‘Oh, and I’ve had a total inspo change on the veil. I’m thinking a mantilla now. So we’ll need to adjust the theme. I’ll send pics. Talk soon.’
The call disconnected and Kenzie slowly lowered her phone and placed it on the table.
‘Not more bad news?’ Ewan asked, his face a mask of concern.
‘Actually, quite the opposite.’
The past few days had been an absolute rollercoaster of emotions, but it was time to step back and take a moment. ‘What were you going to suggest earlier?’ she asked, giving him her full attention.
‘How about we have a re-do of yesterday’s plan? Just the three of us?’ he suggested, leaning his head close to her ear as his arms wrapped around her waist.
Kenzie smiled and leaned back slightly to look at him. ‘Gee, I don’t know if Poppy will handle going to the ice-cream shop two days in a row.’
‘I’m sure we’ll really have to twist her arm,’ he agreed, lowering his head and kissing her. ‘Or we could just stay here and go back to bed.’
‘You have a lot to learn about the attention span of a four-year-old, mister.’
‘Was worth a try.’
They spent the day exploring the local town. For its small size, Nullan had quite a lot to offer for visitors. There were two museums. One was an early settlers’ historical village set up with original small hut-like houses, a replica main street with a horse and cart ride and an old-fashioned lolly shop, blacksmith and bakery. The other was a mining museum showcasing the town during its heyday, when gold, lead and copper mining drew people here in droves and the town was three times its current size.
There were a number of original houses and old-style architecture that gave the town its quaint, old-world charm. Kenzie was a little bit in love with the place.
The next day, they went a little further afield and visited some of the surrounding places and tourist attractions before taking a few days to head to Adelaide and do some of the bigger tourist things.
Poppy had taken to Ewan like a duck to water—it was almost as though she’d never not known him, and each time she heard Poppy call him Daddy, it made Kenzie’s heart contract just a little bit harder than usual.
‘Will Daddy come and live with us now?’ Poppy asked when they’d got back to Laire-Mor. The question was one that Kenzie didn’t have an answer for. They hadn’t talked about things that far ahead. It seemed far too soon to be discussing moving in together, yet being here had somehow blurred the lines of time. Maybe it had something to do with the fact they both felt as though they’d wasted the last five years apart and jumping back in just seemednatural. But, she warned herself, this was not how everyday life would be. There would be the realities of managing a household and work and daycare. There’d be the pressure of long hours and Ewan getting a job and whatever work issues that would add.
‘I don’t know, Poppet. We’ll have to wait and see.’
‘I think I’d like to have Daddy living with us,’ she said matter-of-factly.
‘Well, there’s a lot to figure out, so you’ll just have to be patient and see what happens. Come on, it’s time for bed.’
‘Where are we going tomorrow?’ she asked, following a wide yawn.
‘Tomorrow might be a home day. I have to work. But I’m sure you and Daddy will find something fun to do.’
She found Ewan staring out the window in her bedroom. She walked up behind him and circled her arms around his waist, resting her head against his shoulder blade and breathing the smell of his clean skin in deeply.
‘She settle okay?’ he asked, moving her around so that she was pressed against his chest.
‘Yeah. She’s probably dreaming up some big adventure for the two of you to do tomorrow.’
‘I look forward to it,’ he chuckled. ‘She’s got quite an imagination, that’s for sure. Although, I won’t be disappointed if it doesn’t include another fairy tea party. Every time I sit down on those tiny toadstools, I feel my knees crack and what’s left of my self-respecting manhood shrivel up and die.’
‘You’re a good daddy,’ she said, giggling at the image.
‘I really want to be,’ he said, and the serious tone of his voice made her look up at his face. ‘Being with Poppy, I’ve come to realise just how easy it is to love a child. Even though I haven’t had the whole four years with her, it’s impossible not to love her as a dad … but it also makes me realise, what made it so hard for mine to like me?’
The vulnerable echo of his question tore at her heart. But as quickly as it came, it went again as he stepped away and cleared his throat quickly.
‘Sorry. I told you, it’s all the bloody fairy parties I’ve been attending.’
‘You don’t have to be ashamed of feeling things,’ she said gently. ‘I hate that he makes you feel that way. I can’t imagine growing up with someone so cold.’
‘What if, somehow … I end up like my old man?’
