And right now, standing here without Lucy, I’d give anything for her to be at my side. We’re not whole without her.
forty-one
LUCY
Aidan asked me to come over after Emily left, and normally, I would have raced there the moment I could.
I waited instead, lingering in my flat until the glow of the setting sun signaled it was almost bedtime for Isla.
I’m just now pulling into his drive as the glow of the setting sun casts shadows over the hills. Isla’s excited footsteps patter toward the door as soon as I step onto the porch. She pulls the door open with a flourish.
“Lucy!” she squeals, flinging herself at me. I catch her, lifting her into a hug and breathing in the sweet scent of her strawberry shampoo before setting her down gently.
“Hey, sweetheart. How was your day?”
Her nose scrunches up. “Weird.”
Oh boy.
My heart drops a little. I open my mouth to respond when Aidan steps into view. He crosses the space between us in three long strides and pulls me into his arms. The tension I’ve been carrying all day melts away in a heartbeat.
“Missed you,” he murmurs against my hair.
“I missed you, too.”
He tilts my chin up gently, brushing his lips against mine in a soft, fleeting kiss. My stomach flips, warmth blooming through me, but before I can savor it, a small, outraged voice pipes up.
“Ew!”
I can’t help the laugh that bursts out of me, and even Aidan grins. “Sorry, little storm. I did promise I’d warn you before we did that.”
Isla just rolls her eyes which makes me laugh harder.
Aidan sends her upstairs to get ready for bed and fills me in on Emily’s visit. My heart aches for both him and Isla. As much as I dislike the situation, I didn’t wish for the meeting today to go poorly.
Now I’m standing by while Isla tucks herself into bed, her small frame curling up beneath the covers, looking every bit like an angel who has somehow found her way into my heart in the most unexpected of ways.
Aidan lingers in the doorway, watching as she drifts off to sleep. His shoulders are tight, the events of today weighing on him. I can’t help the twist of sympathy that tightens in my own chest.
When her breathing evens out, signaling she’s asleep, Aidan turns back to me, his expression tired. He leans against the doorframe, crossing his arms, and I take a step toward him.
“Emily wants to take Isla out next weekend,” Aidan tells me. “Just the two of them.”
My stomach clenches. “What did you tell her?”
“That it’s too soon.” His jaw tightens. “She didn’t like that answer.”
I don’t need to see it to know. The woman who appeared atour door carried a confidence that didn’t take rejection lightly. “And Isla? How did she handle it?”
“Better than I expected, honestly. But before Emily got here today, Isla said…” he trails off. “I think she was confused on why you aren’t her mum, Lucy.”
He keeps his gaze just slightly averted, as if he’s measuring my reaction, unsure of what I’ll say or feel.
My throat tightens, and before I can stop it, my vision blurs. Tears well up in my eyes, threatening to spill over. I quickly swipe at them, embarrassed at how quickly they’ve come, but they don’t stop. They fall, one after another, and I let them, even though I can’t explain why this moment feels like somuch.
“I—” I try to speak, but the words catch in my throat.
His eyes soften when he sees my tears, and he steps closer, reaching for me, his hand gently brushing my cheek. “I didn’t mean to upset you.”
