Three Wishes (Dreams Come True - Emma Nichols

Three Wishes Dreams Come True, Book Three

By emma nichols

Dedication: For Danielle, Tammy, and Steph: Thank you for making this book possible by questioning, pushing, arguing, and forcing me to be better, more creative, and true to my characters. So much love for you!

Copyright © 2015 by emma nichols 1st Edition All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever including Internet usage, without written permission of the author. This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. Cover by Marisa Shor of Cover Me, Darling Formatting by: Affordable Formatting

Prologue Ben College was supposed to be this awesome experience, but as I ended my first semester freshmen year, I remained unconvinced and completely uninspired. Everyone else seemed to enjoy it. Sebastian thrived in his art and business courses, which made sense as he could put everything to immediate use. Gabriel

was all nose to the grindstone in his business courses when he wasn’t serial dating. Matt had soccer and his sports medicine classes to keep himself busy. Ian surprised us with an interest in theology, but we didn’t judge. Why was it such a struggle for me? Though I didn’t have an appointment with my advisor, I knew he had office hours now and I needed his help with picking my courses for the spring semester. After parking the Porsche Panamera in the student lot, I rushed across campus toward Professor

Morceau’s second floor office. With my bag slung over my shoulder, I took the stairs by two and was disappointed to see his door almost completely closed, which suggested someone had beat me to him. As I sat in the chair nearest the door, I couldn’t help but overhear the conversation taking place within. “I don’t know what to do.” The girl sniffled loudly and I could hear tissues being pulled from the box the professor kept on the corner of his desk. “Here,” Professor Morceau murmured.

“Thanks.” There was a pause in the conversation as she blew her nose. A moment later she spoke. “He knew I was pregnant. We talked about it. Then I went to work the overnight shift at the diner. It was slow and I decided to surprise him.” She sobbed. “Sorry. It’s just…” Her voice trailed off and I could almost picture her struggling to pull herself together. My heart hurt for her. “There was a girl walking out of his dorm room. She had…these hickeys on her neck.” She hiccupped as she tried to control her emotions.

“She could’ve been visiting his roommate,” Professor Morceau suggested kindly. “He doesn’t have a roommate,” the girl cried. Something in her voice spoke to me. Even though I had all these doubts about my future, she suddenly inspired me. A former English teacher always claimed everyone had a story. While I didn’t really enjoy writing, never truly finding a talent for it, I could capture people on film. Still photos weren’t enough. I wanted to make movies, or

documentaries maybe. While she talked, I reached into my bag and pulled out a pen and a notebook. I started jotting down ideas, what I could do, how I would accomplish it. I’d heard about this guy in New York City who had started a project to tell the stories of those he happened upon in the city. He took stills and wrote up interviews. He had a blog, Humans of New York. It was amazing. Maybe I could do something similar, only with videos. Maybe in the process of finding others, I could find myself.

The idea stole most of my focus. I barely heard the rest of the conversation, but I noticed the sudden quiet. Leaning toward the door, I continued to scribble on my pad as the door finally flew open and the girl stormed out into the hall, startling me. I jumped and dropped my pen. As I began to lean over to pick it up, she squatted and snatched it from the floor between her feet. She glanced at my pad and must’ve seen a few words. Clearly, she knew I had been listening. Staring at me

a moment, I could see her eyes filling with tears once more. I felt completely bewildered, but as I met her gorgeous green eyes rimmed with wet lashes, I was struck by how badly I wanted to ease her sorrow. I reached in my coat pocket, hoping I had something to offer her to dry her eyes. Instead, I found lint and a box of Tic Tacs. Passing me the pen, she nodded at my paper. “Did you get all that?” Her eyebrow rose in challenge. Before I could put together a response, she had stood suddenly and strode angrily away.

“You inspire me,” I spluttered. I watched, hoping she’d turn around, but instead, she broke out into a full sprint. My shoulders drooped. When I looked up, Professor Morceau leaned in the doorway studying me. “I wasn’t trying to eavesdrop.” I struggled to explain. His mouth made a grim line. “I never suggested you were. Come in.” This was the first time I sat down with him, and the day I found the girl who changed everything for me. Though I looked for her everywhere, we didn’t

meet again for three years until I prepared to graduate from college and needed to decide what to do next. Again, she beat me to my advisor’s office, my crying girl. I heard the sniffling as I sat in the chair outside the door. “You could’ve called,” Professor Morceau suggested. “You refuse to get a cell phone. I think we both know why a call wasn’t possible.” She released a mirthless laugh. I heard shoes padding back and forth across the floor. “Sit down at least. It can’t be that

bad.” “I can’t sit. I can’t stay. I have to get back before Ollie wakes.” She sighed heavily. “We have to meet the doctor in a few hours for the test results. If they can’t tell you over the phone, it’s bad.” She hiccupped. “Does ‘we’ mean you finally reconciled with the father?” Professor Morceau’s voice sounded flat. “No, we is me and Ollie, same as always. Us against the world.” She released a mirthless laugh. “I don’t know what to say.”

Professor Morceau sighed. “You never know what to say. Words were never your thing.” She sounded angry and frustrated. “I’ve gotta go. I don’t even know why I came here.” Then the door flew open again. This time, I was prepared. Standing, I held out a handkerchief. I’d started carrying them with me after the first time I met her. “Here. Take it.” She stared at me a moment. This time the tears spilled over her cheeks and rushed down her face. Reaching out,

she held the soft linen in her hands a moment, then she fell into my arms. I held her close while I murmured in her hair. “I don’t know why you’re crying,” I whispered. “All I know is I wish I could take your pain away.” It wasn’t much, but it was the truth. My heart had ached for her since our first meeting. The pain was both real and acute. For several minutes, we stood there with her face buried in my chest. Professor Morceau looked at us thoughtfully, then backed away and disappeared inside his office once more.

When she finally stopped crying, she gazed up at me sadly. “For some reason, I believe you.” Then she wrapped her hands around my neck, forcing my head toward hers. Her eyelids shut, but mine never did as she leaned in and touched her lips to mine. A warmth spread through me, building like a wildfire, sparked from a simple kiss. As quickly as she had burst through the door, she backed away and rushed down the hall, taking my handkerchief with her. From then on, the crying girl was forever in my heart and thoughts. I never

told anyone about her. There was nothing to tell, really. I didn’t even speak about it with Professor Morceau, since it seemed rather personal to him. Over time, as the years passed, I gave up and decided I’d never see her again.

Chapter One Ben Alone in the dark, I sighed as the wedding video I’d made for Sebastian and Marisa ended. After I pulled it out of the computer drive and stuck the DVD into the case, I leaned back in my chair and stared out the window into the quiet cold Saturday night. My growling stomach reminded me I hadn’t eaten.

Without thinking, I picked up my cell from the desk, planning on calling the guys. Though my finger hovered over my contacts, I realized I had no one to call. Everyone but me seemed to have paired up nicely. Okay, not Ian, but since he’d joined the military after college, he also was otherwise occupied. Opening my emails, I checked for some evidence I still had a life. Judging by my inbox, I didn’t have much of one. Although, there was one email marked as urgent from my advisor. Strange that Professor Morceau would

send me anything over the weekend. Opening it, I scanned quickly and covered my face with my hands. Apparently, I was at risk to not graduate. Though I could’ve replied by email, I took a chance and called him. After all, this seemed like an emergency. After three rings, he answered. “Professor Morceau.” “It’s Ben. I read your email. Surely, there’s something I can do. After all, this is a Master’s Program.” In the seconds it had taken me to act, I hadn’t had time to formulate an argument.

Through the phone, I could hear him sigh, then there was a tapping sound I imagined to be him tapping the temple of his glasses against his front tooth. It was a thinking posture I’d noticed during our few brief encounters. “There’s one thing.” “Anything. Seriously. I’ll do it.” I leaned forward at my desk, my chin propped on my fist. Though I wasn’t on a time schedule, I felt ready to be done with my education, and eager to start my life…whatever it might entail. “It’s a tough project. I couldn’t

trust it to just anyone.” It sounded like he was biting on his glasses now. “I’ll email you the details now. Think about it. This is…serious and important.” “Okay, thank you, Professor Morceau.” I ended the call then and waited. For several minutes I kept refreshing my inbox, hoping to see the promised information. After twelve minutes, I stood and walked away from the laptop while rubbing the back of my neck in frustration. Then I heard the chime from my phone telling me an email had arrived. Inhaling deeply, I sat

down in my leather wheeled desk chair and started to read through what I’d received. My brow furrowed as I processed the words. The Make a Wish Foundation needed someone to teach a little girl the ins and outs of the filmmaking industry. Leaving a movie behind for her mother was this child’s dying wish. I swallowed hard. Over the last few years, my website had thrived as I told the stories of people I met on the streets of Montreal, or on my travels with my friends. I focused on the happy I

couldn’t always find in my own life. It helped me stay as positive as possible in a world that often had me down. Shutting the laptop, I pushed away from the desk and stared out the glass doors of the pool house to the main house where my parents lived. The place was dark and I suspected they were out at some social gathering. Closing my eyes shut, I tried to imagine what my life would look like if I took this assignment. On the one hand, I’d graduate. The ‘rents would be proud. The friends would rejoice. I’d be free to

go live my life, travel the world for a bit, living the digital life I’d created for myself. I needed space from everything and everyone I knew. It felt like I was suffocating here, drowning in the happiness my friends had found that seemed to elude me. Oh, but the challenges of working with this kid. I loved kids. Ask Gabe and Bella. Better still, ask her kids...or was it their kids? It was death I had a problem with. My eyes flew open and my heart pounded in my chest. I didn’t have to do this. What was one more semester? It’s

not like I was on a time schedule. Then the outside lights flickered on around the patio and my step-mother came rushing out, stark naked, my father, though nearly thirty years her senior, chased after her wearing nothing but a smile. Then they hopped in the hot tub, less than ten feet from my door while Mandy stared brazenly my direction. They claimed to be in love. They were, but not necessarily with each other. Mandy loved money and hated the idea of working for it. My father loved the sex and hated being alone. I guess they

were happy enough with the arrangement, the marriage, and the ironclad pre-nup. Shaking my head, I raised my eyes to the ceiling. There were no easy choices in this situation. I was picking my poison. Picking up my cell, I called Professor Morceau back. “I don’t think I can do this,” I mumbled into the phone the second he answered. “I’m honored you thought I could manage the project, but if you’ve seen any of my films, I document happiness. It’s right there in my blog name: Happy Hearts

Productions.” I shrugged, even though he couldn’t see it. There was nothing left to say. He was silent a moment. “Is there nothing I can do to change your mind?” Professor Morceau’s voice cracked as he spoke. I thought for a moment. “Nothing I can think of. I’m sorry.” My phone chimed in my ear and I pulled it away to see the notification. “Check your email,” he suggested hoarsely. Opening my laptop once more, I

sighed as I logged in. It felt like we were merely prolonging the inevitable. After I made a decision, I rarely changed my mind. This time, the email from him had an attachment. When I clicked, a picture filled my screen. It was the Crying Girl. “I don’t understand.” My throat constricted as I stared into her sad eyes. She was sitting on a couch, her arms wrapped around a little girl with a bald head who smiled jubilantly at the camera. “Not even for her?” In the background, his chair squeaked then I

heard a woman’s voice. “Charles, who are you talking to?” There was a low growl in his throat. “Just a student, Marguerite.” Then he addressed me once more. “Ben, I have to let you go. Come to my office Monday morning, nine. We’ll finish this discussion then.” “Okay.” The call ended and I wondered what I had agreed to. This was a wrinkle for sure, but it didn’t mean I’d changed my mind, did it? As I sat there, numb to the world, staring at

the Crying Girl, I feared somehow I had. *** Charlie Drawing my knees closer to my chest, I curled into the tiniest ball possible on the corner of her mattress. If I disturbed Ollie, she’d kick me out again and I needed to stay. Listening to her breathe had become part of my nightly ritual, the one act which soothed me enough to allow me some sleep, even if it didn’t feel restful. Why would it?

After all, lately the minute I closed my eyes, I’d be tormented with horrible dreams of Ollie’s death, or Ollie’s funeral, or life without Ollie, which was no life at all. If the doctors were right, her time was limited and mine was too. I’d die without her. Sometimes, I felt like I already was. Food had lost all flavor. I’d stopped singing and dancing and playing, all the things we used to do together when she had the energy. Now I was a shell of my former self. I watched as her hand reached out from under her chin, her fingers

skating across the sheet, searching in growing arcs until finally, Ollie found my hand. A tear slid down my cheek as she laid her palm in mine and squeezed. Quickly, I brushed it away with the back of my free hand and tried not to sniffle and wake her. Ollie sighed. “There you are, Mama.” She held onto me tighter than before. “Did I wake you?” My voice was scarcely louder than a whisper. “No, I was only sleeping a little.” She opened her big blue eyes and

stared at me. Without hair on her head, framing her face, her eyes now seemed larger. “You should rest. You need your strength. Only two more sleeps before we meet with the doctor again.” I leaned closer and kissed her forehead. It was a gesture designed to offer her comfort and love while hiding my face so she couldn’t read my fear, see my sorrow. “I don’t want to go, Mama.” Her voice was quiet, yet surprising firm. “I’m tired, a tired sleep can’t fix.” Ollie yanked her hand back and rolled away

from me. “No more doctors. Please.” I closed my eyes and struggled to hold in the tears. I knew what she meant. We were both worn out. Still, I was determined to find something for her to look forward to, always a new project, new place, or some new activity to provide hope. “We have the bunny tomorrow. Don’t forget. We have to be there at ten in the morning. Rest.” As I rolled off the mattress and walked around to her side of the bed, I could see a smile. “You’re excited about the Easter bunny?”

“Yeah,” she murmured. “And pictures for you…” I laid a finger over her lips so she couldn’t complete her thought. I knew what she’d say. She’d been saying for a couple of months now. Every time I thought I was giving her purpose, Ollie treated it like a memory for me to have after she passed. Every time she’d say ‘for you to remember me,’ my heart broke a little more. How could I ever forget her? She was my whole life, my whole world, and had been since her conception six years ago.

Even then, I had chosen her. I picked her above my family, who wrote me off when I refused to consider even adoption, and her father, who cheated on me when I refused to have an abortion. If I’d known then what I know now, I’d choose her still. Slowly, I leaned down and kissed her on her temple. “We’ll have a nice day. See you in the morning.” Then I backed out of the room. I needed something bigger than the bunny. Walking over to the desk, I opened my million-year-old dinosaur of

a laptop. The Acer had been a graduation gift meant for college. Though I’d never finished my degree, the machine still served me well, providing my only income since Ollie was diagnosed with leukemia. Working outside of the home had proven impossible. I needed to be with her at the hospital, and all the doctor appointments. There was no one else. Finally, the screen flickered on and I checked my email. No response yet from Make a Wish. I’d check in with my father directly. Though my mother and I

hadn’t spoken since before Ollie was born, I talked to my father on rare occasions, but he had yet to meet his grandbaby. To my surprise, he appeared to be online. I sent him a message. me: Any luck yet? The wait, though only a few seconds, seemed interminable. Maybe. I’ll let you know on Monday.

me: Good enough. I worked online for a few more minutes, but I couldn’t concentrate. Thankfully no more work had come in. My heart wasn’t into it. I had started a blog when I first moved out on my own, some place to record my thoughts and feelings. I’d never expected much from it, but soon it evolved and even allowed me the opportunity to earn some money. Not a ton, but enough. The power was on, there was food in the fridge, and my car had gas in it. What more could I ask

for? A cure. I wanted a cure. I dreamed of a cure. I wished, more than anything, there would be some way to save my daughter.

Chapter Two Ben The call came in around seven in the morning, effectively rousing me from my sleep. It was the station manager for the local cable news channel. “Ben, it’s an emergency,” Justin began in his usual brusque manner. “What is it this time?” Ever since I’d interned with them during my

undergraduate studies, I’d worked at the station part time for fun money, and experience. I rubbed my eyes and sat up in bed while waiting for my assignment. “The cameraman for this morning’s mall event is ill. I need you to take over. It’s easy. I’m emailing the details. You should be there at nine thirty, sharp.” He sounded breathless and I could hear his feet rushing down the hall. “Okay. I’m up. I’m on it.” Stretching, I yawned. “Good. I knew I could count on

you.” Obviously, Justin wanted to end the call, but we had one little detail to iron out first. “Now this is last minute on a Sunday. I want double my usual pay.” I grinned. We’d had similar discussions in the past and I knew his face would be red. “Double?” Justin spluttered. “Yup.” Confident I had him, I walked to my bathroom and leaned against the vanity as I waited for his word before starting the shower. “How about time and a half?”

I chuckled. “Seriously, I’ll roll over right now and turn off my phone for time and a half. The station can afford it.” “Fine.” Only he didn’t sound fine. He sounded borderline pissed. “Get the footage here as soon as possible. We need to get promos ready for the evening news.” “Of course. See you in a few hours, Justin.” Then I ended the call, turned on the water and brushed my teeth while I waited for the shower to heat up. Since I spent my time behind the camera,

even if I had to interview people at the same time, I didn’t waste much time on my appearance. I wasn’t famous. Few people paid much attention to me. I valued the anonymity my position provided. After a quick shave, I moved to my walk-in closet to find something to wear. What was mall appropriate on a Sunday morning? I tugged at my chin. Hell, what was I doing anyway? With the towel tucked around my hips, I walked to my desk to open the email I’d received. The subject line simply read Caring Bunny. I scanned the

details of the assignment. Special needs kids visiting the Easter Bunny. No wonder the other cameraman had decided to be sick. Working with kids and animals was notoriously challenging. Still, all I had to do was point and shoot, maybe talk to some parents. I could manage this no problem. By nine twenty-five, I had driven to the station to pick up one of their marked vehicles and parked in the mall at the one entrance near the food court that promised to be open hours before the rest of the building. Hauling the bag

out of the trunk, I hefted it onto my shoulder and balanced the tripod on the other side. As I walked in, I glanced around, pleased to see few cars in the lot and fewer people inside. Setting up only took a few minutes, then I looked around and considered who to speak with first. Wearing my credentials in a lanyard around my neck, I walked over to the table where the families signed in. “Do you have a moment to speak to me?” I addressed the woman seated on a metal folding chair. She glanced at my badge and

nodded as a smile spread across her face. “Of course. I’d be glad to.” Rising from her seat, she walked with me over to the camera I’d set up near the Easter Bunny Set. “Let’s start with your name and your position.” I gently coached her as I held the microphone her direction. “I’m Elise Forgette with the Autism Society.” She smiled and looked at me expectantly. “Great. Are you one of the organizers for the event?” I stared at her through the back of the camera, watching

to make sure everything was recording properly. In the distance behind her, I noticed a young woman walking in with a little girl, who wore a giant hat on her head and a surgical mask, which effectively covered the bulk of her face. I paid attention, wondering if it would ruin the shot. “Yes, we started the event just this year. The Caring Santa Event was so popular, we thought we should try one with the Easter Bunny as well.” The woman and child were nearing the table in the distance. I could

see the little girl walked slowly and though the mother offered to help her, she refused, even as she stopped from time to time as if she were struggling to catch her breath. “What makes the Caring Bunny Event so special, Elise?” Even as I asked, I looked past her, wondering if I should offer to help, doubtful my assistance would even be accepted. “Well, this is a way for kids who might otherwise not have an opportunity to see the Easter Bunny. Often children with sensory issues and chronic

illnesses miss out on what other kids take for granted. They can’t handle the noise, the lights, the overstimulation, or in some cases the germs from being around everyone.” Elise glanced over to the little girl who had caught my eye then turned back to the camera with a sad smile. “I better get back to work.” I nodded. “Thank you for your time.” Elise rushed back to the table to check them in. I watched and waited. The bunny had arrived and sat on the garden bench that was part of the

backdrop for the pictures. The photographer coached him in a low voice. Behind me, I could hear a woman speaking. It took everything in me not to turn around. I wanted to know their story. It had become my thing. “Come on, Ollie. Are you sure you don’t want me to carry you? We need to get in and out as quick as we can.” The woman sounded nervous. “Relax, Mama. I know. And I can walk.” The little girl sighed. “I know you can. I’m just trying

to help.” I watched as she threw her hands in the air. As they passed by me, the little girl’s eyes lit up. “Oh, Mama! Do you think he could show me how to make a movie?” The woman glanced my direction without making eye contact. She shook her head. “He’s working, Ollie. I don’t think he has time for that right now.” I peeked over the camera and smiled at the little girl. “Psst!” She glanced up at me, a look of wonder in her big blue eyes.

Pausing, she looked at me and pointed to her chest. Nodding, I whispered. “Come over after pictures. You can help me.” I grinned as I pulled a chair over and gestured to show it was for her. Maybe I only saw what I wanted to believe, but it seemed like she perked up some after. She marched over to the Easter Bunny and plopped right down on the bench. Immediately, I began to film her. “Ollie, hat and mask!” Her mother coached, showing she should

remove it. Slowly, the little girl reached up and pulled the big brimmed monstrosity off her head and tugged the mask off her ears. When she did, I could see she had a shiny bald head. Swallowing hard, I peered at the mother. Her back to me, I could see her shoulders stiffen, a defense mechanism, ready to defend her daughter as needed. The Easter Bunny started to put an arm around her, but the little girl stopped him. “No please. Germs.” Then she winked and offered a smile. I

watched her mother’s shoulders sink, then rise as she inhaled deeply. Soon enough, the photographer had captured some images to show the mother and the little girl slid off the bench. Turning to the bunny, she murmured, “Thank you for the pictures.” The Easter Bunny nodded in response. Then she tugged on her mother’s sleeve. “I’m gonna go sit over there.” She pointed in my direction and waited until her mother nodded before starting the journey to the seat I had waiting for her.

For the first time, I felt nervous. What was I doing? Kids were hard. They asked uncomfortable questions. This one looked to be a bigger challenge altogether. As she neared, she hooked the mask back into place over her ears and tugged the hat over her head. Then she smiled big enough for me to see her eyes crinkle at the corners and her cheeks pop up over the edge of the mask. “Can I really help?” Here eyes widened as she waited for my response. “Sure. Let me show you how to work this. Shall we film your mom?” I

started to help her point the camera to the counter where her mother had been standing. I moved the camera slightly, seeking her out when there was a tug on my jacket. “What’s up, buttercup?” I didn’t even stop peering through the lens. “No, thank you.” A voice snipped. Looking up, I stared into the blue green eyes I’d never forgotten. It was the Crying Girl. I searched for her for years, to no avail, and now she was everywhere.

*** Charlie Maybe I shouldn’t have been so cold, but all of a sudden, Ollie had disappeared and when I looked, she was standing with some strange man. I knew she wanted to talk to him, learn all about making a movie, but this wasn’t the time or the place. “Ollie, we have to go.” My voice came out more stern than I intended, but I thought I was actually holding it together pretty well,

considering my heart had started racing the minute I realized she was out of arm’s reach. “But, Mama!” Her face scrunched up and I worried she was winding up to get all upset. I hated when it happened. She wore out so quickly. I’d be carrying her to the car for sure. At five, she was getting harder for me to manage, far longer and heavier than ever, even if she was small for her age. “Let the man work.” My eyes flashed at him, willing him to help me. For a moment, I paused. There was

something familiar about him. He stared down at Ollie, biting his lip. I could see he wanted to help even if he didn’t know how to do so. Already her eyes were welling up with tears. I watched as he reached into his pocket and pulled out a handkerchief. A shy smile spread across his face. He glanced up to see if I was paying attention. It all came rushing back to me, even as it seemed a thousand years had passed. Squatting down, he passed her the folded linen rectangle. “For you. Dry those tears, Ollie, right?”

My daughter sniffled and nodded before wiping her tears. “Yes.” Her voice came out a whisper as she stared at the floor. “Nice to meet you, Ollie. I’m Benjamin. My friends call me Ben.” He smiled warmly at her. My heart beat even harder now than before and slowly I reached up to touch my lips. I’d kissed him. Lord, what had made me do that? Ben gazed up at me, bit his lower lip and I knew he remembered too. This was too much. “Time to go, sweets.” Naturally, she

didn’t budge. For a moment, she dabbed at her eyes, then she stared at him a moment, her head tilted. “My name is really Olivia.” “Olivia’s a great name.” Ben clasped his hands in front of him and I had the distinct feeling it was an act to prevent him from touching her. He understood the concern for germs. Shit. I spent so little time around men, if I wasn’t careful I’d be kissing him all over again. This time, in front of my highly impressionable daughter.

“My mom’s name is Charlotte, but I hear people call her Charlie.” Ollie smiled up at me and laced her fingers through mine. Slowly, he stood. “It’s nice to meet you, Charlie.” He stuffed his hands in his jean pockets and shrugged like he didn’t know what else to say, but his eyes spoke volumes. The sparkled like his mind was racing. I felt completely enchanted. If I could, I’d dive into his dark chocolate depths and uncover all his thoughts, but with Ollie, I didn’t see how that would ever be possible.

“Mama, can I try it for just a minute?” She pointed at the camera. Something in me wanted to pick her up and run, oh, but something stronger urged me to stay. What would it hurt? A few more minutes for her happiness, then we’d go back to our life, never to cross paths again. “Sure.” Then I exhaled. I watched, completely unable to focus, as Ben told Ollie about the camera and began to teach her some of the basics. Seeing her so happy and excited sparked a hope in me I hadn’t

felt in some time, reminded me how much I wanted for Ollie to get her wish in order to make mine come true. I couldn’t be sure how much time had passed, but soon I saw the signs, the yawns, the blinks, and the unsteadiness on her feet. My baby was worn out again. “Hey, Olls? It’s time.” I looked to Ben for help, knowing she would object. With a barely discernible nod, he began packing up his equipment. “Perfect. I’m done too. I’ll walk you

out.” My head tilted to the side involuntarily. This wasn’t what I had in mind at all. “We’ll be fine. I’ve got this.” Olivia sank into the seat and we both paused and stared at her a minute. “Oh, this isn’t for you. I could use the help.” Ben winked at me. Inside, my stomach fluttered. I’d nearly forgotten what that felt like. “Of course you do.” I rolled my eyes. “Want me to carry you?” I squatted down in front of my baby girl. She shook

her head, but I could tell she wasn’t going to make it on her own. I bit my lip, wondering how I was going to avoid this fight and help her to the car with her dignity intact. “So, Olivia, this equipment is really bulky and I have trouble carrying all of it. I was kinda hoping you’d ride on a cart and hold it all together for me?” Ben bit the side of his cheek while waiting for her response. For a moment, her eyes brightened. Then she nodded her head. Ben walked over to the sign in table.

Though I couldn’t hear what he was saying, I saw him gesture to an empty cart and pieced it together. This guy. I took a deep breath. Already I could feel the tears prickling my eyes and struggled against the too familiar pain. With a smile, he returned pushing the cart. “Okay, Olivia. Let’s get you on the cart, then I’ll place the bag and tripod around you. Think you can handle it?” At first, I worried he really did expect her to balance everything for him, but then as I watched, I realized it was a

ruse to get her safely and calmly out of the mall. Ollie sat, leaning against the back of the cart. The bag was placed between her legs and the tripod sat on her lap. “Perfect. You comfortable? The tripod isn’t too heavy is it?” His brow furrowed as he spoke. Ollie shook her head. “Nope. I’m good.” Walking to the back of the cart, Ben grabbed the handles and began to push. All of three steps into the journey, Ollie reached up and tugged on his

sleeve. Immediately he stopped. “What is it, Olivia?” I recognized the look, one I’d worn on my own face so many times. He worried over this child he didn’t even know. She gazed up at him and tugged her mask down before speaking. “Thank you. I really learned a lot.” Then after taking a deep breath, she worked the mask back into place and leaned back again. This kid. She could tug at my heart without even knowing it. Glancing at Ben, I watched as he nodded, but

seemed a million miles away. We walked in comfortable silence out to the parking lot. “We’re parked right here.” I gestured to my old beat up blazing yellow Ford Escape. “Well, that’s convenient. I’m this one.” He pointed to the news vehicle I had carefully parked a space away from. I sighed. “I can take it from here, thank you.” “Stop being so proud. Let me help.” He shrugged. I opened my mouth to object, but

instead my shoulders simply sank and I nodded. As much as I hated accepting help, I felt too worn out to fight it, to fight him. “Okay.” With his assistance, I had Ollie hooked into her booster seat and the car warming up in seconds instead of minutes. More importantly, she was calm and happy and I wasn’t nearly as stressed as I normally would be. “I’ll be right back.” I smiled at my sweet girl. “I want to see if Ben needs help now.” Then I backed out of the vehicle and stood. By the time I turned, he was

loading his trunk. “Need help with that?” I called out to him. Shaking his head, Ben smiled. “Nah. I’m good. Enjoy the rest of your day.” “Okay, you too!” I stuffed my hands in my pockets and paused. It didn’t feel finished. This didn’t feel like goodbye. I’d had tons of brushes with strangers through the years, but this was something different altogether. He gave me a little wave as he pushed the cart back toward the food court entrance. Slowly, I turned and opened the driver

side door, then I slid into my seat. “He’s nice.” Ollie sighed happily as her eyelids lowered. “Yeah, he was, wasn’t he?” I started the car and watched as she nestled her head in the corner of her seat. “I hope we see him again,” she murmured. As scared as I was to admit it, I hoped so too.

Chapter Three Ben Charlie and Olivia drove away while I returned the cart. I knew they would, just like I knew I wouldn’t be making Professor Morceau talk me into granting the wish or even waiting until Monday to hear from me. It took everything in me to focus on editing the video for the news and creating a promo.

All I wanted to do was go home and contact my advisor. Unfortunately, that time wouldn’t come for hours. At four in the afternoon, I finally pulled into the driveway then locked myself in the pool house and drew the blinds. I’d missed Sunday brunch and if I didn’t shut myself off, I could expect any number of unwelcome interruptions from my step-monster and her friends. As soon as I dumped my bag near the desk, I collapsed in the chair and opened the laptop. The message I planned to send was concise, simple, to the point.

Professor Morceau, I’ll do it. Ben Then I hit send. Standing, I stretched and walked into my kitchen, which really amounted to a smaller version of the one in the main house. Opening the doors of my side-by-side stainless steel fridge, I pulled some ham from the deli drawer and decided to

make a sandwich of sorts using the Hawaiian Sweet Rolls I had in the pantry. Minutes later, I had a decent snack prepared and sat at the island to eat when a chime alerted me to a new email. Checking my phone, I realized Professor Morceau had already responded. Thank you, Ben. What changed your mind? He included an address and told me to be there at ten in the morning on

Monday. Since I was working on my final project and didn’t have any real classes or any set schedule, there would be no conflicts. Luckily, I was a morning person. Really, I could be an all day person, although in a perfect world, I’d get to take afternoon naps. Before responding, I checked the address with my GPS. It was a good thirty minutes away on the other side of Montreal in an older and far less safe neighborhood. Immediately, this knowledge bothered me as I pictured Charlie and Olivia there alone. Then I

scowled. Maybe they weren’t alone. Just because I didn’t see a man today, it didn’t mean there wasn’t one in the picture. Somehow this thought didn’t comfort me at all. Then my phone began to ring. It was my advisor. “Professor Morceau, how can I help you?” I wiped crumbs away from my mouth, even though he couldn’t see them. “You didn’t respond to my email.” He cleared his throat nervously. “I suppose I wanted to make sure you’d received it and the terms were

amenable.” “Oh, I’m sorry. I was checking the address. I planned to respond later.” I wiped my sweaty palms on my jeans. “So what made you change your mind?” I heard his chair creak. For a moment, I contemplated whether or not to share the truth. It wasn’t a simple response. Charlie had been my Crying Girl for years, haunting me. I wanted to know her story. Then there was Olivia, charming in her own rights, and so easy to talk to and work with. It would be an honor to make her

wish come true. Instead, I went with a simpler response. “I met them today while shooting the Caring Bunny Event at the mall.” Biting my lip, I hoped my words, though few, would suffice. “Ah.” He was silent a moment before speaking. “What was she like?” I could barely hear his question; he spoke in such a hushed tone. “Charlie? Um, scared, sad, exhausted…I guess.” For some reason, I felt uncomfortable responding. “No, the little girl…” “Ollie.” I chuckled. “Amazing,

intelligent, curious…and worn out.” The final realization weighed heavy on me. Learning to make a movie was the wish of a dying girl. There was a distinct possibility that one day she would no longer be around. My shoulders sank and I leaned heavily on the marble counter. What had I agreed to? What was I thinking? Again, Professor Morceau was silent on the other end of the line, then when I had decided to speak and end the call, he cleared his throat. “This is a good thing you’re doing, Ben. You’ll

never know how important this work is, how much it means to…so many people.” He cleared his throat again, then coughed. “I need to go. Bye.” Then the call ended. I set the phone on the counter and stared at my plate for a moment before pushing it away. Suddenly, my food had lost all flavor. Opening the map app on my phone, I wondered what Charlie and Olivia were up to on the other side of town. How would I kill time until I’d see them tomorrow? Inhaling deeply, I decided I’d relax, then go to bed.

In less than five minutes, I’d managed to change into my swim trunks, grab a towel, and peek outside. The pool area seemed deserted. The house was once again dark. Feeling safe, I decided to sneak into the hot tub. Nothing like being uncomfortable as fuck in my childhood home. Thanks, Dad. Though there were lights all around the pool and hot tub, I didn’t turn any of them on. No need to alert anyone of my intentions. For the past two years, Mandy had seemed determined to hook me up with one of her friends. I’m sure

in her mind she imagined we’d all end up vacationing together, enjoying fun weekends eating out and enjoying all the cultural aspects Montreal had to offer. Instead, I’d quickly discovered I had zero interest in Mandy’s high maintenance, low intelligence friends. They were nice to look at and pretty to hold, but as for a future, I’d never be sold. I chuckled at my own cleverness as I sank shoulder deep in the warm water and leaned my head against the edge of the tub. It didn’t take me long to really relax into the bubbles, when the lights

flooded the area. “Fuck me,” I mumbled without even opening my eyes. “If you insist.” My eyes shot open at the sound of an unfamiliar female voice. She slipped into the water beside me and moved closer, wearing nothing but a seductive look on her face. “You really should be wearing a suit,” I grumbled, fully aware that most of my friends wouldn’t have reacted this way in their single days. “Am I wearing too little, or are you wearing too much?” She laughed as

her hands gripped the waistband of my swim trunks. “Please don’t.” I sighed and worked to pry her hands off my swimwear. “I don’t even know your name.” “Siobahn.” Her voice was all breathy and I could tell this wasn’t the first time she’d played seductress. This was, however, probably the first time a man put up a fight. “Well, Siobahn. I’m not interested. I really wanted to be alone and think.” I clasped her hands together

and moved away from her. She stared at me for a moment and I thought my words might have actually made an impact. Then she batted her lashes and I rolled my eyes as I anticipated her next attack. “I think being alone is a cry for help. I hate being alone.” This time, she glided across the hot tub and straddled me before I could even grasp what her plan. “What the ever loving fuck?” I growled low in my throat. Even that didn’t dissuade her. Suddenly she writhed up and down my body.

“Isn’t this better?” She licked a line up my throat to my earlobe, which she then nipped at playfully. “No. Not even a little bit.” Very unceremoniously, I stood and dumped her in the tub. Without waiting to see if she surfaced from underwater, I stepped out of the tub, and grabbed my towel. As I dried off, she began spluttering and cursing me out. “Do you have any idea how long it took me to do my makeup?” She shrieked and gestured wildly while wiping at her eyes.

“Well, now you have something to do.” Wrapping the towel around my neck, I walked back into the pool house, then shut and locked the door behind me. It didn’t take long for my phone to ring. I expected it to be my father, calling to curse me out for being so rude to Mandy’s guest, but instead it was Sebastian. I prayed for an excuse to the leave the property. “Listen, I know it’s kind of last minute,” Sebastian began. “I’m in. Tell me where and when.” I rushed to grab clean clothes

from my closet while we talked. “We’re all meeting at the gallery because of the central location. We’ll take Gabriel’s limo from here. Dinner. Drinks. Catch up…” From the edge to his voice, I could tell it meant a lot to him to have me there. “Listen, you don’t need to sell me.” I laughed. “I’m dying to get out of here tonight. I’ll be there in half an hour.” “Well, that was easy. I’m a better negotiator than I thought.” Sebastian chuckled.

“No, you’re not.” Marisa piped up in the background. “Stop giving him such a big head, Ben. Do you have any idea how hard I have to beat him down just to live with him?” “You love living with me, you naughty little minx.” Marisa snorted. Obviously, I was on speaker. Knowing them, this could go on for some time. Still, I loved seeing Sebastian so happy and well adjusted. They were perfect for each other. “What? You don’t like living with me?” Sebastian sounded hurt, or

maybe he was just playing. “Shut up and kiss me, you fool.” It sounded like her lips were already smushed against his. I smirked. “We’ll see you soon, Ben.” Then the call ended. I was pretty sure I knew how they would be spending the next thirty minutes. Peeling off the swim trunks, I hung them over the tub to dry. For a second, I stared down at my wet, limp cock. It had been too long. My stupid ideals had me waiting for someone special. Given our proclivity to hang out together, I hadn’t met anyone special in a

very long time. As promised, I parked my vehicle and started toward the gallery door when Gabriel’s limo pulled up. I moved to open it when the driver stepped out looking horrified. Smiling, I held my hands up and backed away. Gabriel stepped out first, grinning widely. He held a hand out for his wife. “Easy, my love,” he murmured as he helped her onto the curb. My eyes narrowed as I studied them. “Isabella…” I scratched my chin. “You’re glowing. Are you and Gabriel?”

