Chapter 42 #2
He glances down at me and pecks my temple before refocusing on Naomi.
“She had been living with me for over a year. She was uh … about four at the time, throwing a fit and I …” he trails off and smiles.
“Her toddler years were not easy. It was all I could do sometimes to get through the day. I was at my whits end, so I tried to talk to her and patted my heart to try to help her understand what the emotional hurt meant or maybe felt like? I don’t know, but it clicked in her and she’s used it ever since to communicate with me when she’s struggling to explain how she feels. ”
I’m in awe of this man. He has no idea how amazing he is. For him to be able to help a young child understand something so difficult for even adults to reconcile with is … there are no words.
He glances at me again, and I pat my chest. And if I didn’t know his smile could get any brighter, it does.
He kisses me short and quick, and I nearly fall over myself, wishing he never stopped.
Naomi squeals, hitting her last target, and she points to a small stuffed horse.
Cooper groans. “We’re running out of room for all of these animals. I’m going to have to build an addition to fit them all,” he says with amusement in his voice.
“Daddy?”
“Yes, princess.”
“Why do you keep kissing, Mae?” she asks. Her face open and curious.
He glances at me and, right in the middle of the fair, drops down so they’re eye level. “I’ve been meaning to talk to you about that.”
She tilts her head, squeezing her horse.
“How would you feel if Mae lived with us?” he asks.
I stiffen, nervous, scared, unsure.
She tilts her head and furrows her brows as if she’s thinking about it.
“Is that okay, Naomi?” I ask her. I’ve never been so nervous for the opinion of a seven-year-old.
“Why?” she asks.
Cooper picks her up. “Because we love each other and we’re going to get married.”
“Do I get to wear a pretty dress?” she asks.
Cooper chuckles and kisses her cheek. “Yes, princess, the prettiest dress you’ve ever had.”
She purses her lips. “Does this mean I get to paint a girl’s nails instead of yours now?” she asks.
“Yes, it does. But, princess, listen to me closely. I love you so much, and that will never change. Mae loves you too. There’s so much love you’re going to explode from it!” he says, tickling her.
She shrieks and giggles, trying to wiggle her way out of his arms.
When he stops, she sighs and loops her arms around his neck. “There’s plenty of love to go around, Daddy,” Naomi says.
My heart stops for a second, utterly amazed by this little girl.
“Yes, sweetheart, there is plenty of love to go around,” he says and sets her down.
Naomi walks over to me and wraps her arms around my waist.
“I love you, Naomi.”
She peers up at me with a bright smile. “I love you too, and you love my daddy?”
I blink quickly, trying to hold back the tears, and glance at Cooper, his eyes already glossy. “Yes, I do,” I rasp.
“Okay,” she says, and takes my hand, continuing down the aisle of carnival games.
After she finishes her games, she goes to the small roller coaster intended for kids her size. She spots a friend from school, and they ride a few of them together while Cooper and I watch from the ground.
“Is the fair all you hoped it would be?” Cooper asks.
I know he’s saying it tongue in cheek, but little does he know it has been everything and more. I’m floating. Watching him with Naomi, and the gentle ways he claims me every time he touches me, the way Naomi simply accepted that I would be a part of her life is nothing short of a dream come true.
“It’s been amazing,” I rasp.
Naomi gets off the ride with her friend waving goodbye, and Cooper opens his hand for her, but she swoops past him reaching for mine. Shocked yet again by the ball of sunshine, I grip her hand and we walk to the next ride she said she wanted.
“Mae?” Naomi says.
“Yes, sweetheart?”
“I think you would make a good mommy,” she says.
Cooper trips over his feet, and I rush to help him, but he catches himself as Naomi skips into the line.
“Are you okay?”
He nods and lifts his hat, brushing his hair back. “Mhm, I’m good,” he rasps. “She’s right, but hearing it come out of her mouth…”
I kiss his cheek because there aren’t words and I’m afraid if I open my mouth only sobs will come out.
“Naomi always wants to do the Ferris wheel last, want to come?” Cooper asks.
“Why not? It’s been a long time since I’ve been on one of these.”
We get in line and Naomi plays with her little horse she won until it’s our turn to get on.
As the wheel moves around, my phone rings, and I reluctantly pull it out of my purse. I don’t recognize the number, but something tells me to answer it.
“Who is it?” Cooper asks.
“I don’t know,” I mumble and tap the button. “Hello?”
“Hi, is this Mae Morgan?” the woman says.
“Yes, may I ask who’s calling?”
“This is Lisa at Silver Hill Ranch. I was hoping you had availability for a client. We booked three weddings, and they all need florists. I know you’ve been waiting for a phone call on our final decision, but I’ve been so busy I haven’t had the chance, so we’ll consider this the call to tell you we would love to work with you.
So, do you have availability this year?”
My jaw drops and I stare out over the fair, but I’m not seeing anything. I’m in total shock.
“Baby, what’s wrong?” Cooper asks, squeezing my shoulder gently.
“Hello?” Lisa says.
“I—” I rasp.
Cooper takes the phone and talks to Lisa.
“Sorry, I think the reception is bad. Yes, you can put her down for all of those. Sure, you can email the times that work for the brides. She’ll schedule it from there.
” He pauses. “Not a problem. Thank you for calling. You have a good one,” he says, and hangs up.
“You did it, Mae,” he says.
I blink and look at him, and Naomi grinning wildly.
“Baby, you've got your first clients.”
“I did?” I knew it was a toss-up if they’d agree to work with me, but I didn’t expect to get three clients at the same time. I barely expected one, if they even agreed to the partnership.
“Yay!” Naomi yells and hugs my arm.
I hug her back, still in shock.
The Ferris wheel comes to a stop, and it’s our turn to get off. Cooper helps Naomi onto the platform before hopping off and helping me down. He pulls me into a hug and kisses my cheek. “I’m so proud of you, stubborn.”
I huff into his neck and hold him tightly.
“Y’all gotta get off,” a young man working the ride says, tossing his thumb to the exit.
I start down the stairs and Cooper chuckles, holding fast to my hand.
“See Mae? It’s all falling into place.”
I grab Cooper’s face and slam my mouth onto his. He grunts in surprise and then wraps his arms around my waist, lifting me off the ground.
“Ew, Daddy, stop kissing Mae, it’s gross,” Naomi says.
We pull away chuckling, and he sets me on my feet.
“Sorry, princess, I just really love her.”
“What about me?” Naomi pouts.
I squat down and pull her into a hug and kiss her cheek. “We love you too, Naomi. "
She beams and catches something over my shoulder. “Can we do bumper cars? We haven’t done those yet.”
“Princess, you’re out of tickets.”
“Please!” Naomi whines.
“Please?” I ask Cooper.
He beams, looking between us. “How can I say no to that?”
We stay at the fair, celebrating, staying up way past Naomi’s bedtime, but making memories that we’ll forever have together. Yet I can feel that clock ticking in the back of my mind.
Cooper points to another ride, drawing Naomi’s attention to it, while we wait in line to play the duck fishing game.
And all I can think is, if he loses her, it will tear him apart.