“Did you hear that, Maeve? You should call me Daddy! Can you say Daddy?”
Kara scooped up her daughter and Maeve blinked over at Jamie for a moment before turning away and silently snuggling her face into her mother’s shoulder.
Jamie scowled at them, but before he could say anything, Kara held up a hand. “She doesn’t know you, Jamie. You just walked in here five minutes ago and announced that you want to be a part of our family again after disappearing for her entire life. That’s a little unsettling for both of us. We need some time to consider all this and get used to the idea.”
“That’s fine,” Jamie said, still scowling at Maeve. Kara backed away and glared at him over the little girl’s head. “I guess it is a bit much for both of you to take in, and it might seem sudden, but I’ve been considering it for a long time,” he added.
“I see,” Kara said.
Jamie looked long and hard at her, then his expression softened as he leaned forward. “I’ve missed you, Kara. We used to have so much fun together, and I’ve discovered there’s not a lot of fun to be found in the city. When I’m there I race around from one activity to another with no time to meet anyone special or laugh or just enjoy being alive. In Larkin Bay, things are slower, and people enjoy themselves more. I want to have that. I want to have it with you again.”
Kara studied Jamie’s earnest expression while she rocked Maeve.
Is it possible that Jamie has changed? Could he really be serious about wanting to spend more time with our daughter?
“Well, that’s great, Jamie. I’m glad that you’ve finally found things to appreciate about Larkin Bay. And, of course, if you’re moving home, Maeve will learn to love seeing more of you too. I’m sure if you just give her some time to get to know you, she’ll call you Daddy naturally.”
“And what about you, Kara? Are you willing to spend some time with me too? Are you willing to get to know the new me?” Jamie asked, his tone quiet and intimate as he gently stroked Maeve’s hair.
“Honestly? I don’t know, Jamie. Since the time we were together, I’ve changed a lot. I’ve been raising Maeve on my own, running my business, and saving to buy this house. Things aren’t like they used to be.”
Jamie clasped his hands in his lap. “I know. My mom and dad keep me well informed. You’ve been doing amazingly well. You should be really proud of yourself.”
Kara nodded slowly. “I am. And, I’m pretty sure I’m not interested in going back to revisit what we used to have. If I remember correctly, it didn’t end all that well, and you left me to deal with a lot on my own.”
Jamie’s eyes widened, and he gave her an apologetic smile. “I guess a good place for me to start, then, would be for me to tell you I’m sorry for how I acted,” he said. “If I said I was wrong—would that help? What if I told you I now realize I was stupid and immature and a jerk when I was younger—would that make things better? I’m sorry, Kara. I really am.”
Kara felt her lips twitch as Jamie referred to himself as a jerk.
“Yep, you were all that,” she replied. “And I called you a few choice words at the time, many that were much stronger than jerk,” she admitted.
Jamie laughed loudly, and Maeve turned toward him, gazing up at him through lowered lashes.
“I’m sure you did,” he replied, “and I can’t blame you because it was true. But now, at least, I can try to make some of it up to you and Maeve. That is, if you’ll let me.”
He stepped closer, and Kara nodded slowly as she considered how this man was the father of her daughter and how, back in college and high school, she’d been sure she was in love with him.
Jamie’s eyes were wide and his smile was pleading. “All I’m asking is that you spend some time with me. At least give me a chance to show you I’ve changed, that I’m a different man.”
Kara sighed and her brow furrowed. “Fine, but don’t expect much and don’t think it’ll happen quickly,” she said. “Maeve and I have been a team for a long time now. I’m not sure we’re ready for a third player.”
Although just yesterday I was considering Scott for the position.
Kara pushed away the thought of him and studied the handsome, dark-haired man in front of her. Scott had his blonde bombshell ex-fiancée back in his life, no matter how hard he had insisted there was nothing between them anymore. And she had Jamie wanting to be a part of her and Maeve’s lives again. Things had gotten complicated very quickly.
“I understand,” Jamie replied. “But now that my apology is over, can I at least take the two of you out to do something fun?”
“I suppose,” Kara replied, slowly looking from him to Maeve. “It is my day off from work. What did you have in mind?”
“Let’s go for a bike ride,” he said. “You told me an important part of keeping Maeve healthy is making sure she stays physically active, so I thought maybe we could take her bike and help her pedal downtown to window-shop or something.”
Kara frowned as she sat down and settled Mave into her lap. “Well, I suppose we could walk,” she replied. “I haven’t bought Maeve a bike yet.”
Jamie smiled and got to his feet. “I know,” he replied. “Mom told me she didn’t have one, so I went and got her one.”
“You bought Maeve a bike?” Kara said, blinking in disbelief.
Jamie nodded at her happily as Maeve slid down from her mother’s lap. Her hands fluttered up to cover her mouth in excitement for a moment before she ran toward the front door.
“Really, Jamie? She’ll love that!” Kara exclaimed and got to her feet to follow her daughter.
“I did, and it’s in the back of my car right now,” Jamie replied, “and all she has to do to get it is show me she can say the word Daddy.”
Maeve turned immediately at his words and yelled back at them, “Mommy! Daddy! Come on! Let’s go see my new bike!”
And Kara couldn’t help but laugh as she and Jamie followed Maeve outside to find the new toy.
Chapter Eighteen
Scott grinned as he watched Kara push Maeve down the sidewalk on what looked like a brand-new bike. With a pink helmet over her curls and her hands clutched tightly on the bike’s handlebars, Maeve’s smile was so bright he could see it clearly even though she was still some distance away. She was pumping furiously on the pedals, and Kara looked to be out of breath from running alongside her. A few times she motioned for the little girl to slow down and be careful, but her expression let Scott know she was thrilled with the progress Maeve was making.
“Good thing it’s quiet out there at this time of the day,” commented Courtney.
“I was just thinking the same thing,” said Scott. “An hour from now, when everyone is out of school and coming home from work, she wouldn’t be able to race down Lake Street like that.”
“I’m going to order some blinds to put up in here. We’re going to be accused of being stalkers if we keep looking out the window every time something catches our eye.”