She held a finger to her lips. “We’re not allowed to talk about it until dinner, but if I don’t order wine, then I guess you have your answer.” Isabella winked at me. Without hesitation, I wrapped them both in a hug. My gut reaction was sheer happiness for them, even as the nagging feeling began again, reminding me I’d probably never find someone. Stupid standards. She must’ve caught my frown because Isabella looped her arm through mine and murmured, “You will. Stop

looking. Stop even thinking about it. I promise.” There was something in the way she said it which made me believe her. Taking a deep breath, I nodded. “Okay.” Then I looked over at Gabriel. He had a different kind of glow. This was a man who was madly in love with his wife. Shaking my head, I sighed. “Congratulations, man.” “Let’s go inside, shall we? Get Bella out of this cold.” He wrapped a protective arm around her waist and directed her toward the door, which I

quickly moved to open. “You’re ridiculous,” she grumbled under her breath. “It’s at least fifty degrees out and I’m wearing a coat.” Glancing at me, she simply rolled her eyes, but I knew she still treasured the way he adored her. This was what I wanted. After following them inside, we found Sebastian and Marisa locked in an embrace standing behind the counter. Gabriel clapped and laughed while getting their attention. Me, I hoped I’d find an appetite by the time we made it

to the restaurant. “Careful with all that kissing,” Gabriel remarked. “Do you have any idea what it leads to?” Sebastian laid a hand on Marisa’s lower abdomen. “Babies.” He smirked and I swear his chest puffed out a little. With a giggle, Marisa held up an ultrasound image. “Plural. I can’t make this shit up.” With a squeal, Isabella rushed to hug her while Gabriel laughed. “Us too.” He shrugged.

“Twins?” Sebastian wondered. There was always a little competition between them. “No, just one. This time.” Gabriel winked. Sighing, Isabella shook her head. “Spoken like the one without a uterus.” This was going to be a long night. Holing up in the pool house might have been the smarter choice. I clapped my hands together and waited for everyone to look at me. “So…dinner?” ***

Charlie Ollie and I climbed up on the window seat in her room and started reading our current book, A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett. I’m not sure who found our nightly ritual more relaxing, the five year old or me. Soon enough, the questions began. “Can I have a monkey?” She smiled up at me with those pleading eyes, hands clasped over her chest. “No monkeys.” I rolled my eyes. “How about a kitten? Just one

sweet cute little kitten?” She nuzzled against me and pretended to purr. “You know we can’t do that right now. When you’re better maybe.” I looked away in an effort to hide my fast accumulating tears. Already they threatened to spill over my bottom lid. Blowing out a breath, I stood quickly, jostling Ollie and wiping my eyes in one fluid motion. “Hey! I could’ve fallen.” She looked at me accusingly. “I’d never let you fall.” Turning, I put the book away on the shelf.

Slowly, she lowered herself to the floor. “You could miss. Then the only thing that would make me feel better would be a kitten.” Ollie crossed her arms over her chest and made an exaggerated pouty face. “Please.” I rolled my whole head this time to remind her where her dramatic flair came from. “Time for bed, little one.” I jerked my head toward the bed. “What if I’m not tired yet? I’ve had a very exciting day.” She giggled. “You’re exhausting. It’s

bedtime.” I lifted her into my arms and walked toward the bed. Together we dropped onto the mattress and I pulled up the covers. “Mama?” Ollie averted her eyes and pretended to concentrate on tracing the butterflies on her sheets. “What is it?” I held my breath. She was notorious for asking the tough questions when my guard was down right before bedtime. “I was wondering…” She looked up at me a moment, took a deep breath, then blurted out the rest of her thought.

“Does daddy know I’m sick?” Expelling my breath, I tried to buy time for my answer. “Ollie, your daddy doesn’t even know you were born. How would he know you were sick?” For a moment, she avoided my eyes, but then suddenly, she stared at me with an intensity that broke my heart. “The news. Maybe he saw Ben’s movie.” I thought for a moment. “I doubt it. Your daddy didn’t really like the news. I’m sure he has a whole different

life now. He might not even live in Montreal anymore.” I shrugged. “Tell me again. Tell me why daddy isn’t here.” Ollie settled in under her blankets. Gawd, I hated this story. There was no way to make Damien sound like a better guy. It was a terrible tale to tell even without explaining abortions and cheating. “Once upon there was a mommy who wanted a baby girl very much.” “That’s you, right?” She whispered it, same as always.

I tickled her side and she giggled and wriggled beside me. “Of course, who else would it be?” Satisfied with my answer, she closed her eyes and waited for me to continue. “More please.” “So the mommy went to the doctor and found out she was having a baby.” “The baby was me, right?” I nodded. “Who else would it be, silly?” She closed her eyes and yawned this time. “She was so excited to rushed home to tell the daddy.”

“Only he wasn’t ready yet. Right, Mama?” Ollie shifted onto her side, her favorite sleeping position. “Right. So the daddy went to get ready. He still had a lot of growing to do.” I hated this part. It was far from the truth. Hell, it was a downright lie. I never wanted to lie to my daughter. “Maybe he’ll come find us. Maybe he’ll be ready since I’m five now, almost six.” She clasped her hands under her chin. “I don’t know, Olls. I don’t think you should wait for him.” I hugged her

once, extra long before sliding off the bed. Rolling toward me, she asked, “You’re waiting for him, aren’t you?” Shaking my head vehemently, I frowned. “Not at all. Why would you think that?” “I’ve never seen any boys around you. Maybe a doctor or nurse, but…” She shrugged. “I don’t need anyone but you, Ollie.” I leaned down and kissed her on the temple. This time, she frowned. “You

need someone, Mama. You know, for when I’m gone.” Then she rolled away. “Don’t talk like that. Ever. You’re not going anywhere.” I wrapped my arms around my chest and hugged myself tightly. It took everything in me not to show Ollie how much her words frightened me. Slowly, I backed out of the room. “See you in the morning. Sleep well.” She didn’t respond, didn’t move. I hoped she was asleep. Rushing out to the living room, I picked up my cell phone and called my father’s cell, but he didn’t answer. Less

than fifteen seconds later, my phone chimed. He’d sent a text. Dad: What do you need? Well, that made me feel terrible, even if it was true. I usually only reached out when I needed something. With a sigh, I typed my response. me: What time tomorrow will you know? Dad: Tomorrow at 10am. The

film student will be at your place to start. Once more, tears filled my eyes. This time, it was a combination of happiness and relief that had them rolling down my face. I sniffled and tried to hold myself together. After all, I only had fourteen hours to prepare and this apartment needed at least sixteen hours of work. me: Thank you! This means everything to us.

Then I set the phone down and danced around the room while I worked on cleaning up. It wasn’t that the place was dirty. On the contrary, it was practically sterile, but for the clutter. Ollie and I left our projects out. If she wanted to work on a scrapbook, we’d start it on the table. If she wanted to make a clay project, we’d paint it on the coffee table. There was a lot of half finished, organized chaos around. It had been just the two of us forever. We never even had visitors. Most of all, I was

tired, so the place was more practical than pretty. Take the living room. The landlord had allowed me to paint. I bought everything. I managed to do a great job on one wall…and then I ran out of energy and time. Ollie ended up in the hospital with a cold. It never seemed the right time to finish so the ceiling and baseboards were still taped off, even though six months had passed. Even now, knowing we’d have company tomorrow, I couldn’t rally to finish painting the room. There was always something to

do and me with never enough energy to do it all. The perfect example was the basket of laundry sitting beside the couch and the new freelance assignment I’d been emailed earlier. Collapsing onto the couch, I figured I should fold now. After all, I wouldn’t want the film student to see the place a mess. I had managed to start a nice neat stack of matched socks when my eyes started to burn. Maybe if I closed them for a minute, I’d feel better. At least, that’s what I told myself. Then there was a knock on the door, and I realized light

was streaming in through the blinds.

Chapter Four Ben I slept badly. Maybe that’s an understatement. Never in my entire life have I had such a terrible time falling asleep and staying that way. Through the years, I’ve had a lot of cause for potential rough nights. This, however, worrying about being late and my need to see Charlie again seemed to be the

formula for utter insomnia. It didn’t help that I tried to fall asleep in a foul mood brought on by the realization all my friends were leaving me behind. They didn’t mean to, but clearly our lives were going different directions and these guys who I thought would be lifelong brothers are now about to become fathers, while I couldn’t even get a date. Needless to say, at four thirty in the morning, I decided to give up and start my day. Desperate for something mindless yet necessary to accomplish, I

chose laundry. Then while the machine was running, I opted to workout. I bought myself one of those Total Gym machines when I looked around the newsroom one weekend and realized I’d selected a sedentary profession. Every camera guy in there was a heart attack waiting to happen, overweight and out of shape. Determined to break the mold and not the scale, I started exercising. I like the look I’ve achieved, lots of lean muscle. In the first month, I lost my handlebars. The second month, I grew an eight pack. By my third month I had those v-things in

my pelvis that make smart girls get stupid. Now, I just maintain. After I threw the wet clothes in the dryer, I took a shower, and agonized for a while over what to wear. Already, I knew I was trying too hard. Then I worked on my blog using some of the video I’d captured a few days ago while I was on campus. It was the story of the hot dog vendor. I’d seen him a few times, but we’d never really spoken because I’m not much of a hot dog guy. Still, I was drawn in by the smile on his face. He maintained a pleasant demeanor

I wasn’t sure anyone could under those circumstances. The kids on campus were notorious for being assholes to anyone they thought to be a loser. Enter the guy passing out dogs, grinning like a fool. Yet, he seemed impervious to their insults. I had to know his secret. It was a doozy. “I worked on Wall Street,” he began with a chuckle. “I had it all. Manhattan Penthouse, arm candy for a girlfriend, fancy car, the vacations, all the perks. Then I realized my life was built on a lie, a series of them even. It

was completely superficial.” “What did you do? How did you end up here?” The fascination in my voice was evident as I interviewed him. “Well, it was my Jerry Maguire moment.” A huge smile broke across his face. “I broke up with the girl. She wasn’t sad, more pissed. I’d messed up her big plans.” He shrugged. “Then I sold everything and thought about what I really wanted to do with my life.” “Hot dogs?” I remember how my eyes had widened as I asked. He shook his head. “Nope. I

wanted to travel. The hot dogs are the way I earn some scratch. I bought a truck and a travel trailer.” Suddenly my hand appeared in the frame as I gestured to the cart. “And this?” The guy laughed. “Yeah. And the cart.” Then he leaned in conspiratorially. “I have a plan of sorts. I’m going to visit every state, every territory, every bit of North and South America. I’ve been doing this now for nearly three years.” His eyes shone with excitement. “Wow. Where have you been so

far?” “I’ve seen the forty-eight contiguous states. I figured it was time to head north. And here I am.” The grin spoke of genuine happiness. The longer we talked, the more I realized taking my blog on the road was the right idea. It wasn’t only this conversation though. Really it was everything. The more I looked around, the more obvious it was there was no life left for me here. It made me sad in new and unexpected ways. With a sigh, I posted the video and my editorial, a

little behind the scenes information, then I shared it and glanced at my watch. Even now, I had to find a way to kill another two and a half hours. The laundry needed folding. Then I ran to get groceries, since I’d spent my Sunday working. By the time I returned and put them in the cupboards, I’d whittled another hour and fifteen minutes off the time. Finally, I gave up. Maybe I should just pick up some breakfast and surprise Charlie and Olivia. It was a crazy idea. A stupid idea. A poorly planned, and even worse

executed idea. At the moment, it was all I had. My first mistake…was not calling ahead. In my defense, I had an address, but no phone number. So I thought I was doing the right thing, being considerate even by buying pretty much everything on the menu. It was a great idea, in theory, but as I struggled to carry it all out to the car, and then up the stairs to the apartment, I knew I might have gone just a tad overboard. A smidge, really. For a moment, I stared at the

door as I stood before it struggling to catch my breath. Don’t judge. Three stories with all this food is a lot even for a guy in great physical shape. Plus, I’ve clearly developed muscles and not stamina. So there’s that. Finally, I seemed to pull it all together, when I realized there was no doorbell. How did they know when someone was here? With some maneuvering, I managed to balance the food and drinks on one hand while knocking with the other. Then I pasted a smile on my face in an effort to hide the fear. I was reasonably confident

Ollie would be pleased to see me, but Charlie was a bit of a wild card. So, I focused on the bigger picture. If I could just teach this little girl to make a movie in the next two and a half months, I could graduate and be on my way. The first knock did nothing. A good thirty seconds passed and I was still standing there. So, I knocked again, this time, harder and longer. It may have seemed more like pounding, which could explain why the little old lady in the next apartment opened her door a crack to glare at me. Before she could speak,

however, the door in front of me flew open and Charlie’s tiny form filled the opening. If the neighbor had made me uncomfortable, the look I now received pretty much scared the shit out of me. “I can come back. If now isn’t a good time, I can just drop these off.” I held out the food and drinks, the boxes, bags, and carriers. “I can come back at ten.” She had once again effectively rendered me a spluttering imbecile. “What do you want?” She gritted out, flames still shooting from her eyes.

“I’m here to grant your wish?” Even this had come out all wrong. Her arms crossed over her chest and her foot started tapping. “Just how do you plan to do that?” Her lips pursed angrily. “I was told by Professor Morceau…” Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed some movement. When I glanced that direction, I saw her stumbling out into the living room. “Ollie!” I called to her and smiled. She smiled even as she stumbled and collapsed onto the couch.

Charlie whipped around in time to see Olivia and rushed to catch her. Her scowl only deepened. With the doorway now empty, I let myself in and walked over to the kitchen table. It was currently covered with craft project, so I moved them just enough to accommodate the food. When I turned around to offer my assistance, I found Ollie lying on the couch with her eyes closed and Charlie seemed busy tending to her. Creeping toward the door, I decided this might be the best time to grab my equipment. Naturally, my motives were

misinterpreted. “Typical guy. Muck everything up and then leave,” Charlie muttered under her breath. Wheeling around, I shook my head. “I’m getting my camera. I couldn’t carry everything in one trip.” I sighed. “I’ll be right back, despite my better judgment.” Then I exited the apartment and made my way down the stairs feeling pretty lousy. When I returned, so had my Crying Girl.

*** Charlie Historically speaking, my Mondays tend to be Mondays to the nth degree. This one was shaping up to be truly terrible. My tears were always so close to the surface that most of the time, it took very little to set them off. This morning was too much. I collapsed on the floor beside the sofa as two rivers washed down my face. “Mama, don’t cry!” My daughter wrapped her little fragile arms around

me and hugged me close with surprising strength. Sniffling, I swiped at the tears and my nose. I had barely made a dent in the damage when the handkerchief waved in front of my face. This was the last straw. Here I was being straight up mean, miserable, and ungrateful, yet Ben still offered me more…in the form of a monogrammed linen square. Naturally, I started crying harder. Horrified and confused, Ollie released me, sat back and stared a moment. I could see she was about to

burst into tears herself, but I couldn’t even speak in between sobs. Before I knew what was happening, Ben hauled me up off the floor and into his arms. “Shh…calm down for Ollie,” he murmured into my hair. Slowly, I nodded against his chest as I struggled to take in deep soothing breaths. “I’m…sorry,” I moaned between hiccups. “I’m just so…” Words escaped me. I didn’t know what to say, how I could possibly make this man, a stranger in my life, understand. Only a moment later, he

spoke and I knew somehow he already did. Gently, he pushed me away so he could see my face, ducking low so we were eye-to-eye. “You’re worn out. You’re doing everything alone. You have the weight of the world on your shoulders.” Ben shook his head as he took the handkerchief from me and started to dab at my eyes. “Anyone else would’ve broken by now. You just need some rest. And food.” He nodded to the table where he’d set the Dunkin Donuts boxes, bags, and drinks. Turning me, Ben

playfully pushed me toward it while gesturing for Ollie to join us. “Let’s eat.” Somehow, this was all it took for my day to turn around. The few times I’d run into him on campus, he’d never seemed like he had much personality. Every time, he wore this deer in headlights look. The man here with me now was nothing like I expected in all the very best ways. My shoulders slowly relaxed. “Donut or munchkin?” I looked down at Ollie. Already, she seemed to have recovered from my meltdown, which

was more than I could claim. “Why must I choose?” Ollie fell to her knees and clasped her hands in front of her chest. “Please, mother!” I rolled my eyes. “You can be so dramatic.” Then I turned to Ben. “I have no idea where she gets it from.” He snorted. “I mean…me neither.” He winked at me and made my stomach flutter. Whoa. Focus, Charlie. He’s here for Ollie, not you. Then I realized I was still staring at him. I shook my head and addressed my daughter, still on the floor.

“Get up. I suppose you could use the calories. Just don’t eat yourself sick.” I gave her my most serious, scolding look. Olivia held out her hands. “Help!” Grabbing them, I carefully aided her as she struggled to her feet again. “There. Now eat.” I gestured to the table. A smile broke across her face and Ollie moved to open everything. Ben took a step closer. “I’ll help. I’m starving.” He chuckled. “I’m so hungry, I could eat a horse.” He raised an

eyebrow as he waited to see if my girl was interested in playing. Apparently, she caught on. Instantly, her hands were on her hips. “I’m so hungry, I could eat a hippopotamus.” Crossing his arms over his chest, Ben continued the challenge. “I’m so hungry, I could eat a herd of elephants.” Laughing, Ollie was already prepared. “I’m so hungry, I could eat a megalodon.” “Hey!” Ben smirked. “There are no megalodons!”

Ollie whirled around on him. “Yeah, well with all the poachers, good luck finding a herd of elephants!” “Touché.” He held out a hand, an offer to call it even. Hesitating, Ollie looked to me for guidance. I nodded and tugged on his shirt. “Ben, you need to sanitize first.” Immediately, he slapped his forehead. “I’m sorry. I wasn’t thinking. Show me the ropes. I’m totally trainable.” He smiled at me, but I still read the worry and guilt in his eyes. “Eat.” I gestured for Ollie to

prepare some food. “I’m going to break Ben in.” I offered her an exaggerated wink and earned a giggle. Then I motioned for Ben to follow me. Once inside our tiny kitchen, I pointed out the hospital grade soap and sanitizer. “We wash for three minutes, then we dry and sanitize.” Then, before he could ask, I picked up the cow timer I had sitting beside the sink. “Use this.” He took a deep breath and expelled it slowly while staring at the soap. Then he carefully met my gaze. “I’m sorry. Really I am. About

everything.” He shrugged. “I couldn’t sleep. I was eager to get to working with Ollie. I…should’ve known better.” His mouth was open as he continued to struggle to explain. Without thinking, I set a finger against his lips. “It’s okay. How could you know? No harm, no foul, and all that jazz.” I offered a shy smile. “If anyone should apologize, it’s me. Thank you for doing this for Ollie. She needs this.” I sighed. “I need this. She’s my whole world, you know?” His next move was completely

unexpected. Leaning in, Ben’s lips grazed my forehead. “I know.” He whispered the words against my skin, making me break out in goose bumps. Just as quickly, he turned to the sink, started running the water, set the timer, and went to work cleaning his hands like nothing had happened. Maybe for him, nothing had, but for me everything changed. This man stirred in me memories of a life I’d had, hope for a life I still yearned for. Maybe Ben would fulfill more than one wish while working with Ollie. Maybe she’d

find something worth fighting for and he’d save her life and mine.

Chapter Five Ben “Where shall we begin?” I folded my hands on the table and waited for Olivia to direct the process. Her face scrunched up. “What do you mean?” “Well, you’re pretty smart. I don’t want to waste your time trying to teach you something you already know.

So…what do you want to learn?” Leaning in, I grinned. She positively lit up. “Can I learn to work the camera and edit? Maybe I should even learn to make money doing this.” Her lips pursed as she considered what she’d shared. I laughed. “You wanna make money? You’re five. What do you need money for?” Ollie shook her head. “It isn’t for me.” She paused and glanced around the living room. When she realized her mother wasn’t in sight, she continued.

“It’s for Mama.” I swallowed hard. “For your mama? Why?” Standing, she walked over to me. “Are your hands clean?” I held them up for inspection. “I think so, but I’ll do it again if you’d like.” My smiled faded as I was again reminded of how sick she was, the kind of life she lived, and the real reason I was here. This wasn’t some fun school project. Slowly, she climbed onto my lap. “I don’t want Mama to worry about

money. I know she does. I want to help. I won’t be here forever, you know.” I raised a brow. “None of us are, Ollie. We have to make the most of the time we have.” I shrugged. “So you want me to teach you how to make movies and help you make money?” Nodding happily, she exclaimed, “Yeah!” Then her head tilted to the side. “How do you make money?” I licked my lips as I considered her question. “Well, some of my money comes from my inheritance.” I didn’t want to focus on that, so I hoped to

distract her with my current method of self-employment. “For the last few years, I’ve been building a blog.” I eyed her curiously. “Do you know what a blog is? Shaking her head, Ollie admitted quietly, “Nope.” “It’s a website where I share things I care about. It’s kind of an online diary.” Honestly, maybe all these words were foreign to her. “Do you know what a diary is?” My brow furrowed as I studied her face. With a shy smile, Olivia pushed

off my lap and disappeared down the hall. Less than a minute later, she returned with a big spiral notebook clutched to her chest. Reluctantly, she passed it to me. “This is my diary.” Surprised, I held it a moment before ever opening it. “You know, diaries are supposed to be a safe private place. Are you sure you want me to see this?” She stared at it a moment with her head tilted to the side, then nodded enthusiastically. “Yes. Maybe we can use it in my movie.” She waited for me

to say something and finally urged, “Open it, please.” Taking a deep breath, I worried over what I’d see on the pages. Given her age, the diary consisted of a series of pictures, dating back a couple years. “When did you start this?” My words were barely audible. I feared I already knew the answer. “My feelings doctor told me to do it when I was four. I’m almost six now.” Her chest puffed out proudly. “You’re very wise for your age,” I commented as I carefully flipped

through the pages. There were pictures of a stick figure Ollie who lay in bed, sometimes sleeping, sometimes crying. There were pictures of her being comforted by a stick figure mama. I saw the seasons changing as she drew pictures of life outside her bedroom window, a life her medically fragile body couldn’t participate in. My heart ached for her. It took a few breaths for me to get my emotions under control. I didn’t do well with death and sickness. “Now you.” She crossed her arms over her chest and set her chin

determinedly. “Now me what?” I couldn’t stop thinking about the images I’d seen. “Now you show me your blog. I wanna see it.” She looked as though she were prepared to argue her point. Standing, I walked to where I’d left my bag and pulled out my laptop. Opening it, I managed to find a neighbor who didn’t have their wi-fi password protected. Once online, I pulled up my site to share with Olivia. I set the laptop on the coffee table and turned it for her to view. “I make movies of people I

meet. Then I post them and write about them.” I clicked on the embedded video and the story of the hot dog guy began to play. I watched as Ollie soaked it all in. Her eyes widened when he told all the places he’d been. Then, when the movie ended she shook her head sadly and pushed the laptop toward me. It wasn’t the reaction I had anticipated. “What’s wrong? You don’t like it?” I frowned. Her approval seemed suddenly very important to me. “It’s not that,” she mumbled.

Taking a breath, she sighed. “You did a really good job, Ben.” I bit my lip to keep from laughing at her grown up ways. “I’m just sad because I’ve never been anywhere.” Her shoulders drooped. A moment later, Charlie’s voice broke the uncomfortable silence. “Now that’s not true.” She pretended to give Olivia a stern look. “You’ve visited some of the finest hospitals in Montreal and the province of Quebec.” Then she picked up Ollie and tickled her until she giggled. We exchanged sad smiles. I

could feel her pain and I admired how she tried to stay positive despite it all. “Wow. I haven’t really been to any hospitals.” I looked away because I was suddenly reminded of visiting my mother. “All we visit are hospitals.” Ollie threw her hands in the air. “When you get better,” Charlie began. Shaking her head, Ollie interrupted her mother. “Mama, I’m not getting better.” Then she turned to me. “Let’s get working on this movie.

Okay?” My eyes widened and I nodded. “Yeah. Let’s talk about cameras. Come sit by me.” I sat on the couch and gestured for her to join me. “Yes, let’s.” Then she plopped on the couch and crossed her arms while she waited. *** Charlie My eyes did that tearing up thing the minute Ollie turned her back. Her

words stung, cut me to my very core. I held a fist to my lips, then turned away and hid in my room while I tried to get my emotions under control. At the rate I was going, Ben would never want to come back and I’d have ruined everything for my daughter yet again. Guilt gnawed at me all the time. It seemed like my fault she was sick. It was my fault she didn’t have her father. It was my fault the two of us were the only family we had. It didn’t matter how many scenarios played out, I couldn’t imagine a way for our life to be

different. I couldn’t imagine life without her, like it would’ve been if I’d had the abortion Damien demanded. I couldn’t imagine her battling leukemia without me, like she would’ve if I’d have gone through with the adoption my mother insisted upon. I paced for a few minutes as I concentrated on breathing and repeating words of comfort. “I am where I’m meant to be, living the life I’m meant to live.” After roughly ten minutes, I had pulled myself together and decided to check on Ben and Ollie. She could be a

handful. He might need me. In all honesty, he’d been doing great with her. It was me who needed to be in his presence. Something about him had always soothed me, ever since the first time I threw myself into his arms in the hall as I left my father’s office. When I wandered out from the bedroom, careful not to intrude, I found Ollie dancing happily in the middle of the living room before dropping onto the ottoman to recuperate. “What was that all about?” Her exuberance made me smile.

“Ben bought me everything!” She sank onto the floor and sprawled out with her hand on her forehead. “Everything!” Her voice came out a squeal. “What does everything mean?” I directed the question at her, but in her excitement, she couldn’t answer. Turning to Ben, I tried again. “Can you tell me what this ‘everything’ is?” I could feel panic rising in my chest. I didn’t want to be beholden to anyone. I didn’t want some stranger spending money on her. Apparently, I started tapping my foot

because when I followed Ben’s gaze, he was staring at it. Flustered, I stopped and stormed off in a huff. I only made it as far as the kitchen, reluctant to give him the space to do more damage. Leaning on the counter in the far corner of the room, I stared out the window at the passing cars. “I’ll be right back,” Ben murmured. I could hear the squeak of the springs in our secondhand couch, which suggested he’d stood. A moment later, I heard his shoes on the linoleum and I whipped around to glare at him.

“What?” I snapped. “Whoa!” First, he held his hands out in front of him protectively, then he made a big show of putting on his sunglasses. My mouth twitched involuntarily. “Sunglasses? Inside? Really?” “I needed protection from the laser beams shooting from your eyes.” He grinned and took a cautious step forward. “Relax. I can explain.” Once more his hands were extended before him as he closed the distance between us. “The everything, as Ollie liked to

phrase it, is equipment she needs…a laptop, a camcorder kit, some software for editing, that kind of thing.” He shrugged. “I’m not sure what your objection is, since I’m not paying for it. It’s all part of the package.” “The package?” For some reason I could hardly process his words. “Yeah. Make-a-Wish, remember? I told you I was here to make your wish come true.” His brow furrowed in confusion. Suddenly, I realized the truth of his statement. My shoulders sank and I

blew a breath slowly from between my lips. Finally, when I’d finished, I spoke. “I’m sorry. Again. As usual.” I threw my hands in the air. “Money, supporting us, has become a matter of pride. I hope you can understand.” I studied his response, but he still seemed bewildered. In frustration, I growled before sharing something intensely personal. I wasn’t ready for this. “My mother said I’d never amount to anything; that I’d come crawling back once I realized I couldn’t support us.” I swallowed hard. “She kicked me out when I refused to put

Ollie up for adoption long before she was ever born.” I turned away, pained by the sympathetic look in his eyes. “So I’ve spent the last six and half years proving her wrong.” For a moment, I stared silently out the window, unsure of what to say, my heart pounding in my ears as I waited for a reaction. Slowly, his arms encircled my waist as Ben pulled me against his chest. Then we gradually began to sway. Finally, he leaned low and began to sing in my ear. “Just call on me, Charlie, when you need a friend. We all need

somebody to lean on.” I couldn’t help but giggle. “Lean on Me?” “Yeah. It was the first thing that came to mind when I saw you looking sad and alone.” Ben gave me another squeeze before turning me in his arms and forcing me to face him. “I’m around. I know I’m here for Ollie, but that doesn’t mean I’m not here for you too.” He smiled warmly at me and my stomach started doing that freaky fluttery thing again. “In other news, you have an awesome giggle. You should really use it

more. No joke.” My face warmed and I knew his compliment had me blushing. “Well, I don’t have a lot of cause to use it.” “I can change that.” He bent low and I froze. For a second, I thought he was going to kiss me and I discovered I wasn’t at all opposed to the idea. Instead, his hands trailed up my sides and soon he was tickling me. Involuntarily, I began to giggle, then laugh almost hysterically as I tried desperately to get away. “Stop!” I could barely catch my breath to protest.

“Okay.” Ben released me and took one step back, then almost as a second thought, he moved in again and planted a kiss on my cheek. My hand flew up to cover the spot. “I’m sorry. I don’t know what came over me.” He bit his lip, turned, and froze. Once more, I followed his gaze and realized Ollie was peeking around the corner with a camera pointed at us. “What are you doing, Miss Thing?” I smirked at her while she covered her mouth with her hand. Slowly, she lowered it and

revealed a wide smile. “Making a movie.” “Of course you are.” I looked at Ben helplessly. “Don’t worry. This is the kind of thing edits are made for.” He laughed, then picked Ollie up and carried her back to the living room. “Let’s get to work.” I leaned my back against the counter and marveled over my Monday. My cheek still burned from where Ben had pressed his lips. My stomach was in serious upheaval. For the first time in

forever, Olivia didn’t need me to entertain her all day. Grateful for the quiet, I sat at the end of the table and went to work on my laptop, eager to make use of the time. Two hours later, I realized my stomach was grumbling. When I looked up, I found them playing with the camcorder. “Anyone interested in lunch?” I stood and moved to the kitchen as I waited for a response. “Me!” Ollie sounded happier and more excited than she had in a very long time.

“Grilled cheese?” My suggestion was based on what I had on hand and was easy to prepare for three. “Yes, please. Can Ben stay for lunch?” Olivia had rushed into the kitchen to ask me. Her hands were clasped under her chin like she feared I’d object. “Of course.” I grinned. “You better make sure he has time. We don’t know what he has planned for today.” I was already pulling bread out of the wrapper and reaching for the softened butter on the counter when he peeked in.

“I can stay all day, if you want. I have no plans.” He laughed. “The joys of being a graduate student.” Suddenly his voice changed to sound like the genie in Aladdin. “Ultimate open schedule. Itty bitty bank account.” He winked. “Seriously, grilled cheese sounds wonderful.” I nodded as I bit my cheek to keep from smiling too widely. This man. He was crazy in all the very best ways. And he wanted to stay. Never in my life had I known a guy to stay. Hell, even my own father was a complete coward. I

began to scowl, but stopped and shook the dark thoughts out of my head. Ben wasn’t going to be around forever, but I was sure going to enjoy the hell out of having him around for now.

Chapter Six Ben Shortly after lunch, I could see Ollie beginning to fade. She started making silly mistakes, which frustrated her to no end. I looked to the kitchen table, hoping Charlie could help. Sure enough, our eyes met and she nodded. Standing, she disappeared in the kitchen and returned a moment later with a

couple of syringes. “Ready for your medicine?” She held the first one out while Ollie obediently opened her mouth and accepted the syringe. “Good. Swallow.” Ollie made a face, struggled a moment, then opened her mouth for the second medication. “Thank you. Ready to rest?” The little girl’s face fell and I sensed she could burst into tears any moment. “Hey, what’s wrong?” I tugged on her sleeve to get her attention. “I don’t want it to end.” She sniffled.

“What’s ending? You’re just going to take a nap. I’ll be here when you wake up and we can work until dinner.” Her face brightened. “Sound good?” Ollie nodded enthusiastically and I heaved a sigh of relief. Thankfully, she had no idea the lengths I’d go to in order to keep her content. I’d always been a people pleaser. “Good. Then it’s a plan.” I leaned back against the couch and folded my hands behind my head. Before they wandered off to the bedroom, I caught a glimpse of Charlie’s face and wondered for a moment if I’d

overstepped. It nagged at me, but thankfully she returned quickly and immediately sat back down at the table. Apparently, she was avoiding eye contact, so I stood and moved to sit in the open chair beside her. “Hi.” I stared at her grinning until she met my gaze. Leaning back, one of her eyebrows arched. “Hello?” “So, did I mess up…again?” I smiled shyly and tried to channel some of Gabriel’s boyish charm. It seemed appropriate in this situation, especially

since I had no idea how to be. Charlie’s face scrunched up for a moment. “What do you mean?” I sighed. “You know, by offering to be here after her nap.” I spoke quickly, hoping to explain my reasoning before she had a chance to light into me again. “I thought it would help her go to sleep, get the rest her body needs, without putting up too much of a fight. You don’t have to entertain me or even talk to me.” I gestured to the coffee table where my laptop sat open. “I can get some of my work done. Then I’ll work

with her some more before I leave.” For some reason, I found myself pleading with her, willing her to let me stay. Even though her place wasn’t nearly as nice as mine, I felt more comfortable here than I had on the estate for years. Hell, I’d sleep on the couch here, if I thought she’d let me. “It’s okay.” Charlie tried to smile, but failed miserably. I cocked my head as I studied her. “Then what’s wrong?” She shook her head. “Nothing. What could be wrong?”

I chewed on my cheek for a moment as I attempted to analyze the situation. “Do I make you uncomfortable?” Reaching out, she laid her hand on my wrist and I was acutely aware of how cold it felt against my skin. Without thinking, I covered it completely with my hand, marveling for a moment how tiny she seemed. We sat in silence a moment staring as we touched. Finally, she broke the silence. “It’s not you, it’s me,” Charlie murmured. “How’s that?” I frowned.

“I’m not used to being around guys.” She must have sensed I was about to argue because she qualified her response. “Medical professionals don’t count.” “Really? I would think anyone with a penis counts.” I crossed my arms over my chest. “What makes me different?” Charlie licked her lips for a moment, an innocent act which distracted me greatly. “Well, let’s see… there’s our history.” She pursed her lips and waited for me to respond.

I smiled shyly. “Ah, the white elephant in the room. I rather like our history.” Really, I did. When I heard how Gabriel and Isabella met, I seriously hoped the Crying Girl and I might find our happy ending. “Every time you’ve met me, I’ve been this crazy chick,” she spluttered, her eyes beginning to fill with unspent tears. Without thinking, I reached out and wiped the big fat droplets that began to leak out. “No,” I whispered. “You were my Crying Girl.”

Charlie hiccupped. “That’s worse! I’m weak and sniveling. You must hate me.” I slammed back in my seat. “Why would I hate you?” “I’m pathetic,” she spat. My brow furrowed. “Is that what you think? I don’t find you pathetic in the least. From what I gathered from your conversations with Professor Morceau, you’re amazing. It hurt me to know what you were going through.” Her hand shot up and covered her mouth for a moment while she

squeezed her eyes shut and shook her head. Finally, Charlie moved her hand and muttered, “You pity me. That’s even worse.” With surprising speed, she pushed her chair back and stood, ready to run off again, but my hand captured hers and I pulled her onto my lap instead. “What are you doing?” I studied her a moment. She didn’t seem mad, just intensely sad. Hugging her close, I forced her to bury her head in my chest. This felt so familiar and then the words spilled forth. “I don’t know why you’re crying,” I

whispered. “All I know is I wish I could take your pain away.” Charlie wrapped her arms around my neck and burrowed into my neck. I could feel my shirt growing damp as her tears flowed. All I could do was hold her, rocking slightly, hoping it was comfort enough. Finally, I was acutely aware of her growing limp against me. She pulled her head back and looked up at me with glassy eyes. “Still?” I knew what she meant. I’d said those words to her long ago. Nodding, I cupped her cheek. “Always.”

The more time we spent together, the more I realized Charlie was completely worn out. Being a single mom was hard enough. Add in a chronically ill child, and I had no idea how her head hadn’t popped off yet. “Know what else I told you before?” She yawned as she shook her head. “You inspire me. I meant it then, I mean it even more now that I’m getting to know you.” She made a face of sheer disbelief, but I didn’t feel like arguing. “We’re moving to the couch and you’re going to take a nap.”

“Excuse me?” Even as she asked, Charlie let out another yawn. “Yup. Hang on.” Standing, I felt her hands tighten around my neck. “I’m perfectly capable of walking,” she grumbled. I grinned. “This is true, but if you did, I wouldn’t be able to do this.” I pretended she was a giant weight and curled her a few times. “Put me down! You’ll wreck your back.” She tried to wiggle out of my arms, but I merely held on tighter. “Nope.” I laughed. “I’m never

letting you go.” I think we were both shocked silent then. I didn’t know how to explain it, but for some reason, as impulsive as my words had been, I meant them. I’d searched for her for years. Maybe I’d built her up in my mind, but after half a day spent together, she was everything I’d hoped she’d be and more. Charlie was a keeper and Ollie’s dad was an idiot. I’d never make that same mistake. As we collapsed on the couch, she wondered, “What about Ollie?” “What about her?” I frowned,

trying to understand her question. Instead she shook her head, wriggled out of my grasp, and curled up on the end of the couch. Opening one eye, she met my gaze. “Just fifteen minutes, ‘kay?” “Right.” Leaning down, I planted a kiss on the tip of her pink button nose. I had no intention of waking her. Charlie needed her rest and whether she was ready to admit it or not, she needed me too. ***

Charlie What the hell was going on between us? I closed my eyes intending to think it through, knowing he wouldn’t bother me if he thought I was resting. The next thing I know, I’m waking up to Ben shushing Ollie. I blinked a few times and stretched before sitting up. “Olls, you really need to rest.” I frowned at her. “Can’t you sleep?” Olivia and Ben exchanged looks then she giggled. “Mommy, I did sleep.”

