“Miss you too.”
Without any hesitation, she ran back into Dave’s arms. Gael chased her for goodbye kisses. With another little squeeze, Erica comforted me with her words. “I know this is tough. She’s a phone call away and I’ll keep you posted with texts.”
Relief swept through me as I kept thinking all would be okay. I knew it was ridiculous to be this nervous. “Thank you. I know I shouldn’t be this uptight about it.”
With a good-bye hug, Erica said, “You are not being uptight. You’re being a fantastic mother. I love how much you love our son and our granddaughter. We couldn’t have asked for a better daughter.”
A couple of tears accumulated in my eye before I choked them back. “I know. It’s just the first night she’s spent away from both of us. It’s harder on me than it is her. I want her to have these memories with you guys.”
We all hugged good-bye one last time before they left through the front door. I let out a big sigh, glad I had been strong enough to go through with it. “You doing okay, sweetheart?”
“I think so. It’ll make it easier when the baby comes. It’s just …”
The pressure increased around my waist as Gael finished my sentence. “We love having her with us.”
He got me and felt the same way. On a whisper, I answered, “Yes, we do.”
It was true. We loved being a family. So many afternoons when Gael came home, we went to the beach to play in the sand or water. Sometimes we would take strolls and go on adventures in Oglethorpe Park. Sometimes we went down to the bay to blow bubbles while ships came and went. Every single moment we had together was treasured.
Once upon a time … we’d nearly lost each other.
Taking a deep breath, I turned in his arms as the front door to the restaurant dinged, signifying someone walking in. The wait staff was due to arrive any minute. The bell was turned off when the restaurant officially opened. “I’m going to run to pick up the dry cleaning. What time can you get off to come home?”
With a child, we too
k advantage of any alone time we could get.
“I’ll be home by—“
Not finishing his sentence Gael’s eyes peered over my head and widened in shock while his hands went rigid at my side. Glancing over my shoulder my blood ran cold too at the sight before me.
Harris.
The man who nearly ruined my life stood there holding a baby girl in pink not more than two to three months old. My eyes moved back to Gael who had a thunderous expression on his face while simultaneously moving me behind him.
In a cold voice I never heard Gael use, he said, “You are not welcome here. Ashlin is pregnant and you are not going to bring her more stress.”
A gentle smile spread on his face. Where was all the ice and hate I used to see? Something was different. Harris was not the same as he spoke, “Congratulations. I saw your little girl. Sophia, right?”
Gael stepped forward with his shoulders squared. “What do you want, Harris?”
Upon a little closer inspection, Harris was dressed casually in jeans and a T-shirt. Not his normal depressing suits. Something was definitely up. The normal threatening vibe gone.
My hand touched Gael’s shoulder to calm him. I asked in a more welcoming voice, “What can we do for you, Harris?”
I held my breath waiting for his answer. It was hard not to have the memories assault me as I stood there staring at the man who nearly ruined my life. Only after blackmailing him had I been released.
He shifted the pink flowered diaper bag on his shoulder as the little baby blew spit bubbles, completely comfortable in his arms. Harris looked at ease. “I came to apologize. I know it’s been six years, but I’d like to speak to you both in private, if possible.”
Gael wasn’t budging. “Whose child is that?”
“Mine. This is Rachel.” A warm smile spread on his face as he bounced the baby up a little higher. A lopsided smile appeared on her face.
Was this really Harris?
Apprehension filled me from all he had put us through, but I wanted to hear him out. I asked, “Gael, can we use your office to talk? I think we should do this in private.”
Staff were pausing while folding napkins to watch the scene before us. We still had several employees from when Harris pulled his stunt with Gael’s Place.