~Noel~
It’s been a fast week. I can’t believe it’s Friday. I’m exhausted, but if all goes well today, I’ll be all caught up and free to take the weekend off with my two favorite people.
I haven’t seen Reed since Wednesday when he surprised me at the office. And I haven’t seen Piper since Sunday. We’ve been FaceTiming every evening, but it’s not the same.
Reed told me last night that Piper’s been fussier than normal, and when he asked her why, she said she misses me.
Yes, that melted my heart.
If you’d asked me a month ago if I’d ever consider dating a single dad, I would have said absolutely not. I’m not convinced I want to be a parent, or I wasn’t anyway. And not because I don’t like kids, but because my lifestyle is very…adult. I live in a condo in the city. I work long hours. I barely see my sister and dad. I don’t know how I’d find time for children.
And that’s still a concern for me. But I know that I’m in love with Reed and Piper, and I miss them every day that I don’t see them.
So I’m ready to get through this day and get to Reed’s house this evening.
With a spring in my step, I walk around the corner to Cherry Street Coffee House and stop short when I walk inside and see who’s at the counter.
“What are you doing here?” I ask as I approach.
“Making time,” Reed says with a smile. He passes me my coffee and leans in to kiss my lips. “I wanted to see you this morning.”
“Thank you.” I have butterflies. Not little ones, but huge, gigantic butterflies. He made it into the city early, came to my favorite spot where he knew he’d catch me, and bought my coffee.
Is it any wonder I’m in love with him?
He leads me to our table in the corner, but before I can follow him, Shannon waves to catch my attention and then mouths I REALLY LIKE HIM.
I respond with ME TOO! And follow my man to our seats.
“How are you this morning?” I ask before taking a sip.
“Tired. Ready for the weekend. How are you?”
“The same.” I grin as he reaches over to link his fingers with mine. “But as of this afternoon, I’ll be all caught up and can enjoy the weekend. Do we have plans?”
“I thought it would be fun to take Piper to look at Christmas lights. Not that there are many homes as beautiful as mine, thanks to you, but it might be a good time.”
“I’m game. I love doing that. We used to do it all the time when we were kids.”
“We did, too.”
“Did you know the botanical gardens in Bellevue have a fantastic holiday lights display?”
“I think I heard that,” he says. “Let’s do that, too.”
“Sounds good.”
Reed’s phone rings, and he pulls it out of his jacket to answer. He frowns when he looks at the caller ID.
“Hello? Yes. That’s good news.” His face relaxes but then tightens again as the person keeps talking. “You’re kidding. When? I’ll be there.”
He hangs up, tosses the phone onto the table, and runs his hand down his face.
“What’s wrong?”
“That was Piper’s social worker. The one who brought her to me in the first place. She has news.”
I reach over to take his hand. “What’s the news?”
“It seems Piper’s maternal grandparents have surfaced. And they want to meet her.”
“I’m confused.”
“That makes two of us.” He drinks his coffee. “I was told that Vanessa had no immediate family, but it turns out they were just estranged. So the grandparents want Piper.”
His brown eyes hold mine.
“What if they want to take her away from me?”
“Not gonna happen.”
He licks his lips. The confident man I know is nervous.
“It’s literally not going to happen, Reed.”
“You’re right,” he says, nodding as he forces a smile. “It’s just a formality. I guess we’ll find out Monday, won’t we? I’ll call my attorney as soon as I get to the office.”
“I can take off work today and—”
“No, don’t be ridiculous,” he interrupts. “You’re right, this is nothing. I’ll see you this evening. Just come over after you’re finished at work.”
“Okay. If you need me before then, just call.”
We stand and toss our empty cups into the recycling.
“I’m fine.” He kisses my temple. “Thank you. See you soon.”
He hurries out, and I’m left to frown after him. He says everything’s fine, but it’s not. He shut down, went a little cold on me. I know this new development has him unsettled.
And we both have to get to work.
But I’m worried about him.
I’ll do my best to wrap things up early so I can get over to Reed’s as soon as possible.
* * * *
“Hello?”
I still have the codes to Reed’s house, so I walk inside and frown when I don’t see or hear anyone. It’s just past two in the afternoon. I was a maniac at my desk today.
I think I scared Alison.
The thought of that makes me laugh. Actually, nothing scares Alison.
Okay, maybe the thought of her boss getting it on behind a closed door startled her.
I’m still smiling at the thought when I hear the garage door open. Reed and Piper must just be getting home.
“Noel!” Piper calls as she hurries into the house. She drops her unicorn backpack and runs to me, arms outstretched for a hug. “You’re here!”
“I’m here,” I agree and kneel so I can wrap my arms around her and smooch her cheek. “I get to spend the whole weekend with you. How are you, baby girl?”
“Good. My friend Abby got a new puppy, and she got to bring it to class for us to see. It’s so cute!”
“I bet it is.”
“She’s been begging me for a puppy since I picked her up,” Reed says as I stand and offer him a hug as well. “I’m glad you’re here.”
“Me, too. I finished up early and came right over.”
“Are we gonna watch movies this weekend?” Piper asks.
“I think we will,” Reed replies. “But after dinner, we’re going to take a drive to see some pretty lights. What do you think about that?”
“I like Christmas lights,” Piper says. “Can I have chicken stwips for dinner?”
“I picked some up,” I confirm, earning a surprised look from Reed. “I grabbed a few groceries on my way. I’m going to cook tonight, if that’s okay.”
“That’s perfect,” he says. He looks tired, and his eyes still look strained. “You’re my hero today.”
“I’m just a hungry girl,” I reply with a laugh and walk out to my car to retrieve the bags of groceries. Reed and Piper follow, and I pass Piper a bag of bread but pretend it’s really heavy. “Be careful with this one. You need lots of muscles to carry it.”
Piper giggles. “It’s not heavy.”
“Maybe you’re just strong.”
Piper helps me unpack the groceries, and I make us a snack of cheese and crackers with a sliced apple and some grapes as I get to work on getting dinner in the oven. We sing songs and dance around the kitchen, having our own little party while I work.
“Can I have the iPad?” Piper asks. This is the usual time of day that the little girl gets to have some screen time, so I set it up for her and then go in search of Reed.
But he’s not in the house.
I look again in his bedroom, his office, but he’s nowhere to be found.
“He would have told me if he was leaving the house,” I murmur as I glance outside and see Reed sitting on a chair, watching the Sound below.
I check on Piper real quick. “Honey, I’m going to step outside for just a minute, okay? I’ll be right back.”
She doesn’t even look up when she says, “Okay.”
I walk outside, pulling my cardigan around me against the cold air. Reed sits, one ankle balanced on the other knee, his fingers steepled under his chin.
He’s clearly deep in thought.
“Penny for your thoughts,” I say as I nudge his leg down so I can climb into his lap.
“I’m just zoning out.”
I kiss his jaw, his neck, and then whisper in his ear, “Bullshit.”
His arms tighten around me. “Work was busy today. I need to hire a nanny. I just have a lot on my mind.”
“Okay.” I don’t like that he’s pulled back a bit, but I understand stress, and sometimes you just need someone to listen. To hug you and be there with you.
So I don’t push.
“What’s Piper up to?”
“She’s watching the iPad. Dinner’s in the oven. When I went to look for you, I worried when I couldn’t find you.”
“Sorry. I just wanted some fresh air.”
“It’s cold out here.”
“I’m not so cold with you on my lap. You’re a nice blanket.”
I laugh and bury my face in his neck. “I’m happy to help.”