She rushed over to the table to pick up my cell phone from where I had left it next to the laptop. When she returned, she held it out for my inspection. “Look.” I glanced at the time and my eyes must’ve bugged out. “Oh my God! How could you let me sleep this long!” I glared at Ben as I leapt from the couch. Immediately, I knew my mistake. Somehow, despite years of experience with these feet, I landed badly, rolling my ankle. A loud ‘pop’ sounded in the room and my angry eyes faded, replaced

with fear, then a sharp, pulsing pain. My ankle no longer supported me and I nearly collapsed onto the floor until Ben swooped in and scooped me up in his arms. I buried my face in his chest to hide the pain. “What was that noise?” Ollie wondered as she looked at us. “That’s the sound of us taking your mom to the doctor,” Ben replied calmly. Then he set me back on the couch. “So do we need to call for an appointment?” I bit my lip. “I may not have a

doctor per se.” “Per se?” He smirked. “You’re one of those moms who doesn’t take care of herself, aren’t you?” For some reason, he looked saddened by this. “I mean, I go to the walk-in clinic.” I shrugged, then grimaced. Already my ankle was swelling to twice the normal size. “So, if you can just help me to my vehicle with Ollie, I’ll go get this looked at. Then we’ll see you tomorrow.” Ben threw his hands in the air. “What are you talking about?” His

frustration was evident as he ran a hand through his hair. After exhaling, he turned to Olivia. “Can you go get your shoes and your coat, please? And I’m going to need some help finding something for your mom.” She scampered off happily. Once we were alone, Ben knelt beside me. “I know this isn’t what you’re used to, but I’m not leaving.” He chuckled. “How many times do I have to tell you? Or maybe I need to show you?” He stood and shook his head at me. “Ollie, how are we doing?” Ben reached down and

squeezed my hand. If he meant to comfort me, it worked. I started to relax, confident I would get the medical treatment I needed and reassured Ollie would have someone to look after her if I needed xrays. His grip started to relax and I knew he was about to search her out, but I suddenly had a death grip on his hand, like he was some kind of life preserver. “Thank you,” I mumbled. “It’s really hard for me to admit I need help sometimes.” Looking at me with a half smile,

he nodded. “It’s not just that though, is it? I think you’re used to people letting you down, so you’ve built this world with only room for you and Ollie because it’s safer that way, less disappointment and hurt.” My eyes prickled and my cheeks warmed. This guy was a bit too astute. “Maybe.” I shrugged. “Here’s the problem with that kind of life,” he murmured as he gazed into my eyes with his deep chocolate brown ones. “You not only prevent hurt and disappointment, you wall out the

potential for true happiness, pure joy, and the kind of excitement that comes from being surrounded by people who care about you.” Ben bit his lower lip. “This is just my opinion, of course. Don’t take my word for it.” Slowly, he moved toward the hall, our fingers gradually losing touch. When he exited the room, it felt colder somehow and the pain seemed more acute. I frowned as I considered everything he’d said. It didn’t matter if he was right. Ollie was sick. She needed my undivided attention right now. This

was no time for change and upheaval. Minutes later, they emerged a picture of togetherness that didn’t seem possible given the limited time they’d spent together. Still, Ollie walked out smiling, holding my flip-flops. Without thinking my eyebrow rose. “Really? It’s what…fifty degrees out?” Ben licked his teeth before speaking. “Listen, I’d love to know what you think is going to fit around that ankle. Do you want a sock on that foot and a sock and shoe on the other?” He threw his hands up in the air and bolted

from the room. Seconds later, he returned with a pair of socks and one left shoe. I felt ridiculous as he helped me with the sock on the injured foot. When he started to repeat the process with my good foot, I stopped him. “I think I can take it from here.” I smiled shyly in case my words had come out harsher than intended. Backing away with his hands up, he turned to Ollie and checked to make sure her coat was all buttoned up. Then he grabbed my big sweater from the

back of the dining room chair. “Arm,” he instructed. Soon enough I was ready to go. I started to ease myself off the couch. “What are you doing?” “Getting up so we can leave.” I rolled my eyes at Ollie who giggled in response. Before I knew it, Ben had gathered me in his arms and we were moving down the stairs and out to the car…only not mine, his. Oh, and apparently his was a Porsche sedan. He set me in the front passenger seat while I stewed. Soon he had Ollie safely belted

in, then he hopped in the driver’s side and smiled at me. When I didn’t smile back he sighed. “Now what?” “Itty bitty bank account?” My chin jutted out angrily. “I’m gonna chalk this up to the pain.” Then without explanation or apology, Ben drove us to the urgent care walk in clinic. The wait was long, but he entertained Ollie with the camera on his phone. They made mini movies. They took pictures. They sent everything to his email so he could download it for them

to use in her masterpiece. The nicer he was, the more I felt like a complete and utter jerk. Finally, I was seen, x-rays were ordered, and the injury was diagnosed as a severe sprain. “You’ll need to stay off your feet for a few days to let the swelling go down. Your ankle will be incredibly unstable, so I recommend a brace. Ice it frequently. Keep it propped up. And…given the severity, I’m going prescribe some serious pain meds.” The doctor started to scribble on his prescription pad, but then narrowed his

eyes at me. “No driving on these. No driving at all, as a matter of fact.” He whirled on his stool and turned to Ben. “Got it.” Nodding seriously, Ben smiled. “She’s in good hands.” Ollie leaned against his shoulder and stared shyly at the doctor. Reaching up, Ben hugged her closer in a way that seemed so natural anyone watching would think she was his daughter. “Good.” The doctor stood and shook my hand, then Ben’s. He was about to reach for Ollie when Ben

moved an arm in front of her protectively. “Weak immune system,” Ben explained. “We rushed and I forgot her mask.” His brow furrowed in guilt. The doctor glanced at me before leaving the exam room. “Two weeks at least before you’re feeling really comfortable walking. Don’t rush it. You’re free to go.” “Okay,” I mumbled weakly. Apparently Ben read my emotions. “Give us just a minute.” “Of course.” The doctor nodded.

Already I wondered how I was going to manage the stairs, getting Ollie to the doctor, and pretty much the whole no driving and staying off my feet part. I sighed as the door closed behind the doctor. Covering my face with my hands, I struggled to control my emotions. Overwhelmed. That’s what I was… overwhelmed. “Charlie?” Ben came over and squatted down in front of me. Though I refused to look at him, he managed to pry my hands away from my face, then kept holding on, lacing my fingers

through his. “Let me help.” “How could you possibly help?” I meant it. I couldn’t think of a single way he could assist me. “Well, for starters, we’re gonna go fill your meds and you’re going to take them.” I started to protest, but he held a finger to my lips. “Let me finish.” I closed my mouth and nodded before he continued. “Then we’re going back to your apartment. Ollie and I will pack some necessities while you wait in the car, letting the pain meds kick in.” He grinned.

“Then what?” Ollie had suddenly appeared at his side. “Then we’ll go to my place. I live in a one-story place. You’ll love it. We even have a pool and a hot tub.” He seemed to enjoy how her eyes widened in excitement. “Tonight we’ll have takeout.” “Wait. What about Ollie? Germs,” I reminded him. For a moment, I wasn’t sure if I was more afraid of a counter argument or having him conceded defeat. “My place was cleaned from top

to bottom today. It’s probably cleaner and more germ free than a hospital.” He chuckled. “How is that possible? You were with us all day.” My eyes narrowed involuntarily. He rubbed the back of his neck, probably in an effort to hide the blush creeping up his face. “The maid comes on Mondays,” Ben mumbled. His voice was so low I could barely hear him. “Did you just say ‘maid’?” I held my head. This guy was so not for me. “But where will I sleep?” Ollie

piped in. “Well, you and your mom can sleep in my bed, while I sleep on the couch.” “I can’t take your bed,” I protested. “If you only knew how often I sleep on that couch, you’d realize you weren’t inconveniencing me at all.” Ben grinned. I shook my head. “We can’t stay at your place. I barely know you.” “This is true, but do you have a better idea? Prettier options?” His jaw

set as he challenged me and waited for my reaction. I opened my mouth to argue, but I knew it was pointless. Feeling defeated I sighed loudly. “Fine, but if you kill me in my sleep, I’ll haunt you with a vengeance in a way that will make your worst nightmare feel like a warm blanket. Got it?” I channeled my mother’s angriest look. “Okay.” He shrugged then looked at Olivia again. “Then, in the morning, we’ll let your mom sleep in and rest while we get groceries. We’ll even bake

cookies.” “You don’t have to do this.” My head was already spinning and I hadn’t taken the pills yet. “Of course I do. I want cookies. Plus, I’m in the business of making wishes come true. This time, you didn’t even realize what you wished for.” Ben moved to sit in the seat beside me. Leaning in, he whispered, “You wished you didn’t have to do this all alone.” Maybe I did. Maybe I had. All I knew for sure was that with Ben around, my life didn’t seem so uncertain, even if

it was still spinning wildly out of control. I finally felt like I’d found my footing, which was strange since I now had a sprained ankle. I sat there quietly, thinking when he shoved his phone under my nose. “What’s this for?” I gazed at him, almost afraid to admit how much better I felt because of him. “Type a list of what you need. Ollie’s meds. Clothes. Laptop. Anything you want from the apartment.” Then he hauled my daughter onto his lap. “So about these cookies. What kind should

we make?” My ankle hurt like hell, but my heart was so full, it helped to dull the pain.

Chapter Seven Ben Charlie needed me. She merely refused to accept it yet. I wasn’t going to push it exactly, but I was going to step in and help her in her time of need. It had taken me all of three minutes this morning to realize she was genuinely alone in the world. Now, she was injured and I felt partially responsible.

After all, I was the one who let her sleep longer. It was my fault she’d been so off balance. In good conscience, there was no way to leave her alone with a sick child to care for in a second story apartment. Taking them in was the logical thing to do. It was the right thing to do. In truth, it was what I wanted anyway. For years I waited to get to know her and now, I wasn’t ready to let her go. I remember when Gabriel told me about dating Isabella, and how he hated being away from her. He knew she was the one

because he couldn’t get enough of her. Constantly he found ways for them to be together, the longer the better. When those trips came to an end, he’d feel bereft. Somehow, I sensed being around Charlie was going to be something like that. I smiled. “What are you so happy about?” She crossed her arms over her chest and pouted. “Oh, I was just thinking about my a diabolical scheme. So far it’s working.” I winked at her and watched as her look softened and she bit her lip

to keep from smiling. We’d already filled her meds, gone to the apartment, and picked up Chinese take out. I took a deep breath as we pulled up at the gate to my father’s estate, already anticipating her reaction. I wasn’t wrong. After I punched in the code and the gate started to roll open, I glanced over at her. Sure enough, I could see her fuming beside me. Staring out the window she grumbled, “Itty bitty bank account.” Shaking my head, I drove to the back of the property and parked at the

pool house, which was more like a guesthouse. As soon as I had the Porsche parked, I turned in my seat to face her. “I know what you’re thinking.” “How could you possibly know?” She wrung her hands as she stared angrily out the window. I pursed my lips a moment before speaking. “Despite popular belief, you actually spoke those words out loud and though guys are supposed to be terrible listeners, I heard you.” I sighed as she looked down at her lap. “So here’s the deal.” I gestured to the estate.

“Everything you see, it belongs to my father. It’s not mine. I have a small inheritance, but otherwise I’m on my own. I get free housing until I graduate. Then my father would like me gone. Far away. So he’s free to frolic with my new step-mommy, who happens to be all of two years older than me and tried to date me first.” Her eyes widened. “Yeah. So…that.” Without saying another word, I stepped out of the vehicle and helped Olivia unhook her seatbelt. She clamored out of the car, eager to

explore. Then I picked up our food from the floorboards in the back seat, and her bag of clothes, toiletries, and meds from the trunk. Walking around to the passenger side, I knocked on the window with a knuckle. Slowly, she pushed the door open and looked at me gloomily. “I’ll be right back for you after I get Ollie and everything inside, okay?” My brow furrowed in concern. She looked ready to break. I could actually see her freaking out a little. “Do you trust me?”

Charlie looked up at me and rolled her eyes. “Hell no, I don’t trust you!” I actually laughed, stumbling slightly from the force of it. “A, I barely know you. And B, enough guys have let me down in this life to have a general distrust of your entire gender.” She crossed her arms over her chest. “I’d go with the whole…I’m not like other guys spiel, but I’d rather just show you instead.” I winked at her and walked away still grinning. “Wait! You’re leaving me here?” She looked helpless and shocked.

“Mom,” Ollie began, stretching the normally once syllable word out to roughly eight, “he said he’ll be back.” She turned to me. “Do you promise?” My eyebrows arched. Never before had anyone ever questioned my integrity so much before. It kinda stung. “Yup.” The bags were beginning to grow heavy on my arms. “No, you have to say it,” Ollie urged and then shook her head like I was so much work. I bit my cheek. She was a miniature version of her mother for sure.

No wonder I liked her so much. “I promise. Now I’d pinky swear, but at the moment I’m holding dinner with that finger. Can we go inside, please?” Ollie nodded happily and soon followed me down the sidewalk to the front door. Once I punched in the combination for the door, I pushed it open and let her enter first. I made a beeline for the island to set the food down. Then I continued into the bedroom to deposit their bags. When I returned to the living room, Ollie still stood staring in awe of the place.

“Take a seat. I’ll go get your mother before she has a meltdown, and then we’ll eat, okay?” I watched as she nodded quietly and went to sit stiffly on the couch. Looking to the ceiling, I said a silent prayer for patience to deal with these two crazies as I trudged out the door toward the Porsche. Even though I had rushed as fast as possible, Charlie had attempted to heave herself out of the vehicle and stand up using the crutches I’d grabbed her from the pharmacy. She was failing miserably. Tottering back and forth on the loose

gravel from the unpaved driveway extension. I could see her eyes widen as she rocked first one direction, then the next. “Wait!” I shouted, but it was too late. *** Charlie I hate being helpless. I hate waiting on people. Oh, but I hate making a fool of myself most of all. Of course, if I’m going to do something, I’ll go for the

gold, no half assed tumble for me. And so for the second time this day, I managed to fall and injure myself. Though there was a resounding clatter from the metal crutches scraping and bouncing around on the ground, I gritted my teeth rather than cry out. I refused to admit how much it hurt, despite the pain meds already in my system. This was going to be bad. I closed my eyes, afraid to look at the damage I’d done to my good foot. Already my shoe seemed to be tightening around it. When I finally decided to peek,

Ben’s concerned face was inches from mine. “What’s hurt?” He spoke quietly and seriously, understanding all too well the gravity of the situation apparently. “My pride,” I grumbled. His eyes brightened at my response and he nearly grinned. “Beside that.” Tenderly, he scooped me up off the floor and hauled me into his arms cradling me for a moment. “I’m just gonna come back for the crutches. They’re obviously doing you no good anyway.” He winked at me. “I can walk,” I pouted, knowing

full well I was being ridiculous and lying through my teeth at the same time. “Of course you can.” Clearly, he found the situation quite humorous. I glared at him. “So you’re one of those physical comedy types?” Ben shrugged. “Not really. Oh, but you should have seen yourself. I give you a 9.75 for form, but you lacked the grace and artistry necessary to truly cement a gold. I think you may have to settle for a silver.” How was this guy in my head? I frowned. “I don’t know. I think I should

get bonus points given I started injured.” “And now?” He obviously wanted to see if I was ready to admit the damage. Sighing, I grimaced. “Now I’m more injured.” Ben nodded. “I thought so. We’ll check you out inside, but let’s not worry Ollie.” I cocked my head as I studied him. This guy didn’t have kids and yet he seemed to understand Ollie better than almost anyone, but me. “Yeah. I can totally play it cool.” I made an

exaggerated wink and gave him a ‘thumbs up.’ “I got this. As long as you’ve got more pain pills and an ice maker.” He chuckled. “That I do.” Once inside, Ben sat me on the couch, then set Ollie up on a stool at the island with some food and promised to join her as soon as possible. She didn’t complain, which meant she was hungrier than I imagined. Hunger was a good sign. He returned to kneel before me, head bowed, completely focused on the

task at hand. For a moment I felt all regal and shit, then the shoe came off. Not the glove, the shoe. Seriously, he pried that thing off and gritting my teeth wasn’t enough. This time a whimper escaped my lips. Ben looked at me and hesitated before peeling off the sock. “You ready?” I nodded slightly. I mean, who’s ready for this stuff? I’d just suck it up and cope while gripping the cushion on either side of my legs. Finally, the deed was done. We both stared at my naked foot.

“You have mighty purdy feet,” Ben drawled. “No, I think you meant purple.” I sighed. I watched as he opened his mouth and knew what he was going to say. “But I don’t want to go back to the doctor tonight. Can’t we do it in the morning, please?” His jaw snapped shut and I could tell he wanted to argue with me, but my reasoning was better. “Ollie needs to go to bed in a couple of hours. You know how long this can take. I won’t sleep in tomorrow. And I’ll just wait in the car while you shop for

cookie supplies.” I was grasping now, desperate to stay here, which was strange because up until a few minutes ago, I didn’t even want to come inside. “I don’t know. This could be bad.” He gently ran a finger over it and noted the swelling and discoloration. Then he pushed on a bulge while staring at me intently. “Does this hurt?” I did what any normal person would do in this situation. Yes, I lied my ass off. Biting down on my lip, I shook my head even as my cheeks and eyes gave me away. Ben frowned. “I’m fine.”

He seemed entirely unconvinced. “I won’t be running a marathon any time soon, but let’s face it, that’s not really my thing so no big loss.” Sitting back on the floor, Ben smirked. “Right. No marathons. How about getting to the bathroom? Showering? Can you do all those things you definitely don’t want me to be a part of?” My head tilted. “I’m not above crawling,” I replied after some consideration. “You won’t have to wipe my ass. I assure you.”

“Oh really? You assure me?” He snickered. “I hate you.” I tried to glare so he might believe me, but I couldn’t. I was putting this guy through it and he acted like he was Teflon coated. “Good, because I hate you too.” Ben stood, leaned over and kissed me on the tip of my nose. “My nose?” I twitched it a few times. He was still leaning over me, a hand braced on either side of my thighs. “Yeah, your nose. Oh, but only because I

thought it might be too soon for this.” Ben closed the distance and pressed his lips lightly against mine. I moved slightly to accommodate him, marveled at how nicely we fit. A warmth traveled between us, bordering on an electric charge. “Hey! Are you two kissing?” Ollie shouted from roughly eight feet away. “No, baby, he’s just looking in my eye,” I lied, grateful my back was to her. “Huh. Well, I don’t know how he

could do that with his eyes closed.” Her reasoning was far too smart for a five year old. “That may have been the other reason,” Ben teased even as he remained dangerously close to my lips. I want to blame it on the pain pills, or the trauma, or even on how sweet and generous he was being. Maybe it was even all those things. Or, it could be that when I was having one of the roughest days of my life, he held me and wished he could take my pain away and I’ve never forgotten it. All I know is

suddenly there was nothing I wanted more than to finish exploring that kiss. I didn’t care my daughter was near. It mattered little we barely knew each other. That he was just passing through my life didn’t faze me in the least. “Again.” Ben shook his head, his eyes dancing with laughter. I could feel my face on fire. “Ollie,” he murmured. “I don’t care.” That part was definitely the pills. How else could I explain my actions and my body’s reaction to his kiss? I had always been a

super responsible mom. I hadn’t been with anyone since Damien. Roughly six and a half years of no personal contact with any male, aside from Ben. And damn if I didn’t want him right now, consequences be damned. “Well, you might.” He jerked his head to my left. When I turned, there was Ollie, hanging over the arm of the sofa, literally less than eight inches away from me. I inhaled deeply. “Hullo, Olls.” “Hullo, Mums.” She smiled widely.

“Whatcha doing?” My eyebrow quirked. “It was very lonely over there.” She stuck out her lower lip to show the very depth of her sorrow. “Right. Yeah. I can see that.” I shook my head. “You can’t sit on a stool. You need your foot propped up while we ice it.” He looked at the right one, already diagnosed as a sprain. “Make that…ice them.” Then Ben glanced at the coffee table. “Shall we all eat here?” I glanced down at the cream

colored couch I was sitting on, then the handscraped hardwood floors with really expensive looking area rugs…all light colored. This place was hardly Ollie ready. “How good is your maid?” Ben laughed. “The best. Only the best for Mandy.” “Mandy’s the step-mommy?” My eyebrows peaked. He nodded. “Of course.” So we ate on the coffee table and Ollie managed to stain nothing, although the maid is gonna have to do some serious vacuuming. Fried rice doesn’t go

well with chopsticks and Ben let her use them despite my many protests. Finally, we were done and he cleaned up while I sat and felt guilty and useless. “Isn’t there anything I can do to help?” Already I whined. He paused in the middle of loading the dishwasher and glanced towards Ollie. She was engrossed in one of her Nick Jr. shows, oblivious to our conversation. “As a matter of fact, there is.” I grinned. “Later.” My mouth drooped. I didn’t know whether to be excited or

concerned. For several minutes, I sat there stewing, wondering, and worrying. Then suddenly I could feel his breath in my ear and my insides fluttered uncomfortably. “Back scratches,” he whispered. “I’d really love some back scratches.” “Is that what you meant?” My heart pounded as I imagined raking my nails down his back after Ollie fell asleep. “Yeah.” His brow furrowed. “What else would I mean?” Oh, I had plenty of ideas. Every

once in a while, I’d read some romance novel while we were stuck in the hospital. I knew precisely the kinds of things he could’ve meant. For some reason, I was surprised I really wanted him to mean them, and maybe a little disappointed too.

Chapter Eight Ben What the hell was I doing? As I tucked Ollie into my bed, I couldn’t help but wonder. The kiss…wasn’t nearly long enough. I wanted the chance to truly explore what might be between us. Charlie seemed into it. Of course, she was doped up on pain pills. In some ways, it felt like I was taking advantage

of her. “What are you doing?” Ollie interrupted my thoughts. I shook my head to clear the fog. “I’m sorry. What?” “You’ve fluffed my pillow at least thirteen times. I stopped counting after thirteen.” She narrowed her eyes at me and I laughed, seeing her mother in her. “I’m sorry. I guess I was distracted.” I shrugged and started to walk away. Immediately, she sat up in bed.

“By what?” Then she folded her hands on the blanket while she waited for my answer. “Um, just adult things, I guess.” I rubbed the back of my neck and glanced toward the door for help. I’m not sure what I hoped to see there. It wasn’t like Charlie could come rescue me from her too perceptive daughter. Olivia crossed her arms over her chest. “Are you worried about her eye?” “What?” My brow furrowed. Then I remembered Charlie’s explanation for our closeness. “Oh,

yeah.” I chuckled. She looked at me sternly. “Are you sure you weren’t kissing? I’m pretty sure that was a kiss, although I’ve never seen my mom kiss anyone.” “Never? No one?” I sat down on the edge of the bed. Shaking her head, Olivia continued. “You know, I wouldn’t mind it if you did. Kiss her, I mean.” I grinned. “Well, thank you. I’ll keep that in mind.” I started to get up, hoping to finally make my escape and return to the invalid on my couch. As I

stood, Ollie grabbed my hand. Pausing, I studied her face. “What’s up, squirt?” Her nose wrinkled. “No one has ever called me squirt before.” “Good, that can be our thing.” I waited for her to reveal her thoughts. “Ben, I think you should try kissing my mommy.” She frowned. “She’s going to need someone to love when I’m gone.” Without thinking, I leaned down and hugged her. “You aren’t going anywhere, Squirt.” She nodded. “I’m so tired, Ben. I

don’t want to do it anymore.” I could see her eyes starting to water and I feared I’d have a crying little girl on my hands soon, but instead she took a deep breath and pulled herself together. “Rest. Tomorrow, we bake cookies.” Ollie leaned back against the pillows and finally rolled onto her side. Confident she had found her sleep position, I pulled the covers up around her. Then, without thinking, I planted a kiss on her little bald head. “Sweet dreams, Ollie.”

“Go kiss Mama,” she murmured, already half asleep. With a sigh, I turned and wandered back to the living room. Charlie sat there trying to look relaxed. The effort she put into it was admirable, but not fooling anyone. “Was I gone too long, or is it the pain?” I collapsed beside her. “Both,” she grumbled. “Well, I would’ve been back sooner, but Ollie decided to get chatty.” I studied her a moment before reaching out to smooth the worry from her

forehead. “Do you need more meds?” “Mm, I think I should wait until closer to bed so they last all night.” She stared back at me and I tried to decipher the message her eyes struggled to convey. “So what did Ollie say?” With a laugh, I leaned in and planted a kiss on her cheek. “This is for you.” “Oh, a bedtime kiss from her?” She softened. “Um, no. I was ordered to kiss you.” I shrugged. Her brow rose. “And that’s the

best you could do? I feel cheated. Robbed, even.” “I can do better.” I shifted toward her. She licked her lips. “I doubt it. If you could, you’d have done it already.” Her brow rose in challenge. “Really, I can. Let me show you.” I started to close the distance between us, but she held up her hand. “Don’t bother. I don’t need another half-assed kiss this lifetime.” She looked away from me. By now it had become a matter

of pride. For some reason, what Charlie thought of my kisses was of great importance to me. Without asking permission, without waiting for her to give me a single sign she was amenable to my lips upon hers, I grabbed the back of her head and steered her to me. As soon as we connected, instinct took over. There was no thinking, only feeling, as our lips parted, allowing our tongues to dance in a timeless mating ritual I’d rarely experienced. Somehow, through the years, with the few girls I’d taken home from the clubs, kissing was the

very last thing we’d do. Because of it, the kiss had taken on an intimacy usually reserved for sex. Slowly, gradually, it broke off and I was aware of her hands under my shirt. At first I wanted to question, but that meant using my lips for something other than kissing down her neck, or instead of using my tongue for words rather than licking a trail to her sensitive earlobe. Then her hands found my back and she began to run her fingers up my shoulders and down to the waistband of my pants. Charlie’s touch was gentle at

first, then grew bolder when she discovered I had no objections to her actions. Before long they were raking down my skin and I’d grown frantic with need. All this feeling gave me a raging hard on. All this touching and kissing made me want her in ways I hadn’t been with anyone maybe ever. Soon, I was pushing her shirt up over her head and she helped. Before I could try to figure out how to undo her basic black bra, she had unsnapped it and let it slide down her arms. For a moment, I could only

stare at two of the most perfect breasts I’d ever seen, small, perky, and peaked with a glorious pink nipple, which I needed to taste immediately. Bending my head, I licked at it, watching with satisfaction as it hardened further from my efforts. Soon I had captured it with my lips while my teeth applied the slightest pressure. Charlie moaned in pleasure and arched against me. My hands were around her waist, but soon enough she had moved one to cover her other breast. For a moment, my cock jerked in my pants as I

marveled over how right it felt hold her, tease her, and make her as drunk with desire as me. Soon, without my suggestion or even a hint, she had unbuttoned her jeans and lowered the zipper. A second later, I discovered it was because she wanted my other hand down there. Who was I to deny her? Please, I was in no condition to deny her. My fingers snaked under her panties, moving lower until I found her warm, wet, and waiting. She shifted slightly in an effort to encourage me to touch her, really touch her in her most

sensitive, secret spot. Honestly, clits scare me. Yet here we were. When I hesitated, she stopped kissing me, pulled my head away from her nipple and waited until our eyes met. At first, I could feel a blush creeping into my cheeks, but she ignored it, more focused on what was happening between us. Cupping my face with one hand, she forced me to look at her. Then her free hand ran down my arm until it met my hand. There were shivers up and down my spine. Her touch, those eyes, even

her assertive manner had me ready to blow. That, and it had been a long time since I’d been with anyone. “Like this,” she murmured while our lips practically touched and the heat between us threatened to combust. Her fingers urged me on, taught me, trained me as I slid inside her wet folds. Charlie amazed me. Gawd, I wanted her, wanted to be in her, wanted to make this pulsing, aching need end. Maybe she needed it too. Before I could react, she had reached out with one hand to work on my jeans and yank

on my shirt. Reluctantly, I pulled my hand out of her jeans to help. Soon, clothes were everywhere as I carefully, cautiously undressed her. “Your ankle,” I reminded her. “Are you sure?” She nodded, almost as if she were afraid to speak. Then gestured to the floor. Without hesitation, I shoved the coffee table until it was off the rug, giving us more space. A smile played at the corner of her lips. “Help me down.” Her voice had suddenly become surprisingly sensual.

Carefully, I slid my arms under her naked thighs and back while she wrapped her arms around my neck. When I laid her gently on the floor, she spread her legs and looked away to hide the pain. “We should wait,” I whispered as I buried my face in her chest. Charlie shook her head. “I’m ashamed to admit how much I need this. Please don’t make me beg, Ben.” Her words were all the encouragement I needed. Soon, I had positioned myself between her thighs

and started kissing her again while the head of my cock rested against her vag. It was all I could do not to thrust deep inside her. Everything about this felt incredibly important to me. *** Charlie This wasn’t me. This was nothing like me. Only for some reason, tonight, it was. Here I was laying on the floor about to have sex with Ben. We’d known each other…the better part of a

day. Yeah, that seemed like plenty of time to decide he could share my body with me. Fuck. Still, I refused to back down because I really did want this, really did need this, and it had been a really really long time. Enough reallys in there? Yeah. So, I bit my lower lip and lifted my hips as much as possible with my injuries to encourage his throbbing hard cock to slip inside me. Thankfully, he took the hint. It felt amazing. I forgot how nice it could be, having someone all wrapped around me, feeling him moving inside

me. It only took a minute for me to recognize the pressure building inside and another few seconds before something in me fractured and my muscles contracted around him in a series of powerful shock waves. I was still panting when I realized Ben, too, seemed rather winded and his pace had slowed, his thrusts had deepened until finally, he collapsed on my chest, still inside me. “I,” he began. That was all I let him get out before I interrupted him. “Don’t ruin this with some dumb

declaration of love.” His head lifted and I could see a shy smile on his face. “Actually, I was going to apologize. This wasn’t my best performance. I’m grossly out of practice.” Ben sucked in his bottom lip while he waited for my reaction. I ran my fingers through his hair. “Well, since you’re playing with an injured partner, I’m going to cut you some slack. I’d give you an 8.75 for form and a 9.65 for technique. It’s a solid silver performance.” Pulling out of me, he suddenly

sat back on his heels. “What’s wrong with my form?” “Missionary?” I rolled my eyes and grimaced. “Very vanilla. I had you pegged as a bit more exciting, adventurous.” “But you’re injured. Your ankle! Your foot!” He pointed as he spoke and sounded a bit exasperated. “Well, these are all things to consider for next time.” I shrugged then glanced down at my groin. I could already feel him leaking out of me. “So, what does a girl have to do to get a

towel around here?” I winked at him playfully. Standing, he walked toward the bathroom, but I could’ve sworn I heard him mutter, “Grade on a curve.” I couldn’t help it. I chuckled in response. Poor Ben. I really was rough on him. Moments later, he returned with a towel in hand. “Anything else, my queen?” He bowed with a flourish and laid the towel between my thighs. Sighing happily, I nodded. “Just one thing.”

Ben smiled. “What’s that?” “I think I’ll take that Vicodin now.” After I took the pill, Ben helped me pull on my panties and brought me my robe. Then we snuggled on the couch as if we’d done it a million times. I loved the way my body melted into his, the way he laid a hand on the curve of my hip, the way our breathing matched. Despite the injuries, I felt a peace I hadn’t experienced for a very long time. “Whatcha thinking?” Ben wondered as I rested against him.

“Nothing. Just relaxing.” There were too many thoughts and feelings for me to share. They were still too private for me to speak aloud. “It’s the pill.” He seemed so confident it made me wonder if he was right. I didn’t want to think so. I wanted it to be Ben. Aside from the meds, he was the one big difference in my life, our life. For another half an hour, we watched some show I didn’t even pay attention to until I was caught yawning. I

tried to hide it, not ready to part ways. He must’ve known. Maybe he even felt the same way, too, because I woke up in the morning to find I was in bed with Ollie and had slept in my bathrobe. Despite the nagging pain, there was no denying I’d slept well. I stretched cautiously and Ollie immediately rolled to face me. “Morning, Olls,” I whispered in case Ben still slept. “Morning, mums.” She smiled knowingly. “What’s with the look?” I

propped myself up on my elbow. “Ben kissed you.” She covered her mouth and giggled. My cheeks flushed. There was no use denying it. “Yes, he did.” I nodded. This time she laughed harder and I heard the sound of bare feet on hardwoods coming towards us. Ben peeked in. “Did I hear laughing already this morning?” He carefully flopped down on the end of the bed. Ollie took one look at him and giggled uncontrollably. “What’s with her?” He looked at me in confusion.

“Don’t ask. Let’s eat.” I threw back the covers, sat up, and smiled. Then I held my arms out to him. “Carry me?” He beamed. “Of course.” Ben stood and walked around to my side of the bed. “Ollie, lead the way to the kitchen.” She looked at me, then, Ben, then me again. “Okay, but I’m hungry, so can we speed up the kissing?” Then she slid out of bed and glanced at us before leaving the room. “That kid is too smart for her

own good,” Ben commented as he hauled me into his arms. “Agreed.” I laid my head against his chest. Already, I could feel that longing building again. Maybe this wasn’t a fluke. “You’re getting used to this, huh?” Ben kissed my temple. “A little.” I gave him a shy smile. “Good. Now let’s eat. We have a doctor to see and cookies to bake.” I buried my face in his neck and inhaled the scent of him. “Okay.” Today I felt incredibly cooperative.

“Oh, and you need to rest up.” He chuckled. “Why’s that?” I lazily traced his collarbone while he carried me. Ben set me on the couch and then leaned low to look me in the eyes. “Because I fully intend to go for the gold tonight, as long as the doctor okays it.” He winked before standing and disappearing behind me. I could hear him speaking with Ollie. “So, waffles, cereal, what do you like?” All I could do was marvel over the fact that Ben still wanted me.

Chapter Nine Ben The morning flew by, despite the time spent waiting to see the doctor. Again. When we were finally called to the room, I carried Charlie despite the looks we received. Honestly, I wasn’t sure how they thought we were going to get back there. “Well, I’m surprised to see you

again so soon,” the doctor commented when he entered the exam room. “What brings you here today?” Charlie blushed profusely, so I grabbed her hand and explained the situation. “Crutches are a real hazard,” I joked. “She lost her balance in the driveway.” “Ouch. Let’s take a look.” He sat on the stool and wheeled over, slowly removing Charlie’s sock to examine her foot. “Does this hurt?” He pushed on the side of her foot. Charlie about flew off the table

as she jumped in pain. “Yep.” She appeared deceptively calm, but the way she gripped my hand told another story. “Let’s get an x-ray. Someone will be in shortly to wheel you down there.” He patted her shoulder. “We’ll have you all fixed up in no time.” I’m not sure what the doctor’s idea of ‘no time’ was, but after roughly another hour of trying to entertain Ollie with my phone and comfort Charlie, we finally had a diagnosis. I’ve never been so grateful for free wi-fi in all my life. “Well, it’s broken.”

“Dammit,” Charlie growled. Ollie gasped then whispered at me. “Mama said a bad word.” “I heard.” I nodded and tried to hide my smirk. “Oh, I suppose you think this is funny. Is this where you remind me I should’ve waited, been more patient, trusting?” She glared at me, but behind the fury I recognized fear and hurt. “Why would I do that? You feel bad enough. My job is to make you feel better.” I pulled her close, and felt her slowly melt against me. “I do this with

hugs.” “And kisses.” Ollie reminded us. “Especially kisses…and cookies, and even managing your pain. Relax. You’re not alone. We’ve got this.” Her eyes grew shiny and I worried she was about to cry, but before I could even consider comforting her further, the doctor interrupted us. “So, the treatment…” He looked back and forth between us. “Sorry.” Charlie smiled shyly. “Please continue.”

“Thank you.” He nodded. “It’s a boot. The break is on the side of your foot. You wear the boot for six weeks and then a brace for another few days. You’ll be fine.” He started to exit the room, but paused and looked at Charlie again. “Your ankle will be completely healed by then too.” Finally, we left the doctor’s office. After picking up her medical supplies, we drove to the nearest grocery store. I couldn’t help but tease her as I exited the vehicle with Ollie. “I trust you’ll wait for us?”

She bit her lip to hide a smirk. “There you go, throwing around the ‘t’ word again.” Charlie nodded. “I’ll be right here.” She raised her pinky. “I promise.” My stomach clenched. The teasing yet vulnerable look in her eyes had me wanting to lean in and claim those lips. With Ollie dancing eagerly beside me, I grazed her temple instead. “Need anything while we’re in there?” “Hm. We never talked about dinner.” Charlie’s head tilted. “Any food allergies?” I reached

out and held her hand while I waited for a response. “No known.” She giggled. “Have your heart set on something in particular?” I caressed her skin with my thumb. She glanced at our hands and shook her head. “Nope.” “I’ll surprise you then. Maybe I’ll even pick up food for the rest of the week.” I slowly released her hand and turned to close the door. “We haven’t discussed how long I’m staying.” Her words were low,

barely louder than a whisper and she wouldn’t meet my eyes. “No, we haven’t, but there’s no need to rush your recovery.” Then I quickly shut the door. Her need for independence was already at war with my need to take care of her, of them. I wasn’t ready to consider their departure yet. Suddenly, a small cool hand grasped mine. “Hey, squirt.” I smiled down at her as we started toward the store. “Mommy says we have to hold hands in the world.” She nodded while staring up at me seriously.

“Your mother is very wise. We should always hold hands.” I squeezed her gently. “I’m glad she has you to hold her hand, Ben.” Ollie sighed contentedly. I wasn’t sure what to say, or if it even required a comment, so we simply chose a cart and walked inside. We tried to be as quick as we could be, but picking out meals took time. And phone calls. “How do you feel about tacos?” “What?” Charlie sounded confused. “It’s Tuesday. Taco Tuesday.

Sometimes I meet up with my friends. We love this Mexican restaurant, but I wasn’t sure you’d be up for it.” I rather hoped she’d suggest we go out. “You can meet up with your friends. Ollie and I can eat some nuke-ameals. We’ll be fine.” “Ut oh. Not fine.” I chuckled to hide my fear. “Every smart man knows ‘fine’ is the kiss of death.” “If I use it, I mean it.” She sounded agitated and I regretted mentioning it. “Okay, we’ll figure something

out. Bye.” I waited for her to say something, but instead she ended the phone call. Glancing at Ollie, I frowned. “Did she sound fine to you?” “Nope.” She crossed her arms over her chest. “That’s what I thought.” I pocketed my phone as we walked through the store. “Do you want to go out to eat tonight?” Her eyes widened. “Like a real restaurant, not in a hospital?” I swallowed hard and tried not to imagine what her life was normally like.

