Chapter 67

Bea’s birthday party is happening at the local park of the town. They’ve cornered off a gazebo, with multiple picnic tables under the roof of the area. Presents sit stacked on two of them, taller than any of the kids.

Derek and Tris are at the table with the cake and snacks.

“Miss Esme!” Tris cries out, clapping her hands as she jumps down from the picnic table. She runs up to me and I bend down to hug the toddler.

“How’re you doing, hon?” I ask, lifting her up in my arms. Tris wraps her little arms round my neck.

“I missed you!”

“Oh, I missed you, too. But I’m here!”

I put the toddler back down, and she turns to her father. “Daddy, look!”

I give a subtle smile to my boss, giving a short wave. “Hi, Derek.”

He gives me his signature single nod, his own small smile appearing. “Hi, Esme.”

“Miss Esme, you look very pretty today.”

I look down at my sundress that I’d pulled out of my closet, matched with some strappy sandals. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t dress up for Derek on top of the party.

I’ve barely seen the man all week, so doing my hair and makeup with a nice dress never hurts. I just miss him.

“Daddy, doesn’t Miss Esme look pretty?” Tris asks her dad, pulling on his own shirt.

“Miss Esme is beautiful, angel.”

Are my cheeks burning? I’m instantly brought back to that day at the pool with Derek leaning in to kiss me, pushing Natalie away from him by getting closer to me.

“Thank you,” I reply. “Didn’t know what the dress code was, so figured you can’t go wrong with a dress in the park.”

Tris is still smiling wide, but I still have no idea if I’m blushing, or if I have a deer in headlights stare.

“So, where can I put this?” I break the silence, holding up the little bag in my hands. “For Bea.”

“I’ll put it over there so you can go socialize?”

I look at the different group of parents, noticing those I work with, parents I recognize from the daycare talent show, and others I’ve never seen.

The kids are all over the park, and I don’t see Bea anywhere right away.

“Honestly, I have no social battery at the moment. I’ll hang out at a table and wait for Bea so I can give her a hi.”

“Sit with us!” Tris begs, standing up on the picnic table seats.

“Oh, hon,” I sigh. “Your dad’s busy keeping up with all the snacks, plus I’m sure all the parents keep coming over to say hi to you both, right?”

“Actually,” Derek interrupts. “I wanted to talk with you.”

My throat immediately goes bone dry at this. I look at Derek, then back over at the other adults and kids.

“Please?” Tris’ innocent voice melts my heart, and I know there’s no way to say no to her.

“Sure, I’ll help with the snacks. But I do need to sit, I’m exhausted.”

Derek raises a brow. “Are you still dealing with swelling from the little Price?”

My smile is unintended by his question, but I can’t help it. It’s kind of sweet.

“You’re very astute,” I tell him.

He shrugs. “I’m an observant guy, what can I say?”

God, I missed this so much. The little jokes, the way he makes it known he pays attention, and the sound of his deepish voice.

I look around the gazebo at the decorations and balloons, the signs and clear love put into all these details.

“I would have come with you to decorate if you’d asked,” I find myself telling my boss.

Derek shakes his head. “I can’t do that. Besides, sometimes things like this are good for me to get lost in. When life gets difficult, or you’re burned out from all the business work, things like this really help take the edge off.”

“Oh, like drugs,” I tease.

“You caught me. Setting up for kid’s birthday party is like crack. I don’t let others watch me, and it gives me the same type of high.”

I can’t stop myself from snorting a laugh out.

“Didn’t realize how much I missed that.”

I’m still smiling, though confused by what he means. “Missed what?”

“Your laugh. And having you around.”

A blonde lock of hair falls into my face, and I gently move it back. “That’s sweet. Likewise, I’ve missed hearing from you and the girls.”

Tris decides to go run out onto the playground at that moment, leaving me alone wither father. This is it, the time and situation I’ve been waiting for. All week, waiting for him to come into my office, knock on my front door, anything.

Now, the longing turns to fear. How do I open up and finally be honest?

“I owe you an apology, Esme.”

I furrow my brows, not following.

“For the way I reacted when you said you wanted to put your job ahead of everything because it’s important to you.”

Shaking my head, I wave my hands back and forth. “No, please don’t apologize for this, Derek, I’m not proud or even happy with any of what I said to you. I was being selfish.”

“How is trying to avoid losing your job being selfish?”

“The way I went about it. And then you came over last week and I just trauma dumped on you. And I thought that was going to lead to us finally talking about everything, but then your phone rang, and you didn’t come back for this—”

“I was embarrassed,” he interjects.

“And I was trying to avoid you hating me.”

