Chapter 18
eighteen
AIDAN
Ilean against a nearby tree, arms crossed, watching Isla by the water’s edge. She’s close enough that I can keep an eye on her but far enough that I have a moment to think. Not that my thoughts are playing nice.
Lucy kneels a few feet away, turning a flat stone over in her hand, the sunlight catching in her hair. She looks so at ease, like she’s made for this place.
I shift my gaze to the hills, trying to ground myself. This was supposed to be a simple outing. But with her here…it’s anything but straightforward.
“It looks like Isla is having a good time,” Lucy’s soft voice pulls me from my thoughts. I hadn’t even noticed her come up beside me.
When I glance down at her, I’m struck by how small she is next to me. The top of her head barely brushes my shoulder, and yet, she somehow fills any space she’s in more than anyone I’ve ever known. It’s her presence. She doesn’t need to take up much room to leave a mark.
It’s always her eyes that really get to me, though. They’re not just expressive. They speak. Every time I catch her gaze, it feels like they’re sharing a story, a secret. Right now, they’re so bright, so damn happy, that it sends a tightness through my chest.
I nod, forcing my tone to stay even. “She loves anything with water. Always has.”
She tilts her head, watching me. There’s something in her gaze, something too warm, too understanding. I don’t know what to do with it.
“You’re a really good dad,” she says gently.
The words land like a punch to the gut. I look away, jaw tightening. “I just do what I can.”
She doesn’t respond right away, just keeps studying me like she’s trying to decide whether to push or let it go.
“Still,” she says after a moment, “it shows.”
The silence that follows isn’t uncomfortable, but it’s heavy. Too heavy and filled with unspoken thoughts I’m not ready to voice.
She hasn’t asked for details about Isla’s mum yet, which surprises me. I half expected her to, the way anyone else would. But she hasn’t said a word. Not once.
Most people would’ve pried by now. It’s a natural question, one I’ve answered a hundred times.
Lucy just…lets me be. I don’t know what to make of it.
I almost want to tell her everything just to get it out of my system.
At the same time, I’m relieved she hasn’t asked. Some things are easier left buried.
That’s the thing, though. She makes me want to dig them up.
I shift my weight, the rough tree bark biting into my shoulder. Before I can dwell on it further, a splash and a delighted squeal pull my attention back to Isla. I snap my gaze to her, relief flooding through me at the distraction. She’s grinning, clearly having the time of her life.
“Daddy, look!” she calls out, holding up a dripping stone. “I found a sparkly one!”
I force a grin, anything to push the weight of the moment between me and Lucy aside. “That’s a good one, love. Nice find.”
The heavy thoughts can wait. Right now, there’s nothing more important than Isla’s laughter carrying over the water, the pure joy lighting up her face as she darts through the shallows.
Her world is small and simple and safe, made up of smooth stones and cold water and the comfort of people who love her.
She comes barreling toward us, breathless and holding a glinting stone high.
Then she veers—not to me, but Lucy.
Lucy lowers to meet her, her voice enthusiastic as she leans in to examine the stone like it’s the most important thing in the world. Isla beams, soaking it up like sunlight.
I’m frozen. Watching.
It shouldn’t matter. It’s just a kid with a rock. Just a woman being kind.
But it does matter because that space, those little, sparkling moments of wonder and closeness, have always been mine. Me and Isla, weathering the storms. Just us. And now Lucy’s standing in the middle of it, and it doesn’t feel wrong at all.
I swallow hard, hands shoved deep into my pockets to stop myself from fidgeting. I force a breath.
This is what I was worried about. Not just me falling for someone, but Isla, too.
She looks at Lucy as if she trusts her. It’s happening too fast, and I’m fucking terrified that this could be real.
That I could want it enough to forget all the ways things fall apart or that Isla could start to depend on her.
If Lucy ever decides to walk away, what then?
What happens when Isla turns to show her another sparkly stone and Lucy’s not there to see it?
Isla continues to chatter about the rock. It’s sweet. So damn innocent, but she’s too young to know what it means to let people in. She hasn’t learned that people can leave you even when they swear they won’t. They don’t mean to hurt you, but they do, anyway.
And sometimes, they just stop showing up.
I step forward, trying to shove the wariness and fear somewhere deep and unreachable. Lucy is anything but a threat, and I won’t let my own damage shape the way Isla loves people.
Christ, this is hard. I’m losing control, but I’m the one who invited someone into our world. I opened a door and didn’t think about how I’d close it if I had to.
Because that’s the thing. I did open it. I let her in.
I did it because some reckless, aching part of me wondered if maybe, this time, it could be different. I knew it wouldn’t be easy, but I didn’t expect it to hurt like hell, either.
In the end, I’m the one who’s going to keep opening the door. I’m the one who’ll let her come back until her laugh becomes part of our story.
All I can do now is hope that she’s not just passing through.