“Yeah. A real restaurant.” “Wow. We never go to real restaurants.” Her eyes had a far off look. “Time to change that.” Ollie wrapped her arms around my waist. “Yes, please.” It was settled. I had to make this happen. While we wandered the store, I sent Gabriel and Sebastian a text message. me: Taco Tuesday. The usual spot. I’m gonna secure the private room. Our party has grown by two.

I knew it wouldn’t take long for my phone to blow up. Sure enough, seconds later, I received my first response. Sebastian: This is Marisa. What? One girl isn’t enough for you? Now you need to bring two to a family dinner?!?! Before I could respond, Isabella chimed in.

Gabriel: This is Isabella. Give Ben a chance. He’s the sweetest guy I know. He would never do anything that tacky. Right, Ben? They had me chuckling and Ollie tugged at my sleeve. “Who’s that?” Her brows knit together as she stared at me suspiciously. “My friends. Well, my friends’ wives, actually. I told them I was bringing two people to dinner.” I shrugged. “Let’s just say they’re excited.”

Without asking, Olivia plucked the phone from my hands. “I wanna say ‘hi.’” She quickly touched the buttons for her short message. “Now what. This isn’t like mommy’s phone.” “Here.” I took the phone back and added to the message. me: Hi. (This is from Olivia. She’s almost six.) That was all I needed to say. Immediately, Isabella and Marisa were chatting back and forth, excited I’d found

someone. It was a little early for that. I couldn’t even keep up. Finally, I simply sent one last message. me: Please don’t freak her out. See you at six! (Ben, who reclaimed his phone, and misses talking to the guys once in a while.) With dinner tonight decided, we concentrated on cookie ingredients and soon left with just two bags of groceries. When we returned to the vehicle, I could feel the tension before I even opened the

door. Charlie sat stiffly in her seat as I helped Olivia into hers and hooked her in. After I slid in behind the steering wheel, I turned to look at her. “Hey.” I laid a hand above her knee. She stared at it a moment before gradually meeting my gaze. “Hey.” “So, it’s Taco Tuesday. We’ll bake cookies, then meet my friends for dinner. By the time we get back to the pool house, it’ll be Ollie’s bedtime.” I shrugged. “I thought it might be a nice change.” “I can’t…” Her voice trailed off

and she stared out the window again. “My treat. It’s tacos. And queso. Lots of queso.” I nodded, the excitement building in me as I considered what it would be like to bring them to dinner with my friends. “And kids. Becca and Konnor are Gabriel and Isabella’s kids. Becca and Olivia are about the same age.” I grinned. “They’ll get along fabulously.” “Germs,” Charlie mumbled. “We’ll have her wear the mask when she’s not eating. And we’re in a private room, away from the rest of the

restaurant.” I watched as Charlie shifted in her seat and stared out the window. “I know you want to protect her, but you have to let her live too.” She whipped around and glared at me a moment before her eyes began to fill with unspent tears. “You have no idea what it’s like.” She spoke through gritted teeth. I shook my head sadly. “No, I don’t, but now I will.” While we stared each other down, we realized the car seemed to be shaking. Immediately, we both turned to

check on Ollie in the back seat. She wore a huge grin. “A real restaurant, mums.” *** Charlie How could I deny her? The look on her face was one I hadn’t seen in forever. Sheer joy radiated from her. If it weren’t for the bald head, Ollie would look like a normal, healthy kid for a change. My shoulders sagged. Maybe Ben was right. Maybe what she needed

was a little more normal. Maybe I should stop worrying so much. “Yes, Olls. A real restaurant.” My would-be tears dried up and I sighed. Swallowing my pride once more, I looked into Ben’s deep brown caring eyes and shrugged feeling both hopeful and defeated. “Okay. You win.” His head tilted as he looked at me. “This isn’t a battle. We’re not on opposing sides here. We both want the same thing.” “Oh really? And just what is that?” I could feel my anger rising as he

presumed to tell me how to live my life yet again. “A happy, healthy Ollie, of course.” He reached out and took my hand in his. For a moment, I just stared, admiring how nicely our hands fit together, embracing the warmth that flowed through him, into me. It was nice and terrifying all at the same time. Ever since I left my parents’ home, it has been Ollie and me against the world. We were a team of two, partners in crime. I liked it that way. Sure, I’d had friends in the

past. The guys were left behind when I grew serious about Damien. When we broke up, some tried to come back into my life, but none of them could hang with pregnant me, or worse, mommy me. See, my timing had been terrible. Senior year of high school is no time to become a mom. My female friends went off to college and studied abroad, while I stayed home and struggled to make ends meet while raising a baby. Once in a great while, I’d break down and visit my father, but otherwise I had no real relationships outside of

medical professionals. Now Ben burst into my life and somehow, he fits. Somehow, he gets it, gets us. Part of me wants to feel relieved because he keeps showing me I don’t have to do it all, be everything, all by myself anymore. Then that stupid nagging worry pipes up and reminds me I can count on no one but myself, ever, and steals all my joy. Why can’t I simply relax and savor this while it lasts? I know it’s temporary. I know once Ollie gets her movie, he’ll be gone. Maybe I should treat this like the vacation I haven’t had in six years.

I sat ruminating on all of this as we drove back to the pool house. Soon enough we parked and I waited for Ben to come around to my side before I even attempted to emerge from the vehicle. “Look who’s learning,” Ben teased. “Who?” Ollie glanced back and forth between us. “He means me, silly pants.” I grunted slightly as I stepped out and placed weight on the boot while Ben wrapped an arm around my waist. “Ben calls me Squirt. I like that

better.” Ollie turned and walked to the front door. “Thanks.” I sighed. One day and he’d already won her over. Aw hell. One day and I’d already slept with him. I shook my head at the memory. “So about tonight,” Ben began. “Don’t worry. I’m feeling up to it. You promised me a gold medal performance.” I giggled. “No pressure.” He licked his lips. “Actually, I meant about meeting my friends at the restaurant.” Ben grinned. “And now I really feel pressured.”

My legs threatened to give out. I swayed, unable to move as quickly as normal to cover my embarrassment. How had I suddenly turned into some nympho with him? Oh, it could have a little something to do with my six-year drought. “Whoa. I’ve got you.” Ben scooped me up into his arms and kissed my warm pink cheek. “There’s nothing to be shy about. I’ve been thinking about being with you again too. I was just wondering if there was anything I could do to make tonight more comfortable for

you.” He pressed the side of his face against mine and nuzzled my neck. Immediately, I was jelly in his arms. “That helps,” I murmured breathlessly. Gawd, it was shameful the way I let this man affect me. Ben laughed. “Good. I plan to do that a lot. Anything else?” I thought for a moment. “Well, I’d love a shower before we go, since I didn’t get one this morning. And I need to get some work done.” Then I shook my head. “Although I’m not sure how I’m going to accomplish any of it.”

His lips pressed against my temple. “Hush. You have me now. We’ve got this.” Suddenly Ollie reappeared. “Cookies! Come on!” “We’re coming. Be patient. Your mama can’t move as quickly as she usually does.” Ben followed after her and opened the door. “Stay here.” He set me on the couch. Then he dropped the groceries on the island and disappeared down the hall. When he reappeared, he passed me my laptop. “We’ll bake cookies while you work. Then we’ll get

you bathed while she naps. Simple.” I smiled. Ben made everything seem simple. Maybe it was with help. Maybe life didn’t have to be one challenge after another. Maybe it could be something better, something more. He had changed everything almost without trying. Though I opened the laptop and hooked up to the Internet to check my emails, I struggled to concentrate. In the kitchen, Ollie giggled and bounced around, filled with excitement. I couldn’t remember the last time she’d been this happy. Me, I felt like it was safe to

breathe, to exhale, and to relax. Apparently, I relaxed a little too well. Some time I later, I woke up in Ben’s lap. The pool house was quiet and I started to sit up and glance around, but he stopped me. “It’s okay. Ollie just went to sleep. When you’re ready, we’ll get you bathed.” He pulled me closer against him. There’s that ‘we’ word again. “I shower alone. Naked.” I folded my arms across my chest as he threw his head back and laughed. “What?”

“You do realize I saw you every bit of you naked…last night, right?” The corners of his lips twitched as if he were trying to hide a smile. I bit my cheek. “It was dark. That was…different.” “Yes, it was, but in some ways, it’s also the same. For example, we did that together. You want to get clean? We’ll be doing it together.” Ben looked to the ceiling and sighed. “Come on. Trust me.” Part of me really wanted to protest, but the rest of me wanted to be

clean and longed for his touch on my bare skin again. Almost without thinking, I nodded and braced for the inevitable. He shifted and I wrapped my arms around his neck so he could carry me to the bathroom while I marveled over him, this man who was nothing like I expected. “Want me to tell you about my friends so you can feel more comfortable?” He spoke as he carried me down the hall. I nodded as we entered the bathroom. “That would be nice.” To my

surprise, he already had clothes picked out for me hanging up on a hook. Even more surprising? I approved. It was an outfit I loved, a simple tank top maxi dress with a light sweater to cover my shoulders and arms. Ben must’ve noticed my smile because he paused. “You approve?” “Yes. It’s perfect.” I exhaled, hoping to feel more at ease with our plans. “I’ve grown up with these guys. We all went to the same school…” I interrupted him without

thinking. “A private school, no doubt.” Then I held out a leg so he could help me pull off my yoga pants. Ben rolled his eyes as he squatted before me. “Yes. So what?” He removed the boot and waited for me to lift my hips up so he could pull down my pants. “Well, this isn’t too awkward,” I grumbled. “I know. It’s only temporary.” He stood and walked over to lock the door. Then he took a deep breath and gestured around the room. “So you can sit in the

tub and I’ll help you get in and out, even wash your hair and your back.” I bit my lip imagining being naked and needy in front of him. “Or?” “Or we can both strip down and I’ll help you take a shower. There’s a built in seat, but you’re still gonna need some assistance rinsing.” Ben held his hands up. “Your choice.” Then while I decided, he pulled his shirt up over his head, revealing a torso I definitely hadn’t given enough attention last night. It made me want to see the rest of him. Immediately. If only that tub were big

enough for two. “I mean, I suppose we could even share the bathtub if you’d feel more comfortable. I could sit behind you…” “Sold.” In my mind, it allowed for more modesty. He’d mostly see my back, right? Without saying a word, or even smiling, Ben turned to the bathtub and began running the water. It was this incredible freestanding tub, all contemporary and oval. I could prop my injured parts up without touching a wall. Hell, I could even shave my legs if I felt

so inclined. For a moment, images of us entangled on the living room floor flashed before my eyes. Yeah. I guess I needed to be inclined. Before long, we were both naked and positioned in the tub. While he had been all cool about seeing me naked and moving me into the tub, I had all but drooled at the sight of him. Guys only looked like this in magazines, but here he was in the flesh, pressing his skin to mine. I tried to concentrate on washing my body while he settled in behind me. Then his hand snaked around and

grabbed my shower gel. “Hey!” I started to snatch it back, since I wasn’t done. “Relax! I’m going to wash your back.” He poured some into his palm and then passed it back to me. While I watched, Ben slowly rubbed his hands together, then gently began washing my shoulders. I couldn’t move. His touch had me frozen in place. Slowly, I closed my eyes to focus on feeling. It almost seemed to deepen into a massage. Then finally he rinsed, pulling me back against

him, deeper into the water. “There,” he murmured, as if afraid of breaking the silence. “Now your hair.” Instantly, I was putty in his hands, leaning low until my head was nearly submerged, all but my face. Opening my eyes, I stared up into his. The look was indecipherable, his brow furrowed, deep in concentration. My gut had me questioning, but my head took over. Savor this. Just relax. When Ben lifted me to shampoo, I sat and sighed happily as he worked

his fingers through my hair, massaging my scalp, applying the perfect pressure. Finally, it was time for another rinse, and I leaned back, once more. Despite the possibility of soap in my eyes, I stared up at him, filled with a peace I hadn’t experienced in far too long. Too soon it was over, but not before he planted a few lingering kisses on my shoulder that had me shivering in anticipation. Mistaking it for a chill, Ben hopped out of the tub, wrapped a towel around his waist, and then hauled me out of the tub and into a waiting bathrobe.

He set me on the toilet seat and began to towel dry my hair. “I’ve never done this before,” he admitted shyly. “Was it okay?” My insides were quivering and burning up with need. Was it okay. I wanted him right now. After Ollie’s bedtime seemed so far away. I blinked a few times, thankful I couldn’t get to my feet. There was a serious chance I’d have thrown myself into his arms, wrapped my legs around his waist, and demanded he take me immediately. I bit my lip a moment before speaking to calm

myself. “Yeah. You were great. Thank you.” Ben smiled and my heart raced even more. “Great. Let’s get dressed. Then I’ll help you get ready. I’ll help lotion you.” I sucked in a gulp of air. This helping might kill me.

Chapter Ten Ben I’m not ashamed to admit I was using any and every excuse to touch her. For some reason, I couldn’t stop. On the bright side, Charlie didn’t seem to mind. Even better, Ollie whole-heartedly approved. They both seemed happier, more relaxed and alive than they had been the first time I saw them at the mall.

I hoped it was me, us, being together because being with them gave me a sense of purpose and filled me with a hope I hadn’t felt in so long. Picking up the lotion from the counter, I took a single step toward Charlie and saw the panic in her eyes. Immediately, I squatted in front of her, hoping to ease her distress. “Charlie, what’s wrong?” “Don’t look at me!” She shrieked and waved her hands wildly. “Calm down,” I murmured, thinking it might inspire her to be

quieter. “Ollie is sleeping in the next room.” “Don’t tell me to calm down,” she growled. “I just realized I’m a mess. And it’s all your fault!” “Babe, you’re beautiful…” I was ready to list off all of her finer qualities, show her how I saw her, but Charlie about jumped at me and nearly fell off the toilet lid. I steadied her. “Talk to me. Help me understand.” Then I took her hands in mine even though I could tell she wanted to yank them away. “You and the kissing,” she

muttered. I shook my head. “I thought you liked the kissing.” Her mouth formed an ‘O.’ “I love the kissing. I crave the kissing. Only now, we kissed when I should’ve shaved. And you massaged when I should’ve conditioned. And now I’m not even close to being done and I’m out of the tub and the water is drained and I have to meet your friends looking like crap.” She crossed her arms over her chest and her nostrils flared. “I hope you’re happy.”

My eyebrows rose. I struggled not to smile. “I’m ecstatic. These are all things we can fix. Breathe.” “You breathe. I’m fuming.” Her face darkened some even as the blush rose in her cheeks. “Let me…” “Oh no. Your help got me into this mess.” Charlie waved me away with her hands. “I can’t think around you. It’s humiliating. I’m constantly making an ass of myself.” She held her palms to her pink cheeks while I waited patiently. “Please go. Somehow, I’ll get ready.

With less help.” Charlie frowned, but as upset as she appeared to be, not a tear was in sight. Turning, I started to leave the room when an idea occurred to me. “Wait right here.” She let out a hollow laugh. “Where would I go?” Then her shoulders drooped. I rushed to my desk, grabbed the back of my desk chair, and wheeled it into the bathroom. Charlie grinned the minute she saw it. “Will this work?” Nodding happily, she admitted,

“I can make this work. Help me up?” “Gladly.” Oh, and I meant it. Wrapping my arms around her, I inhaled the scent of her freshly shampooed hair before I grazed the tender skin on her neck with my teeth. I felt her shiver in my arms and realized the impact my actions had on her. Immediately, my cock started to harden, but I ignored it. There would be time for us to go for the gold later. “Not…helping,” she panted. I sighed. “I know. If it makes you feel any better, this isn’t helping me

either.” I ran her hand over the towel on my semi and heard her inhale sharply. “Now you really have to go.” Looking into her eyes, I recognized how she struggled against her need too. “You got it. Just like you’ve got me later. Say the word.” I kissed her temple as I checked to make sure she was settled safely on the chair. Then I gathered my clothes and left the room. “Call me if you need me.” I watched for her response, a slight nod, before going back into the living room to get dressed. It was only four in the afternoon. This

was going to be a long night. Twenty minutes later, Ollie wandered out from the bedroom looking still sleepy, but wearing a big grin. “Is it time to go yet?” She plopped down next to me on the couch. “Not yet. We’ll leave in a little over an hour.” I started typing on the blog, determined to finish this post before we left. “Hey, where’s my mom?” She glanced about the room. “In the bathroom getting ready, squirt.” I grinned.

“Oh.” Ollie studied the laptop a moment. “Are you working?” I laughed. “Trying to. What would you like to do? I need fifteen minutes, then I’m all yours.” She tugged at her chin. “I could work too.” Ollie slid off the couch and rushed back to the bedroom. When she returned, she had her journal in one hand and her crayons in the other. With a serious look on her face, she knelt in front of the coffee table and opened her book before spreading out her crayons. It took me several minutes to be

able to focus on my task since I found this little girl so fascinating. I was eager to see what she’d draw. Soon a series of pictures emerged as she divided the page into four panels. In one, I was tucking her in to bed. The opposite corner showed us baking cookies. There was a picture of the three of us sitting on the couch smiling. The final image showed the three of us holding hands outside. “Those are really good,” I commented. “I’m really honored to be in your journal.”

Ollie gave me the side-eye. “Maybe someday I can be in your journal.” She gestured to the laptop. I chuckled. “I’m sure that could be arranged. You and your mom have become a pretty big part of my life.” Standing up abruptly, she folded her hands under her chin. “Do you mean it?” Nodding, I admitted, “I’ve never taken anyone to Taco Tuesday before. You two are super special.” Her eyes lit up and she launched herself into my arms. “Thank you, Ben. I

know just what I’m going to draw tomorrow.” “Can’t wait, Ollie.” I hugged her close. Then I heard the squeak of wheels and the bathroom door opened. We turned around on the couch expectantly. A moment later, Charlie rolled into view. She was using her booted foot to propel herself across the floors. “You’re brilliant,” I announced proudly. Then I frowned. “And far too independent for your own good.”

“Better than having you accuse me of being needy and dependent.” Charlie shrugged. “So tell me about these friends of yours.” I took a deep breath. “Gabriel and Sebastian both have money,” I blurted out, since I recognized she had issues with wealth. “Sebastian inherited when his parents died.” “That’s terrible.” Charlie frowned. “Maybe it was their time,” Ollie commented quietly. “It was a plane crash. They were

actually murdered. Long story.” My brow furrowed. Death was a bit of a touchy subject for me. “No one should determine if it’s someone else’s time. Hell, no one should decide if it’s their time, even.” I could feel myself getting worked up when Charlie reached out and laid a hand on my forearm. “And Gabriel?” She smoothly changed the subject. I exhaled. “He grew up wealthy, then started earning his own money with little help from his father.” I forced a smile. “They are both great, my very

best friends.” “What about their wives?” Charlie pulled her sweater more tightly around her body self-consciously. “Isabella was a single mom when she met Gabriel.” This time my smile was genuine as I remembered their romance. “She’s wonderful, smart, a talented photographer, a great mom.” “She sounds great. I can tell you really like her.” She smiled, but I heard a ton of questions. “I do. I like both Isabella and Marisa. They are such perfect matches

for Gabriel and Sebastian.” I reached out for her hand, towing her closer to the couch. “They haven’t had an easy road, any of them. It’s nice seeing them so happy and in love.” I meant it. Really, I did, but I couldn’t admit how hard it was to be around them lately when I felt so acutely everything I was missing. “I’m so glad you two are coming with me tonight.” “We’re important to him!” Ollie bounced on the couch and laughed. “You sure are, squirt.” I planted a kiss on the top of her little bald head

before turning to Charlie. “Where’s Mama’s kiss?” Ollie prompted. “Ollie,” Charlie hissed as her cheeks turned three shades of crimson. “No, she’s right. I wouldn’t want you to feel left out.” I shrugged like it was no big deal, but my heart thudded painfully in my chest as I struggled to make this kiss as chaste as possible with our audience. Tenderly, I pressed my lips against her forehead. “No, you have to kiss her lips.” Now Ollie was choreographing

apparently. I rolled my eyes uncontrollably. “Maybe your mama doesn’t want me to kiss her lips.” Leaning in with her eye narrowed, Ollie demanded, “Do it right.” “Listen, bossy pants,” Charlie began. Before she could complete the thought, I leaned in and captured her mouth, shocking her silent. “Let’s see if this one is kid approved,” I murmured against her lips.

Smiling, Charlie slowly pulled back. “Better?” Her eyes sparkled mischievously. “That’ll do.” The little girl nodded and settled in on the couch for a few seconds before she slid back down onto the floor and opened her journal. “I’m just gonna make one big picture until it’s time to leave. I can’t wait for my new camera to arrive. Then I can make movies too.” Reaching out, I laced my fingers through Charlie’s and watched quietly as Ollie crafted our kiss.

*** Charlie Historically speaking, I hated being wrong…but not with Ben. The feeling was so unfamiliar I analyzed it on the drive to the restaurant. He had been right about pretty much everything for as long as I’d known him. It was a record, since I’d never known a guy to be right ever, period. We arrived first, which was

perfect since Ben insisted on carrying me while the waiter chuckled. “Newlyweds?” “No!” I waved my hands emphatically. “Broken foot.” When I met Ben’s eyes, I realized he wasn’t amused by my reaction. “There are worse things than being married to me,” he muttered when we were finally alone. “Really?” I teased. “At the moment I can’t think of a single thing.” Then I propped my chin on my fist and batted my eyelashes at him.

His brow rose. “How about a broken foot and a sprained ankle? Those seem pretty bad to me.” “While this is true, that pain is temporary, while the misery of marriage can go on indefinitely.” I could feel this discussion had the potential for our first really big fight, so I lifted the menu and buried my face in it while Ollie colored on her kid menu. “I can see why you would think that. Hell, I probably used to think that.” Ben sighed. “Still, I suspect tonight might change your mind.”

I lowered the menu just enough to meet his eyes. “Never.” Then I raised it before he could further argue his point. There was a commotion that sounded like a herd of tiny elephants and I realized some of his friends had joined us. “Finally someone I can actually talk to,” a little girl announced as she pulled out the chair beside Ollie. Immediately, I guessed this was Becca. The protective mom in me braced for the worst. After all, this little girl was the picture of health from her fresh face to her full head of hair. She

took one look at Ollie’s mask and turned to her mother. “Sanitize me, please!” Then she held out her hands. My jaw nearly dropped as her mother pulled a travel-sized bottle of Purel out from her purse and squirted some in her daughter’s palm. “You, too, Konnor,” the little girl ordered as she rubbed it in and nudged her younger brother. When she was done, she smiled at Ollie. “Hi. I’m Rebecca. This is Konnor. What’s your name?” “I’m Olivia, but my mom calls me Ollie.” She glanced at us. “And Ben

calls me Squirt.” Her cheeks appeared over the edges of the mask and my heart nearly burst. The girls chattered happily back and forth for a moment before the adults had their formal introductions. No matter what else happened this meal, I would forever remember that Ben was right… right about the restaurant, right about the entire experience. His friends were wonderful. Isabella planted herself beside me. “Mind if I sit here?” I shook my head while she collapsed in the chair

and sighed. “Sorry, first trimester. I just wanna sleep. I forgot this part.” “Gawd, I remember every bit of it…the morning sickness…” “I forgot that too.” She threw her hands up in the air while smiling. “Just what did you remember?” I laughed. Isabella leaned in conspiratorially. “The fun of making them, and the sweet snuggly newborn phase. Thankfully, the bad stuff is a blur.” We giggled like old friends. Then

another couple, Marisa and Sebastian, joined us in the private room. The wives squealed and hugged. I smiled helplessly. “I’m sorry,” I mumbled as I gestured to my boot. “Good thinking, Ben,” Sebastian nodded approvingly. “Now she can’t run away.” Then he clapped Ben on the shoulder while Ben blushed. “What can I say? He turned my head and my ankle,” I joked. “Then I refused to wait for help and managed to wound my pride and break my other foot.”

“Holy crap, girl. I’m exhausted thinking about it.” Marisa, who was obviously pregnant as well, collapsed in the seat across from me and set something puffy down on her lap. “Cool purse,” I commented. “That’s no purse,” Isabella snickered. “It’s a pillow!” “Shoot. You try baking two babies at once.” Marisa leaned her head back against her chair and sighed. “Pass.” I raised my hands in surrender while marveling at how easy conversation was with Ben’s friends.

“So, we were thrilled to hear Ben was bringing not one, but two women with him tonight,” Marisa announced. I turned in time to see Ben narrow his eyes at her playfully. “That’s not quite how it went,” he argued. “First, Marisa with the name calling.” “That sounds nothing like my wife.” Sebastian grinned as he wrapped an arm around her. Then he looked her in the eye. “You really let him have it, didn’t you?” Marisa raised her hand in a

pinching motion. “Maybe just a little bit.” She shrugged. “How was I to know? These guys can be so competitive.” “Tell me about it. I’m convinced it’s why you’re having twins.” Isabella pointed at Sebastian. “See, he’s beaming with pride.” While they spoke, Ben’s hand had reached for mine under the table. I had thought I’d need him close for comfort, but our touch wasn’t about that. Instead, it was all about the affection, a tender shared moment despite the noise

and excitement around us. He squeezed and I reciprocated. “So how did you two meet?” Gabriel asked from the head of the table as he smiled warmly at me. Before I could respond, Ollie answered. “Oh, Ben was chosen to grant my wish.” Immediately, my face fell. I couldn’t meet their eyes when I expected to see nothing but pity in them. Though I anticipated silence, the conversation never faltered. “You know, you’re not the first

girl Ben has helped with a wish,” Marisa commented. “Thanks to him, I’m happily married.” “Hey, I’d like to think I had a little something to do with that,” Sebastian teased. Slowly, I glanced around the table. Instead of seeing sadness, these faces were filled with warmth and love. Relieved, I exhaled. “Actually, Ben’s the one who gave me the courage to reach out to Isabella after our falling out. He’s the reason we’re together now.” Gabriel

reached over and lovingly caressed Isabella’s hand while tears sprang into her eyes. “Stupid hormones,” Isabella complained as she wiped away her tears. “Here,” Ben murmured as he passed her a handkerchief. “I started carrying these because of Charlie, but somehow, I don’t think she’ll need one tonight.” He smiled warmly at me and I could feel my insides swirling about. “Yeah, Ben is pretty special,” I agreed, while we stared at each other.

Marisa sighed. “Enjoy the dating part. Ours was short.” “We’ll be dating the rest of our life. Promise.” Sebastian pressed his lips to her temple. “Speaking of dates. I found this list the other day that Bella made.” Gabriel pulled out his phone. “You took a picture of it? That was work!” Isabella sighed. Her husband shook his head. “Dating comes naturally. It should never feel like work. And I thought these were terrific ideas.”

“It was for photoshoots.” She rolled her eyes before turning to me. “He never needs ideas. Gabriel is the most romantic man I’ve ever known.” “I could use some ideas.” Ben shrugged. “I’m lousy at dating.” My head cocked to the side. “Is this in general or are you talking about me? Are we dating?” Ben leaned close and grinned shyly. “Let’s see…I’ve been buying meals.” “That sounds like dating,” Sebastian noted.

The smile on Ben’s face grew. “You slept over.” “My favorite part of dating,” Gabriel laughed. “I’m injured. Would you have done all this if I hadn’t been incapacitated?” My brow furrowed. My head wanted the truth, but my heart wanted the dream to be real. Slowly, Ben lifted my knuckles to his lips while never breaking eye contact. A fire ignited in my lower abdomen. Gawd, I wanted this man. “Charlie, something in me has

wanted to be with you since the moment I saw you six years ago. Back then, you were my Crying Girl. Now, it’s time to dry those tears and see if we can’t find happiness together, build the life I’ve been dreaming of for so many years.” While he spoke, I swallowed hard. His words were beautiful and scary. “To answer your question, yes, we’re dating.” Then Ben pulled my seat closer and pressed his lips to mine. For a moment, I had forgotten we weren’t alone. Then Marissa spoke. “Fuck. Now

I’m gonna need a handkerchief.” Slowly, I leaned back in my seat and felt my cheeks. They were on fire. With a slight smile, I nodded. “Okay. We’re dating.” Sebastian chuckled. “And so it begins.”

Chapter Eleven Ben Our relationship had begun. My happiness was nearly indescribable. The fear of it ending was damn near crippling. Really, I felt ridiculous. It was too early to worry about a break up. With her injuries, she still needed me too much to think about dumping me. Around seven thirty in the

evening, we left the restaurant. I had noticed Ollie looked like she was wearing down. “Hey, squirt,” I whispered. “You tired?” Sadly, she nodded at me. “What’s wrong?” “I don’t want to go,” Ollie whimpered. “Oh, sweet girl. We can do it again. Maybe next Tuesday even. You need your rest.” Then I held my arms out to her and she climbed up on my lap and tucked her head under my chin. When I peeked over at Charlie, she was biting her lip and simply shook her head at me.

“Did I do something wrong?” She smiled sadly. “No, you did everything right. Shall we go?” “Yeah, let’s get her to bed.” I stood and immediately realized my dilemma. “Well, I can’t carry both of you.” Gabriel spoke up. “Would you like me to carry Olivia? You can see to Charlie.” “Do you mind, sleepy head?” I murmured in her ear. When I felt her head move against my chest, I passed her to Gabriel who waited nearby.

We must’ve looked ridiculous to the other patrons as we moved through the restaurant on the way to the exit. Honestly, in the past, I would’ve been bothered to draw any attention to myself, but now, with my girls, I didn’t care. It was all about them, and fulfilling their needs. Charlie couldn’t apply pressure to the sprain yet and Ollie was half asleep from exhaustion. They would be carried. Once we were all hooked in and driving back to the pool house, I reached out and held Charlie’s hand. “I’m so

glad we did this. How do you feel?” She inhaled deeply while contemplating her response. “Well, my foot aches a little, but my heart is so damn happy I barely notice.” Then she gazed up at me with these sparkling eyes and it took unimaginable self-restraint to keep driving and not pull over to kiss her lips raw. I blinked away the image. “I’m glad. Unfortunately, we broke Ollie.” I jerked my head toward the backseat where she slept with her neck in a terribly awkward position.

“Yeah. She had so much fun. She was so happy. And did you hear that Becca invited her over to play?” Charlie’s face lit up as she spoke. “I did. Did you hear that Becca said they should be BFFs and Ollie agreed?” I grinned. Her eyes widened. “She agreed and didn’t talk about death? Oh my gawd, that’s huge!” Reaching over, I patted her knee. “Yeah. It is.” Charlie looked down shyly. “Since you’re in the habit of granting

wishes, can I tell you mine?” She lifted my hand and held it in both of hers. “Sure. You can tell me anything. I’ll do what I can to make your wishes come true.” I laughed, feeling ridiculous and powerful all the same time. I watcher her chest heave a few times and knew she was still building up the courage. Finally, Charlie blurted it out. “I wish that Ollie wouldn’t die. All I’ve ever wanted since I knew I was pregnant was for her to live and be with me. It’s why I moved out of my parent’s house, why Damien and I didn’t work

out. It’s the reason I research and study up on cures.” She sucked in her lower lip and I began to think I might need a handkerchief after all. “It has seemed so hopeless for so long, but ever since you came into our life, Ollie has perked up. I didn’t want her to go to the restaurant. You know this.” I nodded. “It’s understandable. She’s medically fragile.” Charlie tilted her head and stared at me. “Yes, she is, but maybe being overprotective hasn’t helped her either. I was both saving and stealing her life.”

She sniffled. Without thinking, I felt around for a spare handkerchief, but she stopped me. “It’s okay. I’m going to be okay. You’re good for me and Ollie. Tonight was a really great idea.” “Well, sweets, it’s not over yet. As I recall, if you’re still feeling up to it, I plan to make a run for the gold.” I winked at her as I pulled up to the gate. Charlie giggled. “I think I can rally. I mean, it’s the least I can do if you’re going to give it your all.” She smiled at me, but I couldn’t get past those lips. So perfect, begging for my

attention. “Well, then. I’ll get Ollie in the house, then I’ll be here for you.” I leaned over and pressed my lips to her temple. She turned suddenly and stared up at me. “Will you? Will you be here for me?” Then it was as if she worried she’d said too much and she shifted to stare out the window. “Yes. I’ll always be here for you.” Sure, it was early to make those kinds of proclamations, but somehow, I felt certain I could back up those words forever.

Less than ten minutes later we were settled in the pool house. I’d taken off Ollie’s socks and shoes, but otherwise left her completely dressed when I tucked her under the covers. Then I went out to the living room and dropped onto the couch beside Charlie. Somehow, establishing that we were dating had given me a confidence I previously lacked. “So, want me to take off your socks and boot,” I teased. “There’s nothing sexy about that,” Charlie groaned. “Why do I have to be injured?”

“I think the real question is why do you have to be so clumsy?” I chuckled and braced in case she decided to punch me in the arm. “Well, the exhaustion doesn’t help.” She shrugged then narrowed her eyes at me. “Did you flinch?” “Maybe a little. Do you need more sleep?” I brushed back her hair with my hand as I studied her face. No dark circles were evident. “It’s more mental than physical. Why did you flinch?” Charlie’s brow furrowed.

“I half expected you to punch me in the arm or jab me in the ribs.” I grinned as I wrapped an arm around her. “Why would I do that?” She seemed genuinely confused. “Babe, it’s no big deal. It’s just being playful.” Her frown deepened and my smile faded. “I’ve forgotten how to play. My life has grown so serious. That’s how it is when life and death constantly hang in the balance.” Charlie shook her head as if to rid it of the sadness. Then suddenly she stared deeply into my eyes and

leaned into me. “Make me forget,” she murmured. “Forget what?” I leaned closer, our lips inches apart. “All the bad stuff in my life.” She tilted her head. “I can do that.” Our lips were nearly touching. Then she spoke again. “Help me remember.” My brow furrowed. “Remember what?” “How to have fun and be happy.” Charlie seemed to be waiting for a

response, but I didn’t want to tell her. Instead, I’d show her. Standing abruptly, I moved the coffee table out of the way, grabbed my desk chair, and wheeled it over to her. Then without asking permission of saying a word, I lifted her and sat her gently on the seat. I vaguely noticed she was smiling, but I had other things on my mind, like finding the perfect song. Picking up my iPod, I sighed. All the times the guys had teased me about not having my music organized into playlists. They were right and I was

paying for it. I stuck it on the dock, hit shuffle, and prayed when it blared out of the speakers it would be something remotely appropriate. Thankfully, Bruno Mars began belting out Just the Way You Are. Soon I was lip syncing to it, dancing and using her as a prop. Soon I had pulled off my shirt and had picked her up in my arms to join me as I swayed to the music. Then Charlie Puth came on. *** Charlie

One Call Away. I had chills. How different would my life be if he could live up to all his promises, make good on all the hype? Still, I watched as he danced, moving his shirtless torso in ways that only made me want him more. By the time the song ended, I was smiling and the lingering sadness had melted away. “Hi,” I whispered shyly. No matter what song came on next, I knew we wouldn’t be dancing. The look in his eyes was intense. It was as if he were staring into my soul.

Every so gradually, he began to undress me and I could hear nothing but the rhythmic sound of his breath and the pounding of my heart. Ben’s touch was both gentle and decisive. He knew what he was doing, what he wanted, and he knew he would have it. Gawd, I was so easy. After so long, I didn’t care. Finally, I was with a man who was worthy of being in our life. My skin tingled at his touch and goose bumps broke out over my skin. “Did you know you have a smattering of freckles across your

shoulders?” He murmured in my ear as he stood behind me. “No, I never really paid attention.” My voice sounded breathless, like I’d just run a mile. In truth, sex with him was the most cardio I’d had in years. No wonder I was practically panting. “I’m going to kiss them.” His words vibrated against my skin and hummed through my core. Then he made good on his claim as his lips grazed my skin repeatedly in a way I felt sure I’d never recover from. Gradually, his

kisses became more intent, his breath coming in short puffs against my skin. I felt like I was going up in flames even though my panties were damp with desire. Ben’s hands were everywhere all at once, caressing my breasts through my bra before removing it in what felt like one fluid motion. Soon, he had picked me up, cradling me against his chest. After laying me gently on the thick shag area rug, I held my breath and waited for what would happen next. It didn’t take long for him to position

himself between my legs and carefully remove my panties. The maxi dress and sweater were long gone. Everything was gone. Only Ben remained. His lips were on me once more, this time on my stomach. I started to push him away, self-conscious of my faint stretch marks, but instead, he laced his fingers with mine and shook his head. “Never be ashamed of your body, Charlie. Not with me.” He moved to lay parallel with me. “This body of yours has done amazing things. You housed a new life. Be proud. You’re an incredible

mom and a strong woman. There’s nothing sexier than that.” I was shocked silent, my eyes wide, my heart racing at his words. Ben knew how to change everything, including my outlook. Swallowing hard, I could feel the fear nagging at me again. This was a man I could love. Other than losing Ollie, nothing else scared me more. “Stop thinking,” he whispered against my skin. Then he chuckled. “Guess I need to work harder at making you forget and helping you remember.”

