Chapter 48
FORTY-EIGHT
Lainey
Present Day
O nce I heard the knock, I rushed around my apartment, grabbing my jean jacket and purse and keys, and walked to the door. The smile was already on my face as I reached for the knob and opened it. But where I expected Rhett to be on the other side, there was someone else.
A beautiful little girl in pigtails and a baby-pink T-shirt with a matching tutu-style skirt and the most adorable pink Chucks. She was holding a bouquet of pink daisies that she handed to me. “For you.”
Her grin was so large, and I felt my own lips pull even wider.
“Thank you. You must be Daisy.”
“How did you know?”
I laughed. “I recognized your photo. Your uncle is very proud of you and has shown me many pictures of you.”
“He has?” She gave off a devilish grin. “Uncle ’Ett is my best friend. Did you know that?”
“I would say you’re his best friend too.” I could feel Rhett’s stare on me as he stood against the wall on the side of the door. I held out my hand to her. “I’m Lainey. It’s so lovely to finally meet you, Daisy.”
“Uncle ’Ett says your last name is Taylor. Do you know how cool that is? Taylor Swift is my favorite singer in the whole wide world. And since your name has Taylor in it, that makes me think you’re so cool too.” She shook my hand. “I’m Daisy”—she giggled—“but you already know that.”
When I went to pull my hand back, she readjusted the way she was holding it, keeping our fingers together, and said, “Come on, Lainey. We’re going to lunch. Uncle ’Ett says I’m buying. He-he.”
With her fingers now looped through mine, I let the door shut behind me and joined them in the hallway.
“I don’t think your uncle would ever let you buy,” I replied, giving her a little squeeze.
“Hi,” I said to Rhett. My cheeks flushed as I felt his gaze across my whole body.
“Hey, you.” He was giving me the sexiest grin as he put his arm around my shoulders, which placed me in between them.
“You’re right, Uncle ’Ett. Lainey is sooo pretty. Like, the prettiest, like Mommy and Auntie Row.”
He kissed my forehead. “I told you she was gorgeous, Daisy.”
“And she has the best hair ever.” She reached for one of my curls and bounced it in her hand. “I love it so much.”
“You two are making me blush,” I said.
As we reached the elevator, Daisy voiced, “Uncle ’Ett said I’m a surprise. Were you surprised to see me?”
I lifted the flowers from my side and smelled the daisies. “Big time,” I told her. “And I’m just as surprised that you gave me these. I love them. Thank you.”
“I picked them out all by myself. I thought you would love pink, just like me.”
“Hey, speaking of pink,” I said, “I heard you were a big influence in your uncle getting his toes painted sparkly pink.”
She put her hand over her mouth. “That was totally me.”
“I’m a big fan of the color. You picked out the perfect shade.” I winked at her.
“Uncle ’Ett showed you his toes?” Her eyes got big. “ Ewww .”
I laughed. “He did.”
“See, Uncle ’Ett, I did a good job! Even Lainey Taylor”—she giggled over my last name—“loves them!”
Daisy asked Rhett if she could hit the button.
Once she pushed it, Rhett said, “I think we need to go for another pedicure, Daisy, so I can get the color off. It’s time.”
“Another pink!” she replied. “Hot pink!”
“Oh, I bet hot pink would look amazing on you,” I said to Rhett.
He shook his head at me, smiling.
“I want you to come next time we get our toes done,” Daisy said, resting her face against my arm. “We can get matching ones too.”
“I would love that,” I told her. “So, tell me, Daisy, what are we eating for lunch?”
“Egg burritos!”
“That does sound delicious,” I replied. “Is that your favorite lunch?”
“I eat egg burritos every day.” She pushed a pigtail out of her face. “I just love them with extra-gooey cheese that squirts out the bottom. I try really hard not to get it all over me, but sometimes, it happens, and I’m covered in cheese.” She smiled. “That’s kinda the best part.”
“Sounds like a stomach disaster for Lainey,” Rhett said, grinning.
I laughed at him and replied to Daisy, “Gooey cheese sounds incredible.”
When the elevator dinged, Daisy released me and rushed inside to hit the button for the lobby. “Uncle ’Ett, you haven’t told us where we’re eating. Say burritos. Say burritos. Please!”
“I’ve got one more surprise up my sleeve,” he said. “The both of you are just going to have to wait a little bit before you find out where we’re going.”
“ Okaaay ,” Daisy sang. She looked at me as the doors closed. “His surprises are always the best.”
“What makes them the best?” I asked.
She seemed to think about the question and shrugged. “He knows what I love the mostest.”
