Page 62 of When Love And Destiny Collide

"I love you," he whispers into my ear, his lips tracing a path from my ear to my lips. This kiss is different—more meaningful, more intimate. Where there was once hesitation and doubt, there's now intent and what can only be described as sweet abandon. When he finally pulls away, he murmurs, "It's getting late, Sweetheart. Let me walk you home."

We rise together, his hand clasped in mine. We move toward the kitchen, but as we enter the hallway, I pull him gently but decisively toward the bedroom. His eyes silently question me.

"I want to stay with you tonight," I say, reaching the door. "Don’t ask me to leave. Not tonight. I want us to erase every trace of the last hour and replace it with us."

He opens the door and ushers me inside before following and closing it softly behind us.

Chapter 17

Noah

"There are waffles, eggs, and fruit," I remind Davey, trying to coax him to pick something as he stares stubbornly at his empty plate.

"I can make you some oatmeal if you want," Lily suggests, her voice encouraging.

"If you don’t eat, you can’t go out with your mother," I add, hoping it’ll motivate him.

Davey’s lower lip juts out in a pout—one I’ve seen countless times. After a moment, he relents. "I’ll eat some eggs."

"Perfect," I say with a smile, dropping a spoonful of fluffy scrambled eggs onto his plate.

"Lily!" Davey exclaims with excitement. "My mommy is coming to pick me up."

"I know, Sweetie. I'm so excited for you," she replies with a warm smile. "I'm glad you get to spend the day with her."

"Can you come with us?" he asks, his question hanging in the air, both innocent and utterly terrifying. My ex-wife and Lily, together? The thought sends a shiver down my spine. I glance over at Lily, who’s focused on cooking the last two waffles, clearly unsure of how to respond.

"Maybe next time, Buddy," I say gently, trying to soften the blow. "I think you and your mom should have some time together, just the two of you, since you haven't seen her in a while."

"Okay," Davey replies, his face lighting up again. "I can't wait to see her, Daddy."

"I know you're excited, Bud. I'm happy too," I say, offering him a reassuring smile as he wiggles in his seat, full of anticipation.

"Are you coming with us, Daddy?" Davey asks, his bright eyes hopeful.

“No, I’m not coming either,” I reply, forcing a cheerful tone I don't feel. “It’ll be just you and your mommy today.”

I notice the slight drop in Davey's enthusiasm, but he hides it well, nodding with acceptance. After breakfast, he slides out of his chair and announces, "I'm going to pick some toys to put in my backpack." He’s already packed a change of clothes, a water bottle, and some money, ever the little planner.

Five minutes later, he reappears in the kitchen, his Toy Story backpack slung proudly over his shoulder. "I’m ready," he says, his smile wide and full of anticipation.

At ten-fifteen, Davey shifts from the kitchen table to the armchair nearest the front door, eyes glued to the driveway. By ten-thirty, I leave a voicemail for Marian, reminding her that Davey’s been ready since ten. His excitement hasn’t dimmed, even with her tardiness. "Daddy, can I wait outside? I’m going to sit on the steps," he asks, his enthusiasm undeterred.

Lily glances at me, her beautiful face etched with concern, mirroring my own thoughts. If Marian stands him up, I will never forgive her.

Finally, at eleven-ten, Marian pulls into the driveway. No phone call, no explanation, and most infuriatingly, no apology. But Davey doesn’t care. He sprints toward her, arms outstretched, his smile as bright as ever. She catches him in a warm hug, matching his excitement with kisses and tears. For a moment, her casual appearance makes me think they’ve got something fun planned, and I don’t bother asking any questions. I just remind her, "Have him home by eight."

"Can I keep him overnight?" she asks.

I hesitate. "There’s only one change of clothes in his backpack."

"I’ll buy him whatever he needs," she shrugs. "No worries."

"Have him home no later than ten in the morning," I insist. "Jon will be back this afternoon, and I'd like to take Davey to visit everyone tomorrow."

"Ten," she repeats, flashing a casual smile. "Gotcha! I’ll have him home by then."

"Bye, Daddy!" Davey calls out excitedly from the back seat, his little hand waving through the window.

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