He rolled and one arm snaked around my waist. “On your knees, gorgeous.” Soon Ben had positioned me, ensuring I had my balance holding onto the coffee table, my legs slightly parted, as he slid his head under me and began to lick my most secret places. If not for last night, I’d have expected a layer of dust to blanket his face. My hips began to move, grinding against his chin. Then he added a finger, touching me just right before diving inside me. A whimper escaped my lips. Naturally, he noticed, but instead of

ceasing his actions, he increased the intensity. This time, I could feel a moan building. “Are you ready for me?” His words were spoken against my thigh. Somehow, I managed to nod. In response, Ben moved me onto the floor. For a moment I stared up at him with eyes that most certainly spoke of longing. He grabbed a pillow from the couch and shoved it under my hips. I knew I was in trouble. Already I was seconds from shattering completely. “I know you hate missionary, but

given your injuries and my desire to stare into your eyes while we come, I thought this variation might appease you.” Without waiting for a reaction, he lifted my legs and my ankles settled over each shoulder. Seconds later, I felt his cock positioned against me. Ben watched for me to meet his gaze before pushing deep inside me. My back arched instinctively and I spread my thighs as wide as possible to accommodate his hips. Last night was surprising and impulsive, but tonight we knew what we were doing. There was a

level of comfort between us, a growing affection that had surpassed lust and was making a beeline toward love. This angle had him hitting inside me just right. The way our eyes connected had me feeling like our souls had intertwined. It was painfully intense. The stone walls I’d constructed around my heart were useless. In a matter of days, my defenses had crumbled and I’d let Ben in, in every way possible. “Charlie.” My name sounded rhaspy, strained, and I thought I knew why. He was close. I could feel him

growing impossibly hard inside me, hotter by the minute. “Oh, Charlie.” When he spoke my name the second time, my body responded in waves, gripping him in the rolling intensity. His eyes widened in surprise then his lids lowered as he slammed against me, as close as our bodies would allow. Ben had felt me, but a second later I felt him, too, as he spurted inside me. Sure, I’d had sex before, but it was nothing like this. When we were done, I didn’t feel like showering, and

he didn’t run off and leave me. No, Ben took his time exiting my body. And when he did, he planted a kiss on my abdomen, then moved to press his lips against mine again. My arm wrapped around his back and I ran one hand through his thick dark hair. “I’m just going to get us a towel while you think.” He grinned down at me. I knotted my fingers in the rug. What was I supposed to be thinking about? How could I think after that? Hell, there were parts of my body that

still didn’t have feeling. Then I remembered and giggled. Suddenly Ben knelt beside me and began to wipe gently between my legs. “You want a medal?” Smiling widely, he laughed. “I mean, I thought I might deserve one.” He shrugged. “Once you heal, I still think I can do better.” “Better, huh?” I propped myself up on my elbows. “So you want to talk medals?” My voice was incredulous. “Well, I think we should.” Ben cupped my face, then scooped me up off

the floor and laid me on the couch before kneeling beside me. “If we don’t, I’ll start talking about the one thought that keeps echoing through my mind. And I’m pretty sure you’re going to freak out if you realize I’m falling in love with you.” His jaw snapped shut a moment and he looked away. When his eyes met mine again, he released a hollow laugh. “Of course, it helps that you can’t run away at the moment.” I recognized his fear. It looked identical to mine. Only he had me all wrong. I’d never been a runner. Really, I

was more like super glue notorious for sticking it out longer than I should. Rolling onto my side, I traced his lips with one finger, and dragged the back of my hand up his cheek before I found the back of his head and pulled him to me. This kiss yielded fireworks. My heart beat erratically in my chest and my body began to shake slightly. When the kiss ended, our connection didn’t. I pressed my forehead to his. “I’m not running,” I murmured. To my satisfaction, his lids popped open. I grinned. “Why would I leave after a solid gold performance like

that?” Ben threw his arms around me as he laughed. “As much as I love your body, we should probably get dressed.” He moved to gather my clothes, then helped me dress before putting on his clothes too. Finally, completely satisfied and relaxed, we cuddled on the couch. “Want me to carry you to bed? It’s getting late.” I bit my lower lip and shook my head. “Could I lay with you a while longer? When you’re ready to sleep you can move me, alright?”

He closed his eyes and pulled me closer. “You could lay here all night if you want. Rest.” Ben reached behind and grabbed a throw from the back of the couch to cover us. For a moment, I just basked in the warmth between us. A door creaking down the hall had us both jumping. “I’ll go check,” he whispered as I moved me to stand. “Thank you.” I sat up slowly, too relaxed to worry. After all, it wouldn’t be the first time Ollie had woken up needing to pee in the middle of the night. Really, I was barely listening, more

focused on recalling every moment that had passed between us since we’d returned to the pool house. I closed my eyes for a moment, shutting out the rest of the world, a smile playing on my lips. Ben cleared his throat and my eyes opened. He was holding Ollie in his arms and frowning. “I think she’s sick.” I could tell he was struggling to hold it together. “Here.” I held out my arms and waited for him to place her in my arms. As soon as she had curled up against me, I placed my lips to her forehead. “A

little warm maybe.” I hugged her limp body close. “Olls, what’s going on?” She blinked a few times before she focused on me. “Mummy, I don’t feel so good.” Olivia shuddered slightly. “I’m cold.” In a flash, Ben had yanked the blanket out from under me and covered both of us. “Is that better, squirt?” Worry lines deepened in his forehead. She shook her head. “Not yet.” I took a deep breath. “Can you turn on a light, Ben? And then I’ll need my medical kit from my bag, please.”

While he rushed to the wall and hit the switch and disappeared down the hall, I stared at my daughter. She was paler than normal, and her cheeks were flushed. This didn’t bode well. Soon he returned. “Here.” Ben set the bag on the couch beside me. I shifted and laid her on the cushions so I could get out the thermometer. After hitting the power button, I lifted her shirt to take an axillary temp. Less than a minute later, it beeped and I checked the results. 102.3 degrees. I inhaled deeply. “Okay, it

looks like we’re going to the emergency room.” I looked at Ben. “I think she has an infection.” I wasn’t sure how I expected him to react, but he disappeared down the hall and I could hear him shuffling around in there for a bit before he returned with our suitcases. “What’s that?” “Just in case. If you have to stay, I want you to have everything you need.” He shrugged. “Let me get these in the car. Then I’ll move you and Olivia will be last, okay?”

I nodded seriously before speaking quietly. “I noticed you didn’t pack anything.” Then I stared down at Ollie so I wouldn’t have to see his face. Ben squatted beside me. “Do you think they’ll let me stay? I’m not her father or your husband. I figured if she gets admitted, they’ll kick me out.” He brushed my hair back from my face. “Say something, Charlie.” With a sigh, I slowly met his gaze. “You’re probably right, but what if you can stay?” For some reason, I wanted to be hopeful. I needed support.

The idea of going through another illness alone terrified me. With a sad smile, he responded. “If they let me stay, I already have everything I need.” Then he wrapped an arm around me and Ollie. “See?” I sniffled. Yep. This was starting to seem a lot like love and I knew how that ended. “Maybe you should grab a handkerchief before we go.” I stared at him with glistening eyes, wishing Ben could hold us forever.

Chapter Twelve Ben We arrived at the hospital shortly before ten at night. They took one look at Ollie and immediately stuck her in a room to keep her away from more germs. She was given ibuprofen for the fever while they ran further tests. Her oxygen saturation was low, in the high eighties. The entire experience felt

surreal to me. I marveled at the ease with which Charlie navigated through it all. She knew dates, treatments, she used words I’d never had cause to really pay attention to before. I watched as she expertly handled the on call emergency room doctor. “You know your daughter best,” he began calmly. “Tell us what you think, what you’d like to see done.” Her shoulders heaved as she sat on the gurney holding Ollie. “Well, given her history, I’d like to do a chest x-ray, check for the flu and RSV, and draw

some blood for cultures as a last resort.” Charlie stared at him, a determined look on her face, ready to argue if necessary. “I think that sounds like a reasonable plan. We’ll keep it as noninvasive as possible.” The doctor stood up from the rolling stool and moved to examine Ollie. “Okay, Olivia. I need to ask you some questions.” One eye peeked open and she nodded slightly. “’kay,” she mumbled. “Does your tummy hurt at all?” He felt around her abdomen. Nodding, Ollie grunted, “Yeah.”

“Like you’re going to throw up, or just uncomfortable?” He stared at her with a frown. “Uncomfortable.” Her grip tightened on Charlie’s sweater. The doctor turned to the nurse on the computer who was ordering the tests and making notes in the chart. “Let’s get a urinalysis too. It could be a urinary tract infection.” Finally, he listened to her lungs, her heart, and looked in her ears, nose, and throat. “So, we’ll get working on these tests and hope to have some answers for you soon. Hang tight.”

He reached out and patted her shoulder a few times. I know he was doing his job, but I was bothered by the familiarity between them. I felt like an outsider and as much as I cared about Ollie and Charlie, this bothered me as well. Leaning on my thighs, I folded my hands and stared at the floor to collect myself and figure out how to help. When I looked up, Charlie was rocking Ollie back and forth. “Do you want me to hold her for a bit to give you a break?” I stood and stepped closer.

“It’s okay. I’m used to it.” Charlie wouldn’t meet my eyes. She hadn’t the whole time we’d been there, maybe even during the drive. I was too focused to notice. It started gnawing at my gut. Guilt. “I know you’re used to it. Maybe you could get used to having help because I’m happy to do it.” I sighed in frustration when she failed to respond. “I get it, Charlie. This is all my fault. I’m sorry. I don’t know how to fix this other than to be here for both of you.” I swallowed hard. My mouth had

suddenly gone dry and I buried my fists in my pockets. “Why would you think this is your fault?” I could feel her eyes on me, but now I was afraid to meet her accusing gaze. Charlie tugged on my sleeve. “Why do you think this is your fault? Answer me, Ben.” I bit my cheek as I faced her. Only her eyes weren’t angry, they were sad. I pulled out the handkerchief and passed it to her. “Here.” “You think I blame you.” The tears finally spilled over and ran down

her cheeks. “I don’t blame you.” My shoulders drooped. “But I brought new germs. Maybe my place isn’t so clean. Maybe the restaurant was a terrible idea. Maybe I didn’t wash my hands well enough.” I threw my hands in the air. “She was fine. I come into your life and now she’s sick.” I started pacing as I spoke, overwhelmed by the damage I’d caused. “Ben, stop,” Charlie pleaded. Shaking my head, I kept moving and torturing myself. “I can’t.” “Ben,” Ollie whimpered. “Listen

to mommy.” I froze and took a deep breath as I moved closer, nearly touching her. “I’m sorry, Ollie. I didn’t mean to make you sick.” I leaned over and placed a tiny kiss on the top of her head. “Listen,” she urged. With a nod, I murmured, “Okay, squirt. Anything for you.” Slowly, I stood and met Charlie’s eyes. “I’m really sorry.” “Do you have any idea about the incubation periods for germs?” Charlie stared at me seriously.

“Yeah, I understand the concept…” I shrugged. “Well, then you should know it’s not you. It’s me. I did something. Hell, it was probably the Easter bunny. I don’t know.” She sniffled and dabbed at her nose. “We never know. I do everything I can to keep her healthy and still, she gets sick. I’m responsible, not you.” Charlie tried to force a smile. “So cheer up. We can’t both be sad.” Her words changed everything. The crippling weight on my shoulders lifted. “Hey, I’m just glad you don’t

blame me.” I let out a hollow laugh. “Know what?” I forced her chin up with one finger. “What?” She frowned at me. “I bet Ollie doesn’t blame you either. I bet she thinks the risk is worth all the reward, don’t you squirt?” I glanced at Ollie. She looked up at her mother and nodded ever so slightly. “Love you, Mama. Not your fault.” Then Ollie snuggled in more and closed her eyes again. For a moment, Charlie stared at

her daughter in silence. Then she sat a little straighter and looked at me from the corner of her eye. “You’re pretty good at this.” Then she shifted so she could dry her eyes on final time. “Okay. No more tears and sadness. No more guilt. Right?” “Right.” I crossed my arms over my chest. “Want me to go get you a drink? Maybe a snack? How can I make you more comfortable?” “Silly man,” Charlie murmured as she reached out and caressed my cheek. “Don’t you know you already

did?” “Nah. That was nothing. Seriously. I think I’ll grab a soda from the machine.” I stretched my arms. “Tell me what to get you or I’ll pick for you.” “Gah. Okay…a Coke and a York Peppermint Patty.” She grinned. “Thank you.” “Awesome. Be right back.” I walked to the door, but paused. “Hey, should I get a ginger ale or Sprite for Olls?” She shook her head. “No, they’ll give her everything she’s allowed to

have, but thank you.” Then Charlie hugged her sleeping daughter and I strode out the door in search of vending machines. When I returned, the room was empty. At first, I panicked, then a nurse popped her head in. “They’ll be back soon. They had to go to x-ray.” I breathed a sigh of relief and worked on finding one of those HGTV shows Charlie seemed to like so much. They returned a few minutes later and so did the doctor. “We’re still waiting on the chest

x-ray, but right now we know she has a flu virus for sure. Based on her sats, pneumonia wouldn’t surprise me either.” He sat on the stool and wheeled over to the gurney where Charlie sat holding Ollie. “We’re going to start an IV to make sure she gets plenty of fluids. Then we’ll work on giving her some IV antibiotics if she has pneumonia. And we’re going to catheterize her after we get the urine sample.” Soon the room was over run by nurses while Ollie whimpered alone on the gurney. Charlie sat in the nearest seat

to hold her hand and I left the room to pace the hall while they catheterized her. I had no idea how Charlie managed so well. The worry, the tests, the wait, it was all killing me. *** Charlie Ben surprised me constantly. I’m not sure what I expected exactly, other than the only two men I’ve ever really been close to have been nothing but disappointments my whole life. Now,

this guy I barely knew had come into my life…our life and he was sticking in a way no one ever had. It amazed me. Shortly after one in the morning, the doctor returned with all the test results. “We have multiple infections. Most kids would get some IV antibiotics and be on their way, but I’d rather keep Olivia just to be safe. Of course, you can stay with her.” He gestured to me. “And Ben?” I felt weak and needy even asking. “Is he your husband?” He glanced at Ben. We both shook our

heads. “Her father?” Again I shook my head and pursed my lips, ready to protest. “Well, he can visit during normal visiting hours, but he’ll have to sleep elsewhere.” The doctor stood and walked to the door before turning back. “We’ll have a room ready shortly and get those antibiotics running.” “Thank you.” I sighed. Immediately Ben stood before me. “Hey, it may not look like it now, but this is a good thing.” He forced a smile. “While you’re in here, I’ll come in the mornings when Ollie is fresh to help her

on her movie. I’ll get a list of anything you need, fill it, and return again in the late afternoon and stay until visiting hours end.” He wrapped an arm around my neck and kissed my temple. “We’ll make this work. I’ll get your mail, do your laundry, bring you treats. It’ll be awesome. You’ll see.” The way he described this hospital stay seemed so different from any I’d had in the past. Still, Ben stood before me making all kinds of promises I expected him to break. So, I pasted a smile on my face and nodded while I

waited for him to disappoint me like everyone else. “Oh, and I thought I should let you know, Gabriel and Isabella send their love. If I know them, they’ll send more than that in the morning, but this is a start.” He chuckled. I stiffened. “Why would you tell them?” Ben’s brow furrowed. “Because Becca and Ollie sat together and played tonight over dinner and they may need to watch for infection since they have two kids and Isabella is pregnant with a

third. I thought it was the right thing to do.” He threw his hands up. My mouth opened, but it took me a moment to find my words. “You’re right. I’m sorry. I just…hate pity.” Rubbing my back, Ben murmured, “These are friends. Good people. No pity, ever. Please relax.” I nodded. “I’m sorry. I’m not used to Ollie having friends to notify about illnesses. This is new to me. So much I’m not used to.” Shortly after two in the morning, we were brought to our room. Ben

stayed long enough to help us get settled, then he left even as our nurse threatened to kick him out. “I’ll be back later,” he teased the woman. “I have to take care of my girls.” Then he kissed Ollie on the head, gave me a peck on the lips, and reluctantly departed. Ollie was asleep before he even left and I fell asleep on the window bed soon after. The nurse had brought me a wheely chair so I wasn’t helpless. Somehow, I felt better than expected and not just because of the pain pills. Really, I didn’t have much time to be upset.

Although I’d be lying if I didn’t admit to watching the clock like a hawk and clutching my cell phone like it was my lifeline. Luckily, Ben didn’t leave me hanging long. Ben: Morning, girls! Be there soon. Bringing food. Let me know if you think of anything you want. Sure, it wasn’t super romantic, but it was loving and thoughtful. It was enough. When he arrived, I was sitting on the chair towel drying my hair. “Ah,

my darling Charlotte, you may want this.” He grinned as he passed me a toiletry bag with my blow dryer sticking out. While I should’ve been happier to see him…and the blow dryer, I was bristling from his use of my full name. “Listen, I hate that name. My mother gave it to me. I’m not so fond of her either.” I sighed. “She hated nicknames, even though Charlotte was too big for me, and especially hated boy names for girls.” My shoulders heaved as I tried to explain. “When I left that house and all

her disapproval and controlling ways, I left that name behind too.” I smirked a little as I made my next admission. “So, yeah, I probably do get a little bit of sick pleasure from calling myself Charlie and referring to Olivia as Ollie most of the time.” I chuckled. “Please, don’t ever call me that again.” “Never. Promise.” Ben leaned over and planted a kiss on the tip of my nose. “Would you please accept this chocolate croissant as a peace offering?” He held a bag out to me. “Were we fighting?” I frowned.

Ben bit his cheek as if to hide a smile. “We will be if you don’t eat this croissant.” I reached into the bag. “Far be it from me to sneeze at your efforts to maintain our accord.” Holding the pastry to my lips, I took a big bite and moaned in pleasure. His eyebrow rose. “I had rather hoped I’d be the only one to coax those sounds from you.” “Eh, you and chocolate. Count your blessings. It’s a short list.” Leaning back in my seat, I finished eating. Then I

noticed the box. “Hey, what’s that?” Ben grew visibly excited, hopping out of the rocking chair. “Ollie’s camera came. The timing was perfect. I can’t wait to show it to her.” A smile spread across my face as I imagined her reaction. “She’ll be thrilled.” Ollie shifted on the bed. “About what?” After blinking a few times, she sat up in the bed. “Guess what this is?” Ben set the box on her tray table and wheeled it over to her.

Her eyes widened. “Is it my camera?” She started to bounce in the bed as much as all wires and tubing would allow. “It sure is, squirt. You feeling up to working with it today?” He pulled out his keys and used one to break the tape. After nodding emphatically, Ollie helped open the box. “I’m feeling better.” “I’ll be the judge of that,” her nurse teased as she walked in to check her stats. Immediately, Ben moved next to me. “Let’s get your temperature and

blood pressure before you do anything else. Then I’ll give you the meds and leave you alone for a few hours.” “Yay!” Ollie held out her arm. “It’s a little sad seeing how accustomed she is to all this,” Ben whispered in my ear. “I know.” I wrapped my arms around my body and he immediately noticed. Squatting behind me, he held me close and propped his chin on my shoulder. “Comfort. Just one of the many services I provide. Look how much

better she looks today.” “She does seem so much better. Maybe we caught it in time.” I relaxed and breathed easier. We were in good hands in every sense. Unfortunately, I knew how quickly things could change. After all, it was only Wednesday. *** By Friday, Ollie’s fever had returned, spiking when she woke from her nap. The doctor was concerned and the cultures were still in the growing

stage. Nothing had proclaimed itself. “Clearly, she has another infection. We’re working on it. I’ll let you know as soon as I know something.” The doctor patted her on the shoulder and started to leave the room, but Ben stopped him. “I’m new to all this. There’s so much I don’t understand. Can I ask you some questions?” Ben folded his arms across his chest and rocked on his feet while he waited. The doctor glanced at me. “Do I have your permission to talk about

Olivia with him?” He gestured to Ben. I nodded and murmured, “Of course.” Then I wheeled over to Ollie’s side and held her hand while they disappeared out into the hall. I really appreciated the Ben’s interest. It was nice having someone to talk to about all my thoughts and fears. If he understood the medical side, all the better. Roughly twenty minutes later he returned with a snack, drinks, and furrowed brow. “Thank you.” I forced a smile as Ben passed me a mocha and a slice of chocolate cake. “Trying to fatten

me up.” “Nope, I was trying to cheer you up. Chocolate always helps.” He leaned over and kissed me, staring into my eyes for a moment as he pulled back. I nodded. “Ah, turning me into an emotional eater.” Ben took a bite of cake and touched the fork to his lips while he chewed. When he finished, he shared what he had been pondering. “So, Ollie is nearing the end of treatment.” “Right.” I frowned. “Of course, this is a setback, but she needs to be

healthy and in remission so she can get stem cell therapy.” “Okay, have they found a donor for the bone marrow?” Ben sat across from me and took a big gulp of his mocha while we talked. “No. I wasn’t a match. I don’t know how to find her father. And I’m not speaking to my family, really. So far there’s no match on the registry.” I could feel tears stinging my eyes. “Babe,” Ben began quietly, “don’t cry. We’ll figure this out. I promise.”

“I’m just so tired of hospitals and being so scared all the damn time. I’m worn out. Completely and utterly broken.” The familiar rivers began to flow down my cheeks. “I don’t like crying. I’m sick of being the Crying Girl.” I shook my head sadly. “I don’t know what to do anymore.” He passed me a fresh handkerchief. “Let me. I have some ideas. Will you please let me post about Ollie? I’ll give you full approval before it goes live.” Ben had set his cup down and was rubbing his hands together. I

recognized what he was going through. He wanted to fight the helpless feeling by actually doing something. “I’m sure Ollie would love that. Yes, please.” Then I dried my tears and hoped as always I’d never have cause to cry in front of him again.

Chapter Thirteen Ben Even though it was late by the time I returned from the hospital, I couldn’t sleep. Instead, I went to work on the post about Ollie. Through the years, all my subjects have interested me, but this time as I edited the videos I’d taken at the hospital and wrote, it was different, more intense. I had a

personal stake in this. For once, I wasn’t simply sharing. My post was a call to action. When I had spoken to the doctor, we’d talked in hypotheticals. What if we held a donor drive? If we did, how would I go about it? That kind of thing. Before I left the hospital, I spoke to people who put me in touch with organizers. Next thing you know, it was happening. Among my friends, I’d always been the one who put the cogs in motion. Then I’d sit back and film it, never take

any credit because that wasn’t my style. I let Sebastian and Gabriel stand in the spotlight while I recorded everything for posterity. Now, I was doing it again. Only this had little to do with our dinner plans or vacations. This was my entire life. Around three in the morning, I had finished. After viewing it multiple times, I was pleased with the finished product. The movie opened with clips of Ollie from happier times, drawing in her journal, learning to use a video camera. I had footage of her with the Easter bunny,

and interacting with her mother. Then it grew more serious as I shared her sick and sleeping in her hospital bed while Charlie looked on sad, scared, and sometimes crying as she spoke with the doctor. It felt powerful, gut wrenching. At least, it wrecked my gut. Then I wrote a surprisingly eloquent post. It shocked even me. I reread it a few times before sending everything to Charlie via email. Meet Charlie and Ollie, mother and daughter, a team of two against the

world, but especially against leukemia. While I meet most of the faces on this blog in the street, I met them at home. I was sent to make Ollie’s wish come true. This sweet almost six-year-old girl wanted to learn how to make movies and they seemed to think I might be a nice fit for the wish. Everything about this task scared me because like so many people, I’m not good with death, dying, and the chronically ill. Blame it on my childhood. Ah, but this isn’t about me.

This is all about Ollie. See, I thought I was there to teach her, but the truth is, she taught me too. From Ollie, I’ve learned to cherish the little things, like being able to go outside, eat in restaurants, and work nearly tirelessly because she can do none of these things. Every day is about staying healthy, avoiding germs, and getting enough rest so she can stay healthy and avoid germs…you get the idea. Though her beautiful bald head alerts the world of her sickness, her

incredible smile and zeal for making movies made me forget how medically fragile she was until a few days ago. Now Ollie’s in the hospital battling multiple infections, at least one of which hasn’t been identified yet. I’ve grown more comfortable with death, dying, and sickness now, but I refuse to accept a potentially negative outcome. Not now. Not for Ollie. I haven’t finished granting her wish yet. And she has a big life she has yet to live. If you could, please think of her, or pray, or do whatever it is you do

when you open your hearts and minds and make a wish for a stranger. Think of Ollie and Charlie, the mother who would be lost without her. And if all that thinking and praying moves you to action, please share and participate in the donor drive that could save not just the little girl I love, but countless others as well. While I waited for a response from Charlie, I rubbed my blurry eyes and saved the draft of the post. Then I plopped down on the couch, kicked off

my shoes, and pulled the throw over me. The couch was the place I felt closest to Charlie. I simply couldn’t bring myself to sleep in that bed. At seven in the morning, after barely four hours of sleep, my phone woke me up. It was Professor Morceau. Confused and still exhausted, I struggled to answer the phone. “Hello,” I mumbled. “Yes, good morning, Ben,” Professor Morceau began in a low voice. “I thought I’d check in and see how things were going.”

“Oh, fine. Ollie’s sick right now, so we’ll pick up the filming and editing lessons when she feels better, but otherwise we all hit it off okay.” I stretched on the couch. “I see.” He was silent a moment. “How bad is it?” “Well, she needs a bone marrow donor. And to get healthy.” I sat up and rubbed the back of my neck as we spoke and tried to downplay it. His questions were making me uncomfortable. “Well, it just seemed like from your blog…” His voice trailed off and I

could almost hear alarm bells going off in my head. Instead, it was the sound of my text messages chiming and out of control. “Could you hold on for one moment?” “Of course,” Professor Morceau mumbled. Pulling the phone away from my ear, I discovered I had four text messages from Charlie, each one angrier than the last. Charlie: How could you? Charlie: You said I could

approve it! Charlie: How dare you post without giving me a chance to respond! Charlie: Stay away from me, Ben. I hate you right now. Yup. That ought to do it. “Professor Morceau, I need to let you go for right now. Thank you for checking in on me.” Then I hung up without waiting for his response because apparently that’s how I roll. I just do what I want without ever thinking about anyone else, according to Charlie.

Dammit. Opening the laptop, I logged into the blog admin and realized immediately what I’d done. Hours earlier, exhausted as I was, I had hit publish instead of draft. I’d messed everything up because I’d worked up a preview for Charlie. Shit, I wasn’t accustomed to needing anyone’s approval. It was an honest mistake. And she was honestly going to make me pay for it. Leaning back in my chair, I rubbed my eyes and considered how to best approach this situation. She

couldn’t really mean she hated me, could she? More importantly, she wouldn’t really want me to stay away, would she? Well, I wasn’t going to risk calling her. I’d go about my usual routine, a workout, followed by a hot shower, and a protein shake. Then I’d rush off to her place to pick up her mail, hit a drive thru so she had food, and then discuss everything with her at the hospital. I sighed. Maybe I should also hit a florist on the way. And a Godiva Chocolates. There were only so many ways I could say I’m sorry and try to make it up to her at the

hospital. It was a great plan, but naturally I hit a snafu the minute I picked up my phone again. There were roughly eightyseven new emails waiting for me. Now, I get plenty of emails, but this number was particularly high for a Saturday. Curiosity got the better of me, so I sat down to sort through them. Blog readers. Almost every single one of them came from a blog reader. And they were dying to help out any way they could. They’d see me at the donor drive. Could I tell them where to donate money too?

Knowing how Charlie struggled financially, I don’t know why it never occurred to me to set up a special account for her. Apparently, I’m an idiot. Immediately, I remedied the situation. It only took me a few minutes to set up a PayPal account for them using my personal email as the main one and adding hers for access. In a matter of time, we’d be able to get her a debit card for it and even link it to her bank account. With people donating as friends and family, she wouldn’t even lose money to fees. Then I added a donate

button to my post. Finally, I copied all the email addresses and sent them a thank you email and notified them of the PayPal button on the post. Finally, I’d been able to find a way to help my girls. Feeling so much better than I had before, I finished getting ready to leave. This was even better than granting Ollie’s wish. I might just be able to help save her life and Charlie’s. *** Charlie

I was furious. My blood was positively boiling. Ben sent me the preview, but published the post without waiting to hear from me. As upset as I was in the moment, I may have sent off a text or four to express my fury. Only as with pretty much everything else in my life, I really didn’t even think this through. I mean, what did I think was going to happen next? It’s not like I expected him to grovel at my feet, beg for forgiveness, although, in all honesty, that is pretty much what I wanted. I could be reasonable, given time and

with the proper handling. No one had quite mastered that, although Ben had come closer than any other, ever. Now, I was back to watching the clock while I worried I had scared him away. Oh my gawd, what if I scared him away? Here he was, the first guy to be in Ollie’s life and mine for…well, ever. He had been nothing but nice to me. Shoot, he even blew the cobwebs out of my business. I covered my mouth to hide a smile as I recalled our nights of passion, however awkward, on the floor. Could it all be over now because

I couldn’t control my temper? Already it was past nine, his usual time. The past few days he’d arrived just as visiting hours began. Today there was no sign of him. He hadn’t even texted in response to my rants. I rolled over to the window and stared out sadly. I’d done it this time. When Ollie woke up, how was I supposed to answer the first question she always asked: when will Ben get here? Needless to say, when he strolled in minutes before ten in the morning, nearly hidden behind a bouquet of flowers, a teddy bear, and a box of

Godiva chocolates, I nearly collapsed in relief. “Ben, is that you?” Ollie spoke quietly but there was no denying the hint of excitement in her voice. Ben set the flowers on the window sill beside me. “These are for you.” I stared first at the flowers, then at him, and then back to the roses. They were pink and gorgeous. I’d never been given flowers before. This was a landmark moment. My jaw dropped. “Stop begging,” he teased.

“These are yours too.” He passed me a huge box of truffles. As I held them on my lap with my eyes prickling with tears, he squatted beside me and gave me a tender kiss. “Can I talk to Ollie for a minute?” I nodded and sniffled. “Sure.” With a chuckle, Ben pulled a handkerchief from his pocket. “And I guess this is for you also.” Then he stood and waltzed over to Ollie. “I thought you might like a friend to share your bed with. How about this guy?” “Well, it’s no kitten.” She shot a

look at her mother. “But I love it, Ben. Thank you.” Ollie hugged the bear close and shut her eyes. “Olls, would you prefer a stuffed kitten?” Ben frowned as if he’d made a huge mistake. “No, she’d prefer a real kitten,” I grumbled. Ben turned to face me while Ollie rested. “Oh, but she can’t for medical reasons.” He nodded as if he understood. With a sigh, I shook my head. “It’s not that.” I gestured about the room.

“Who knows how long we’ll be here? We have no one to care for a kitten when we’re in and out of the hospital all the time.” “So it’s simply not practical right now.” He sank down on the window bed and stared at me seriously. “Listen, I need to explain about the post.” That’s when I remembered I was mad. I glowered at him. No need to let him think he’d bought me off with these beautiful flowers and amazing truffles. I wasn’t going to be that girl…but flowers and chocolate. Damn, he knew how to

make it tough. “So start explaining.” I crossed my arms over my chest so he understood how serious I was because I know I wasn’t channeling my inner fury to the best of my ability. “Last night, I sent you the link and everything and I had to change the mode in the admin menu. It messed me up. I was exhausted. And…apparently I hit publish instead of save draft. I’m really sorry.” His eyes sparkled as he spoke and I couldn’t help but think something was going on. “Why don’t you look sorry?” I

licked my lips and leaned back. “Okay, so…I was on the phone with my professor when you texted.” Ben was practically bouncing on the seat, but all I heard was ‘professor.’ “Which professor?” My eyes narrowed. “Professor Morceau. Anyway…I rushed to get off because of your texts and then when I was getting ready my phone was blowing up.” His excitement was obvious, but I was finally able to channel that inner fury I’d had trouble finding earlier. Unable to run, I pushed

off on the wall and rolled toward the bathroom door, determined to lock myself in until I managed to get these emotions under control. “Wait. What did I say?” He stood and helped me open the bathroom door I was currently struggling with. “You talked to my father. Did he call or did you?” I was so angry I was practically foaming at the mouth. Ben shook his head. “Professor Morceau is your father?” He leaned hard against the bathroom door and it slammed shut. I watched as his face

darkened. “What’s wrong?” I wrapped my arms around my body, quickly regressing to my old habit. Rubbing the back of his neck, Ben frowned down at me. “He called me. You don’t talk to him much, do you?” I frowned and shook my head. “No. He sided with my mother. She kicked me out. We didn’t have much to say after that.” I turned away from him and stared at Ollie resting peacefully on the bed. “He hasn’t met Ollie. I didn’t

even tell him her name.” I moved to stare up at him from my seat. “I’m pretty sure, other than a few recent text messages, that you’ve seen practically all of our interactions since I left.” I shrugged. “He’s using me, Charlie, and I’m mad as hell about it.” Ben squatted down and hugged me. “Let me get the rest of this out, then I need to go call him. Okay?” “Fine.” I felt confused…and scared. Would Ben just disappear now? What did any of this mean?

“Let’s see.” He scratched at his chin. “Right. The phone was blowing up. Tons of emails. Turns out people want to help. They are going to come to the donor drive next week. And they are donating to help you now.” Ben grinned proudly. “What?” My hands were in a white-knuckle grip on the chair. “Yeah. Look. It’s amazing!” He punched a few buttons and then held out his phone for me to see. Slowly, I took it, not sure what to expect. It looked like a PayPal account. I

had one for my online work, but this one was called The Ollie & Charlie Fund. I could feel the blood rushing to my cheeks. Then I focused on the balance. It was already over twelve thousand dollars. My mouth went dry, but my eyes didn’t. “Why would you do this?” My voice came out a whimper. “Babe, I’m trying to help.” He sounded more than a little exasperated. “How does it help me to know I have so many people pitying me?” I shook my head as tears dripped down my nose. “All I have is my self-respect

and my pride. You’re killing it.” “How’s that?” Ben backed away from me and threw his hands in the air. “My father obviously now knows we’re struggling. He’ll run and tell my mother. She’ll get to be all smug about our situation.” I dabbed at my eyes with the handkerchief he’d given me when he arrived. “Listen, if they are sitting around gloating about your ‘situation’ as you put it, then they are shit human beings. If they have the ability to help out and they aren’t, they are shit human beings. If they

aren’t there for you in your time of need…” I glared up at him. “Newsflash, Ben. They are shit human beings. Glad we’re all caught up.” I watched as he swallowed hard. Obviously, my words hit him hard. “I don’t know why this surprises me so.” He closed the distance and reached out to hold my hand. “I guess it’s more that I don’t understand how someone could abandon you, hurt you and Ollie.” Ben pressed his cheek to my thigh.

“Good Lord! Are you pitying me too?” I reached out to push him away. “No one pities you, Charlie. Do you not get that yet?” He stuffed his phone in his pocket. “These people donating want to help. I want to help. No one should have to go it alone. Understand?” He gazed up at me with these pleading eyes. “Not really. I’m not used to this. It feels bad to me.” My head hung and I couldn’t face him. “An outpouring of love can be overwhelming at first. Just accept it. Let

them love you.” Ben took both of my hands in his. “Let me love you.”

Chapter Fourteen Ben There it was. For a moment, the ‘L’ word hung in the air between us. Maybe it was best I’d gotten it out now. After all, she still was in no condition to run and look how close she’d come to avoiding a conversation with only the use of the wheely chair. Slowly, she’d swallowed her sorrow. I could actually

see the transformation coming over her. Then, she nodded. It was more of a hint of a nod at first, then a shy smile broke out on her face as she surrendered. More than anything, I wanted to confront her father while it was all still fresh in my mind, but I had to know it was safe to leave before I could do it. “Are we good, Charlie? Do you forgive me?” Staring into my eyes a moment, her head tilted to the side. As she reached out to cup my cheek, I held her hand there and savored her touch. “Yeah,

you mean well.” I moved her hand so I could graze her knuckles with my lips. “Gawd, I miss you. I miss having you at the pool house. I miss your company, the physical comedy, and our alone time.” Charlie giggled and made my heart pound. “The physical comedy,” she scoffed. “Yeah. I mean, don’t get too crazy with it, but you do make me laugh.” I grinned. “I miss it too. All of it.” She stared meaningfully into my eyes.

“Good. When you get out, we’ll make sure there’s more of all of it.” I winked and leaned in, prepared to kiss her like I meant it, not one of those safe public kisses. “Are you gonna kiss her now?” Ollie giggled. We both whipped around to look at her. Sure enough, she was awake and had her camera pointed at us. “Look who’s awake?” I joked. I glanced back at Charlie. “And that’s my cue. I’ll be back after, okay? I need to get this out.” Her head bobbed and a serious

look came over her face. “See you soon?” “Of course. Just try and keep me away.” Then I planted a safe for Ollie kiss on her lips before making my way to the hospital bed. “I have to go make a phone call, but I’ll be back to work with you soon. Can I get you anything, squirt?” Ollie cocked her head to the side, her mother’s mini me. I grinned. “Ben, can we work on editing today?” She looked anxious, as if I’d deny her this small request.