“I know what you mean,” I said softly. “It’s like you don’t even have to tell him. And then he gives it to you, and it’s everything you’ve ever wanted.” I touched my neck where the diamond R sat.
“It’s ’cause he loves us,” she said, and she rushed over to him and hugged his waist.
“And I love you. Come here, kiddo.” He reached down and lifted her like she weighed no more than a feather and carried her out of the elevator to his car parked out front.
Even though he’d teased me about trying to get pregnant, I knew how badly he wanted a child.
We both did.
And seeing him with Daisy was something I couldn’t have prepared myself for. The patience he had with her, the way he looked at her, the way she looked at him.
She’d been his light since the day she had been born.
And for the years I couldn’t be there for him, Daisy had. She’d held his hand and walked him straight out of the storm. The best part was, that little girl didn’t even know it.
I could understand how Rhett could come across to people who didn’t know him. Or for even those who did, there was a roughness to him, like a callus. One that, I assumed, had taken shape after losing Pen. Anyone who had experienced what we had—what my whole family had—would never be the same.
But what was inside that man was pure love.
Someone who would make the most remarkable father.
Someone who would stand by my side for the rest of my life.
And someone who would never make me question his love.
Because I didn’t just feel it in my heart.
I felt it everywhere.
Once he got Daisy settled into the backseat, he opened my door for me, kissing me on the cheek. “I knew you’d be so motherly with her.” His voice was low so only I could hear. “But seeing how much she loves you already, fuck, Lainey, I can’t even explain how that’s making me feel.”
I smiled at him and held the flowers up to my face as I climbed into the passenger seat. I waited for him to close the door to put on my seat belt.
And as he started the car and pulled away from the curb, I said to Daisy, “Where do you think he’s taking us?”
“Somewhere that’s the best. I just know it.”
“The best, huh?” Rhett said. “That’s a lot of pressure, Daisy. I’d better be bringing you somewhere amazing.” He reached across the seat and held my hand.
“You promised me a delicious lunch,” I teased him. “So, I agree with Daisy. I hope we end up somewhere that’s the best.”
“You’re jumping on the bandwagon, I see.” He looked at me quickly to smile.
“Just a woman supporting another woman—that’s all,” I replied.
“That’s right, Uncle ’Ett. We’re besties already.”
Rhett laughed, and I did too. I turned even more and waved Daisy closer. She could only bend so far with how tightly she was buckled in.
“I have to tell you a secret.”
“Yay! Okay!”
I waited until she moved forward and whispered, “Will you tell your uncle something for me?”
She nodded.
I whispered out the message I wanted her to share and leaned back into the front seat, turning toward Rhett.
“What was that all about?” he asked.
“Daisy has something she needs to tell you.” I looked at Daisy and said, “Girl, you’re up.”
“Uncle ’Ett, Lainey says she wants to move to Iceland with you.”
The biggest grin was on Rhett’s lips. “Is that so?”
“ Mmhmm . She just told me. Is that another surprise, Uncle ’Ett?”
“It is,” he said. “A giant one.” He pulled my hand up to his mouth and kissed it. “I love you.”
“I love you too,” Daisy and I said at the same time.
Which made me laugh, and it made Rhett smile even harder—an expression I hadn’t known was possible for that man.
“Iceland …” He shook his head as though he couldn’t believe I’d finally made the decision.
“I wanna go to Iceland,” Daisy said. “Where’s Iceland?”
“It’s far, baby. But don’t worry, you’re coming too,” he said. “When the hotel is finished, your dad is going to bring you, and we’re going to have a massive party. Doesn’t that sound like fun?”
“I can’t wait, Uncle ’Ett.”
Rhett was careful when he pointed out the windshield, making sure Daisy didn’t see him, but I did, and as the sign came into view, I knew exactly why he wanted me to see it.
“Our first date,” he said softly.
God, this man.
Sentimental in a way I’d certainly never expected.
“It’s like you don’t even have to tell him. And then he gives it to you, and it’s everything you’ve ever wanted,” I said quietly, repeating the words I’d said to Daisy earlier because they were already coming into play again.
“I knew you’d love it for that reason,” he said. “The little one, she’ll love it for an entirely different reason.” He kissed along the back of my knuckles. “I think you should deliver the surprise.”
“I would love to.” I turned toward Daisy. “Before you go to Iceland, there’s another land I think you should visit first.”
Her eyes widened. “Where?”
I reached for her hand and squeezed her small, pink-painted fingers. “How about Disneyland?”
Her mouth dropped open. “We’re going to Disneyland?”
“Yes, ma’am, and guess who’s going to ride all the rides with you,” Rhett said.
“Lainey TAYLOR!” Daisy screamed.