Falling For My Dad's Friend

“With a six month old gnawing on everything they can get their little hands on,” Cassie says with a laugh, sighing. She’s so damn beautiful. “How did we get so lucky?”

“Willow is one lucky little girl,” I answer her, turning so that I’m leaning against the railing and Cassie is pressed to my front.

The house, the one my father never got to fully enjoy, looks better than it ever has. Every room has been fixed up and my father’s old office has been converted into Willow’s room, full of pink bears and soft things. I think he would have liked having her there. My anger for him has faded, now that I’m living the life he always dreamed of.

Not only do I miss him, but I understand him more than ever. He tried to leave the life behind and it was a brave thing to do just like my wife said. Sometimes strength comes from following your beliefs even if it’s against what others want.

“I’m so happy, Magnus,” Cassie says. “I don’t know if I can be any happier than I am now.”

“That’s all I’ve ever wanted,” I tell her, kissing her deeply. “I’m happy too.”

She runs a hand over my chest and I feel the familiar burn of need course through me. It’s a feeling I know will never fade. I will never grow tired of Cassie’s touch on my skin.

“My mom wants to visit again soon,” Cassie says, looking a little unsure.

The last time Elizabeth came for a visit, she and Renner got into a big fight and Willow cried all night long. Cassie lights up at the sight of her mother, but I know she wonders if it's the best call to have her here. Her mother is a sweet woman, she just doesn’t care for her ex-husband.

“We can just make sure your dad doesn’t come around while she’s here,” I tell her gently, running a hand down her back. “I know you want to see her, Cassie. You don’t have to keep her away.”

“I know,” Cassie says with a sigh. “I just want Willow to have as much family as possible because I never had anyone but my mother. I want her to be loved by her family, and kept safe.”

“She will always be loved,” I tell her gently. I brush a hand over her neck and she sighs. “It wouldn’t matter if it was just you and me. She would have more than enough love in her life to last a lifetime, but thankfully, it’s not just us. She’s not a little girl who goes without love.”

“Cover your eyes, my dear little Willow,” my mother’s voice calls from the door, Willow making little gurgling noises in response. “Your parents are very much in love.”

“Right on time,” Cassie says with a happy laugh. “There’s my baby girl!”

I’m glad to see the unsure look on my wife's face disappear completely in the presence of our baby girl.

The door to the second-story veranda that we’re on creaks open and my mother comes through with our daughter on her hip. She’s getting too frail to carry Willow, but she won’t listen and I don’t have the heart to tell her that she shouldn’t.

There’s a bright happiness on my mother's face that hasn’t been there for many years and I know that Willow is the one to put it there.

“Hello there, my little sprite!” Cassie calls happily, cooing at our daughter in a high voice.

For weeks after Willow was born, the cook, who is of Irish descent, joked that she looked to be one of the faery people, sent from the green hills to bring good fortune to us all. Her little face is delicately beautiful and her thick, soot-dark hair seems to be made darker by the spring green of her wide eyes.

She is every bit her mother’s daughter, and yet she has so much of me to her as well. My mother has dressed her in a soft, green velvet dress and there’s a ribbon in her short curls. She does look the part and I’m in awe of this beautiful little creature we made together.

Willow reaches for Cassie and my mother hands her over, smiling widely at her grandchild. Willow reaches out a chubby little hand for me as she’s held in her mothers' arms, and I offer her my finger.

“The little hill child would rather try and crawl around the room than go to sleep in her crib like a normal child,” my mother says as she watches us with our baby girl. “Good luck.”

“There’s a bottle of whiskey in the pantry and tea in the cabinet if you want,” Cassie tells my mother with a wry smile, giving her a wink as she bounces Willow on her hip gently.

“Oh, my dear Cassie,” my mother says from the doorway as she leaves. “You know I haven’t had a drink since I sprained my ankle at your wedding. That damn sprain took forever to heal.”