“Absolutely, Olls. I promised I’d teach you everything I know about making a movie. We’ll get right on it when I return.” Then I gave her a peck on the cheek and exited the room while pulling my phone from my pocket. There was a distinct possibility I’d end up yelling at Charlie’s father. God, I still struggled to wrap my mind around the concept, but it made sense. Instead of simply having this discussion in the hall, I left the building entirely and went back to my car. Once I sat inside and collected my thoughts, I called him

without even texting first. After all, he felt comfortable reaching out to me at the crack of dawn. The phone rang three times and I feared it would go to voicemail when he finally answered. “Ben, is everything alright?” The worry was evident in his voice, but it seemed so out of place since I now knew the reality of the situation. “No, Professor Morceau. It isn’t.” I gritted my teeth a moment as I struggled to control my temper. I wished I was more like Gabriel, with his cool, controlled demeanor, or Sebastian, with

his cunning and grace. Instead, I was all emotion and action, a terrible combination by my estimation. “What’s wrong?” His chair creaked in the background. “Pretty much everything. It has come to my attention you’re Charlie’s father.” There, I’d said it. His response would determine the direction of this conversation. Professor Morceau cleared his throat. “I see Charlotte told you.” “Charlie. Her name is Charlie.” I clenched my fist angrily, glad we

weren’t having this talk in person. “Of course, she told me. I’m curious as to why you didn’t.” “It’s complicated.” He sighed. “Really, seems pretty simple to me. Observe. Ben, I’d like you to grant my granddaughter’s wish. Simple, huh?” I threw my free hand in the air. “Nothing complicated about that. Same rules apply. I teach her to make a movie and you give me college credit. Bam.” “Would you have done it?” My brow furrowed. “Absolutely. I needed the credits. And Charlie has

intrigued me since the first time I saw her at your office. I’ve wanted to know her for all those years.” I bit my cheek, almost ashamed of my admission. “I know. I knew you were interested in her,” he grumbled. A light dawned in my head. “You did know. I remember the way you looked at me. You could’ve told me then, could’ve helped me find her, but you didn’t.” I rubbed the back of my neck while I thought. “Was I not good enough for your daughter?” “It wasn’t that.” I could hear his

footsteps on hardwoods, then the sound of a door closing. “Then what was it?” I waited, but he didn’t answer. Maybe he couldn’t. Maybe he refused to admit the reasons even to himself. “Oh. Wow. You didn’t think she was good enough for me?” “Charlotte is a sinking ship…” “Charlie. She hates being called Charlotte.” I felt fiercely protective of her. “Did you just call her a sinking ship?” “She was pregnant the first time you saw her. The second, the little girl

was sick. She found out that day.” I interrupted him again. “Her name is Olivia. We call her Ollie.” I struggled to remember this man controlled my collegiate future. Really, I wanted to go for his throat. “Yes, Olivia. Ollie.” Professor Morceau sighed. “Anyway, I thought the timing might be better now for you to meet her.” I wished I didn’t have to talk to him in the car. I thought better when I could move around, give my ideas room grow. The car was stifling in every

sense. “Why would now be better? Ollie’s sick. She’s convinced she’s dying.” My heart froze. “Did you think I’d be a better match for Charlie if Ollie was gone?” “Well, who would want to raise another man’s child? Who would want her?” He spat. Bile rose in my throat. This man completely sickened me. I can’t believe I ever admired him. “A good man. A good man would see what a treasure Ollie is. A good man would fall madly in love with the incredible woman

Charlie has become. I’m that man. I always was.” I slammed my hand on the dashboard. “I could’ve been there for them the whole time. I would’ve.” I rubbed my forehead, feeling one hell of a headache threatening. “You stole years from us. You decided Charlie’s fate, threw her into the cold when she needed a safe haven. How could you?” “I did what I thought was best,” he said stiffly. “Best for who?” My voice rose angrily. “Best for you and your wife? Because it sure as hell wasn’t best for

Charlie or Ollie.” “There are expectations you’re too young to understand,” he responded flatly. “Oh, I know all about expectations. You, sir, have fallen short of mine, of society’s.” I exhaled and hoped I could channel some Gabriel for a moment. “Here’s what’s going to happen. Are you paying attention?” There was a deep sigh. “Yes.” “Good. See, I’m going to finish what I started. Ollie will have her movie. I will have my credits.” I ran my

hand through my hair. “Then Charlie and Ollie are going to have me for as long as your daughter allows. And you don’t get to know about any of it. I’m done being used. Understand?” “I understand,” he mumbled. “If you want to know what’s going on with them, you can read my blog, or dial direct. You talk to Charlie, got it?” I set my jaw as I waited for his response. “Fine. I guess we’re through here.” I heard his chair creak again. “Definitely. Goodbye.” Then I

ended the call. I felt better for having spoken my mind, but so much worse after meeting the real Professor Morceau. My heart hurt for Charlie as I imagined the life she’d had growing up. No wonder she’d fallen for Ollie’s dad. Anything would’ve seemed like an upgrade. Any affection might’ve looked like love. I sighed. Ah, but Charlie wouldn’t want my pity. This conversation helped me understand her better, just like her hardships had shaped her into the woman I love. Feeling more than a little drained, I exited my vehicle

to go be with my girls. *** Charlie Ben was gone forever. Okay, maybe it was more like half an hour. Still, it felt like forever when I was worrying over the conversation taking place between him and my father. I tried not to think about it too much, but it hung over me like a dark cloud. My family looked perfect on paper. My father had the academic career and was highly

esteemed in his field. My mother was the flawless looking wife and member of all the right clubs. It was all about appearances. When I broke the mold, I was voted off the island. It surprised me, but didn’t hurt me like it should’ve. Really, there were times I felt downright relieved. I could be my own person with opinions, ideas, likes and dislikes. “Are you okay, Mama?” Ollie stared my direction, the camera held out in front of her. “I’m here with you. Why wouldn’t I be okay?” I forced a smile.

“He’ll be back soon.” She gave me a knowing look. I wheeled over to her. “I know. How’s the movie coming?” We needed a new topic of conversation. “So good. I have so much to work with. I want more, but it’s hard in the hospital.” She shrugged, wholly accepting her situation. “Maybe you’ll go home soon,” I offered. “Then we can do something fun.” “Like another restaurant?” Ollie perked right up.

“Or a birthday party,” Ben suggested. Relief washed over me as he joined me at Ollie’s bedside while my daughter squealed in delight. “You’re back! We can edit!” “We sure can, Ollie.” He smiled widely at her while I tried to read his face. Ben turned to meet my appraising gaze and the façade slipped for a moment. There it was. He’d seen my father, the real man, not the professor. “You can’t say I didn’t warn you.” My eyebrow shot up. “Was it

bad?” “Well…it wasn’t good,” he admitted. “But it’s over. Now we can focus on happier things…like…Ollie’s sixth birthday.” Ben flopped down on the end of her bed. “So what kind of party do you want, squirt? Anything. We’ll make it happen.” I watched as Ollie’s demeanor transformed. She practically shook with excitement as she clasped her hands under her chin. She was smiling so wide I’m surprised she could speak. “I’ve never had a party before!”

Ollie reached out for him and I knew if she weren’t attached to all the tubing and wires, she’d have launched herself into his arms. I completely understood. I wanted to do it rather often myself. “What?” Ben looked back and forth between us. “How is this possible?” I gave him a look that should’ve answered all his questions. “We always had cake and presents and the two of us,” I reminded her. “That sounds a lot like a party, Ollie. Let’s just make this one bigger!”

He rubbed his hands together. “Where do you want to go?” Shaking her head, Ollie reminded him of her reality. “Can’t. Germs.” Ben frowned. “Can and will. Give me some time.” He tugged at his chin. “Now what do you want for a theme?” “Theme?” Ollie scrunched up her face in confusion. “Yeah, like…do you have a favorite television show or movie, a favorite character?” He took out his

phone and I knew he was making notes for later. “Oh, wow. I don’t know. I love the book Mama and I were reading, A Little Princess.” She smiled and wore a dreamy look. “But I think I liked A Secret Garden better. There’s this boy and he’s sick, but his time in the garden with his friends heals him.” “So secret garden. Got it.” Ben reached over and squeezed my hand. “Are you gonna plant me a secret garden?” Her eyes grew wide. “Plant? Probably not.” He

chuckled. “And I can’t tell you what I’m gonna do. It wouldn’t be a surprise!” “Is this a surprise party? Can Becca come?” She held up crossed fingers on both hands. “I bet that could be arranged.” He nodded. “What kind of cake do you like?” “Ollie has never met a cake she hasn’t liked,” I joked. “Hm. Do you have a favorite?” Ben studied her seriously. “I’m more of a chocolate frosting yellow cake guy, myself.”

“How can you expect me to pick a favorite? Wouldn’t it hurt all the other cakes’ feelings?” She batted her eyelashes at us. “Assorted cupcakes it is,” he mumbled as he typed on his phone. Then he stood and stuck it in his pocket. “Let’s get editing, shall we?” “Yes, please!” Ollie picked up her camera again. “I think there may be a kiss or two we need to remove.” He winked at me as he reached for the camera, but she yanked it away and gave him a stern

look. “The kisses stay, Ben,” she warned. “Well, if it means that much to you, Olls.” He shrugged. “It does.” She softened. “And I’m pretty sure it means a lot to Mama too.”

Chapter Fifteen Ben Another week passed. Sure, we were still in the hospital, but it wasn’t so bad. Ollie was getting stronger every day. Her color was better, her oxygen saturation was back to normal, and she could even get out of bed to go to the bathroom. We were breathing easier, feeling more relaxed, and there was an

end in sight. Charlie, though not fully recovered, now could hobble along. Her mood had improved significantly. Of course, if I were no longer helpless and feeling dependent on people, I’d probably morph into a ray of sunshine too. Still, I hoped her newly found happiness might have a little something to do with me. I know I hadn’t been this relaxed and comfortable with my life in years…many many years. “So, I’m guessing we won’t see you much tomorrow,” Charlie

commented as we snuggled on the window seat that doubled as her bed the last hour before the nurses would kick me out. “What makes you say that?” I stared into her eyes. “I’ll be here, same as always.” “Oh. I read your blog this morning. The update on our situation, and the reminder about the donor drive tomorrow. I figured you’d be busy.” She shrugged. “It’s no big deal. I just… thought I’d ask so I’d know what to tell Ollie when she wakes.”

I squeezed her close. “Tell her that I’ll see be here around nine, same as always. We’ll work on her movie. Nothing changes. I’ll go to the donor drive during her nap.” Charlie sighed. “What did I do to deserve you?” “Just being yourself. That’s enough.” I kissed the top of her head. “Oh, and I think this about you about twelve times a day.” She laughed. “Obviously, you’re cursed.” I frowned and looked off into the

distance without releasing her. “I’ve often thought that.” “Why would you say that?” Her brow furrowed and I worried I’d upset her. “My childhood. My life before you. That’s all.” I inhaled deeply. “I don’t like to talk about it. Instead, I focus on the positive. You and Ollie, my friends. This is my life.” “Huh. I thought films were your life.” Charlie looked down and played with my hands, tracing the veins. “No. That’s the way I make a

living. Never confuse the two.” I glanced at the clock on the wall and gave her one more kiss before standing. A second later the night nurse peeked in and gave me the look. I nodded in response. “So, see you in the morning.” “Yes. I’ll be here, eagerly awaiting your arrival.” Charlie leaned back on the bed and stretched out now that she had the whole thing to herself. I pulled the covers up over her. “Night, babe.” I kissed her and watched as her face lit up. The next morning, I woke early.

It was more of giving in to the start of the day. I couldn’t sleep. So much was riding on this day. Would there be a strong turnout? Would we find a donor match for Ollie? Wondering and worrying had taken over my mind. There was only one way for me to calm down. I worked out as hard as I could, then rushed through my routine. Finally, I sent Charlie a text. me: Morning, babe. See you soon. Give Ollie kisses for me. I’ll give you yours when I get there.

It took at least ten minutes for me to get a response. My guess was I’d caught her in the shower. The drive to the hospital seemed longer than normal. Halfway there, I received a new text message. Charlie: Take your time getting here. Maybe you could wait until 10? Something was up for sure. Why would she suddenly be putting me off when last night she had been trying to

make sure I was coming early in the morning? Instead of responding, I ignored the text. If my girls were suffering from nerves, I could better help them in person. If there was some other reason for her text, I’d rather handle that in person too. I parked and rode the elevator up, same as always. Turning the last corner on the way to Ollie’s room, I froze in the hallway. Charlie was leaning against the wall talking to some unfamiliar man. He wasn’t in hospital uniform, so I knew he wasn’t an

employee. She looked mildly uncomfortable, which had me on alert. I recognized the stiff way she held her body, and the tight look on her face. Her arms were crossed over her chest. When I was within a few feet of them, I saw the man had a rag doll in his hands and exuded a cool confidence that annoyed me instantly. As I neared, he reached out to touch her, just as Charlie met my eyes. Reaching out, I smoothly blocked him and leaned in to give her a kiss on the lips. She responded slightly, relaxing at first, then stiffening up again.

“Morning.” I smiled, hoping to hide the turmoil brewing within me. “Oh, I thought you weren’t coming until ten,” Charlie murmured, her eyes darting back and forth between us. “No, I said nine and you texted me too late. Sorry.” I shrugged. “Is Ollie awake yet?” I suppose in the mind, I hoped if I kept talking, he’d take the hint and leave us alone, but instead when I glanced his way, I could read laughter in his eyes. I held out a hand. “And you are?” He gripped mine and the subtle

battle for male supremacy began. “I’m Damien, Olivia’s dad, and Charlie’s first.” He grinned, obviously hoping to hit a nerve. “Nice to meet you,” I lied. “I’m Ben, Ollie’s future step-dad, and Charlie’s last.” His smile faltered. “I didn’t know you were engaged?” He peeked at Charlie’s bare ring finger. “We’re not.” She sighed. “Yet.” I shrugged. “So, how did you find us?” I threw an arm around Charlie’s shoulders.

“Oh, I’ve been looking for some time, but my last internet search uncovered your blog. And here I am.” He crossed his arms over his chest. “Well, nice meeting you. We’ll tell Ollie you stopped by.” Then I started to steer Charlie into the room, but she pulled away. “I’ll be right in.” She glared at me. “Ollie’s dying to see you.” “Right. Okay.” Then I walked into the room alone, like it was no big deal, even though I felt like she had stomped on my heart.

“Who’s Mommy talking to?” Ollie was sitting in bed looking worried. “That guy just walked in, but my mama pushed him out the door and said she’d be right back.” She looked sad and scared, which was pretty much how I felt too. “Well, I haven’t ever known your mother to lie. I’m sure she’ll be right in.” I stretched and looked at the clock. It was ten minutes after nine and even though I had always appreciated the privacy from having no window out to the hall, now I was wishing there was no

wall either. What was taking so long? Ten minutes later, Charlie still hadn’t entered the room. I strode to the door and threw it open. Damien stood entirely too close to her. “I just want to be here for Ollie. I just want to help.” He was staring at her with this heated gaze I recognized all too well. Charlie blushed, but didn’t look away. Obviously, she was more than a little familiar with it too. “Perfect.” I clapped my hands together and startled both of them. I threw a friendly arm around his

shoulder. “Come with me. Today is the donor drive. You can be first.” I took a few steps and my hold on him left no option but for him to stumble along with me. “We’ll be back!” I called to Charlie over my shoulder. “Wait!” He tried to dig in his heels. “I was talking.” “What’s there to talk about? You want to help? Prove it. Get tested to see if you’re a match for Ollie. I’m being tested too.” I stared at him evenly, but allowed him no out. Charlie was watching. Ollie was waiting and she

was running out of time. “Okay. Damn, man. I can walk by myself.” He straightened his jacket and ran a few fingers through his hair as if he were concerned I’d messed it up. I might have. Just a little. Intentionally. While I didn’t know him, I hated Damien on principle alone. That was enough cause. Nothing he’d done in the roughly ten minutes since we’d met had changed my opinion of him. I doubted anything would. “Fantastic. Have at it then. One foot in front of the other. Chop chop!

They’re ready for us.” I forced a smile then glanced over his shoulder at Charlie, standing frozen in the hall. Part of me knew I was handling this badly. Problem was, I didn’t care. I could apologize later, but for now, my need to protect my girls was fierce. Together we rode the elevator down to the first floor where they had the donor drive set up in a private room. The lab techs were all lined up, ready to take our blood. Damien froze. “Shall I go first?” I shrugged and stepped forward to fill out paperwork and begin

the process. “I thought you might want that honor since you’re Ollie’s biological father.” He understood my meaning. I was more of a father to her than he had ever been. Damien knew it. Would he care without having Charlie there to witness his actions? We’d soon see. Finally, he stepped up and grabbed the clipboard. I’m not sure which of us was more surprised. Fifteen minutes later when it was all over, I turned toward the elevator, expecting he’d join me on the return trip to Ollie’s

room. Instead, he studied his phone. After responding to a text message, Damien frowned. “I have some business to take care of. Tell Charlie I’ll be back later.” “No problem. I’ll pass that message along. I’ll be here all day.” Then I stepped into the elevator, hit the button, and smiled as the doors closed between us. Breathing easier, I stepped off the elevator and rushed to Ollie’s room. I swear I just wanted to gather both of them in my arms and never let them go,

maybe run off even. We could find a new hospital, new doctors, and I’d stay off the internet this time. That thought was immediately crushed when I met Charlie’s scowling face at the door. “Outside,” she growled as she backed me out of the room. “So, we gave blood. Damien says he’ll be back later, but you never really know with that guy, do you?” I shrugged. “Anyway, I’m here, and I thought I’d work with Ollie for a while before her lunch and nap. You know, the usual, from a guy you can count on.” I

started to give her a kiss on the cheek, but she pushed me back. Undeterred, I started to open the door. “We’re not finished yet,” Charlie snapped. “We aren’t?” I feigned confusion and scratched at my head as if I couldn’t possibly imagine what we had left to say to one another on the subject. “Listen, you need to pull it together. I can understand why you’d be upset…” She threw her hands in the air. “Good. I’m glad you get it. I’m glad you understand.” I huffed for a

moment, but the last thing I wanted was to push her further away. Rubbing the back of my neck, I bit my cheek for a moment as I struggled to calm down. “Please, can we get back to where we were, before he came, back when you liked me?” I gave her a pleading look. Charlie softened some. “I’d like that, but I think there’s something you need to know first.” She limped closer and wrapped her arms around my waist. I could feel my fury beginning to dissipate. “Damien wants to spend time with us, wants to get to know Ollie.”

I stiffened and peeled her off me so I could look her in the eyes. “Do you think this is a good idea? She’s so fragile right now. I mean, the way you explained it, the guy abandoned you. I don’t want Ollie exposed to someone who could hurt her like that.” I meant it too. It was all about what was right for Ollie. It just so happened that having him gone for good was better for Charlie and me as well. She took a step back and crossed her arms over her chest. “Then it’s a good thing this isn’t up to you. Who do

you think you are anyway?” Charlie frowned. “I thought I was the guy who loved you, the guy who was always there for both of you. I guess I thought maybe that gave me the right to an opinion, being taken into consideration.” My heart sank. “I forgot there’s only room for two in your world. My mistake.” Slowly, I turned to walk away. I needed to clear my head and get these raging emotions under control before I spent any time with Ollie. The kid didn’t miss a thing and she didn’t need to be

part of our fight. “That’s right. Run away. Run just like every other guy I’ve ever known,” she hissed. Whipping around, I flexed my hands a few times before speaking. “I’m not running. I need a cool down period. I think I deserve at least that. I’ll be back.” I sighed. “I always come back.” Charlie crumbled against the wall. I wanted to go to her, to hold her and tell her everything would be all right, that I would help her handle whatever came our way. Only this time, I

didn’t know if it was true. I didn’t know where I stood now that Damien had returned. There was an ache in my chest like I hadn’t felt since my mother died. Oh, but I recognized it, the feeling of loss, despair. Although this time, no one had died, but our relationship seemed to be in cardiac arrest. Frustrated and scared, I hopped in the car and drove. I pretended I didn’t know where I was going until I ended up at Gabriel and Isabella’s house. It was almost lunchtime and I was showing up utterly uninvited, but I’d never known

them to turn away a friend in need. Usually, this was when they rallied most. After I rang the doorbell, I stood there looking down at the stone steps, wondering what the hell I was going to say, how to explain everything to them. Almost immediately, Isabella answered the door. “Come in, Ben! This is a wonderful surprise.” She looped her arm through mine and urged me into the house. Together we walked toward Gabriel’s office in the east wing on the first floor. “Your timing is perfect.

Gabriel is home today. I just finished a photoshoot, but I’m more than happy to leave you two alone.” Isabella smiled warmly at me. Everything about her was so welcoming and genuine, I knew why I had been drawn here. “Please stay,” I murmured as we waltzed through the office door. The minute Gabriel realized we were in the room, he stood up from behind the desk and strode over to greet us. “Hello, beautiful one.” He planted a kiss on Isabella that had me blushing. I looked away and stared at the

architecture until Gabriel clapped me on the shoulder. “So good to see you, Ben. What brings you here?” “I don’t even know where to begin.” I frowned, feeling helpless. “Let’s begin by sitting on the couches.” Isabella pointed to the two couches parallel to each other beside the fireplace. I nodded and we moved to the furniture she’d indicated. Once seated, I leaned forward and rubbed my hands together. “Is something wrong with Ollie?” Gabriel frowned, while Isabella

studied me. In answer to his question, she shook her head. “No. It’s Charlie. What happened, Ben?” Her brow furrowed as she curled up on the sofa. “Damien returned. He’s Ollie’s dad. I went to the hospital, same as always and he was there.” I threw my hands up in the air. “Now everything is terrible and we’re fighting and I’m off balance and I don’t know how to fix this.” Everything came rushing out in one breath. I didn’t have a lot of experience talking about my feelings or women, but

only because my feelings were always hidden safely inside me, and the women were non-existent before Charlie. Gabriel nodded and tugged at his goatee. “I see.” “Ben,” Isabella began seriously. “Go to her. Don’t wait. Even if she thinks she doesn’t want you around, you make sure she knows you’re there, not just for Olivia, but for her, and you aren’t going anywhere. Do whatever it takes.” I nodded. “I am. I mean, I will. I want to.” I sighed heavily. “I want her,

and Ollie. I want us to be a family.” I stared down at my hands. “I know you do,” Isabella murmured words of comfort. “I could see it at dinner the other night. You two are really great together.” Ah, but Gabriel seemed more focused on other aspects I’d relayed. “I don’t like the sound of this guy,” Gabriel grumbled. “It’s highly suspect that he’s showing up now after your blog post.” “Well, I’m kinda a big deal,” I tried to joke, even though it fell flat.

“Yes, you are.” Gabriel smiled at my attempt. “But this appearance is after the second post, right? The updated one where you talk about everyone’s generosity and the outpouring of love and gifts, money…” He stared at me as if he were waiting for me to catch on. I brightened. “You think this is about money? I wouldn’t put it past him, but how do I prove it?” Man of action, remember? I was ready to go. “I don’t know, but maybe you shouldn’t.” Gabriel’s eyes narrowed as he considered the options. I knew the

look. “Honestly, Ben,” Isabella interjected, “you can’t do anything. Not if you want things to work out with Charlie.” “But…” I could feel the panic rising in me. “I can’t just do nothing. I can’t let them get hurt again.” “You’re not doing ‘nothing’ exactly.” She held up a hand to calm me. “Be wary, but let her find out for herself. The more you try to convince her Damien’s shady, the more she’ll pull away from you.”

I leaned back in the chair and considered her advice. “You’re right.” I rubbed my temples as my head began to pound. “I just need to be there. Be patient.” “Bella’s right.” Gabriel wrapped an arm around his wife. “Don’t worry. These chameleons always show their true colors eventually. You need to stay in the picture. Be nice. He’ll slip up soon enough.” Isabella stood up suddenly. “Okay, I need to run to the restroom, then we need to eat before I pass out. Ben,

please join us. We’d love your company.” She smiled at me before dashing from the room. “Yes, stay. Then go back happy, calm, and prepared.” He winked at me before tugging me up from the couch. “I feel much better now. I can do this.” I’m not sure who I was trying to convince, but slowly I was beginning to believe I really could hang in there.

Chapter Sixteen Charlie

Hugging the wall, I watched Ben walk away and it felt like I was losing a piece of me. How could everything so right go so wrong so fast? I knew the answer. It was Damien. It was always Damien. He had ruined our relationship and now he was wreaking havoc on my relationship with Ben. Even though I recognized it, somehow, I still felt powerless to do anything about it. When we were together, I couldn’t imagine life without him. Now I’d spent all these years without him, but part of me still

wanted the dream. I think I refused to admit defeat. How could he not want me, not want Ollie? Then there was Ben. He was so good and perfect. Maybe he was too good for me, for us. Maybe I just wanted to push him away to see if he’d push back. No, that didn’t make sense. He had pushed plenty. Look at how he’d treated Damien. And I hadn’t supported him at all. I had no spine where that snake was concerned. I was so sad and disappointed in myself. How could I go back in there and tell Ollie Ben was

gone, the strange man was her father, and I had ruined her life yet again? “Oh, I’m glad I caught you!” The doctor smiled as he walked up to me. “Ollie’s here. Where would I go?” I frowned. “Right. Can we go talk with Olivia? I have some news.” He grinned. “Sure.” In the back of my mind, I hoped whatever he had to say would distract Ollie from Ben’s absence. Once inside the room, I sat on the end of Ollie’s bed and held her hand while we waited to hear what the doctor

had to say. He glanced around the room for a moment. “Oh, I was hoping Ben was here, since this is his project.” I frowned. “Is this about the donor drive?” “No.” The doctor shook his head. “He’s a great guy. He must love you a lot, Olivia. Organizing the donor drive, and setting up the Toronto treatments took a lot of effort.” “I’m sorry. Did you say Toronto?” I shook my head as I struggled to understand. “What’s in Toronto?” “Oh. I thought he had already

spoken to you about it.” The doctor glanced down at the notes in his hand. “Nope. Never mind. It says right here that he didn’t want to get your hopes up. Good thinking, actually.” The doctor closed the file and crossed his legs as he prepared to address us. “Toronto?” I prompted. My mood was at an all time low. “Right. So, Ben came to me about a week ago. Someone had told him about a special treatment offered at the children’s hospital in Toronto. It would boost Olivia’s immune system and help

her get ready for the stem cell therapy, the last stage in her recovery. We don’t want her to relapse. Our goal is remission.” I nodded. “I know. We dream about remission.” “So, I reached out, per Ben’s request, to see if Olivia would be a good candidate for their program.” His smile widened. “She is.” Hope flickered inside me. I gripped the bedding to hold in my excitement. “Okay…” “They have an opening in just

over a week. You’ll check in on that Sunday night, then the treatment begins bright and early Monday morning and lasts a week.” He leaned back in the chair. “So, I’m going to let you go home in a couple of days to get ready.” My mind was spinning. We were getting to go home for a little while, but then we were off to Toronto. “How long is the drive? I don’t even know if my car is safe for a road trip like this.” I stood up and limped around. “I won’t be in the hospital for my birthday,” Ollie whispered. Then she

started bouncing. “We can have the party, just like Ben said!” I licked my lips. “Yeah, and then you get to go to Toronto. New hospital, Olls.” I tried to sound excited, but I was exhausted and overwhelmed and everything seemed so hard without Ben to help me through it. Lord, how I wanted to talk to Ben, but I refused to call. While pride might go before the fall, I hovered so close to rock bottom on a daily basis, I wasn’t ready to bend. “I’m not getting the treatment,” Ollie mumbled. She turned her attention

to the camera in her lap. “Of course you are. Ben worked hard to set this up. You need it. Then maybe, after the stem cell therapy, you won’t need anymore treatments, ever.” This time, my joy was genuine. The thought of no more hospitals positively thrilled me. I watched her for a reaction, but she didn’t even look up. Out of nowhere, she sighed and muttered, “I’m not doing that either.” Frustrated, I stared at her. “What do you want to do, Ollie? What’s the alternative?” I crossed my arms over my

chest in frustration. I didn’t have the energy to argue. Sadly, all I could do was torment myself with the thought that if Ben were here, he’d probably get through to her. So I ignored her comments and turned my attention to grilling the doctor. Then, when he finally left, I managed to convince Ollie to eat her lunch and take a nap. The more time passed, the more time I spent watching the clock, wondering if he would return as he claimed. At two in the afternoon, he finally strolled in looking more like the

Ben I’d fallen for, relaxed, confident, and exuding happiness. “Hello, Charlie.” He strode over to me and held out a stack of storage containers with food. “What’s this?” Even as I spoke, I began opening them. “Where did you get all this food?” “Isabella sent a care package.” He sat across from me in the wheely chair. “Oh. So you went to see Gabriel and Isabella?” I held the container of couscous in my hand, but didn’t open it.

For some reason, I felt a little jealous. I enjoyed the time we’d spent with them and it would’ve been a nice to see them again. Even more than that, I was reminded he had people to turn to in times of need. Who did I have? Pretty much no one. “Eat, babe,” Ben urged. “Then tell me what I missed.” I had no fight left in me, or food. So, I pulled off the lid and took the spoon he offered and started to dig in. After loading my mouth, I noticed the corners of his mouth were twitching.

“What?” I covered my mouth as I spoke, since it was full of food. “I thought you might like to put some food on a plate. That’s a serving spoon.” He held a plate out to me, but I waved it away. “Huh. I thought the spoon was a commentary on the fact that I have a big mouth, never know when to close it, that kind of thing.” I shrugged and shoved another spoonful of couscous into my mouth. Then I leaned back against the wall and chewed with my eyes closed. Slowly, Ben stood and walked

over to me. He frowned, then held the back of his hand to my forehead. “Are you sure you’re feeling okay?” He worried over me, studying my face. I paused, unsure of how to respond. “I guess.” “You look…tired.” He leaned in and rubbed my back after planting a kiss on my forehead. “Well, healing from a sprain and a broken ankle while in the hospital with a sick kid will do that to a person.” I started to take another spoonful of food, but stopped and passed it back to him

instead. “Maybe I need a nap.” “Maybe you do. Could you catch me up on what I missed first? I ran into the doctor on my way up. He couldn’t talk, but told me you and I needed to have a discussion.” Ben tentatively lowered himself onto the bed beside me. I suppose he worried I’d bite his head off again. “We’re getting out in a few days,” I began slowly. His face lit up. “That’s wonderful. Now we can plan Ollie’s birthday. I have some ideas to run by

you…” “Oh, do these ideas include a trip to Toronto? Because apparently we need to be there a week from Sunday and treatments start on Monday morning.” I covered my face with my hands. My mind was positively spinning. Then an arm wrapped around me and Ben pulled me into his chest. “Just breathe, Charlie. One thing at a time. We’ve got this.” He hugged me extra tight and waited until he felt me loosen up. “Okay. So, do you want to come back to my place? I’d love to have

you two there.” I saw the twinkle in his eyes and suspected there was more to it. Sadly, I shook my head. “Can’t. Damien wants to spend time with her. I don’t see that happening at your place.” Then I looked to the ceiling and cursed under my breath. “Fuck. Just fuck.” “What, babe?” He had relinquished his hold on me. “The apartment is a mess. There’s laundry and cleaning to do. I’d like to disinfect since she’s recovering from being sick.” The list continued to

grow. “Gawd, and I even have that damn wall I’ve never finished painting.” I frowned. “I can’t do it all. I know because I’ve tried. I feel so…defeated.” “We have a few days?” His eyebrows peaked as he waited for my response. “Yeah. Sunday. We get discharged then.” I glanced at the calendar he had open on his phone. Ben tapped on the screen then shoved it back in his pocket. “Done. The place will be ready for you and Ollie to return.”

I eyed him suspiciously. “So, about everything…” “You mean like Damien everything? I’d really like to discuss that.” His mouth made a grim line. “Yeah. I wouldn’t. Can we just get through her birthday and figuring out how we’re getting to Toronto? Then, we’ll see.” I wore my best pleading look. “Absolutely.” He reached over and took my hand in both of his. I felt ready to fall asleep sitting up. “Oh, and Ollie thinks the movie

should be nearly done.” Nodding, Ben agreed. “That’s something else I wanted to talk to you about. Now…just hear me out first, okay?” “Sure,” I mumbled, my heart already set on a nap as soon as I could end this conversation. “Speak.” He hesitated then laid out his intentions. “I talked to Gabriel and Isabella over lunch. They have offered the use of their home theater for Ollie’s movie screening so she can have the full experience.” Ben grinned. “And I’m

pretty sure they want to see it too. So there’s that.” He laid his fist against his lips for a moment. “I bet we could do that on Saturday, then go to Toronto and have her birthday there on Sunday before checking into the hospital. What do you think?” I shook my head, hoping to clear out the fog. “Movie, yes. Birthday in Toronto? No. She wants Becca there.” I folded my hands together, a sure sign I was adamant. “Becca will be there. They can all be there.” He shrugged.

“How?” I challenged. “Simple. We’ll take Gabriel’s plane. Problem solved.” Ben stood to put away the food. A plane. Of course. “Just where would we hold the birthday party? Germs, remember?” My chin jutted out angrily, determined to find fault in his plan. “Gymboree. We’ll make sure we’re the first party of the day on Sunday so it’s germ free.” He continued to pick up then paused. “What? No arguments.”

I yawned and kicked off my shoes before lying down on the bed. “Nope.” I shook my head as I pulled up the covers. I could tell he was worrying over me again, but I simply shut my eyes and went to sleep. *** The day Ollie was discharged, Ben picked us up and drove us home. Despite our differing opinions about Damien, Ben kept the same visiting schedule and as I’d hoped, we seemed to have settled back into a routine. Despite

one or two awkward visits from Damien when their paths crossed momentarily, we’d managed to keep it peaceful and avoid bringing up his name altogether. I had hoped Ollie might warm up to her father as easily as she had Ben, but that didn’t seem to be the case. Even though she was sick, Damien was often snappish. His sense of humor came off as mean, and Ollie mostly ignored him. In those times, I was left to entertain him instead. We tiptoed around conversations like we were trying to avoid landmines.

“Would you like me to pick up dinner and a movie for tonight?” Ben asked as he loaded us into his vehicle. “Or Ollie and I could make cookies.” He glanced at her for a response. “I really need to finish my movie, Ben.” Ollie held her camera tightly in her lap. “Can we just do that instead? I think I have the edits done. Now, I need to work on some sound stuff.” “You on some kind of deadline?” Ben teased her. She nodded. “I’m really tired.”

I looked out the window, certain I knew what she was getting at. I hated when she insinuated she was dying. “You’ll feel so much better after the treatment.” Now it was Ollie’s turn to stare out at the passing landscape. “I’m not going to Toronto,” she grumbled. “You have to, squirt. That’s where we’re having your birthday party.” Ben smiled proudly. She tilted her head as she gazed at him. “Is this a trick? I wanted Becca there.”

He nodded. “I know. She’ll be there. We’re all flying in together.” I loved how Ben casually dropped the word ‘flying’ into the sentence and waited to see if Ollie would pick up on it. Her eyes widened momentarily. “We’re flying and Becca’s gonna be there?” She watched him for a response. When he nodded, she sighed. “Well, I suppose I could go to Toronto, but I’m not having the treatment.” I looked to Ben and saw he was already waiting for my reaction. I shook

my head, both unable and unwilling to fight with her before we’d made it home. “Ollie, your father will be over this afternoon, then Ben will come back tonight to work with you. Sound like a plan?” Her eyes narrowed. “And what will you be doing?” “I’m going to run to the pharmacy. I think I need some multivitamins or iron pills. Your mama is dragging, sweet girl.” I laid my head on the seat. I meant it. Ben reached over and held my

hand. “Listen, I know you’re worn out. I’m just going to help you get in, then leave. I’ll be back with dinner tonight. I’ll call first. Try to rest.” Shaking my head, I mumbled, “Too much to do.” “About that.” He chewed on his lip a moment. “You have nothing to do but enjoy being home.” “What?” Confused, I frowned. “I borrowed Mandy’s maid. She cleaned, did laundry, organized, all that. I think you’ll be pleased.” He glanced at me hesitantly. “And I may have painted

your wall the other night.” Ben braced as though I were going to yell at him. “I think I could kiss you right now.” I smiled shyly at him. ‘Well, don’t let the kid in the back stop you.” He parked at the curb in front of the apartment. “She loves that stuff.” Ben winked at me. Laughing, I peeked into the backseat. “No filming,” I ordered, but Ollie just laughed as I leaned over and kissed the best man I’d ever known. After my nap, I felt no better so when Damien arrived. I gave him a

quick tour of our apartment. “Nice place.” He grinned as he moved closer to me where I stood with my back against the wall. He planted a hand on either side of head and started to lean in for a kiss. “I’ve wanted to do this since I first saw you last week. You haven’t changed.” At first, I was fascinated by his words and actions. Damien was just as smooth as ever, but then I remembered I wasn’t that girl. I couldn’t let him kiss me, so I ducked and turned my head while he connected with my ear. Moving

to stand in the center of the room, I crossed my arms over my chest. “You haven’t changed, but I have.” “You may be a bit out of practice, but we can change that.” He walked toward me and I knew if I stood still he’d wrap his arms around me and start kissing my neck. It had always been his thing and my weakness. Shaking my head, I pulled the collar of my shirt up to my chin while I stared at him. “I’ve changed. And I’m not as out of practice as you think.” I raised an eyebrow in challenge.

Damien stood still and cracked his knuckles while assessing me. “That was the past. I’m here now. I’m here for you.” He reached out to touch me, but I backed up just out of reach. “And Ollie, too, right? I mean, you should be here for her and not me. I don’t need you, but your daughter does.” I pulled the shirt up under over my mouth and stared at him. “Yeah, sure. Right.” He shrugged. I wanted nothing more than to get away from him and clear my head.

“Since you’re here, can you watch Ollie? I’m running to the pharmacy.” At first he seemed put out by my departure. He even opened his mouth to object, but his phone chimed. So he sat on the couch and pulled it out to respond. “Sure. The kid and I will be fine.” Damien threw an arm around Ollie who had been sitting there watching everything, camera in hand. “Right, kid?” She rolled her eyes. “Yup. I’m going to my room.”

“Cool.” Then he turned his attention to his phone once more while I wondered if I really should leave. I had faith in Ollie even as my doubts in Damien grew. “I’ll be back in a few minutes,” I announced, then I bolted for the door as fast as my boot would allow. The pharmacy was around the corner, a block away. I decided to walk, even if I was slower than normal. After all, spring had finally arrived and I’d been cooped up in the hospital for so long I didn’t care. The fresh air helped

me feel somewhat better, but I still hobbled directly to the pharmacist for a consult. “I’m exhausted,” I moaned. “Is there a vitamin or mineral you can recommend?” The man studied me for a moment. He’d known me for many years, thanks to Ollie. “You might want to start with a pregnancy test. Then if it’s negative, go for this energy boosting multivitamin.” Immediately, he went back to counting his pills for a prescription and I was left to pick my

jaw up off the floor. Pulling my phone from my purse, I looked for the date of my last cycle. This seemed like something I should know, but honestly, if you’re not having sex, it really doesn’t matter. And if you are, you should be using protection. Of course, if you haven’t has sex in forever, you may forget that there’s a dark side to the delightful feelings. That was my excuse for never mentioning birth control. I’m guessing Ben figured I was on the pill, like I could remember to take a daily pill with all I had on my mind.

Obviously, it was all my fault, if I was even pregnant. Seriously, what were the chances? I’d had sex what…twice in the last six and a half years? Still, I picked out and purchased the first early pregnancy test that could be taken any time of day and said a little prayer before walking home. Even though I’d been gone no longer than twenty minutes, the moment I walked through the door, Damien stood. “I need to go.” He barely looked at me, he was so busy typing on his phone. “I’ll see you soon.” Then he kissed me on the

cheek before I could move away and he disappeared out the apartment door. I touched my cheek. His kiss felt nothing like Ben’s kisses. Those left me feeling happy, warm, and loved. Damien’s kiss made me want to shower. I gave in to my full body shiver, then marched resolutely to the bathroom. Now was as good at time as any to ruin my day and possibly the rest of my day. Setting my purse on the table, I took the pregnancy test into the bathroom with me and closed the door. I ripped open the package and followed the

directions perfectly. I pushed the cover over the pee tip of the wand, laid it flat on the counter and was prepared to pace in my teeny tiny bathroom until I had the answers I needed. Then I heard my phone ringing. At first, I was torn about leaving it unattended, but Ollie was lost in her movie and I was only going to go grab the phone and bring it back. It’d be safe.

