“You are,” I tell her, picking her up in my arms. I sit her on my hips and kiss her little head.
“She is just like what I imagined your children to look like.” Dad ruffles her hair.
I blush crimson and cradle Eden.
"You must want something to eat or drink, sweetheart," Mum says to Eden.
"We made a disaster breakfast for today," she says.
"Disaster breakfast?" Brody asks. "You let Gemma cook something, and your father ate it? I'm sorry to tell you, but your dad's a dead man."
Eden frowns and shouts at him. "No, he's not. You're just mean and have no friends."
My parents burst out laughing, and it's nice that, for once, it isn't at my expense. Brody falls silent, his arms crossed. Does my brother have beef with a five-year-old?
Eden starts kicking her legs and playing with my hair. "Gemma is the best," she announces. "She lets me have chocolate for breakfast sometimes, and she lets me paint in my school clothes."
"Gemma," my father warns.
"Eden, Brody is going to take you for a cookie. Aren't you, Brody?"my mother tells him.
Brody sighs. He offers Eden his hand, but she looks at it like it's the most disgusting thing ever.
They walk out, and I turn to my parents. "They've just losttheir mum. She left them without even a word. I feel like they need a little fun, a little freedom, to deal with everything."
"That's very thoughtful of you, Gemma," Mum says. "But don't give in too much or you'll end up with..."
"With someone like me." I finish the sentence for her.
"You're not a bad girl, Gemma, just a little misguided," my father says, kissing my head. "And look how you've turned yourself around. You've proved all of us wrong."
I blush from the compliment and want to say more about Alex. I want to ask their advice, but I don't want to ruin the moment. Brody comes back with Eden, who has a packet of chocolate chip biscuits.
"She insisted," he says. "And she's very convincing."
"Come on, Eden, let's get back home so you can spend time with Daddy," I say, putting my hand on her shoulder.
Mum stops me as we are leaving. “We’re going out for dinner tonight. It would be nice for you to join us,” she offers.
“That would be lovely, just message me.”
"Bye," Eden says to my parents, waving goodbye.
Once we're in the car on the road, I decide to speak to her. "You need to stop telling people that Daddy and I are getting married, Eden."
"Why?" she asks. "Do you not want to marry Daddy?"
"We're not dating. I work for him, Eden. My job is to take care of you and Ace, not make Daddy happy," I try to explain without telling an outright lie.
The thought of marrying Alex has crossed my mind, and I’ve dreamt about it. What a perfect little family we would make, constantly squabbling and having passionate make-up sex.
"Just stop, okay?" I ask her.
Eden looks sad but nods. I reach out and stroke her hair. "Hey, just because I'm not marrying Daddy doesn't mean I don't love you guys. I do. You're my best friend, Eden. How could I love anyone more?"
"Are we best friends?" she asks.
"The best of besties," I say with a nod. I pull into the driveway of the house and park next to Alex's car. Alex is out in the garden measuring something, and we walk over. "What are you measuring for?"
