52. Cal
Chapter fifty-two
Cal
I shouldn’t have panicked. Khia ran a twenty-four-hour fever and bounced back the next day, asking for cinnamon rolls for breakfast. Cinnamon rolls.
My girl had more faith in my culinary skills than I did.
And Khia was more worried about missing her birthday than being sick.
“Is my birthday canceled?” she’d asked between licking her popsicle as we cuddled on the couch watching Mulan after I came home from practice.
I chuckled and kissed the top of her head. “No, sweetie, you’ll still turn five on Saturday.” How was that even possible?
“Will I get a puppy?” she wheedled, lashes fluttering up at me sleepily as her head sank heavier on my shoulder.
I shifted the melting popsicle to a small bowl so it wouldn’t drip all over the couch. “No puppy—”
“A mommy, then? Can it be Miss Noelle? I love her.”
My chest tightened. Me, too, kiddo. “It’s a surprise, but you’ll like it. I promise.”
“M’kay, Daddy.” She sniffled and gave a little cough before snuggling closer. In a few quick breaths, she was fast asleep.
After all the popsicles, fresh air, and princess movies, she was fine by the weekend, and the day moved forward in full swing. What she didn’t know was that we’d planned a surprise party. Now more than ever I was glad I hadn’t told her about it beforehand.
We spent all day at Noelle’s house, trying to keep her away from the windows while my family snuck into my place and decorated. Team effort at its finest.
So far, we’d had a tea party, made cinnamon rolls, and watched Cinderella. Not a bad start. But now it was time for the surprise party.
“Can you grab her gift from my room?” Noelle whispered, herding Khia down the hall to the bathroom. “I’ll get her in the princess dress and finish her hair.”
“On it.”
Noelle’s room was simple. The furniture was part of the rental agreement, but the colours and decor?
All Noelle, with yellows and soft blues.
I hadn’t taken a good look at it the night I’d tucked her in after she fell asleep on the couch, but it was her.
Peaceful. Organized. Soft. I paused for a moment to breathe it in.
Focus. I grabbed the neatly wrapped present tucked inside the open closet but hesitated when a white-and-blue sleeve dangled off a hanger in front of me.
And look, I wasn’t proud of what I did, but curiosity killed the man.
I tugged on the fabric and a jersey fell into my hand. My old jersey from when we were engaged.
She kept it.
I wasn’t sure why it hit me so hard. Maybe it was knowing I’d still mattered to her, even when we were apart.
Then I noticed a very familiar hoodie that always looked better on Noelle than it did on me.
Warmth flooded my veins. She’d been wearing it the morning I asked her to nanny Khia, and I hadn’t seen it since. But she’d kept it. Kept a part of me.
We needed to talk. Soon. And preferably follow that up with some kissing.
I think one of the best parts about being a parent was watching the way your kid’s eyes lit up as they experienced the world around them.
The joy in Khia’s eyes was an immediate shot of serotonin.
It was simple balloons and streamers, but to her?
It was a magical world, making her whole face brighten.
Swallowing the lump in my throat, I once again breathed a silent prayer of thanks for the blessing of such an incredible family.
I couldn’t have done this single-parent thing without them behind me.
And here they were, still making my girl’s dreams of a fairy garden party come true.
Even Rosie Cotton dressed for the occasion, trussed up in a floral wreath around her collar.
The dog had the patience of a saint, I tell you.
My entire living room was transformed with flowers, balloon arches, and streamers.
But it was more than just the decorations or my family’s help. The true magic was really Noelle.
She’d been a driving force in making all this happen. Even on flare days when we had to do planning from the couch, Noelle let me hold her after Khia went to bed and we made plans. She wanted to be a part of my girl’s life. Her eyes danced at the thought of bringing Khia happiness.
Unlike Izzy.
Khia’s own mother had wanted nothing to do with her.
I knew the depression was part of it, but even before Khia was born, Izzy was apathetic to her.
Not Noelle. She made my daughter’s eyes light up, entered into her childlike wonder, and had stolen both our hearts.
Part and parcel, Khia and I were both goners for the pretty blonde with a heart of gold.
Who’d made my girl’s day magical, just by being a part of our lives.
And my little girl was five years old. How? Just yesterday she’d been a newborn. Now she was reading.
Greyson clapped my shoulder. “They grow up fast.”