Chapter Seventeen Ben On Saturday afternoon, I took the stairs by two up to Charlie’s apartment and rapped on the door. My heart was light. Ollie was about to have her big screening and I couldn’t stop beaming with pride. Then Damien answered the door. When Ollie saw me, she pushed

past him and jumped into my arms holding the DVD of her movie in her hand. “Can you believe it?” She squealed and wriggled in excitement. “I know, squirt. Today’s the big day.” Seeing her exuding such pure joy, even Damien’s presence couldn’t diminish my mood. “Ben.” He nodded at me and stepped aside so I could enter the apartment. “So Charlie is getting ready. She should be out in a minute.” Then he turned and walked back to the couch while texting on his phone.

For a moment, I stared at him. Then Ollie and I exchanged looks. “That’s all he ever does,” she mumbled. “I don’t know why he’s here.” Charlie emerged from the kitchen. “He’s here for you, of course. Why else would he be here?” Ollie rolled her eyes. “I’m gonna go pee, then let’s go. I can’t wait to see Becca.” “Good plan.” Charlie nodded in agreement then looked at me a moment before fleeing the room. Damien didn’t seem to notice

and I, rather impulsively, decided to chase after her, right into her bedroom. “Charlie,” I murmured as I crossed the threshold, “can we talk?” She whipped around in surprise. “What are you doing in here? This is my room!” I bit my lip. “I thought I just explained that part. I want to talk to you. I need you to talk to me.” I sighed. “What’s going on? We were fine when I dropped you off on Sunday and every time since then, you’ve been acting all strange and distant. Did I do something

to upset you? Just tell me.” I closed the distance between us, and wrapped my arms around her. For a moment, she held on tightly and I thought my Crying Girl was about to return. Her breath came out in tiny puffs. “This is Ollie’s day. We’ll talk later, after Toronto maybe.” She shrugged. “Plenty of time.” Then she sniffled and turned to study her reflection in her dresser mirror. Cautiously, I held out my hand to accompany her out to the living room. She squeezed me tightly in a way I found

reassuring, which could be why I messed up and spoke my mind when I should have been playing it cool. “So, what’s he doing here?” I jerked my thumb toward the loser on the couch. “Well, he wanted to see Ollie’s movie and go to Toronto. He wants to be there for her birthday.” Charlie shrugged. “Really? Yeah, he seems like a super involved father.” As I watched, Ollie sat on the opposite end of the couch looking annoyed with him. “Ben, be nice. He’s trying.”

There was a pleading note in her voice. “Yeah. I can tell.” Somehow, I still worried this asshole was going to break Ollie’s heart. “Hey, I’m really looking forward to the kid’s birthday,” Damien piped in suddenly. “You are?” It irritated me that Damien hadn’t even looked up from his phone while he talked. “Tell me, Damien, why’s this one so special? You didn’t care about being there for the other five. Hell you weren’t there for the pregnancy or birth.” I stood in front of

him, my arms crossed over my chest, glaring down at him. “Ben, stop,” Charlie hissed. “What? Afraid if I upset him, he’ll disappear again? How could you tell? It’s not like he’s here when he’s here.” I threw my hands up in the air. “Is that what you want, Ben? You want drive him away when Ollie needs him?” Her hands were on her hips, her eyes flashing with fury. “You’re kidding, right? The last thing Ollie needs is Damien,” I grumbled.

“No, maybe the last thing she needs is you. After all, you’re only around to make her wish come true. Now you have.” Charlie grabbed her purse and strode to the door. “Damien, Ollie, go wait downstairs.” As angry as she was, they both jumped off the couch and disappeared out the door. She shut it firmly behind them before turning to face me. I couldn’t move. “What are you saying?” My heart stopped beating in my chest and I broke out in a cold sweat. “I guess I’m saying that we’ll see

her movie and then maybe you shouldn’t come around anymore.” Her chin jutted out angrily. I frowned. “You can’t mean that. What about Toronto? The hospital.” “What about it?” Charlie crossed her arms over her chest and leaned back defiantly. Finally, I took a single step toward her. “I want to be there, for you, for her.” I held my hands out helplessly. “It’s a week. You shouldn’t be alone so far from home. You’ll need help. Let me take care of you, both of you.”

“What makes you think I’ll be alone?” Her eyebrow rose. My face fell. “What? Damien? You think he’s going to be a huge help, any kind of comfort at all?” For a moment, I swore her confidence faltered, but she pulled it together. “I don’t know, but I know that you…this…our constant fights over him...it’s not helping.” Charlie leaned heavily against the door. “Are you okay?” I rushed to her side and ran a hand over her forehead. “You just don’t seem like yourself.

You’re…different.” I couldn’t put my finger on it, but something was wrong, very very wrong. She stiffened once more. “I’m fine. Let’s just go.” Charlie opened the door for me and I stepped through and waited for her in the hall. She locked the door, then murmured, “We’re riding with Damien. We’ll follow you since we’ve never been to Gabriel and Isabella’s before.” “Okay.” My shoulders drooped. Isabella was right. Somehow, I had managed to push Charlie away.

Half an hour later, I pulled up in front of the Charmant mansion and took a few deep breaths before exiting the vehicle. Damien parked behind me in the circular driveway. Though I couldn’t hear what was being said, I could tell Charlie felt uncomfortable. Normally, I’d have an arm around her, but instead she had wrapped her arms around her body and maintained a safe distance from Damien, even as he clearly tried to push for more. The front door stood open with the entire family watching us from the

entryway. Ollie rushed over to me the moment she was unhooked from her seat. I hefted her into the air and she leaned over and whispered, “Does Becca really live in this castle?” Her eyes were wide. “She sure does. Wanna check it out?” I smiled as she nodded and wriggled for me to put her down. “Hey, maybe after the screening, she’ll show you her castle in the back yard.” With a huge smile, Ollie scampered toward the door. Clearly, she was feeling much better. It made me happy. If I wasn’t going to be spending

time with her and her mother anymore, I’d want to remember her like this. “Come on in,” Isabella called as we mounted the steps. I leaned in to hug her, like always, and she murmured, “Someone couldn’t keep his mouth shut.” I shrugged. “Guilty.” Then I planted a kiss on her cheek. “For the record, you were right. You’re always right.” “Yes, she is,” Gabriel admitted grimly. “It’s almost annoying.” He winked at his wife. “Why don’t you bring everyone

into the media room?” Isabella suggested. “I’d do it, but I have to wait for Marisa and Sebastian.” “What time did they leave?” I wondered as I frowned. Gabriel chuckled. “It’s not about what time they left. It’s all about how many stops they have to make on the way here.” “Twins.” Isabella giggled. “Wonder how Sebastian’s handling it,” I mused. “Surprisingly well. He simply adores her.” Gabriel wrapped an arm

around Isabella and I felt even worse than I had before. “Speaking of pit stops,” Charlie began while looking guilty, “could you show me to the powder room.” Gabriel and Isabella stared at me pointedly. I nodded. “Follow me.” I lead her to the nearest bathroom. The only sound to break the silence between us was the echo of our footsteps in the hall. “Take your time. I’ll show you to the media room after you’re done.” Then I leaned against the wall and pulled out my phone to distract me in her absence.

When Charlie emerged, we made our way to the west wing where everyone else was assembled. Marisa and Sebastian had arrived and the kids were passing out popcorn. I sat in an empty leather recliner on one side of the room. Damien was on the other side of the room, deep in his phone. Charlie glanced at me, then him, and finally decided to sit nowhere near either of us in a lower row. Somehow, as lousy as I felt, seeing her shun both of us made me feel better. Gabriel stood in front of the

room. “Okay, it’s time for the premier of Miss Olivia’s movie. Please turn off all cell phones and put them away until the lights come back on.” He looked pointedly at Damien, the only one among us being that disrespectful. Still, Damien continued. For a moment, Gabriel held the bridge of his nose with his eyes closed. I watched Charlie sinking low in her seat. Obviously, she didn’t want to get involved, but sighed. “Damien. Phone.” For a moment he glanced up.

“What? Almost done.” By now Gabriel decided he’d had enough. He took a step closer to Ollie’s father wearing the most menacing look I’d ever seen. “Damien, is it?” Damien glanced up from his phone screen. “Yeah.” Then he turned his attention back to his messaging. “When you’re in my house, you abide by my rules, as a guest. Put the phone away so we can watch Olivia’s movie. If I see the phone again, I’m going to feed it to my trash compactor. Understand?” Gabriel was nearly nose-

to-nose with Damien. The guy sighed loudly. “Got it.” Then he tucked the phone in his jacket. “So let’s get this movie going.” Charlie was covering the side of her face with one hand. I felt for her. This had to be difficult, but how could she not see what a douche this guy was? *** Charlie Why couldn’t the earth open and swallow me up? I’d welcome it at the

moment. It wasn’t easy to support Damien when he behaved so badly. Over the past week, he’d visited multiple times, but he never truly showed an interest in Ollie. I made excuses for him, tried to give him the benefit of the doubt, but my patience was wearing thin. Finally the lights went down and the movie began to play. I sat up in my seat, excited to see what Ollie and Ben had created. They were thick as thieves especially this past week, but often when I peeked in, Ben was offering advice, but even he had no idea what was going

on in the movie. This finished product was Ollie’s alone. The title flashed across the screen and I inhaled sharply. Wishes by Ollie. Almost immediately, it was obvious she had been sneaking around filming more than we had been aware of. Soon there were images filmed from her hospital bed when we thought she’d been asleep. She had captured me talking with Ben. During the weeks she was in the hospital, we’d done this often in the evening. There was nothing particularly special about what was

going on this time, but the look of love that passed between us, the obvious spark had me clutching at my chest. Then the scene faded and the next one to appear had been filmed at Ben’s pool house while I was injured. We were on the couch, kissing. The banter between us, the loving touches, and the caring looks filled me with warmth and longing. I snuck a quick look Ben’s direction to see if he was as moved as I was. His eyes were glued to the screen. From the way he rubbed his chest, I guessed he felt the same way.

Then the screen darkened. Damien was in the picture. For once, I was seeing how we interacted like I never had before. Ollie managed to capture how I truly tensed at his touch while looking wildly uncomfortable. I recognized this night and held my breath. It happened a week ago when I ran to the pharmacy. I swallowed hard. Though in much of the movie thus far the conversations had been covered over by music, this time, Ollie let us hear what was happening. She knew what she was doing. I had to pay

attention. At first, Damien was simply texting. We could hear the low clicking of his typing on the screen. Then a moment later, the phone actually rang. Ollie focused in on the phone. The caller’s name flashed across his phone: Side Bitch. Immediately, Damien shifted uncomfortably in his seat. On screen he answered the phone. “What’s up, baby?” Like the complete idiot he is, Damien obviously underestimated his daughter. He answered this call on

speaker. “It’s getting late. I thought you’d be here by now,” the seductive female voice pouted. “I’ll be there in a minute, boo! I gotta stay with the brat until Miss Priss returns.” He sighed. “You know where I want to be.” Without thinking, I stomped my foot and glared his direction. Damien jumped out of his seat and started clapping while forcing a laugh. “I think we’ve all seen enough. Great film, Ollie. Remind me to ground you for sneaking

up on people with your camera. It’s just rude.” He moved to stand in front of the screen, as if that were going to help him. “Actually, you’re rude. Sit down and shut up during Ollie’s screening,” Ben yelled. When I turned to look at him, he was visibly shaking. Seeing how this affected him hurt me more than what Damien had actually done. See, nothing Damien did shocked or hurt me any more. He’d lost that power. He didn’t matter. This realization had me covering my mouth with my hand as tears prickled my eyes. How could I

push Ben away over this guy? My heart hurt. “You’re a guest in my house,” Gabriel warned. “Sit down and be quiet or leave.” The screening. Poor Ollie. I searched for her, worrying she would be embarrassed or disappointed, but instead she seemed…satisfied. I shook my head. My girl knew what she was doing. She had a message to send. I’m paying attention, Ollie. What’s your wish? You want Damien gone? What? Damien marched up to Gabriel.

“This may be your house, but that’s my daughter and we’re leaving.” Gabriel crossed his arms over his chest. I knew he had no fear of Damien. I watched as Ben and Sebastian flanked him. This could get ugly. Ben was positively fuming. The way he kept flexing his fists, I recognized how hard he worked to keep his emotions under control. Taking a deep breath, I stood and moved in between them while I heard Ben sigh. “Damien, you should go.” “Fine.” He shrugged. “So let’s

get out of here.” I bit my lower lip and shook my head. “No. You’ll be leaving alone. And I don’t ever want to see you again.” “Maybe I don’t want you anyway.” Damien chuckled. Suddenly, Ben was standing beside me. I touched his forearm to keep him from speaking. This was my fight. If I didn’t end it, once and for all, Damien would keep trying to sneak back into our life. I inhaled a deep steadying breath before speaking. “You aren’t here for

Ollie, either. You don’t give a damn about her, never have. Just leave and never come back because I’ll never let you in again.” I crossed my arms resolutely over my chest and stared at him evenly without a hint of sorrow. He wasn’t worth even a solitary tear. “We’ll see.” Damien leaned closer, but Ben reached out and pushed him back. “Actually, there’s nothing to see here. I believe the lady asked you to leave. And I’m pretty sure my friends and I are eager to enforce her wishes.”

Ben nodded towards Gabriel and Sebastian who looked ready to rip out Damien’s throat. “Time to go.” For a second, Damien tried to stand his ground, but as he looked around and realized how unwelcome he was, he finally gave in. After shrugging it off, he strode casually toward the door and shut it behind him. Immediately, Gabriel moved to the wall and pushed the button on the speaker. “Security,” the man answered in a low voice. “One of our guests is leaving.

Please make sure to secure the home after his departure.” Gabriel rubbed his hands together and quickly transformed back to the warm, fun loving man I’d met at dinner. “What do you say, Ollie? Shall we finish the movie without further interruptions?” “Yes, please!” Ollie beamed. Still feeling shaken, I sat back in my original seat. This time, Ben sat beside me. I couldn’t even look at him. Instead, I focused on the screen, anxious to view the rest of Ollie’s masterpiece. A moment later we saw Ollie

playing with the camera in the bathroom mirror. I swallowed hard as bile burned the back of my throat. “Know what I love about making movies?” Ollie asked her reflection. “It’s like…hocus pocus or ala kazam. It’s so magical!” At first, all I could see was her excitement. Then I realized her magic wand was my pregnancy test. I covered my mouth and sank in my seat. From the back of the room, I heard Marisa. “Wait. Is that a pregnancy test?” Then she snorted with laughter. “I love this kid!” My face was on fire. On the

screen, I called to Ollie and she set the camera down. It pointed at the positive test. Ben laid his hand on my thigh, and said nothing, but I couldn’t meet his questioning gaze. Finally, there was a montage of images, all of Ben and me. While they flashed across the screen, Ollie narrated. “I know if I have to leave right now, Mama will be okay. She has Ben. And Ben will be okay because he has Mama. And even if they don’t know it yet, they love each other. And usually when they say they’re checking her eyes, they’re

really kissing. Mama would never kiss someone she didn’t really love.” On the screen, Ben held me close in the kitchen, comforting me and drying my tears. “I wish I could take your pain away,” he murmured. Goose bumps covered my body as I remembered that moment. Tears welled up in my eyes as Ollie spoke again. “Ben gave me my wish, but he got his wish too. Mama’s happy around him, even when she tries not to be.” There was no way I could hold back my tears any longer. The moment I

sniffled, Ben reached into his coat and produced a handkerchief. “Here, babe,” he murmured lovingly. “Dry those tears one last time.” I nodded and looked up at him, hoping to convey without words how truly grateful I felt. In response, he wrapped an arm around me. For the first time since Damien showed up, I felt free to melt into him. On the screen, Ollie started speaking once more. “I know I’ve already been granted one wish, but if I had three wishes, like in Aladdin, I’d

wish Mama and Ben would be together forever.” She took a deep breath. “But what I wish most of all would be that I don’t have to do anymore treatments, no more hospitals, ever again.” Ollie sniffled. “From Ben, I learned not to make wishes but to follow my dreams. I love you all, but I can’t do it anymore.” I hiccupped. Ollie had spoken. This changed everything.

Chapter Eighteen Ben The room was completely silent, then Becca cheered. “Oh, Ollie! Your movie was amazing. Wanna go play in my castle?” Ollie stood and smiled. “I’d like that. Let me check with my mama first.” I looked down at Charlie who had now turned to bury her face in my

chest. This wouldn’t be the first time I had overstepped, but I went out on a limb anyway. “Hey, Olls, go have fun! We’ll catch up with you in a few minutes.” Becca leaned over and whispered loudly in Ollie’s ear. “I think you’re gonna get that wish. Mommy and Gabriel are like that a lot and they’re together forever.” I grinned. My life had never felt more uncertain, but for once, I was in a room surrounded by those I loved. It gave me the hope I could handle

anything. Wrapping my arms around Charlie, I hauled her over the armrest and onto my lap without any regard for our audience. Isabella moved to the front of the room. “Okay, kids…back yard. And adults, let’s go to the keeping room. We have food and wine, but it looks like all the ladies will be drinking strawberry lemonade.” She giggled. “Come on.” In a matter of minutes, the room had cleared. We were finally alone. “Hey, babe? You can stop crying now.”

Charlie shook her head emphatically. “I can’t.” “Look at me.” I gently nudged her chin up with my finger so I could see into her eyes. “What’s there to be upset about?” “Ollie has decided to die.” She looked away. I rolled my eyes. “Please. Ollie has been saying this since I’ve known her. That’s not it.” “She doesn’t want any more treatments.” Charlie bit her cheek. I shrugged. “So, we’ll talk her

into it. She’s already going to Toronto. We’ll work it out.” Leaning closer, I planted a kiss in the middle of her forehead and let my lips linger there, touching her skin while I inhaled the fresh, clean scent of her. “Let’s talk about what’s really bothering you.” Slowly, Charlie climbed back into her seat and breathed deeply. “Okay, but if we’re going to do this, I’m sitting here.” She crossed her arms over her chest and I could actually see her building a wall between us. “Well, now I know why I kept

thinking you were different and acting strange toward me.” A smile played on my lips as I stared at her lower abdomen and pictured how she’d look with a big rounded belly. My heart filled imagining it. Then I frowned. “Why didn’t you tell me?” “It’s complicated.” Charlie avoided my eyes. Her cheeks were flushed and I reached out to feel her forehead. “No fever.” I tilted my head to the side as I studied her demeanor. “Are you embarrassed? Ashamed?”

She sighed. “You must think I’m some whore.” I shook my head. “Why would I think that?” Charlie growled in frustration and threw her hands in the air. “Let’s see…I’ve been with all of two men my entire life and I’ve managed to get pregnant by both of them.” She stood and walked down the risers to the open floor in front of the screen and started pacing while I sat and watched, afraid to scare her off. “My life wasn’t supposed to be like this. I was supposed to marry

Damien. We were going to have a life together.” My jaw dropped and I moved to join her. “Do you really want to have a life with that guy?” Immediately, she stopped moving. “Well, not anymore, no, but Ollie…needs her dad.” My eyes narrowed. “Don’t you know by now, it was the idea you were in love with? Let go of the life you think you were supposed to have.” I reached out and laid my hands on her shoulders. “Forget about Ollie needing her dad. I

think this is about you needing your father.” Her eyes flashed. “I don’t know what you mean.” I gave her the side eye. “Really? Because I spoke to your father and I think you know precisely what I’m talking about.” “He has never been there for me,” she whispered. I heard her hiccup and feared she’d be crying soon. “Sit with me. Let me show you something. I meant to talk to you about it earlier, in case you

missed it.” “Missed what?” Her brow furrowed with confusion, but she sat next to me in the front row. Without hesitation, I pulled up the email from the station manager. “The station did a story on the donor drive I organized. I had no idea. And when I watched it, I saw this.” I held the phone so we could watch the video clip together. The reporter spoke in the foreground, but it was the activity taking place behind her I hoped Charlie would notice. As I watched her for a reaction,

she suddenly clapped a hand over her mouth. “My father?” She looked up at me with big glassy eyes. “Yeah. He’s coming around, Charlie. He may never be the man you want him to be, but he’s trying in his own way. We’ll know when we get back from Toronto if there are any matches.” I tucked the phone back in my pocket and held her close again. “As for Ollie, all she needs is to be surrounded by people who care about her. We can give her that. We already are.” I stroked her hair

to soothe her, but instead, she sat back suddenly. “What are you saying?” Charlie’s eyes narrowed on me. My shoulders rose and I shook my head. “I don’t know. I swear to God, I don’t even know where that came from, but I know I mean it.” I took a deep breath and blew it out before continuing. “I’m not leaving. We’re having a baby together.” I grinned, genuinely happy about this unexpected plot twist in my life and held her hands in mine. “I’ll marry you. I’ll be the dad Ollie

deserves, the man you can depend on.” Charlie smacked her lips. “Yeah. That sounds delightful. Since you put it that way…no.” She yanked her hands away, stood and walked toward the door. My legs felt like jelly. I wasn’t sure it was even safe for me to stand. Though my mouth had suddenly gone dry, I managed to choke out, “What do you mean, no?” She whipped around angrily. “No. Not like this. Not because of Ollie, or pity, or an unplanned pregnancy.” For

a moment she leaned her back against the wall. “I shouldn’t even be having a baby right now. My daughter needs all my love and attention.” Charlie turned to leave the media room. The thought of losing her forced me to action. I bolted from my seat and rushed to the door, positioning myself so she couldn’t reach the handle. “You can’t possibly be considering an abortion. You never considered it for Ollie.” My mind was spinning, my heart racing. Charlie stiffened. “Well…things are different now. I’m different now.”

I didn’t know what else to say. Instead, I opened the door for her and watched sadly as she exited the room and marched down the hall without me. *** Charlie I didn’t mean it. I don’t know why I said it or where it came from. I’d never have an abortion, no matter how bad the timing, how impractical the pregnancy. I bit my lips as I rushed down the hall, as quickly as the damn boot

would allow. Why was I so dead set on pushing him away? My shoulders sank as I finally admitted to myself how truly damaged I had become. He’d leave me. They’ve all abandoned me in the past. What made him different? This time though, losing Ben could wreck me like never before. He was the first man to treat me right, to love me the way I needed to be loved, to support me in every way possible. Ben was the first man Ollie had ever known and she loved him too. My daughter wanted us to be together

forever, and so did Ben. Why couldn’t I just give in and let it happen? Could I possibly believe I didn’t deserve this kind of happiness? Probably. I wiped at my eyes and worked to pull my emotions together as I followed the voices to the keeping room. I hesitated, half expecting them to be talking about us. Instead, they were commenting on how nicely the kids were playing and discussing our Toronto trip. “So, I heard something about food?” I tried to joke as I walked in. They smiled warmly to welcome

me, then glanced behind me. “Hey, where’s Ben?” Isabella wondered. At first, I thought to make an excuse, then I caught sight of him outside, playing with the kids. I pointed. Gabriel slid off the barstool. “Sebastian, I think he has the right idea. Care to join me?” The men kissed their wives and then stepped through the French doors to the patio to participate in the fun. “Gabriel is so subtle. I’ve always admired that about him,” Marisa commented lazily as she stuffed an

Italian meatball in her mouth. She chewed for a moment, the gestured to her heaping plate. “Please eat. I feel like such a cow.” I laughed. “Well, you look amazing. I don’t do pregnant pretty.” “Me neither.” Isabella made a face. “Stop! You’re absolutely glowing,” I sighed as I picked up a plate and walked over to the hot and cold buffet prepared on the island. “You’ll be fine once you get through the first trimester and the

exhaustion. Then we’ll all be a lot more fun.” Marisa took a swig of the lemonade. “Gawd, this is good. I may end up with gestational diabetes, but so good!” Finally, Isabella blurted out, “I can’t believe we’re all pregnant at the same time.” Marisa snickered. “Seriously. But hey, three’s company, right? And how cool that our kids will all be able to grow up together.” I felt my cheeks grow pink and warm. “Yeah, I don’t know about that.

You guys are married to the father and you’re in love…” “Oh, don’t worry. Ben will ask” Isabella nodded knowingly. Marisa agreed. “He’s such a good guy. I haven’t known him as long as Isabella has, but he’s the best of us.” “I don’t know, Gabriel is pretty awesome, but I’ll agree that Ben is super special.” Isabella moved around the island to hug me. “He deserves a super special woman.” I bristled, unsure of where this was going. “So glad to see he has that in you.”

I felt completely shocked. “What? I’m a mess. He deserves so much better than me. Did you know when we first met he planned to travel around the world? We’ll only hold him back.” “Is that what you think? This may take longer than I thought. We should get comfortable.” Isabella gestured for us to follow her to the couches. “Ben wanted a family. I don’t know the whole story. I don’t think anyone does. He holds everything in and takes care of everyone else. He has never wanted much for

himself. I’m not sure why he planned to leave, but I promise you it had nothing to do with being a world traveler.” Her words made sense and suddenly I understood Ben a little better. “I think I know.” I looked around the room. “Being around all of you is too hard on him. He sees what he’s missing.” I swallowed hard. “His father is kicking him out as soon as he graduates. I guess he decided to go build a life elsewhere.” Isabella reached over and touched my hand. I looked up and met

her warm eyes. “Ben has been looking for love for a long time. He hasn’t dated anyone since I’ve known him. I think he took my advice.” She laughed. “I told him to stop looking and it would happen.” I clasped my hands together tightly in my lap. There were so many thoughts rushing through my mind. Maybe he was serious with his impromptu proposal. Maybe I pushed away the one guy who had ever been kind to me, ever treated me in a loving manner, and ever cherished my daughter.

Tears prickled my eyes. Suddenly, a familiar handkerchief was thrust under my nose. “Dry those tears, Charlie.” Ben squatted before me. “Like it or not, you have me now, for always. So let’s go get those suitcases and meet everyone at the airport. We’re flying out tonight.” “Already?” My breath caught in my throat. “What about Ollie?” “We’re going to celebrate her birthday. What happens from there is up in the air, but let’s focus on having a really great time.” He smiled at me and

touched my cheek in a way that made me want to curl up into him. “I think that will help our cause.” Then he pulled my head closer so he could kiss my temple. “Way to keep it PG, man, with all these kids around,” Sebastian teased. “Hey, I know we originally said we’d come,” Marisa began looking guilty, “but I’m swelling. I need to stay off my feet.” She held out her hands and showed how her skin bulged around her wedding bands. “Forgive us? We’ll be at the next big thing no matter what. Promise.”

I laughed. “I’m thinking the next big thing may be your birth.” Marisa smirked. “Really? Because I had my heart set on a wedding.” Then she looked back and forth between us with an innocent look on her face. “Agreed. Weddings always have the best cake.” Sebastian squeezed his wife then frowned. “Let’s get those rings off. Then we need to get you home and put those feet up.” “I hate taking off my rings. These are family heirlooms.” She pouted and

held them close to her heart. “Wow. That makes them all the more special,” I agreed, “which is why you should take them off before they have to cut them off.” Ben chuckled. “Charlie’s right.” “Ugh. We’re out of here. The pressure.” Marisa rolled her eyes and grinned. “We’re leaving too. We’ll meet you at the airport in two hours.” Ben stood, then held out a hand to help me up. I blew out a breath. “Okay, so

we’re doing this.” He nodded. “Together.” This time, when he squeezed my hand, I squeezed back. We drove first to Ben’s pool house, then to our apartment, and finally to the private airfield where the Charmant family kept their plane. It seemed surreal to me, but I tried to roll with it. Then Ollie started in with the questions. “If I’m not having the treatment, why are we still going to Toronto?” She looked back and forth between us.

I didn’t know what to say. I couldn’t very well admit we hoped to talk her into doing it anyway. So, when I opened my mouth and no words came out, Ben interceded. “Well, squirt, we had already booked your party and the hotel. It was too late to cancel it. Guess we’re just gonna have to go have a good time anyway. Plus, if you change your mind, you’ll already be there.” He shrugged and made it seem like there was zero pressure on her. “Oh.” She stared out the window

for a few minutes as if very interested in the scenery rushing by. Finally, Ollie sighed and spoke again. “Mama, it’s not that I don’t love you. I do. It’s just that I’m so tired.” My eyes widened. Somehow, I knew this was going to be an important conversation. I feared I’d mess it all up with my emotions raging out of control. “I understand being tired, Olls. I am too. Part of growing up is just accepting some things need to be done even if we don’t want to.” She shook her head. “I’m not

going to grow up.” She frowned for a bit. “Mommy, it hasn’t worked. All it does is hurt me. I’m tired of hurting. I’m tired of treatments that don’t make me better, and hospitals that smell bad.” Tears filled her eyes. “I’m sick of seeing nobody but doctors, and nurses with needles. I hate having to eat more medicine than food. And I never ever ever get to have a normal life.” Ollie sniffled and I passed her my already damp handkerchief while wishing we weren’t driving and I could haul her into my arms.

“Normal is relative, sweet girl. And once you get better, you’ll have the most normal healthy life ever. I promise.” My brow furrowed and I struggled to hold it together. My daughter was breaking my heart. “Can you really make that promise, Mommy? Nothing has worked yet. I’m tired of trying.” She curled up as much as she could near the window. “I never go to playgrounds, or school. I couldn’t take ballet lessons. I’ve never learned how to swim.” Ollie closed her eyes and

continued to mutter to herself, pouring out everything she wanted, but hadn’t been able to do in her life. I wanted to correct her. I wanted to tell her about all the good. I mean, if she hadn’t become sick, we never would’ve met Ben. We wouldn’t have a new baby coming. We wouldn’t have all the good that is in our life now. But the minute I opened my mouth, Ben grabbed my hand. “Let her finish,” he urged. “We need to listen to her. It’s the only way we’ll ever change her mind.” So I nodded and sat silently,

listening while a hole grew where my heart had been.

Chapter Nineteen Ben After a wonderfully uneventful flight where the women fell asleep in our laps and the kids entertained themselves, we climbed into a limousine and drove to the Windsor Arms. Ollie’s excitement could barely be contained. “I’m so glad we flew. I’ve never been on a plane before.” She squealed

happily while huddled up with Becca. “I know! We never did anything like this before Gabriel. We’re so lucky.” Becca blew a kiss at Gabriel who beamed and sent one back to her. “I’m the lucky one,” Gabriel assured her. “You, Konnor, and your mama have made my life complete.” “So why a new baby?” Konnor grumbled. Hugging him close, Gabriel murmured, “Because we thought you would make an amazing big brother.” Konnor brightened. “I love you,

Gabiyell.” “Love you, too, little man.” Then he grinned at us, sitting across from him. Charlie laid her head on my shoulder. “There’s a man who loves his family. If it weren’t for the kids calling him by name, I’d think they were his.” “That’s how it’s supposed to be,” I explained. “When a man loves a woman who already has children, he loves the kids too. They are an extension of their mama. It’s easy.” I could tell Charlie was considering what I’d said by the way she shifted and stared up at

me. She opened her mouth to speak, but I murmured, “Later, when we’re alone, okay?” She nodded and her head dropped back onto my shoulder. “We have a surprise for you, Ollie,” Isabella began. Then she glanced at Gabriel who nodded at her encouragingly. “How would you like to have a sleepover?” Once more, Ollie began dancing around in the back seat. “I’ve never had a sleepover before!” “Me neither!” Becca giggled. “I’m so glad you’re my best friend.”

“Me too.” Then the girls wrapped their arms around each other. Charlie sat up and I could sense her concern. “Um…sleepover?” Isabella nodded. “We’re staying in a three bedroom suite. We thought we’d put the kids in one room and the couples can each have a room.” She shrugged. “There’s a communal living room and what not,” Gabriel added. “It’s decent sized…around fifteen hundred square feet.” Smirking, Charlie mumbled,

“When did decent sized become twice the size of my apartment?” She shook her head. “You’ll get used to it.” Isabella laughed. “I felt the same way when we first started dating.” After checking into the suite and settling the kids in bed, Gabriel and Isabella disappeared into their room, leaving Charlie and me sitting on the couch. We’d never slept in the same bed before. Hell, we’d never had sex in a bed before, not that I thought we would tonight…but a man could hope, right? It

had been nearly a month. Suddenly, I was aware of eyes on me. I turned and realized Charlie had been staring at me for an indeterminate period of time. “Whatcha thinking?” I reached out and rubbed her thigh affectionately. “Is it later now?” Her lips pursed as she waited for my response. Frowning, I stared at her curiously. “Later for what?” “Well…” She sat up straight on the couch. “You told me in the limo we’d have to wait to talk until later.”

Clearly, this discussion was incredibly important to her. “Sure. Speak your mind. I’d love to hear what you have to say.” “I need you to love Ollie too.” Charlie blurted out. “I already do, babe. Don’t you know that?” I reached out to hold her hand, but she yanked it away. “No. I can’t think when you’re touching me. Everything falls right out of my mind. There’s no room for anything but feelings.” She sighed. “I don’t know what’s real anymore. I don’t know if I’m

simply imagining this because I want it so badly.” Charlie slapped a hand over her mouth. “Hey, I want this too. How do you not know how I feel about you?” I leaned forward ready to spew word vomit all over her, gushing sappiness, but she quickly changed the subject. “Maybe we should go to bed.” She shrugged. “We have the birthday party tomorrow and hopefully… treatment for Ollie.” The last words were practically whispered. The way she blew out a breath, I knew she was

trying to hold it together. “Yeah, let’s.” I stood, held out my hands to help her off the couch. Though her ankle was practically good as new, her broken foot was still in a boot. Taking my hands, Charlie forced a smile as she stood. “Thank you.” “For helping you off the couch? It was nothing.” I chuckled. She shook her head. “No, for everything. Thank you for being here, and being patient. Thank you for hanging in there despite Damien. And…well, the

list is long.” Her cheeks grew crimson and she stumbled off as quickly as she could with me fast behind her. Soon she had entered the bedroom and her shoulders heaved. I laid my hands on her shoulders. “Let me hold you.” I didn’t wait for a response, but instead moved past her and shut the door. Then I began to undress without making a big deal about it. This was completely natural, just two consenting adults who had already managed to make a baby together, finally sharing a bed. When I had stripped down

to my boxers, I slid under the covers and rolled onto my side, anticipating her arrival. Her lips twitched as if she wanted to smile. Without saying a word, she removed her jeans, shirt, and bra, finally climbing into bed wearing only her panties. “Hi,” Charlie murmured as she lay on her side and stared at me with a shy smile. I knew it was too soon, but I couldn’t stop staring at her belly. Naturally, she noticed. “Nothing to see here. Move along,” Charlie joked.

With a chuckle, I asked, “Is this better?” My eyes focused in on her perfect breasts. She giggled. “Yes, much better. Only, you look like you want to devour me.” I shook my head. “It’s not a look. I want you in the worst way, but I’ll be content to simply have you close.” I held open my arms to her. Suddenly, her face changed and she looked at me through her lowered lashes. “If you want me so badly, come and get me.”

Yeah. I don’t know what made me do this. I had this chance to be all smooth and confident, but instead I morphed into my fourteen year old geeky self. “Really?” The surprise was evident in my voice, which I swear very nearly cracked and I wiped at the corner of my mouth to make sure the drool was only imagined and not actual. Charlie nodded and bit her lip to hide how widely she smiled. “Apparently you are unaware of one of the best parts of the first trimester.” “What’s that?” I murmured in her

neck as I buried my face in her sweet smelling skin. “Me so horny,” she joked. “Well, not just me. Pretty much all women. But this is the only one that matters to your situation.” “You’re the only one that matters to me in any situation,” I commented as I moved to nibble on her earlobe. Immediately, Charlie responded with a whimper and it was on. My hands were everywhere. I gloried in being able to touch her, having her respond. This time, with her injuries on the mend, she

was much more involved. Our foreplay lasted all of thirty-three seconds. “I need you in me,” she moaned as I teased her clit with my tongue. “Yes.” I intentionally mumbled the word so it would hum against her and was rewarded as her hips bucked. With a low growl she grabbed my head by the ears and hauled me up her body. “I don’t think you understand.” Her eyes flashed. “I need you in me now.” “Okay. Now works for me.” I fumbled to remove my boxers and then

pulled hers off the rest of the way. It only took me a moment to position myself at her wet entrance. I hesitated a millisecond. “It’s far too late to worry about protection,” she grumbled, “so I don’t know what you think there is to talk about.” My jaw dropped open. Then I somehow managed to blurt out, “You can be really scary.” She rolled her eyes. “Yeah. I know. It’s my super power.” She sighed. “Why must I do everything?”

Her hands grabbed my ass and she raised her hips while yanking mine toward her. The result was a glorious journey inside her. I savored every moment of it, letting the sensations wash over me. The fit was incredible, like she was built for me alone. Slowly I moved in and out, but she simply sighed again and nudged me. “Roll over,” Charlie ordered. I love a woman who knows what she wants. Obviously, Charlie was that girl. Soon I was on my back with her straddling me. This wasn’t going to go

well. How was I supposed to have any stamina at all when she was riding me like a damn bronco and her torso with those glorious bobbing breasts were in my sight? I shouldn’t have worried. A second later she was panting and slowed her rhythm. At first I was going to roll her over again, but she whimpered and I knew what she needed. “Just ride it out, babe. Take all the time you need.” Charlie relaxed and began to find her rhythm again. Something about the way she moved while pulsing around me

had me exploding sooner than I anticipated. The urge to press deeper into her was great, but completely unnecessary. I stared at her still flat stomach. My baby was already in there. Rolling off me, Charlie flopped onto the mattress and then backed up against me, still naked. I moved to spoon her, relishing the feel of her naked skin against mine. “Gawd, that was amazing.” She sighed happily while I kissed the back of her neck, then her shoulder, and finally wrapped my arms around her. “Say

something.” She stiffened in my arms. I hesitated then blurted out the one thing on my mind. “So does this mean you’ll marry me?” She completely rolled out of my arms, then turned to glare at me. “No.” Frustrated, I sat up in bed. “What’s it gonna take?” “Well, a proper proposal to begin with.” She sat up and huffed at me. “How am I supposed to take you seriously like this?” “I’d never joke about marriage.” I stared at her sadly a moment before she

rolled away from me. Throwing back the covers, I decided to go get a drink and cool down. I grabbed a robe from the closet, wrapped and secured it around me, then exited the room. I had taken all of two steps into the living room when I realized I wasn’t alone. Gabriel was sitting on the couch, leaned over, with papers spread out on the coffee table. When he saw me, he lifted a finger to indicate he was on the phone. I nodded and went straight to the kitchenette for a soda. By the time I returned, he had ended his call.

