old enough to understand what Daddy’s doing.” I wink at her, and she keeps on smiling at me.
Taking a deep breath, I walk into the living room.
“Declan.” Brian holds out his hand, and I give it a firm shake. “It’s good to see you.”
“I almost believe that, Brian.” I chuckle.
He grins. “I’m glad you’re all here. I can’t wait to meet my granddaughter.”
“She’s amazing. I’ll get her out of her capsule and you can hold her.”
“Let’s catch up. How long are you staying?”
I shrug. “For as long as Zoe needs to.”
He laughs. “Good answer. ”
This is nice. The atmosphere is much different this time. I place the capsule on the floor and unclip Daisy’s harness. After lifting her gently, I rock her before I place her into her grandfather’s arms.
Brian’s facade cracks, and his eyes give away how emotional he is as he breathes her in.
“Aren’t you beautiful?” he says, his Adam’s apple bobbing as he swallows hard. “Thank you, Declan.”
“She and her mother are everything.”
He meets my gaze and nods in understanding.
“Dad. What do you think? She seem to be taking after Declan so far.” Zoe places a hand on my arm and leans her head on my shoulder.
“You did well.” He beams with pride. “Oh, she smiled at me.”
Zoe squeezes my bicep, and I press a kiss to the side of her head.
Brian makes his way to his recliner chair and sits, cradling Daisy and talking to her the whole way.
“Here’s coffee and some biscuits. Let me know if you want anything more to eat.” Serena comes into the room with a tray and places it on the table. Her eyes light up. “Oh, Brian. She’s beautiful.”
“Isn’t she? Look at that smile.”
I share a glance with Zoe. We stopped along the way when Daisy grizzled and made sure she was fed and changed before we got here. Brian and Serena wouldn’t have cared, but we wanted her to be happy when she arrived.
She’s a content baby. Once we got past those first few weeks, she became a lot more chill. She doesn’t always sleep well, but we figure it’s a matter of time before she settles down and with our village around us, we don’t have to stress too much about how we’ll make it work then. Zoe’s taken to life in LA like a fish to water with the help of our friends.
We sit on the couch together and take in the sight of our daughter meeting her grandparents. It gives me pangs of sadness thinking how much my parents will miss, but I’ve got enough in my life. Maybe I’ll send them some photos of their granddaughter, but their disowning me still stings.
I slip my arm around Zoe’s shoulders, leaning back on the couch.
She smiles at me. “You okay?”
“Yeah. I really am.”
Zoe snuggles into my side, and I kiss her temple.
Serena takes Daisy in her arms and rocks her while Brian fixes his gaze on us. He even smiles a little before reaching for his coffee cup and taking a sip.
It’s amazing the difference a baby has made.
After dinner, I head outside for some fresh air.
Maybe we’ll buy a house here—divide our time between Taupo and LA. Zoe would be keen, I’m sure of it.
“Beer?” Brian approaches me from behind, holding two bottles. “It’s alcohol-free.”
I nod. “Sure.”
“I got them in especially when I knew you were coming.” He takes a sip of his and hands me the other bottle. “They’re not too bad. ”
“I’ll give it a go.” I take the bottle and look at the label. I’ve had Heineken before, but not the alcohol free.
“So you’ve retired again, I hear.”
I nod. “I’m done with that life. It’s nothing compared to being home with Zoe and Daisy.”
“Why did you even make that movie if you were going to walk away?”
I pause. “I don’t really know. Ego in part. My career had been going in the wrong direction for a long time, and I really thought it was over. But I got a great offer from a good man, and I took it.” I meet his gaze. “If Zoe hadn’t supported me, I would have turned it down. And then I knew after only a few days on set that it would be my last movie. I love your daughter, Brian, and I just want to be with her.”
He studies me closely. “You gonna stick to retirement or change your mind again?”
I shake my head and smile. “It’s not me anymore. Like I said, it didn’t take me long to realise that. But I wanted my career to end on a high, and it will, which is better than the alternative. I want Zoe to be free to do whatever she wants whether that’s being at home with Daisy too or creating another app or business.”
He fights a smile—I can tell by the way his eyes twinkle—and I know I’ve said the right thing.
“Look.” I press my palms together. “I know you’re concerned about my relationship with Zoe. And you have every right to be. I’m not son-in-law material. But I’m trying to be a better man, and it’s all because of her. She’s given me a gift that I won’t take for granted. Becoming a father has changed my life. ”
His jaw stiffens, as if he’s trying to suppress his own emotion. But I’m done hiding behind any kind of masculine firewall. Zoe danced her way into my life and turned it upside down. And I wouldn’t change a second of it.
“I understand,” he finally says. “We were … younger when we had Zoe, but that little girl made me want to work hard. I wanted to make sure her and her mother were taken care of. If I could have, I would have wrapped them both in bubble wrap so the world could never hurt them.”
I chuckle. “I get what you mean.”
“And then my little girl grew up and met you. I’ve googled you, you know. You’ve done some stupid stuff in your life. But you’re good to Zoe, and Lord knows I can’t tell her what to do anymore.” He shifts his gaze away and draws a deep breath. “Last time you were here, you asked for my blessing. And I was reluctant.”
“I understood. But I love her. Everything’s easy when it comes to Zoe.”
A smile shifts his lips. “I can’t stop you from marrying my daughter. She’s old enough to make up her own mind. We won’t stand in your way, Declan. You have my blessing.”
“I hope you know how much this means to me.”
He nods. “I can see. And I see how you dote on Zoe. Keep that up, and you’ll always have our support.”
“Thank you.”
He holds up his bottle. “To Daisy. You two have done well.”
I clink my bottle with his. “Thank you again.”
Brian points me toward the outdoor chairs. “Why don’t we sit and talk? Get to know each other properly this time. ”
“That sounds great to me.”
In the evening, when Daisy’s asleep and Zoe’s parents are watching TV, I walk into Zoe’s bedroom where she’s already in bed.
She looks up as I enter. “Are you okay?”
After stripping off, I slip into bed beside her, spooning her from behind. I kiss her neck and nuzzle behind her ear. “I am better than okay.”
“Being here agrees with you too, huh?”
“Your father gave me his blessing,” I whisper.
She rolls over, one eyebrow arched. “His blessing?”
I take her hand in mine. “I know this isn’t the most romantic of places, but I can’t wait any longer. I love you. I’m in love with you. You changed my life in the most amazing of ways, and I want to spend every moment I have left on this planet with you.”
She stares at me as if I’m some kind of alien. “Declan?”
“Marry me, Zoe. I don’t care where as long as it’s as soon as possible. I want you to be my wife, and I want to give you more babies.”
Her eyes widen.
“After Daisy actually sleeps through the night.” I grin.
“Yes.”
“Really?”
She nods, a smile spreading across her lips. “I want to marry you, Declan O’Leary. I want to have more babies. After Daisy sleeps through the night. ”
I kiss her. I can’t help it. This beautiful woman just said yes to marrying me, and all is right with the world.
“Besides …” She licks her lips. “Third time lucky?”
I roll my eyes. “Shhhh.”
And then I kiss her again.