Drake Forever (Unrestrained 7)

"You ready to get up?" I said and went to pick her up. She was wet so I changed her and then carried her down the stairs to the main floor.

"Here she is," Drake said and came over to us, kissing Sophie's cheek and taking her from my arms. "Daddy needs a hug and kiss from his best girl."

Lara and I watched Drake with Sophie. He seemed so happy to see her and hold her, kissing her cheeks and stroking her hair.

"She looks like you, Kate," Lara said, smiling at them. "Same hair and eye color. She's going to be a pretty little thing."

"She's beautiful," Drake said and came over to sit at the island.

We spent the next hour taking turns holding Sophie or watching her eat a snack in her highchair. Finally, after we'd all eaten some tortilla chips and salsa, Lara picked up her bag and stood.

"Well, as much as I'm enjoying this little sojourn, I have to get back to my office and finish up some paperwork."

"You can't stay for supper?" Drake asked, offering Sophie another piece of cut up banana.

"Not tonight. Once the trial is finished and the verdict is in, we'll go out and really celebrate. How's that sound? My treat?"

"Sounds good," I said and smiled, walking her to the front door. I got her coat out of the closet and handed it to her. "How soon should I get to the courthouse if I want to watch the proceedings?"

"At least fifteen minutes early, probably more if you really want to pick your seat. Thirty might be best, given the publicity around the case."

"Okay," I said and opened the door for her. "Thanks for being a support to Drake through this."

"Don't mention it. He's my friend as much as my client." She leaned in and gave me an air kiss, squeezing my arm. "Look after him."

"I will," I said and watched her take the stairs.

Then, I turned back and watched Drake playing with Sophie at the kitchen island. He loved her so much -- that much was clear. It had to be an emotional time, watching the trial and seeing Lisa sitting there. She'd almost succeeded in killing me, and potentially Sophie. She did succeed in killing Derek and encouraging Jones's suicide.

I really wanted to see her face when she was sentenced. Part of me wanted to avoid the trial, but I was feeling stronger now, the farther away from my own ordeal we got. The truth was that I wanted to see her go away for a very long time.

With the release of the video showing him striking Sunita, I hated to think what his supervisors at NYU and NYP would think of having him on staff or in the fellowship program.

I went over to the kitchen island and joined Drake. Together, we watched Sophie eat her snack.

"Care to go for a walk? The sky is still sunny. She could use some air."

"Sure," I said and we got ready for a walk along 8th Avenue. Drake texted John, who would wait for us on the street. We carried Sophie and her stroller down the stairs and with John walking behind us and Mike walking ahead, we took Sophie for her afternoon walk. The air was crisp and cool, the sidewalk crowded, but there was a small park-like playground down the street from us that we took Sophie to almost every day. There, she could play on the swings and run around in the grass while we watched. A half an hour of her playing outside had her cheeks rosy, so w

e decided to make our way back to the apartment.

When we returned, I started supper while Drake and Sophie played on the living room carpet. Drake had on an after school program for kids and Sophie played happily until supper.

It was a peaceful domestic scene and I smiled to myself to see how happy Drake was to be a father. It made all of the heartache and pain of the past two years, including the attack and trials and all the related publicity, worthwhile. I decided not to mention what Lara had revealed about Michael's offer. Drake would tell me when he felt like it.

* * *

Sophie went down at around eight, a little later than her usual bed time. After supper, she had a quick bath and I put her in her jammies and then she sat down in the living room with her father for her usual routine of reading picture books. Drake seemed to want to keep her up a little longer, reading her book after book and she was happy to oblige, turning pages and pointing to various animals and people in the book, saying their names. When she finally started tugging at her ear, I knew she was ready for bed.

I picked her up, insisting that it was time. "She's a sleepy-head, Daddy," I said when he pouted. "You'll have her all day tomorrow if you're up to it."

"I am up to it," he said and put the books away, tucking them into the magazine rack beside the sofa. "You really want to go to the court and watch the closing arguments?"

I nodded. "I really do. And then maybe a quick trip to my studio. But only if you feel well enough to manage on your own."

"I do," he said and stood up, leaning down to kiss Sophie on the cheek. "I'll be happy to. Maybe I'll take her over for a visit with Dad and Elaine. They'd like that. I'm sure Dad will enjoy hearing about the courtroom hijinks."

"He'll love it."