Be My Baby: Her Parenthood Assignment / Three Weddings and a Baby

She nodded, then smiled a little. And he knew she’d forgiven him. Just like that. All he’d needed to do was open up to her a little, show her it was hard for him too, and then they could weather the storms together.

‘Stand up and show me your outfit again.’

Heather shook her head and curled forwards slightly.

‘I’m sorry I shouted at you earlier. I was just surprised at how grown-up you looked. Scared I was going to lose my little girl before I got to know her again, I suppose.’

Heather didn’t stand up, but she stretched out a little so he could see her top.

‘It’s very pretty,’ he said. ‘And you look beautiful in it. A lot like your mum, in fact.’ That had to have been the first time he’d talked about her mother with her since his release.

‘Really?’

‘Sure. You’re going to be the belle of the ball.’

She blushed and looked away. ‘It’s only a stupid party, Dad.’

He smiled and stroked her hair. ‘Well, you’ll be the belle of the stupid party, then.’

She giggled and smiled back at him, her eyes still wet and pink.

How had a little honesty been so hard? Why hadn’t he just said all of this months ago? He didn’t know, but he had a sneaking suspicion that Gaby had something to do with unlocking the things trapped inside him.

Gaby.

What the hell was he going to do about Gaby?

More to the point, what the hell was he going to do about the fact that, not only had he just had the most mind-blowing kiss of his life with her, but that he was dangerously close to running downstairs and doing it again?

He ran his hands through his hair and looked at his watch. He had to take Heather to the party in half an hour. Perhaps when he got back they could talk, although he had no idea what he was going to say.

I think I like you? I want to get to know you better?

It all sounded pretty pathetic.

Gaby closed the bedroom door behind her and leant against it. Luke had left to take Heather to the party and she’d crept upstairs from where she’d been hiding in the kitchen. Her fingers wandered to her lips again.

Before she could lose herself in yet another slow-motion replay of the kiss, she marched herself to the wardrobe and pulled her biggest suitcase down from on top of it. The she opened a drawer and started flinging things inside. What things exactly, she wasn’t sure, but as long as belongings were filling up the case she was heading in the right direction.

She couldn’t stay here now. Not just because Luke had kissed her, but also because she’d sunk into it with such enthusiasm. And, more than that, the deal clincher, was that she knew it wasn’t just a physical thing.