Page 94 of Dr. Single Dad

“It’s a lot of money.”

“Guinevere’s health is priceless to me.”

She reaches up and smooths her fingers over my brow. “I love hearing how much you love her.”

She doesn’t need to say what she’s thinking: that it wasn’t always like this. My bond with Guinevere has grown over the last weeks until it’s the most secure, unbreakable thing in my life. It’s as if she’s been a part of me since forever.

“She’ll be three months on Tuesday,” I say.

“So big already.”

“She’s grown up so much. I’m not sure how I’m going to handle her getting bigger.”

Eira slips her hand in mine and we keep walking. “You will,” she says. “You will.”

“Are you going to tell me about you? What you’ve been doing? Are you working?”

She smiles up at me. “Let’s sit and talk.”

We’ve arrived outside a restaurant with black and white awnings. Eira pulls me inside.

Once we’re seated and have ordered some drinks, she leans across the table. “I’m going to be honest with you,” she says. “I think you’re great.”

It’s like I feel cupid’s arrow piercing my skin. She’s so adorable.

“I think you’re great too,” I reply. “More than great.” I don’t want to scare her off, but I’ve never felt this way about anyone—never felt as if someone gets me like Eira does. The things my brothers tease me about are the same things she thinks are the best parts of me. It feels like no matter what I do, she’ll look up at me with her hopeful eyes and I’ll know that everything is going to be okay.

“You were right when you said I put everyone else first. My identity has been caught up in caring for others, so when that was stripped away, I didn’t quite know who I was. Even though it’s tiring, it’s nice to be needed.”

I need you, I think.

“I’m sorry if giving Eddie the scholarship took something away from you. That wasn’t my intention.”

She grabs my hand across the table and I revel in the softness of her. “It did quite the opposite. Eddie being independent of me and being able to stand on her own two feet is the best gift you could have given her. Or me.” She lets out a small laugh. “And it happened at just the right time.”

“It did?” I ask, intrigued by what’s so funny.

“Eddie doesn’t need the scholarship anymore. Please don’t take it personally, but she’s returned it to the university.”

“What happened? Did she win the lottery or something? She’s not dropped out?” I know that would be devastating to Eira.

“No, she’s still studying for her degree. When my uncle died, Eddie, Dylan and I…we finally got our inheritance.”

“Congratulations,” I say. “You must be thrilled. I mean, I know it’s sad your uncle died?—”

“It’s not sad. It means everything’s resolved now. But things started to fit together before then. And you helped me with that.You helped me to see that I saw my value in the world as being dependent on helping others. I hadn’t realized that before. And then when my uncle died, everything crystalized and it was as if I’d been set free from my past.”

“Because of your inheritance?” I ask. “Does that mean you wouldn’t have come back if your uncle hadn’t died?” My heart clenches at the idea of Eira and I being so fragile.

“I needed to have a little space from you so I knew our relationship wasn’t about my need to mother people. And then spending time with Eddie after she’d emancipated herself—financially I mean. It’s different. Our relationship is evolving, and it gave me hope that I could be more to someone than a caregiver.

“Coming back to you isn’t about the money. It’s about being freed by the resolution of my past. I’m not an adjunct to anyone. Not my parents or to Dylan and Eddie. My uncle’s death just speeded up all those feelings. Like I was on the precipice of feeling that freedom. His death just gave me a little shove.” She laughs, and I feel it in my core. She’s really happy.

“I want you to let me take care of you,” I say, sweeping my thumb across her wrist. “And I want you to take care of me—but I don’t need mothering. That’s not…not what attracts me to you.”

Our gazes lock, and I wish we were at home so I could pull her onto my lap and hold her against me.

“Good to know,” she whispers.

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