Page 82 of Lucky In Love

“It wouldn’t be a burden,” both Angel and Elizabeth said.

“But I do hope he wants a relationship with her, even though it means I’ll have to share her,” Maeve said.

“That’s the great thing about love,” Elizabeth said. “Just because more is added by the inclusion of another, it doesn’t diminish the existing love in a person’s life. Ciara will benefit from it. She’s a loving soul, a pleasure to have around. You’ve done a great job raising her.”

Maeve gave Elizabeth a hug and then Angel. “Thank you both so much. I don’t know what I would do without you.”

Jackson called Blain and gave him the test results. As it was an unseasonably warm day, Blain was invited to come to the park near both couples’ homes to see Maeve and to meet his daughter, which they thought would be a better location than anyone’s home. He arrived just over an hour later. Maeve’s heart was in her throat as she watched him get out of his little blue car. She recognized him immediately.

She’d always thought he was good-looking, but seeing him after all this time, he looked more mature, confident, and even more attractive. His sandy brown hair was cut short, and he was clean shaven. Neither had ever been the case back when they dated. His t-shirt drew her gaze to how it clung to his defined, well-muscled shoulders and abs. And when he smiled at her, her heart melted.

Then she saw his gaze flicker over to the slides where Sammy and Ciara played. There was no one else at the park. Just their group, Angel, Jackson, and Sammy, and of course, herself and Ciara.

That’s when a suffocating panic gripped Maeve with the reality that he would be meeting his daughter and might want her.

Blain had never been as afraid as he was the moment he stepped out of his car. Just a few feet away stood Maeve. She was just as beautiful as he remembered. His gaze locked with hers. All he’d felt for her years before rushed back and sucker-punched him in the gut, including the regret he felt for how badly he’d fucked it up with her.

Then he glanced at the kids, a little boy and a little girl. His little girl. She was the spitting image of Maeve and Quinn. He didn’t see any of himself in her, but he had the test results. She was his.

He moved a few steps closer. “Hi, Maeve. Thank you for this.”

Her insides quivered at the sound of his voice. “Hi,” she said, controlling the goofy smile that wanted to spread. She forced her lips to remain in a small grin. “You’re welcome. I’m glad they found you. Ciara is an amazing little girl.” She nodded towards the children.

His eyes followed. Then his gaze swept back to Maeve. “How do you want to do this? Do you want to introduce me as just a friend first?”

“No. She should know right away who you are, or it would feel like we’re lying to her.” Even as she said it, she wondered what type of damage it would do to her if he decided playing dad wasn’t his thing and dropped out of her life.

“We’ll watch the kids. Maybe you two should take a few minutes and talk before he meets Ciara,” Angel suggested.

They both agreed it was a good idea and they stepped over to one of the benches. Nervous energy bristled through Maeve as she took a seat. Blain sat beside her.

“I tried to find you several times over the years,” she said. “I called where you worked when we were together, but they wouldn’t give me any information on you. And there was no forwarding address with the apartment building manager or the post office. I wanted you to know. I wanted Ciara to know her father.”

“I really regret how our relationship ended, that I was taken in by Quinn. I wish I could go back and talk to my younger dumb-shit self and educate him on how a good man treats a woman. I know it’s way too late for this, but I am really sorry. I know I hurt you, Maeve, but the truth is that when I moved away from both you and Quinn I realized losing you broke my heart. I’ve learned from my mistakes. I want to be there for you now that you’re facing this surgery. Can we be friends and both be a part of Ciara’s life?”

Maeve forced herself to breathe. He sounded sincere. She believed him. She wouldn’t tell him that it broke her heart, too. “Quinn has signed papers to allow me to legally adopt her. Your name isn’t on her birth certificate. Quinn left the father’s section blank. We need to see how it goes, and decide on a legal standing for you.” Her voice quit on her, even contemplating sharing custody with him.

“We don’t have to decide on any of that right now, do we?” He could tell discussing this was upsetting her. “Couldn’t we make the next month or two just be about me getting to know her, so she can get comfortable with me, and for me to help you through this surgery?”

“Yes, we can do that,” Maeve agreed.

Angel watched Maeve as the pair approached the children. Blain Sullivan kneeled down to face her as Maeve introduced him. Sammy barely gave him a glance, but Ciara stared at him as though she was memorizing every detail about him.

After a few minutes when Maeve assured them that she was okay to be alone, Angel and Jackson collected Sammy and left the park and they walked home. Maeve and Blain played with Ciara and talked about light subjects while Ciara was within earshot. They were both surprised how comfortable it felt to be together with Ciara. And Ciara took to Blain immediately.

Chapter 7

Golf

Six Months Later

The new school year was underway. Ciara and Sammy were in the same class again. It was a Friday afternoon and Angel was there to pick him up, waiting outside with the other parents. Maeve saw her when she pulled into the lot. After parking, she excitedly approached her.

“Hi,” Maeve greeted, coming up behind Angel.

“Oh, hi. How are you?” Angel replied.

Maeve lifted her left hand to show Angel the sparkling diamond on her ring finger. “Blain re-enlists at the end of the month. He’s accepting orders to Norfolk, and he wants Ciara and me to go with him.”

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