There was that twin telepathy again. Or maybe he was in a sentimental mood.
“Soon she’ll be interested in boys. Graduating school—”
I held up a hand. “Don’t start or I might cry.” I was only half joking.
Khia scampered over and grabbed Greyson’s hand. “Can we open presents, Daddy? Please?” Then she giggled. “Oops, wrong one.” She grabbed my hand so she was hanging onto both of us.
“Sure, kiddo.” I winked at her, and she bolted away.
But I didn’t miss the flash of pain and longing on my brother’s face. It was my turn to squeeze his shoulder in silent sympathy. She didn’t mistake us often, and it was never on purpose. His throat bobbed, his posture stoic.
We’d talked about it before, but I knew now wasn’t the time for another heart-to-heart, so instead I said, “Did you and Pais spoil her rotten?”
He scoffed. “Of course.”
And they had.
“Daddy! It’s Jason Lark!” Khia squealed, holding the CD album from her aunt and uncle over her head. “And it’s in space!”
“Did you listen to it first?” I ribbed my brother.
Greyson chuckled. “How could you think that?”
“You’re as obsessed as she is.”
Presents led to cupcakes—pink and glittery to the max. Khia scrunched up her nose, eyes shut before she blew out the five flickering candles.
“Did you make a good wish?” I asked, handing her an unwrapped cupcake.
“Yup.” Icing smeared on her nose as she took a huge bite, and she grinned at me. Once the cupcake was gone, she tugged on my hand. “Picture time.”
I scooped her up, and Greyson grabbed his phone. It was tradition to take pictures on birthdays. She liked seeing how much she grew, since she was determined to be taller than me.
Khia tugged my hair. “Wait. Miss Noelle needs to be in it. Miss Noelle!”
Noelle hesitated a fraction, eyes locked on mine, silent conversation flying between us.
Am I overstepping? Do you want me?
You’re family, Elle.
I held a hand out to her, and her smile was breathtaking. The cracked edges of my heart smoothed over. I’d been crazy about this woman at nineteen, but it was something so much more now. Deeper. Stronger. Steadier.
Noelle quickly swiped the icing from Khia’s nose, making her giggle. Once Khia had an arm around each of us, Greyson took the picture.
“Wanna know what I wished for?” Khia asked after the photo, peering up at both of us with hopeful eyes. “I wished for a mommy.” She flung her arms around Noelle’s legs. “I want this one.”
Noelle’s eyes shimmered as she held onto the little girl.
And I blinked back some prickling tears of my own.
Yeah, I want her, too, kiddo. The picture was crystal clear in my heart.
White dress and tulle—funny, I didn’t hate the idea anymore.
Noelle in my jersey, a baby on her hip—with her curls and my eyes.
I was absolutely going to marry this woman.
“Time for games!” Khia announced, sentimentality having run its course and bouncing right back into fun-mode.
Somewhere in between pin the crown on the princess and the second call for cupcakes, I cornered Noelle in the hallway, just out of sight from all the guests in the living room.
What I really wanted to say was Will you marry me? Maybe tomorrow? But that was too soon. I could wait a little longer. Little being the key word. “You kept my jersey,” I said, bracketing both hands on the wall beside her head.
She arched an eyebrow. “Snooping, were we?”
“Stop changing the subject.”
Noelle smiled, her hands running over my shoulders to loop around my neck. “What can I say? Your clothes are comfortable.”
“You have no idea how much I love seeing you wearing my number again.” Slipping an arm around her lower back, I tugged her close and pressed a kiss to her smirking lips.
“Thank you for helping make this so special for her,” I added, pulling back a fraction.
Not quite ready to leave the heady cocoon of us.
“I love that girl, Cal.”
My heart swelled, thundering in my chest. Finding a woman who’d love my daughter had been my main qualm with dating again. And yet . . . I had. Because there was absolutely no doubt in my mind about Noelle’s sincerity.
“I know,” I said softly, brushing my thumb under her eyes, then trailed kisses across her cheek. Her eyes fluttered shut when I moved to her jawline. “And I love you,” I whispered.
“I love you, too.” She pressed a final kiss to my lips, then ducked under my arm still propped against the wall. “C’mon, Cap. We can canoodle later.”
“I’m holding you to that promise, Holiday.” And I followed after her, goofy smile on my face.