Chapter 21

Joe

“Thanks for fixing my face by the way,” I say, checking the cover job that Ella did with her makeup, “I wouldn’t want Marnie to see this. She’d only worry.”

“Oh, no problem,” Ella smiles.

I can’t believe I got into a fight like that. It was so unlike me, though I suppose I was defending the honor of my lady. She wasn’t my lady at the time, but I did win her favor!

“So do you think we should tell Marnie straight away?” I ask Ella, as we sit in the back of my limousine on the way to pick her up from her friend’s place.

“Tell her what?” she replies, with that helpless smile. The one where she’s thinking of something but doesn’t want to say it, causing her cheeks to flush and her eyes to twinkle. It’s adorable.

“About us, silly,” I say with a silly grin of my own. “I know we didn’t talk about it, but—I don’t know, I suppose I sort of assumed that we, that we might be—uh, oh gosh, I can’t say it.”

“Of course we are, silly. I wasn’t just using you or anything.” She takes my hands and kisses my cheek, “I’m yours. I promise. I want to be with you.” I smile back at her as the limo pulls up to the home of Marnie’s friend.

It’s as if fireworks are going off in my head, I am so genuinely happy. As I see Marnie coming out of the house and saying goodbye to her friend, I think to myself that I should treat my girls to something nice. Perhaps a proper day out in the city.

Ella steps out to meet Marnie, then they both get in and Marnie comes over to hug me.

“So girls, what would you like to do today? Any plans?”

Ella giggles a little, and I think she can tell that I’m planning something.

“No, daddy. Nothing today,” Marnie says.

“Well then, how would you two like to accompany me on a trip into the city?”

“Really? I haven’t been there since we moved!” Marnie says, excitedly bouncing on her seat.

“Exciting right?” I say, “Where do you ladies want to go?”

* * *

I haven’t been in this situation for a very long time, and I’m especially grateful for the man chairs.

As I sit in a reasonably comfy chair in a rather expensive shopping center, I take in the other guys around me. We are all sharing in the experience of waiting for our various female companions to finish trying on the mountains of clothes they have chosen.

It’d be nice if they could come out and show me, but Marnie said she’d take pictures.

Ella and Marnie really have bonded over the last month. I mean, they were fast friends to start with, but they’re even closer now. So much so that Marnie is even starting to act more like Ella around the house, always eager to help out. Ella is such a good role model for Marnie. Nothing like her awful mother. I can’t believe I didn’t notice it before, but she was so manipulative and toxic. I don’t want her anywhere near my daughter.

Just at that moment, Ella exits the changing rooms with Marnie. They are both looking very proud of themselves with a huge basket of items they want to buy.

“So, everything you picked up you liked, huh?” I ask.

“Not even slightly,” Ella laughs.

“We tried on a lot, and we only like about half of it,” Marnie says, “We even got one thing to match!”

“Well, isn’t that adorable. I bet you girls will look great,” I say. “You can show me pictures later, when we get something to eat.” My stomach is growling and I realize that I haven’t had anything to eat all day.

Ella giggles and takes Marnie’s hand, “Come on, let’s go and pay for this so we can get lunch.”

I don’t mind paying for their shopping trip. It’s my treat to them, to show them how special they are to me. And besides, the amount of time it took them to try things on allowed me to sneak off and get a little present for Ella. I’ll show it to her later. I hope it’s not too early to buy her lingerie. I noticed her eyeing it as we walked past, and I couldn’t help imagining her curves filling it. It is a dark blue lacy nighty. I couldn’t help myself. It will look amazing with her eyes.

When we get to the restaurant, Marnie runs off to the bathroom, allowing Ella and I time to talk while we wait outside for her.

“This would be a good time to tell Marnie about us,” Ella says.

“I couldn’t agree more,” I reply.

“She had a few questions in the changing rooms earlier, so she may have even picked something up,” she says, hiding behind her hair.

Marnie comes running out of the washroom and we go get a table.

“Hey there, kiddo,” Ella says, grinning, once we’ve been seated.

“So, Marnie. Ella and I have something to discuss with you.”

“Yes? What is it?” Marnie is bouncing up and down on her seat, suddenly very excited to hear what we have to say.

“Well, your dad and I have decided to start seeing each other,” Ella says.

“YES!” Marnie cheers, jumping up to hug Ella. “Now you can stay forever! Are you guys in love? Are you going to get married?”

“Whoa, sweetie, calm down, we’re just a little more serious than before, don’t get too carried away.” Ella raises her eyebrow at her and Marnie nods excitedly in response.

