Chapter 7 - The Little Girl's Birthday
Lily's seventh birthday was held in a small backyard.
No ballroom.
No chandeliers.
No expensive guests.
Just balloons, cake, children, and laughter.
Daniel arrived wearing a ridiculous blue birthday hat.
Lily screamed with laughter.
“You actually wore it!”
“You made me promise.”
Emma smiled.
“I've never seen him look this ridiculous.”
Daniel pretended to be offended.
“This is fashion.”
Lily laughed.
Then she handed him a present.
Daniel opened it.
Inside was a framed photograph.
It showed Lily walking down the wedding aisle.
She was holding a basket of flowers.
Daniel looked at it.
“That day feels like another lifetime.”
Lily nodded.
“You were angry.”
“Yes.”
“You hurt me.”
Daniel looked down.
“I know.”
“But then you said sorry.”
Daniel swallowed.
“I meant it.”
Lily hugged him.
“I know.”
Emma watched them.
Something in her chest tightened.
Daniel had become family.
Not because of money.
Not because of the Whitmore name.
Because he had chosen to protect her daughter.
Later that evening, after the children went inside, Emma and Daniel sat beneath the porch lights.
“You're different,” Emma said.
“So are you.”
“I was always afraid.”
“Of my father?”
“Of everyone.”
Daniel nodded.
“I understand.”
Emma looked at him.
“What are you afraid of now?”
He thought about it.
“Hurting someone I love.”
She smiled.
“That's a good fear.”
They sat quietly.
Then Daniel said:
“Would you let me take Lily to the park next Saturday?”
Emma raised an eyebrow.
“Just you?”
“If you're comfortable.”
“I am.”
Daniel smiled.
“I want to be part of her life.”
Emma looked at him for a long moment.
“You already are.”
Neither noticed Lily standing inside the doorway.
She grinned.
The next morning, Lily asked Emma a question.
“Mommy?”
“Yes?”
“Can Daniel be my family?”
Emma hugged her.
“He already is.”
Lily smiled.
Then she asked another question.
“Can you be his family too?”
Emma laughed.
“Why are you asking that?”
“Because he looks lonely.”
Emma looked toward the kitchen.
Daniel was making pancakes.
He was terrible at it.
May you like
She smiled.
“Maybe he doesn't have to be.”