He recoils. “You think I could hate you? Esme, you’re not just my subordinate, and you’re not just my neighbor. You’re someone that I’ve learned to confide in, trust, and feel safe with my girls. That’s not something I take lightly.”

My hand moves to my necklace, and I twiddle the jewelry around.

“You’re that person to me, too.”

“So, we’re in agreement that we’re both stupid and shouldn’t have been pushing each other away then?”

I laugh. “I guess I have a lot to learn still. Especially from you.”

He nods. “I don’t know if you heard about the internal investigation?”

“What about it?”

“I’m surprised you hadn’t. We were cleared.”

“Oh. No, I didn’t know.”

“That’s why I wanted to talk to you, too. To make sure you are still okay. That you’re still safe.”

If I wasn’t blushing before, then I have to be now.

“The only person I wanted to talk to these past two weeks has just been you, Derek. Not because I needed a shoulder to cry on, or because you always know how to make me feel better. But because I’ve realized you’re…my favorite person to be with.”

The bag of chips Derek was holding drops to the table, spilling some onto the ground.

Oh, maybe I shouldn’t have said any of that, maybe that was too far.

“Sorry, that was too forward—”

“Stop,” Derek interrupts again. “You’re wrong, okay? My girls absolutely adore you, and since you moved in next door, you’ve quickly become the same to me. And leaving all this space between us has been…”

“Painful?” I try.

He breathes out. “Extremely.”

“I don’t know what’s going to happen with Ryan, or with this baby, but please, don’t ever walk away from me again. Even if I was the one to push you.”

“Miss Esme!” A voice chirps, and I see Bea and Tris coming back to the table. The birthday girl skips up to me and hugs me.

“Happy birthday, Bea!” I exclaim, hugging the girl tightly.

“I’m glad you came,” she tells me, smiling a big toothy grin.

“Me, too.” I look back at Derek, then at his daughter again.

“You know what? Your dad has your gift from me. You want to open it now so none of the other kids get jealous?”

Bea’s face lights up, and she picks up on my silliness. “Can I, Daddy?”

He hands back the bag. “Your birthday, baby. Whatever you want.”

“Thank you,” she says as she reaches in. “Is there a card?”

I wave it off. “Open that with your friends with the rest of your gifts.”

She seems to take that as a cue and reaches into the bag. Inside is a velvet jewelry box in blue.

“I thought long and hard about what you should get, and it dawned on me that there’s something every young woman should have.”

Bea opens the top and stares inside, her eyes widening as she see’s the jewelry I’ve purchased.

An aquamarine pendant sits inside, with a silver chain holding it together.

“Wow,” she murmurs, touching the jewel. She looks at her father. “Daddy, look how pretty.”

Derek’s own eyes widen, looking back at me with something akin to mischief. I wonder if he’s thinking what I am.

That he bought me my necklace that I always wear, never take off. That his daughter should know she’s loved and important and should feel special.

“Now you wear this necklace with pride, young lady. You’re becoming older, and that entails responsibilities. Can you promise me that you’ll take good care of this, and never forget who gave it to you?”

Bea is speechless, but she still jumps me in my seat, hugging me so tight I almost can’t breathe. I close my eyes, holding her tight.

“Thank you, Miss Esme. It’s perfect.”

When she pulls away, I nod toward her friends. “Leave your necklace with your dad. Go have fun, okay?”

Bea nods, running to the other side of the bench to give her dad the box and a kiss on the cheek.

When she and her sister are out of earshot, Derek gives me his attention again.

“I don’t know if you know how much that meant to her.”

I nod. “I know. Her dad is a really good person. And I hope he never stops believing that. She’s a great kid, and I know her mom isn’t around a lot. I want her to know I’m here for her whenever.”

Derek puts the necklace on the table. “I’m taking her to get her ears pierced tomorrow at the mall. Come with us?”

I feel the flutter of the butterflies in my stomach. “Of course.”

Then, to my surprise, Derek reaches across the table to my arm sitting there. He lays his warm palm on my arm, making my baby hairs stand up on end, a deep warmth covering my body in mere seconds.

“You’re going to be an amazing mother. Don’t doubt yourself as much.”

My eyes fall away from Derek to his hand, wanting to take it and lace my fingers through his, squeezing his hand to remind him I’m here, and that I’m glad he’s forgiven me.

“And you’re the best father those girls could possibly have. They’re so lucky.”

“I’m starting to realize just how lucky I am with the ladies I care most about,” he says with a grin.

If I could explode into a million pieces, I would already be everywhere. But his words feel like warm honey, and the feeling relaxes me.

For now, I’ll just hold this moment in my heart, sitting across from Derek Anderson with his hand relaxed on my arm, staring into my eyes like I can give him the moon and the stars.