Page 5 of Grumpy Orc Daddy

Rayna

“Okay,” I sigh to myself, letting out a heavy breath filled with frustration and admittedly a bit of gratitude as Janta closes the door behind him. I close my eyes, fighting against the all too familiar prick of tears threatening to spill over.

Lily happily coos and gurgles in my arms. She’s becoming an anchor, keeping me present in my responsibility for her.

After Janta leaves, I’m left with the weight of the tension that seems to exist between us. Having him here was both awkward and eye-opening. His overall gruffness and reluctance to help left me feeling guarded. This is why I prefer to do things on my own.

But at least he could calm Lily down enough for me to get the groceries put away. I would have never asked him for help. That gratitude extends to him coming over and taking charge of my struggles.

While it was hard to accept at first, I realize I’m going to have to learn to take the help where I can get it. Especially when Lily’s wellbeing can benefit. If it weren’t for him, I’d still be outside juggling Lily while attempting to pick up spilled groceries from the ground.

I’ll admit I was jealous of the ease with which he took to her and how responsive she was to his soothing. His large hands dwarfed her, but there was a gentleness there that I couldn’t have expected.

A pang of jealousy nudges at me, at how easily Lily seemed to calm in his arms. I chalk it up to stress as I turn toward the living room, stopping when I see Janta’s retreating form from the window.

I watch him as he crosses the yard, heading back to his own house, and I’m struck by the muscular expanse of his back. The sheer size of him is almost overwhelming, but I’m willing to bet under that gruff exterior is some semblance of softness.

I could sense it with the way he handled Lily.

His presence fills the room with a grumpy sense of command as if he’s used to being in charge. He gives off an air of authority with no time for nonsense.

Despite it all, there was something else there, I think, recalling the way his hands cradled Lily to him as he rocked and bounced her. It was such a contrast to the impatient impression he gives off. I sigh as I step away from the window.

“Let’s get you ready for bed, little girl,” I say to a cooing Lily

I feed Lily and get her to sleep. As I lay her in her crib, my eyes linger on her, my heart filling with warmth at her blissful innocence.

“Sweet dreams, my sweet girl,” I whisper, my eyes filling with tears yet again.

It’s truly unfair the hand life dealt her, and I just hope that I’m able to live up to the mother Ashley would have been. I leave her in her room, softly cracking the door.

The evening takes on a solemn quietness that fills the house.

I settle down on the living room floor with some boxes Ashley left behind and start going through them. I pull out a picture of us bikini-clad at the lake. The grief rises at the sight of her smile.

We had some great times, she and I. The next thing I pull out is her favorite book. Her favorite pages are earmarked, and the edges weathered from the many times she’s read it.

Every item I pull from the box is a piece of her, and every item brings me more and more grief. As I keep digging through her things, I see what looks like an envelope tucked away in the corner. I reach my hand in and pull it out, gasping when I see my name written in Ashley’s looping handwriting.

I open it with shaking hands, unprepared to receive a posthumous note. As my eyes scan the first line, my hand comes to my mouth.

“What?” I whisper to myself, holding the letter between both hands now, absorbing every word.

What the hell?

“Janta,” I say incredulously, my eyes widening with surprise. Janta is Lily’s father.

The letter explains that their relationship was brief. So brief that Ashley kept Lily’s parentage a secret. My heart beats quickly in my chest as I realize that, by taking the house I inherited from Ashley, I’ve just moved next door to Lily’s father.

Is this some weird twist of fate?

The same grumpy and gruff orc that was just in my kitchen not even an hour ago had a baby with my sorority sister. I stand up, overcome with a feeling of overwhelm, and walk over to Lily’s room. I peer through the cracked door, watching as she sleeps soundly.

I lay down for a restless night of sleep, resolving to handle Lily’s true parentage first thing in the morning. I toss and turn for what feels like hours. At some point, sleep wins, because the next thing I know, sunlight is shining through my window, its golden rays brightening my room.

I dress quickly, my heart racing with impatience and a touch of nervousness. I poke my head in at Lily, making sure she’s still asleep, then I swipe the letter from the counter and march with purpose to Janta’s house.

I knock on the door, my heart pounding as I wait for Janta to answer. The moment he does, I thrust the letter into his huge hands.

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