GABRIEL
Two Months Later…
Today is one of those rare, blissful days when I can simply relax and enjoy some quality time with Aura. After days filled with the grind of work and the delicate balance of being a single dad. I’m beyond excited about this. It’s just me, my baby girl, and a fun adventure at the water park.
I wake up to the soft light filtering through the curtains, stretching and taking in the moment. It’s early enough that the world feels still, and Aura is still in a peaceful slumber. I watch her for a moment, her little chest rising and falling with each breath, and I smile. I’ve been feeling the weight of responsibility that comes with being a father for months now. Today—today, I want to forget about everything and just focus on her. To her, I’m her entire world, and in return, she’s mine.
She’s four months old now. Four months. I can hardly believe it. It feels like just yesterday she was so tiny, barely able to keep her eyes open. Now, she’s growing fast—her little legs kicking and her hands reaching for everything. I can already tell she’s going to be adventurous, and I can’t wait to show her the world, starting with a trip to the water park.
I pull out a tiny swimsuit that I never imagined she’d fit intoso soon. It’s pastel pink with white polka dots, and when I hold it up against her, I get a wave of nostalgia and love.
She’s growing up so fast, and even though it’s a little overwhelming, I couldn’t be more grateful for her. I dress her quickly, carefully maneuvering her little arms and legs into the suit, taking in the beauty of every little part of her.
Once I’ve got her all set, I pack a bag with sunscreen, snacks for me, and her favorite little toys to keep her entertained. I get her securely buckled in her Doona, and we head out the door. As we drive into the next town over, I’m tempted—so tempted—to stop by Beanstalk and see Millie.
I know she’ll be working, and I can’t help but wonder if she’d be up for joining us at the water park. But then, the more I think about it, the more I realize I’m probably just being foolish. She’s got her own life, her own things to do.
Instead of going to the café, I pull into the convenience store parking lot. I need more sunscreen anyway, and it’s the perfect excuse to keep my thoughts busy while I grab some more snacks for Aura and me.
I push the Doona down the aisles, pausing now and then to pick up random items. Aura is in her Doona, wide-eyed, taking in her surroundings. She’s such a curious little thing, already wanting to know everything around her, I can’t help but smile, my heart swelling at the sight of her.
Suddenly I hear a familiar voice. I freeze, my heart skipping a beat. I turn, and there she is—Millie, standing near the snack aisle with her usual blend of warmth on her face.
“Hey, Bumper.”
She snaps her head up and smiles so quickly that I nearly miss it. Millie has a smile that, when directed towards me, I lose every sane thought in my head.
“Gab, hey. I didn’t expect to see you here,” she says, her voice bright with the surprise of our encounter.
I grin, pushing the stroller towards her. “Yep. Taking Aura to the water park. It’s a nice day outside, perfect for it.”
Millie’s eyes light up, her gaze shifting to Aura for a moment, then back to me. The way she looks at my daughter… it makes my chest tighten. There’s something about the way Millie is with Aura that makes everything feel more real, more grounded.
It’s not just that she’s great with babies—it’s the ease in her movements, the tenderness in her voice, and the way Aura lights up the moment she sees her. My baby knows love when she feels it. And she feels it around Millie.
She moves to the counter to pay for her items, and I watch her, feeling that familiar tug in my chest. The urge to be near her, to say something—to ask her to come with us—grows stronger by the second.
My mind races. What if she has plans? What if she says no? What if it makes things weird? But then, another voice inside my head is louder, reminding me I’m here with my daughter. Doing something simple and fun and Millie might want to join us. She’s always been so kind to Aura, and so open to being a part of our lives, even in such a short amount of time.
As Millie finishes up and turns to leave the store, I take a breath and decide to take the leap.
“Hey, Bumper…would you, uh, like to come with us?” I stutter, regretting the words as soon as they leave my mouth. It’s too casual, too much like a question I’m not ready to answer myself.
She halts, her brow furrowing in confusion, and then looks at me, her expression shifting from surprise to curiosity. “Come with you where exactly?”
I smirk, trying to sound more confident than I feel. “The water park.”
Millie blinks, clearly caught off guard. “Oh. Um…sure. I would need to run home real quick and grab my bathing suit.”
“I’ll follow you,” I say before I can overthink it. “No pressure. I just figured since we’re heading in the same direction.”
Her lips twitch, like she’s holding back a smile. “Right. No pressure.”
We head to our cars, and even though the distance to herhouse is short, it suddenly feels like this whole thing is starting to mean more than either of us expected.
* * *
An hour later, we pull up at the water park. It’s a short drive, but long enough for me to think about how Millie has kept quiet the entire time, her gaze glued to the scenery outside the window, her fingers absentmindedly tracing the armrest.
