CHAPTER 17
DELLA
I wake up with a smile. Today is Danny’s birthday. It’s also the first birthday where I don’t have to work seeing as it’s on a Saturday and I’m off on weekends.
I throw the blankets back and quickly get dressed in a pair of shorts and t-shirt. I run to Danny’s room, excited to wake her up.
Carter is only accepting fifty dollars a month from me for the clothes we bought. I’ll pay him fifty dollars for the rest of my life. At least it left me with plenty to buy Danny a pink princess outfit for today, and to save so I can take Jamie shopping before she goes back to school.
When I get to Danny’s room, I find Carter leaning against the door where he’s watching our sleeping daughter.
He’s wearing a pair of jeans with a black t-shirt, but he’s still as handsome as when he’s dressed in one of his suits. I know I asked him to take it slow, but I didn’t think he would take it this slow. It’s been five weeks since we moved in and all he’s done is hold my hand and kiss me.
“You wake her,” I whisper.
He gives me a kiss on the forehead before he walks over to her bed.
“It’s time for Daddy’s princess to wake up,” he whispers as he presses a kiss to her forehead.
Her tiny body stretches and her sleepy eyes open. She smiles at him. “It’s my birthday.”
He picks her up and kisses one of her chubby cheeks. “Yeah, you’re a big girl now. Happy birthday, my princess.”
“I’m four,” Danny says, holding up three fingers.
He helps her hold up four, then presses a kiss to her tiny palm. “Daddy got you a present.”
“Yay!” She bounces up and down in his arms.
I can already feel the prick of tears, but when he places her on the bed and kneels on the floor before her, emotion overwhelms me.
He takes something from his pocket and when he holds it up, I see that it’s a chain with a heart locket. He opens it up. “It says Daddy’s Princess.”
“I’m your princess,” she yells excitedly.
“You’re more than that.” He clips the chain around her neck. “You’re my world. There’s nothing I won’t do for you.” He holds the tiny heart between his fingers. “This is my heart, Daniele, and it’s all yours.”
A tear sneaks down my cheek, and I quickly brush it away.
Daniele sees me and quickly climbs off the bed. “Look, Mommy. Daddy gave me his heart.”
I crouch down. ”I see. It’s beautiful, baby. You need to look after it, okay. It’s special.”
“I’m not taking it off.”
Her little face beams with happiness and I have Carter to thank for it.
***
CARTER
When Rhett walks through the door I start to laugh until tears are running down my face.
He’s dressed as a jester, bells and all.
“Someone needs to take a photo,” I manage to get out between gasping for air.
“Yeah, I’m rocking this shit,” he says.
“That will be five dollars,” Jamie says as she goes to the counter to grab the swear jar.
I start to laugh again until I fall back on the couch. I’m going to die of laughing today.
“What the fuck is that,” Rhett asks.
“That is another ten dollars,” Jamie says with a huge smile.
I can’t handle the laughing anymore.
“You’re shitting me,” Rhett says, but he starts to laugh as he takes out his wallet. He shoves a couple of hundreds in the jar. “That should cover me for the night.”
Jamie just shakes her head and places the jar on the counter again.
She’s dressed in a baby blue gown.
“You look really beautiful, Jamie,” I say.
Her smile widens and she looks down at the dress. “You think so?”
“I know so.”
“Did you get a shotgun?” Rhett asks as he sits down across from me.
“For what?”
“All the horny dicks that are going to be trying their luck with Jamie. Once you’re done scaring them off you’ll have to start all over again with Danny.”
“Fuck, Rhett. My kid is four.” I take my wallet out and hand Jamie the ten dollars. “I don’t want to think about stuff like that.”
When Marcus arrives, I’m surprised to see Leigh and Willow. I know that he and Willow have an on and off thing going. I wonder how Jaxson is going to feel when he sees Leigh here.”
“Welcome to my princesses party,” I say as I get up.
I kiss Leigh and Willow on the cheeks, then shake Marcus’ hand.
“Does Jaxson know?”
Marcus shrugs. “Not my problem. It’s time they sort out their shit anyway.”
“And you thought my daughter’s birthday party was a good place for that to happen?”
“Shit, sorry man. I’ll phone Jaxson and give him a heads up.”
“You do that, and you owe Jamie five dollars.”
“Why?”
She comes to stand in front of him with the swear jar.
He just shakes his head and pays the fine.
“Daddy,” Daniele yells as she comes running into the living room. She looks beautiful in her princess dress. I catch her and swing her into the air which makes her giggle out loud.
I point to Rhett. “Look, Uncle Rhett is a jester.”
“What’s that?”
“He’s a clown, baby.”
“Yay!” She claps her hands and I set her down so she can go climb all over Rhett.
Jaxson walks in and I start to laugh again. He looks like a knight, wearing armor and shit. The man can hardly walk straight.
“What were you thinking?” I laugh.
“Do you know how hard it is to drive with this on?”
I just shake my head.
“I can’t even scratch my balls,” he mumbles which has me laughing again.
When Logan comes in with Mia, my eyes instantly dart to Rhett. He gets up while still holding Danny and walks over to us. He presses a kiss to his sister’s forehead and shakes Logan’s hand.
I have to admit I’m a little surprised. I didn’t think a day would come where he would give his blessing to any man.
A flash of pink catches my eye and my mouth drops open. Della looks breathtaking as she walks into the living room. I watch as she greets the guys. She looks happy seeing her old roommates.
“Where’s Evie?” I hear her ask.
“I haven’t heard from her in a while,” Leigh answers.
My eyes dart back to Rhett and I don’t miss the look of concern.
“When last did you talk to Evie?” I ask him.
He shakes his head and puts a wiggling Danny down so she can run around.
“It’s been almost four months. Her phone has been disconnected. I’m going to need some time off so can go look for her.”
“Sure. Whatever you need.”