“What brings you out here?” He smiled, but somehow I felt like he was laughing at me. After plopping down on the sofa, I frowned. “What did it take to get Isabella to marry you?” His brow furrowed. “You were there when I popped the question to Bella. Hell, you even made us a movie. Were you not paying attention?” Gabriel studied me a moment as I shrugged in response. “Do you even have a ring? Sebastian had his parents’ rings. Too bad you don’t have that going for you.”

“Oh, I do. I have my mom’s ring. I carry it with me at all times. It’s in my camera bag.” “What? Just in case you meet someone and want to propose?” He chuckled. “Force of habit. At first, I liked looking at it. It reminded me of my mom.” I rubbed the back of my neck as I prepared to reveal the rest of it. “Then I found my father holding it in my room one day. It’s pretty valuable and I thought he might be trying to steal it, so I keep it with me at all times.” I waited for a

reaction, but I should’ve known better with Gabriel. He ignored the part about my low life father, and focused on what mattered. “You never talk about your mother.” He leaned into the corner of the couch to face me. I rubbed my hands together. “Yeah, I know. I think I need to save that story for Charlie first.” “Good man. I can respect that.” He reached out and clapped me on the shoulder. “Now how are you going to propose?”

I threw my arms in the air. “Hell if I know. I’ve asked twice already.” “Were you holding the ring at the time?” He frowned. “Nope.” I sighed. “Then it’s not a real proposal.” He tugged on his goatee. “So make it special and real for her.” I rubbed my eyes, exhausted even thinking about it. “I don’t know. I’m not romantic like you.” Gabriel groaned. “It’s not about being romantic, really. I simply found the woman who is absolutely perfect for me.

It inspires me to do things I wouldn’t normally, like spend obscene amounts of money on her and the kids.” He chuckled. I bit my lip. “See. And I don’t have obscene amounts of money. I don’t even have a place for us to live. No wonder she doesn’t want to marry me.” “Oh, don’t let that stop you. Look at Sebastian and Marisa.” He punched me in the shoulder, his way of prodding me to action. “And I’m sure she wants to marry you. Just think about it.”

*** Charlie I fell asleep in a pout and expected to wake up in a funk, but Ben made that absolutely impossible. When I rolled toward the inside of the bed, his warm body was there, waiting to adjust to mine. Hesitantly, I opened my eyes. “Morning, gorgeous.” Then he leaned down and planted a kiss on the tip of my nose.” I scrunched it up and grinned. “My nose? Really?”

“Hey, I didn’t want to offend.” Then he threw back the covers and hopped out of bed. “Need help? We have to be at Gymboree in two hours and the kids were up giggling until at least one in the morning.” He laughed and rolled his eyes. “I’d say the first sleepover was a success.” I frowned, filled with concern. “Oh no. She’ll be exhausted and susceptible to every germ.” I moved to get out of bed and prepare for the day. “Babe, she’s going to start immunotherapy tomorrow and she’ll be

laying around the hospital the whole time. A little fun is good for her.” He walked over and wrapped his arms around me. I scowled. “If Ollie refuses treatment, she could get sick and…” I couldn’t even complete the sentence. He leaned low to look me in the eyes. “Give her something to live for, Charlie. Give her a reason to fight.” Ben hugged me tightly. “You can’t lock her in a plastic bubble and expect her to want to stick around.” My chin dropped to my chest. “I

just want her safe and healthy.” Gently, he nudged my chin up. “I do too. Let’s make this birthday special. Then we’re going to have an awesome late lunch all together before Gabriel and his family return to Montreal.” I pushed my shoulders back and took a deep breath. “Okay. I can do that.” I started to pick out my clothes from the suitcase on my side of the bed, but stopped. “Ben, do you really think we can convince her to get the treatment?” I watched his face closely as he responded. I’d know if he were lying

to me. He tilted his head as he considered it then nodded. “Yeah, I really do.” By the time we arrived at Gymboree for Ollie’s party, the funk had been lifted and all I could concentrate on was the excitement. Sure, Ben had tried to comfort us into thinking she’d always had a party, but we all knew this was the first real one. Her life had grown so much bigger since Ben had become a part of it. Mine had too. I glanced down at my tummy. Before long, that would be

bigger as well. I rolled my eyes and walked into the party room. “Whoa! What’s this?” I looked at the girl who was setting up the room. “Is this standard?” There were balloon bouquets and streamers all around the otherwise relatively bland room. On the counter that lined the wall there were multiple chafing dishes. In the center of the table were three different Edible Arrangements, two with chocolate covered strawberries and one giant mixed fruit bouquet. On the cake table

was a magnificent sheet cake designed to look like the garden from Ollie’s favorite book. And the table for the presents was absolutely loaded with boxes and bags of varying shapes and sizes. The girl smiled. “We provided the plates, cups, and silverware.” “So no then.” I could feel my heart racing. “I’ll be back.” Then I went racing to find Ben as fast as my boot would let me. He and Gabriel were deep in thought. “Ben.” I tugged on his sleeve. “The party room.” I pointed.

He wrapped an arm around me. “What about it?” “There’s a ton of food and a million presents.” I threw my hands up in the air. “I let you do this because I couldn’t handle one more thing, but this is too much.” Gabriel clapped Ben on the shoulder. “I’ve been here.” He grinned at me. “This is fine. Ask Bella about Konnor’s last birthday.” He chuckled and walked off. “Calm down,” he urged. “Let’s go look.”

Together we walked into the party room and I gestured about. “I mean…so much food! And the cake must’ve cost a fortune.” I turned then held a hand to my head. “Oh my Lord… the presents.” “Okay, I wrote another blog post when I was planning the party. So many people are invested in Ollie, I thought they might like helping me plan a party. Tons of people reached out.” He laughed as he glanced about the room. “Obviously. I thought a brunch menu would be good. I talked about the caterer

I found because we would need the food and cake delivered. And when I went to pay for everything…a lot of other people had paid for it. They bought the balloons and fancy decorations. They even had presents shipped here.” Ben swallowed hard. “Sorry. It’s just incredible. We have so many people who love Ollie. She needs to know this.” I looked up at him and realized how emotional he looked. “This is incredible. You…are incredible. It’s just like in The Little Princess.” I wrapped my arms around his waist and squeezed.

“Think her benefactors would mind if I stole a chocolate covered strawberry? I’m starving.” I released him and pretended to sneak over to the table. “Actually, I bought those.” He shrugged. “I knew my girls liked chocolate covered strawberries and I wanted to contribute something to the party.” Ben laughed. “So yeah, have some strawberries.” He grinned. “Are you mad?” “Mad? No. I’m so happy, I could cry.” I giggled. “But I won’t.” I winked at him and took a huge bite of my

strawberry. The day passed in a blur. I wish I knew which part of the party was my favorite, but it all seemed so special and magical. Gymboree had been transformed into a secret garden. Ollie was in her glory. I think I should also be commended because I only freaked out once…when Ollie commented her face hurt. Ben saw my reaction and held me back. “Babe, it hurts because she’s smiling so much. Look at her.” I heaved a sigh of relief and

nodded. “Okay then. I’m just gonna sit here and eat.” “I think you should. You’re baking my baby.” He leaned over and kissed me on the lips. “Oh, and if she complains her sides are killing her later, watch.” I stuffed a piece of bacon in my mouth and observed. “Laughter. Gotcha.” I grinned. When it was over, and our bellies were near bursting, we walked around Toronto and explored for a few hours before we went to lunch.

Apparently we had reservations at 360 Restaurant in the top of the CN Tower. “I can’t believe we’re eating again,” I moaned. “Amateur,” Isabella muttered under her breath. I smirked at her. “I didn’t quite catch that.” “Give it a couple of months. You won’t be able to stop eating. It’s awesome.” She sighed happily and leaned against Gabriel who cupped her slightly blossoming belly. “Will I feel kicks soon?” Gabriel

stared at her earnestly. She sighed. “What did I tell you last time?” “A few more weeks.” He smiled lovingly at her. Isabella licked her lips. “And when did you ask me?” She crossed her arms over her chest. “Yesterday.” He chuckled. “Thank you.” She looked at me and rolled her eyes. “Men.” I glanced up at Ben who had been watching with a look of amusement on his face. “You’re not going to be like

that, are you?” I raised a brow. “Never.” He shook his head, but I’m pretty sure I saw him wink at Gabriel. We sat in a huge oval booth and stared out the windows. The restaurant slowly circled so we would eventually see the entire skyline. The waitress brought our drinks and I had only taken a sip or two when Ben grabbed my hand. “What’s up?” I smiled, feeling more peaceful than I had in a long time. “I wanted to talk to you for a minute. Please come with me.” He

tugged me up out of my seat. “This better be good. I’m tired. And after sniffing the food, I’m also hungry.” I stuck out my lower lip in a pout. “Well, I don’t know how good it is yet, but it’s important.” Ben stared at me and I could tell this meant a lot to him. “Okay.” I shrugged and dutifully followed him. “Wait. What about Ollie?” Ben looked to Isabella and Gabriel. “Do you mind if Ollie stays

with you?” They shook their heads and Gabriel added, “The more, the merrier!” We ended up at Edge Walk. I stared a moment, realizing I’d be harnessed in and walking around on the glass walkway. Immediately, I hugged my body. Heights weren’t really my thing. When I looked at Ben, I discovered he already had his harness on. “I asked you before and I’m going to ask you again.” He held out a hand. “Do you trust me?”

For once, I didn’t really have to think about it. Look at everything he’d done for me, for Ollie, the way he was always there for us. With a smile, I nodded. “Yeah. I do.” Soon I was strapped into my harness. Ben grinned as he checked my straps. “This should be cake for you. After all, you’ve been living life on the edge for some time.” I laughed, but realized he was serious. I frowned. “I don’t get it. My life is boring.” His eyes widened. “Are you

kidding? Being a single mom, raising a child who’s medically fragile is the biggest, scariest challenge ever.” I cocked my head to the side and chewed on my cheek while I considered his words. “I can think of scarier.” His brow furrowed. “Like what?” I spoke without hesitation. “Marriage.” “That’s only scary if you marry the wrong person.” He leaned over and kissed my temple. “I don’t plan to do that.”

My head hung. Wasn’t it too early to know if we were wrong or right for each other? Before I could reason through it, Ben had started speaking again. “My mom married the wrong person. It killed her.” He swallowed hard. Then it was our turn and I followed him outside of the building. “I’ve never told anyone this story,” he murmured as we moved around on the glass. “She had cancer. My father all but abandoned her, started going out, chasing

younger women.” “Mandy,” I grumbled. Ben nodded sadly. “Especially Mandy. My mother was the one with the money. She left the estate to my father and the bulk of her wealth, but she left me an inheritance to claim when I graduate with my Master’s.” He reached out and held my hand. “I don’t even know how much until I present the lawyer with my diploma. She said it was the degree that would take me places, not the money.” He chuckled at the memory. “Anyway, my senior year of

high school, she killed herself. I couldn’t save her. And six weeks later my father married a 19 year old. He waited just long enough for the estate to be settled.” I could see his back tensing as he spoke and I reached out to rub his shoulders. “You feel a lot of guilt about your mom, don’t you?” I asked as I massaged him. “Of course. I loved her. She was the first and practically only lady in my life. Then you came along.” Ben smiled at me, the lopsided grin that always melted me, but I had other things on my

mind. I pulled my hand back and stared while I asked what really bothered me. “How do you know you don’t just want to save me?” Ben took my face in his hands, then pressed his lips to mine. “Because you don’t need saving,” he murmured against my lips. Then he leaned back and looked at me. “Don’t you get it? You don’t really need me. Through the years you’ve proven you don’t need anyone.” For a minute, it felt like a dig. Then I realized this time, he meant it as a

compliment, a commentary on my strength. “Charlie, being with you is all about the pure joy of spending time together, building a life together, and now, raising two children together.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out a velvet box. “My mother also left me this.” Ben popped the lid back to reveal the most beautiful ring I’d ever seen. “It was made for you.” “Because it’s a giant tear drop?” Even as I spoke, my eyes had begun to water. “See, others would call that pear

shaped,” he teased. “The band is an infinity band of diamonds,” Ben explained lovingly. “And I want forever with you.” I stared at it for a moment, filled with longing. I really wanted the life he had to offer, especially when he understood me so well, but I understood him too. I shook my head. “You wanted to travel the world. That was your wish.” “Silly Charlie,” Ben teased. “I know what I said, but it’s what I thought I could have. This…has always been my

wish.” He pulled the ring out of the box and carefully slid it onto my finger. “You are my wish come true. I love you, Charlie. Now make it complete by agreeing to be my wife. I want you and Ollie and our new baby to be my family.” For a moment, I stared at the ring on my finger, expecting it to feel foreign and constrictive. It didn’t. Instead, it felt like it was supposed to be there. It really did fit me, just like the man who gave it to me. I gazed up at him, my heart full of hope. “I love you, too, Ben.”

“Is that a ‘yes’?” His eyes widened and I could already feel his excitement. “It’s a yes.” I beamed. Compared to Edge Walk, this didn’t feel scary at all. “Now let’s go tell Ollie and get the hell off this roof.” Our late lunch lasted so long it became more of an early dinner. Finally, Isabella yawned and Gabriel rushed to action. “Bella’s getting tired. I think maybe we should call it.” He turned to Ollie. “This was the best birthday ever. Thank you for inviting us, Olivia.”

She blushed. “You’re welcome. It was my best birthday ever too.” “Well, we’ll drop you and your family off at the hospital so you can get well and come home for more fun.” Gabriel looked at us. “Ready?” I held my breath and for good reason. Ollie’s face scrunched up and turned red. I started to open my mouth, but Ben squeezed my hand and leaned over to whisper in my ear. “Let her speak,” he reminded me. “We don’t know how to counter her arguments until we hear them.” I nodded and sat back.

“I don’t want to go.” Ollie panted as tears streamed down her face. “Why not, Ollie?” Gabriel frowned. “I know it’s not because you’re scared. You’re the bravest six year old girl I know.” Her tears slowed at his compliment. “I’m not scared. I just don’t want to do this anymore. It hurts.” “I understand, but sometimes you have to suffer a little hurt to have a big reward.” Gabriel gazed at her lovingly. Ollie turned to look at us. “I don’t know…”

“You’re so close to being done, Olls,” I pleaded. “I need you to do this so we can be a family.” Her head tilted to the side. “Mama, you have Ben,” she whispered. “Without you, squirt, we’re a couple. We need you,” Ben pleaded. “You’ll have the new baby.” She set her chin down on the table. “What about me?” Becca sniffled. “You’re my very best friend in the whole wide world. I need you.” She threw her arms around Ollie’s neck. “You have to get better so we can go on

more adventures.” Becca leaned back and her eyes brightened. “We should plan some.” Ollie sat up and studied her friend. “I might consider treatment for adventures.” “It’s bigger than that, Olls. You know everything you’ve been missing?” Ben leaned against the table as he spoke. “When you’re well, you can do it.” I jumped into the conversation. “You want to learn ballet?” Ollie looked at us like it was a trick. “Yeah…”

“We’ll set you up with lessons.” I nodded. Becca squealed. “Maybe we could take them together!” My daughter’s face brightened. “Swimming?” “We’ll teach you,” Ben assured her. “I suppose I could make more movies.” Ollie tapped on her chin as she considered. “And the new baby is going to need a big sister. You’ll make an awesome sister, Ollie.” As I spoke, Ben

held my hand under the table. “So, you’ll be at the hospital for a week, which is really five days. They mean Monday through Friday,” Ben explained. “And by the time we get home, we’ll know if you have a match from the donor drive.” For a moment, Ollie’s enthusiasm faltered. “What if I don’t?” He squeezed my hand tighter. “I asked that.” Ben took a breath. “If not, as long as you’re healthy, you can qualify for cord blood. It doesn’t have to be a perfect match like marrow does.”

“You’re saying I can really get better and be done?” Her brow furrowed and I knew why. “Sweet girl, I know this has been a long journey. I know it seemed like it would never end and the pain and sickness would last forever, but this is the home stretch.” I nodded at her. “Then we just have to be together and be happy.” “And get married.” Ben nudged me. “Yup. Married,” I agreed. “You can be the flower girl.” He

smiled. “We’re going to have such an amazing life if you get the treatment.” “Promise?” Ollie held out her pinky. I watched as Ben held out his pinky without hesitation. “I can absolutely promise you an amazing life.” He hooked her pinky and squeezed. Then he held out a pinky to me. “And you too.” “Okay.” Ollie shrugged. “I’ll do it. Apparently at some point, I had stopped breathing because when she

agreed to the treatment, my lungs finally filled with air. My heart felt full. And for once, my eyes were dry.

Epilogue Ben “Gabriel, I’m so glad you convinced us to get away for a long weekend. We really needed this.” I threw an arm around my ridiculously pregnant Charlie, who seemed distracted. “Hey, what are you thinking?” “This place is beautiful.” She

sighed happily from her seat on the porch of the bed and breakfast overlooking Lake Champlain. The wistful look in her eye had me holding my breath. “Beautiful enough to get married?” “Yes.” She nodded happily. “Great. I think we’ve waited long enough. Let’s do this.” I stood and held out my hands to haul her to a standing position. Charlie hesitated. “Wait. Did I just agree to something?” “Yeah.” I frowned as I stared

down at her. “We’re getting married.” She held a hand to her chest. “We can’t get married now.” “Why not?” I threw my hands up in frustration while our friends watched and chuckled. “Who does that? Just runs off and gets married.” She scowled. Marisa raised one hand while cradling her son in her other arm. I pointed. “Them. They did.” With a laugh, Sebastian nodded. “We sure did. Best Vegas wedding ever. Now look at us. Two healthy baby

boys.” Marisa patted her stomach. “And another one on the way.” Charlie stared at her in wonder. “I can’t believe you’re pregnant again. This has to be some kind of record.” “What can I say? He can’t keep his hands off me.” Marisa snickered. “I don’t think his hands are the problem,” Charlie teased. Suddenly, the little one Sebastian held began to whimper and Sebastian expertly rolled him over and began to pat his bottom. “Watch and learn, Ben.

You’re next.” “Please. We have three weeks until Charlie’s due date. I can’t wait.” I grinned. “Of course, I rather thought we might be married first.” I looked at Charlie pointedly. “I’m huge. I want to feel beautiful when we get married. I’m only doing this once.” She frowned at me. “Please try to understand.” “I might, if you hadn’t made me ask you to marry me three times before you agreed.” I shrugged and turned away, pretending to be more upset than I

actually was. The guys immediately picked up on it. “So, how many times have you asked her to set a date?” Sebastian teased. I held out my hand and began to tick off the various occasions. “Well, I started in Toronto, tried again in Montreal. Then there was our Florida Keys trip last June.” I was prepared to list them all, but Charlie stopped me. “Will you ease up if we get a license?” She narrowed her eyes at me. “Here? In Burlington?” I tried to

hide my excitement, but I was doing a poor job of it. Charlie nodded. “Yes. We’ll get married here after the baby is born. We’ll have to check and see how long it’s good for first.” “Sixty days,” Isabella announced. We turned to stare at her and realized she had her phone open researching for us. “Thank you, Isabella.” I beamed. “Yeah. Traitor.” Charlie smirked. “Okay. Let’s go do this. Then I’ll

finally feel like you genuinely want to be with me forever.” I stood and held out my hands once more. “Well, since you put it that way.” She pretended to yank her hands back, but I simply scooped her up in my arms. “We’ll be back!” I called out as I carried my would-be bride to the car. “Oh, can Ollie stay with you?” “Absolutely! Have fun!” Gabriel grinned and waved as I set her in the passenger seat. Getting the license took almost no time whatsoever. I kept hoping

Charlie would get in the wedding spirit like most brides, but every time I glanced her way, she had a pained look on her face. “Babe,” I moaned, “you’re sucking the joy out of this experience for me.” She exhaled and gripped the armrest on our ride back to the bed and breakfast. “Sorry. Just some BraxtonHicks contractions. I started having them a little bit ago.” Charlie shrugged. “I really am looking forward to being your wife. Any doubts I might’ve had about our compatibility and whether this truly

was love dissipated long ago.” She relaxed some and I could tell the contraction had ended. “I’m glad. You’ve had plenty of time for that to happen.” I winked at her. We pulled back into the driveway and found the kids playing outside. Ollie was just beginning to grow her hair again. It was this sandy brown fuzz covering her head. Her cheeks were finally pink and had lost the puffiness associated with some of her meds. “Look at her. She’s so happy.” “I know,” Charlie agreed.

“You’ve kept your promise.” “Which one?” I tilted my head as thought of all the many promises I’ve made to my girls. “We’re having an amazing life.” She sighed happily. “Well, you have to admit, the inheritance helps.” I laughed. “We can travel…” “We bought a house outright and furnished it.” Charlie added. “Yeah. And look at all the good we’re doing with the foundation. I think I’m proudest of that.” I reached over the

console to rub her neck. Charlie smirked. “I can’t believe you named it Ollie Ollie Oxen Free.” “Well, Make-A-Wish was already taken. And after all our little girl went through, she deserves to have a charity named after her. She’s a survivor, just like her mother.” This time, I kissed her. I couldn’t help myself. I hopped out of the vehicle and walked over to open her door. When I held out my hand, she squeezed it and shut her eyes, but didn’t move. “Babe, what’s wrong?” Marisa wandered over with little

Liam in her arms. Thank goodness he had a bib with his name on it. “Did you get the license?” She called out while still several feet away. I nodded and stood there helplessly, hoping Charlie would soon answer me. “She’s not getting out of the car.” I gestured with my free hand. Rushing over, Marisa studied Charlie a moment. “Yeah. I recognize that face.” She squatted down so they were at the same eye level. “How long have you been having contractions?” “Braxton Hicks,” Charlie panted.

“Right.” Marisa stood and turned to me. “This would be a fantastic time to drive her to the hospital.” “You’re kidding, right?” My mouth gaped open. “We’re not ready. We have three more weeks.” “The baby will be fine. And if you need anything, you have all of us to turn to.” Marisa pulled my hand from Charlie’s grasp and walked me around to my side of the vehicle. “We’ll take care of Ollie. You’re on Charlie duty.” She winked as she opened my door and shoved me inside. “Later, dude!” Then

she raced toward the bed and breakfast shouting, “Ben’s taking Charlie to the hospital. She’s in labor!” As I backed out, all of my friends had rushed to the porch and began to wave us off. “That’s nice,” Charlie whispered. “I really love them.” I laid a hand on her thigh. “They’re our family. Not a day goes by that I don’t treasure having them in our life.” Shaking my head, I tried to calm down. This was an unexpected turn of events. “Where are we going?” Charlie

asked as she stared out the window. “The hospital. We need to get you checked out.” I drove as fast as I dared. She glanced at me. “Do you even know where you’re going?” I bit my lip. “I may have memorized the route to the hospital for such an occasion.” I shrugged like it was no big deal. The last thing I wanted was for my future wife to think I was some sort of crazy. When she didn’t say anything, I peeked at her. “You amazing man. God, I love

you, Ben.” She inhaled deeply. “Okay. Let’s do this.” It was a short drive from Grand Isle, where our bed and breakfast was, to the hospital in Burlington. Through it all, Charlie sat there calmly. We pulled up and I left her to be wheeled in while I parked. When we met up in Labor and Delivery, she was a completely different woman. “I can’t do this!” She shrieked when she saw me. Rushing over to her, I kissed her temple and smoothed her hair back from

her face. “Of course you can! This is what we took those childbirth classes for. They were the practice. This is the big game.” I grinned and hoped to comfort her. “No. I can’t bring another baby into this world without a father.” Charlie shook her head adamantly as tears streamed down her face. “Babe, I’m right here. I’m not leaving you.” I paused. “Wait, unless you’re trying to tell me this isn’t my baby, in which case, I may need a minute, but I’m still not leaving you.” I

looked at her evenly. She burst out laughing. “Seriously? Who else would it be?” She laid a hand on her stomach and shook her head at me like I was the crazy one. “No, I mean, I’m sorry I waited to get married. I should’ve done it. It’s shouldn’t be about me feeling beautiful. It’s all about giving this baby a home and family. I’m sorry!” The last sorry came out as more of a wail that lasted for about sixteen syllables and twelve solid seconds. I reached for a tissue from the box on the

tray table. “Dry those tears, Charlie.” I watched as she dutifully wiped her eyes and swabbed her nose. “Let me talk to the doctor. If you’re serious, we have the license and I’ll find someone to marry us.” With a few hiccups, Charlie nodded frantically. “Please, Ben. Please.” I feared she would start sobbing again, so I held her close a moment. “Okay.” I shrugged. “We’re doing this. We’re getting married.” Then I kissed her a few more times before I backed

toward the door. “I’m not leaving you. I’d never leave you. I just need to make a few phone calls, okay?” Charlie smiled, her eyes red and glassy. “Thank you, Ben.” I was almost out the door when she stopped me. “Wait!” “What is it, babe?” I grinned at her even as my mind raced. “Can Ollie please be here? I want Ollie to be part of our wedding.” She wore this pleading look, as if I would ever deny her such an important

request. “Already on it. I wouldn’t have it any other way. Be right back.” I blew her a kiss and ducked out the door. It was time to rally the troops. *** Charlie Ben was gone forever. I mean, I knew he would be back, but while I was in labor, his absence was acutely felt. Roughly four hundred years later, or thirty-five minutes in normal people

time, he returned wearing the biggest smile and carrying a bouquet for me. “They had red roses,” he began, “but I associate them with death, so I hope you can handle these.” Ben seemed afraid of disappointing me. “Are you serious? These are gorgeous. I love yellow roses.” I held out my arms to him. “Come here. I missed you.” He laughed and walked into my arms. “So, we need to wheel you down the hall for a little bit.” A moment later, a nurse walked

in pushing a wheelchair. “Listen, I do Mary Kay on the side and I had a bunch of makeup in my trunk, so we’re going to do your makeup. Oh, and before this, I went to cosmetology school, so I can put your hair up, if you want.” “Thank you so much.” Charlie squeezed my hand. “You’re amazing.” “Only for you.” Ben shrugged. “And when you return, I have a few more surprises up my sleeve.” He rubbed his hands together then waved me off as I slid into the wheelchair. Roughly twenty minutes later, I

returned feeling so much prettier. The nurse had done a phenomenal job given her limited resources. The final touch had been adding the jeweled clip to my hair. “This is your something borrowed.” She beamed. “I’ll pick it up after the wedding.” She pushed me through the door and Ollie raced to greet me in a pretty pale blue satin flower girl dress. “Olls! You made it. And you look beautiful.” Ollie stepped back and twirled for me. “Ben said I can be your something blue.” She giggled. “I don’t

know what that means.” “Aw, it’s for luck, sweet girl. He’s right. You’ve always been lucky for me. You’re the reason we have Ben.” I carefully stood just as another contraction hit. “Whew.” I glanced at the nurse. “Did you time this one?” “Yes, you’re still about eight minutes apart. We’ll have time to get you married before this baby makes an appearance.” She parked the wheelchair close to the door. “I’ll be back in fifteen minutes. We have to get you to the ceremony.” She winked, then

disappeared. Isabella and Marisa were sitting on my bed and quickly stood for me. “Nah. I’m good. I’d love a robe so I don’t literally show my ass at the wedding, but otherwise, I’m good.” I shrugged. “It’s my own fault for waiting so long.” I sighed. Isabella came to give me a hug, her daughter asleep in the Snugli she wore. “Charlie, do you really think Ben would let you get married in a hospital gown?” She gestured to Ollie. “He managed to get her a flower girl dress.

Did you think he’d forget the bride?” She chuckled as she walked me to the bathroom. On the hook behind the door was a huge garment bag. “For me?” My words came out a whisper. “I can’t believe it.” Then I hesitated. “I might hate this, but at least my butt won’t be showing. “Girl, you should know by now, these men of ours are damn near perfect,” Marisa commented as she stood just outside the bathroom. “I would never tell them that because then they wouldn’t be fit to live with, but it

can be our little secret. We picked it up on the way in and if you don’t like it, I’ll be shocked. And disappointed. And I won’t sit by you at the reception.” She giggled. I took a deep breath. Already I could feel that a new contraction threatened. Slowly, I pulled down the zipper and gasped. “Ivory! Whew. Because white would just be ridiculous.” Marisa and Isabella laughed. “Oh my Lord. It is perfect! Quick. Who can help me put it on?” “I’ve got this.” The nurse opened

the bathroom door. “Everyone else has their hands full.” She gestured to the infants. “And I feel responsible for the hair and makeup.” Soon enough, I was in my wedding gown. When I saw myself in the mirror on the back of the bathroom door, I gasped. The gown was strapless and gathered around the bodice. The ivory ribbon was accented with crystal flowers. It was all flowy and gorgeous. I stepped into the bedroom for my friends to see. “You look beautiful!” Marisa

exclaimed enthusiastically. “It’s the perfect dress,” Isabella agreed. “Now how do you feel?” “I never want to take it off,” I whispered. “Ever.” “Well, you might want to rethink that during the birth. I’m just saying.” Marisa made a face and we all laughed. Then Isabella walked over to me while holding a velvet box. “This is for you from Ben. It’s your wedding present.” “Damn.” I bit my lip. “I don’t have anything for him. This was rather

last minute.” Isabella nodded. “He said you’d say that. He wants you to know you have already given him everything he always wanted, but never thought he could have. Ben would like you to wear this.” She popped the top of the box to reveal a giant diamond teardrop necklace to match my ring. My hands flew up to cover my mouth as I gasped. “Aw, Ben.” A moment later, Isabella had removed it from the box and hooked it around my neck.

“Perfect,” she proclaimed. The nurse returned. “Time to go. You have to hop in your ride.” She patted the wheelchair. I was in no condition to argue. The labor pains weren’t easing up in the least. “Where are we going?” I asked as I sat in the wheelchair and she helped me put on some matching ballerina flats. “You’re having a candlelight wedding in the healing garden,” she explained. “It’s just outside the oncology wing.” “A healing garden,” I murmured.

“It’s perfect, although who gets married at a hospital?” I shook my head. Marisa chimed in. “Yeah. We usually do receptions in the hospital, not the wedding.” She glanced at Isabella and they burst out laughing. “Your reception?” I smirked. “Yup. Long story.” She shrugged and we all exited the room. By the time we arrived, chairs had been set up and Ben stood with the minister in a tux. Music began playing as I was wheeled down the sidewalk. The air was growing colder and I shivered

from the chill and the sheer amazement. Ben immediately walked over with an ivory wrap to put around me. “Thank you,” I whispered. He grinned. “You know me. Any excuse to touch you.” He planted a kiss on my shoulder. “By the way, you are absolutely stunning. I’m so lucky to share my life with you. I promise to show you every day how much you’re loved.” “Oh, did you want to write your own vows,” the minister asked as we joined him at the podium now doubling

as an altar. I shook my head. “I’m in labor here. I’ll be amazed if I can successfully repeat after you.” “Nah. I just get all gushy around her. Sorry. You may continue.” Ben smiled at the minister. So we said our vows and I survived the repeating, but only barely. Then Ben surprised me yet again. “Can I just interrupt for one moment?” The minister nodded. Somehow, I suspected he already knew this was coming as he stepped aside.

“Ollie, come here a minute,” Ben urged as he pulled her in between us. Happy to comply, she moved as directed. “I know your mama and I are getting married, but I wanted to make some vows too. You’re part of our family, part of our marriage, a huge part of our life.” He opened his hand to expose a necklace. It had a disc with the word ‘family’ etched into it and four hearts with birthstones in them. “One for each of us, including the new baby.” He smiled. “I promise I’ll be the best stepfather ever. I promise to love you and

care for you no matter what. I’ll always be there for you to talk or listen. When you’re sick, I’ll help take care of you.” He hooked the necklace around her neck and this time, I wasn’t the only one crying. As I looked around at our friends and even the nurse and minister, there were no dry eyes. Ollie reached up to touch her necklace. “Thank you, Ben, but…” “But what, squirt?” He frowned. “But you already do. You love my like my dad should’ve. You were

already there when I was sick. I love you this much.” Ollie spread her arms wide and then studied the expanse between them and shook her head. “Okay, I love you way more than that, but you get the idea.” “I do, Olls. Can I have a hug?” Ben held his arms wide and waited for her to walk into them. For a moment, she paused and I held my breath. “Could I call you dad?” I watched as he swallowed hard and blinked a few times. “Of course you can. I’d be honored.”

The wedding continued while my contractions were coming closer together and growing in intensity. The nurse sat nearby timing them for us. We made it through the kiss, and the signing of the license. Then, I looked at Ben. “Now what?” “Now we go have a baby.” He wrapped an arm around me and laid a hand on my tummy, which was hard as a rock. “Oh.” I moved to sit in the wheelchair. Ben squatted before me. “You

seem disappointed. How can I fix it?” I folded my hands in my lap. “Listen, you’ve pulled off an incredible wedding.” “With a lot of help from my friends.” He nodded. “Yes. Thank you, everyone!” I tried to meet each and every face. “And I don’t want to seem ungrateful, but I wouldn’t object to some cake.” Sebastian came and stood beside me. “We’ve made arrangements for the entire reception to take place in your room, after the baby is born, no matter

what time. There will be cake. Now go evict that kid so we can eat.” He winked at me and patted my arm. Before Ben could start pushing the wheelchair, Gabriel came over and gave me a hug. “You’ve been part of our family since we met, but now it’s legal. Know that we love you.” He pulled Ollie into the hug. “All of you. Now happy pushing. And before you even ask, we’ve got Ollie.” He squeezed my shoulder before moving out of our path. “Olls, come kiss me!” I leaned to the side so she could reach my lips. “See

you soon.” “I can’t wait!” She squealed. Becca walked over to her. “I hope you get a sister. Sisters are much more fun than brothers.” She looked pointedly at Konnor. “They won’t have tea parties. They’re pretty much useless.” “Becca.” Isabella raised an eyebrow. “Maybe if you served cake,” Konnor mumbled. “Wait. I always send out cake and cookies.” Isabella crossed her arms

over her chest as much as the Snugli would allow. “Becca.” I giggled. We had so much to look forward to. Then another debilitating contraction hit and I reached for my husband’s hand. It had a nice ring to it, husband. Even though I squeezed the hell out of him, he never complained. Somehow, while my eyes were closed and I was busy concentrating on breathing through the pain, we managed to make it into the building and up the elevator to Labor and Delivery. “Let’s get you out of this dress

and into something we don’t care about ruining,” the nurse teased. “I’ll send this to your room.” “I thought this was my room.” I panted. “Nope. Your room is where I did your makeup and where your friends are setting up a reception.” She grinned. “This is where you’re having the baby.” “I can work with that.” I nodded as I held out a hand to help me out of the wheelchair. Soon I was standing and the dress was being lifted up over my head,

just in the knick of time. We barely had pulled it off me when my water broke, splattering all over the floor. Everything moved much faster after that. The hospital gown was pulled onto my arms and tied, then I laid in the bed. The doctor came in to check me and determined it was time to push. I worried about Ben. I don’t know why. Maybe I suspected seeing me in pain would be too much for him. This was a hurt he couldn’t take away. It did affect him, as reflected in his eyes, but I heard him mumbling under his breath,

“Sometimes you have to suffer a little hurt to have a big reward.” Some women curse out the fathers during labor, but not me. Finally, I had a man to stand by me no matter what. Going through this together only made me love him more. Almost an hour later, our daughter was born and proclaimed positively perfect by one and all. She was even allowed to room in with me. As soon as I showered, I was transferred to my room. Along with our friends, Ben and our baby were already there. The room was completely packed, but calm.

Konnor had fallen asleep on the cot intended for Ben. Ollie was filming while Becca played assistant. There were multiple tray tables covered with food and one dedicated to a two tiered wedding cake I was dying to dig into. My heart felt so full as I watched everything unfold. “Aw, she’s precious! What’s her name?” Marisa wondered as she gazed at the baby in my husband’s arms. “Josephine,” he responded proudly. “We’re naming her after my mother.”

I smiled. “But we’ll be calling her Joey.”

Books by emma nichols: Sin at Sea (The Sinful Series, 1) Vixen in Vegas (The Sinful Series, 2) Heaven in Hedonism (The Sinful Series, 3) The Sinful Series Boxed Set A Modern Proposal

Hiding Out (The Davenport Agency, 1) Finally Found (The Davenport Agency, 2) The Davenport Agency Boxed Set Stormy Surrender (New Hope, 1) Tempest Torn (New Hope, 2) Under Umbrellas (New Hope, 3) New Hope Boxed Set

Terms of Service The Wait The Truth About Love First a Dream (Dreams Come True, 1) Second Chances (Dreams Come True, 2) Three Wishes (Dreams Come True, 3) Dreams Come True Boxed Set

about emma nichols What made her decide to be a romance author? Simple. How else was she going to parlay her two favorite past times into a career? Emma is single and loving it. Like her first character, Alysin, Sin for short, she doesn't believe in settling or in settling down. She loves to indulge in

her passions whenever the mood strikes and enjoys keeping all of life's cliché moments spicy. Known for her sense of humor, Emma surrounds herself with friends whose antics often become the source of book fodder. Her ideal situation would be to explore the Caribbean while writing. She pursues that dream daily.

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