“Okay, can I have my tea first?” she asks, giggling.
“Of course.”
I pull her into my side, and we stand together, sipping our tea as we watch Molly swinging her legs and eating her breakfast—eager as I to get to the zoo.
RACHEL
It’s not long before Molly’s legs are hurting. We’ve been walking around for hours; I’m surprised she’s lasted this long.
“Shall we take a turn on the train?” Olly suggests, pointing over his shoulder.
I look past him. It’s one of the mini railways that goes around the zoo, the name applying to the size of the actual train, too. “Good idea. Do you want to wait here?” I ask.
He shakes his head. “No, I’m coming.”
“Are you sure? It might be a tight squeeze,” I say as we walk in that direction, each holding one of Molly’s hands between us. She goes heavy in our grasps, and I adjust my grip right as she swings between us with a squeal. “Careful, Molly.”
She gives me a toothy grin, and I can’t hide my smile.
We join the queue, Molly clapping her hands with excitement. Days like this are far and few between. Day trips like these are expensive, but Olly insisted, and I couldn’t let my pride get in the way—not when it comes to my baby girl.
“Have you had a nice day?” Olly asks her while we wait for the train to arrive.
“It’sthe best day ever,” she declares, spinning in a small circle, the flamingo tutu she insisted on wearing floating in the breeze.
“Yeah, and what did you enjoy seeing most?” he asks.
“The flamingos,” she all but squeals. I couldn’t even tell you where her fascination for them came about—maybe it’s because pink is her favourite colour—but she wouldn’t take her eyes off them. We stayed there for almost half an hour as she ran up and down the path, pointing them out.
The train arrives, and we move along the line until we enter a tiny carriage. The three of us have one to ourselves, which is good. Olly folds himself inside to make it work though his arm hangs over the side of the open window.
“I said it might be a bit snug.”
He only shrugs. “It’s not for long, besides, I didn’t want to miss out on seeing this with my girls,” he says, so matter of fact.
My heart misses a beat.My girls.
Heat radiates through my chest.
Does he have any idea how much those two words mean?
To anyone looking in this quaint little carriage, they might think we’re a family on a day out. We’re not…are we? No, no. Not yet, anyway. But him saying that—my girls—warms me.
Wining and dining me in London was exquisite, but this—nothing can top this. I’ve always wanted days like this with someone special, the thought both exhilarating and intimidating. Olly doesn’t realise how much it means to me, and I struggle to tamper down the wave of emotion.
“You okay?” he asks, his tilting head almost touching the ceiling.
“Yes. Just thinking about what a lovely day we’ve had,” I say, hoping he can hear the gratitude in my voice.
“Well, it’s not over yet.” Noticing the penguin enclosure, he grabs Molly’s attention, pointing them out. And she begins tapping her feet like in Happy Feet, the movie.
Once we get off the train and begin walking again, Molly asks for a carry. My arms already feel like limp noodles.
“How about you get on my shoulders?” Olly asks, looking between the two of us.
“Okay,” she says before I even open my mouth.
He kneels, and I lift her onto his shoulders. He holds her knees in place, and when he stands, she lets out a whoosh of air, grabbing his forehead, covering his eyes with one hand as she holds on for dear life.
