Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 79898 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 399(@200wpm)___ 320(@250wpm)___ 266(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79898 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 399(@200wpm)___ 320(@250wpm)___ 266(@300wpm)
This was the moment – this was my time to make a move – but god, I felt so awkward that it was nearly unbearable. Harper was giving me an amused look and I knew that she was enjoying seeing Nico Ulrich, disarmed and cumbersome.
I cleared my throat.
“Sweetheart, I’m your daddy,” I said. Ada turned to look at me with a surprised expression on her little face.
“And I’m so happy to finally meet you,” I added sincerely.
Harper blushed and Ada’s eyes grew even wider.
“Why don’t you tell your daddy about how you were sick?” Harper suggested.
Ada giggled, then suddenly grew animated and came to life.
“I threw up,” she said, holding her chin in the air with the arrogant manner of a true Ulrich. “A lot,” she amended. “Lots and lots.”
Harper nodded. “She did. It’s true.”
“And I got to nap in Mommy’s big bed,” Ada said. She gnawed on her lower lip and clapped her little hands together.
She was clearly already getting comfortable with me, and I had to admit that it warmed my heart. Looking at the little girl I’d made with Harper, I suddenly felt like miracles were not only real, but they were happening right now, in my life.
“But you’re feeling better now?” I asked.
Ada nodded. She blinked at me.
“Is there something we could get that would help you feel even more better?” I asked.
Ada opened her lips and gulped, then giggled. “Bunny,” she said.
“There’s a huge stuffed rabbit in the window of FAO Schwarz,” Harper said, raising an eyebrow at me behind Ada’s back and smirking.
“I see,” I said. “I bet that bunny is going to have a great new home here.”
Ada squealed and clapped her hands together again, bouncing eagerly in Harper’s arms.
“The next time I see you, I’ll make sure to bring the bunny,” I said.
Ada smiled and giggled.
“Do you really have to leave?” Harper asked. She bit her lip. “I feel like you just got here.”
“I have some things to take care of,” I said, not wanting Ada to hear the truth – that I was more in need of a drink than I’d ever been in my entire life, and Clint was surely waiting with a bottle of pricey whiskey.
Harper went over to the couch and laid Ada down, then came back to me and looked up at me from below her lashes.
“We’ll talk more tomorrow,” I promised her. “I just need some space. I promise, I’m fine, but I need to think.”
Harper nodded, although she didn’t look convinced.
Ada was watching us from the couch, and I waved at her.
“See you soon, honey,” I said. “You feel better, okay?”
Ada nodded. “I will,” she said. “The bunny will help.”
I laughed shortly. Only three years old and my daughter had clearly inherited many traits from my side of the family.
I kissed Harper, then made my way to the door. I was clearly in need of some time with Clint and a few drinks, but still, leaving Harper and Ada was much harder than I ever anticipated it would be.
Already, I was counting the minutes until we were all together again.
28
Harper – Wednesday
I couldn’t shake the surreal feeling, even after Nico had left. Ada was still sitting on the couch and she peered at me expectantly.
“Mommy?”
“What is it, sweetie?” I asked as I went over and sat next to her. “Are you feeling okay?”
Ada let out a big breath. “Is he really my daddy?”
I nodded. “Yes, hon,” I replied. “He is.”
“Where was he?” Ada asked, and inwardly I groaned. I’d expected that Nico would have tons of questions.
I should’ve expected that Ada would have them, too, and that she would be even more persistent than Nico.
“He was, well, he was here,” I said.
“But we lived with Pop-pop,” Ada said, and I could tell that she wasn’t going to let this go easily. “Where was Daddy?”
“He was ...” I trailed off and bit my lip. I wasn’t sure that this was the kind of conversation that I should be having with Ada, at least not without Nico. No doubt that he would want to construct his own narrative.
No.
On second thought, I wouldn’t let him. I wanted Ada to know the truth, even if she was angry at me for it. But three years old wasn’t the appropriate age to delve into such topics, and I knew it would have to wait a few years.
“I promise, Mommy and Daddy will talk about this with you,” I said. I reached over to Ada’s forehead and felt it, checking for a fever. “But right now, you need to focus on getting better ... which means lots and lots of rest, understand?”
Thankfully, Ada seemed to accept that answer and she nodded slowly.
We lay down on the couch for a little bit, then I took Ada into the bathroom and gave her a quick bath. She seemed far less listless today than she had been in the past few days, and I was overwhelmingly grateful that her bronchitis was starting to fade.