The waitress comes over to our table, breaking my concentration.

“Good afternoon, sir. What can I get you?” she asks.

“I think I’ll have your soup of the day,” I say, handing her my menu.

“Excellent choice, sir,” she says turning to Ella, “And for your wife?”

Ella chokes on her drink a little, “I’m sorry?”

“Oh, gosh I’m so sorry! I mean, uh—what can I get you?” the waitress looks terrified as she takes Ella and Marnie’s orders. Ella looks thoroughly embarrassed, very red in the cheeks and I can barely see her face behind her hair.

The waitress leaves after apologizing profusely, and Ella looks like she wishes it hadn’t been such a big issue.

“I’m going to go to the ladies’ room,” Ella says, getting up and leaving the table.

“Marnie, I should ask you to follow her to make sure she comes back,” I say, chuckling to myself.

Marnie goes to get up from her seat.

“No, wait, I didn’t mean for real.” I stop her, saying, “Just wait here, she’ll be okay.”

Marnie sighs and rolls her eyes at me, “I just wanted to make sure she wasn’t upset.”

“Well, if she doesn’t come back in the next five minutes you can go. Okay?”

“Okay,” Marnie narrows her eyes at me, “You better not ruin this.”

“I’m sorry?”

“I like Ella. And I want someone to look after you. I would, but it’s getting tiring. I need a break.”

I stare at my daughter, wide eyed and blank faced, “Where did this come from?”

“Don’t scare her away, okay Daddy? I want you to be happy!”

“Yes, Marnie. I won’t scare her away, I know how much you like her.” I roll my eyes, wondering when my daughter became so aware of everything that was happening around her.

Ella comes back from the bathroom and takes her seat.

“What did I miss? You look a little shaken. Did someone think I was your daughter?” she laughs awkwardly.

“No, God no,” I laugh awkwardly.

“You would be such a cool big sister!” Marnie says excitedly, hugging Ella again. She looks over at me and shrugs, laughing sweetly, “Uh, but you’re Daddy’s girlfriend now, so that’s cool enough!” Marnie giggles as she goes back to her seat, then flashes me a stern look before smiling again, hoping Ella didn’t notice.

Maybe she knows I’m likely to tell Ella how I feel before she’s ready to hear it.

“Joe, are you okay?” Ella asks, and she and Marnie are laughing at my staring off into space.

“Uh, dessert right?” I stutter, trying to cover my inattention.

“Well, we’ve got to get lunch first, but I’m sure they’ll have a chocolate cake or something.” Ella laughs.

I’m being a little crazy. But Marnie’s lecture did make me feel a little more certain about timing. I need to wait until I’m sure, then wait a little longer, until I find the perfect moment. I want it to be special for Ella when I tell her how I feel.

* * *

“I had so much fun today.” Ella says, smiling at me as we stand outside her door, “I think Marnie did too.”

“I’m glad.” There’s an awkward pause, and I know I should address the issue. “I’m really sorry about before, with that waitress. I should have corrected her.”

“No, really its fine, just a little embarrassing,” she blushes, “It was kind of cute actually.”

“Oh, okay. That’s good, I would never want you to be uncomfortable,” I smile.

We stand for a moment, and laugh awkwardly. I walk over to my door and she doesn’t follow me.

“You coming?” I ask, grinning slightly.

“No, that’s okay. I’ll sleep in my room tonight,” she grins back at me, almost suggestively.

What’s she playing?

“Alone?” I ask, raising my eyebrow.

“Yeah. I mean, we had a date right? It was like our second kiss and I stayed over,” she blushes a little more, “What kind of girl would I be if I stayed the next day as well?”

“I don’t know what you mean?” I reply.

“Well, I’ve got to leave you alone a little to make sure you miss me enough to see me again.”

“What are you talking about?” I laugh. I don’t understand women at all.

“Come on. I didn’t get to do the whole dating thing. Let me have my fun.” She walks over to me and puts her hands on my waist, pulling me close to her for a tender kiss.

Oh please! Come on, you can’t do that and then kiss me like this!

“Goodnight, Joe,” she says, in a soft sultry voice, “I’ll see you in the morning.”

“Goodnight, Ella.” I smile at her, watching her go to her bedroom.

She blows me a kiss which I catch, before she closes her door. Part of me wants to go after her, finish that kiss and tell her how I feel, but I shouldn’t. If she wants to take it slow and revel in the moment, I can’t take that from her.

I walk back into my room and drop face first onto my bed.

The morning is so far away.