Page 90 of Because of Her

“Callum said you were nervous, and I get that. But I wanted to say thank you.”

“Thank … me?”

I push my hair off my face, scratching at my temple.

“For taking Maisie to her first dance class, and for dancing with her when she couldn’t go. I have two left feet, it would have been a nightmare if I tried.”

“Oh, it was nothing.”

But it wasn’t, it was everything. And to be thanked for it feels unnecessary. The tiny hole that existed in my heart starts to fill, knowing I was able to offer Maisie something that’s just ours.

Audrey pulls at her sleeves, crossing her arms in front of her. “And for driving Maisie to the hospital and leaving before I did something dumb like make a scene. But let’s not talk about that.”

Callum steps closer, wrapping an arm around my shoulders. Audrey glances up at him with a smile.

“You two look good together.” She shifts her gaze back to me. “We never fit, his hair was too dark next to my pale skin and blonde hair. I’m glad you found your way back together.”

We say our goodbyes, Maisie climbing back out of the car to give her mum a hug.

“Enjoy your date with Michael,” Callum says through the window as we drive away.

“Michael?”

“Yeah, some big beefy dude. Audrey said he is smitten.”

It can’t be. I shake off the random thought.

“Why are you here today?” Maisie asks from the back seat.

Her question is nothing more than excited curiosity, but I have no idea how to answer.

I consider what to say, how much to give away.

“Cassidy and I were spending the morning together, so she came to say hi.” Callum saves me from saying the wrong thing.

Maisie beams. “Did you have a sleepover like I said you should?”

My mouth drops open. Her question has come out of nowhere, but Callum rests a hand on my knee, tapping his fingers twice. I’ll leave this one to him, too.

“Yeah, chicka,” he says, “we did.”

Maisie jumps in her seat as much as her tightened harness will allow, and I can’t help but smile at the level of excitement she is showing. I had no idea she would even care, so to have her excited at the idea of Callum and I being together, in whatever capacity she is imagining, makes my breath catch in my throat. The morning sunlight streaming in through the window is too bright and my eyes water.

I realise I am happy. So beyond happy, I’m at a level I never imagined would be possible.

I might not be a mother, but a young girl cares deeply for me, and I can’t wait to have her as an important part of my life. And her father? It feels like I spent my whole life loving him, wanting him, and now I have him. Closing my eyes, I appreciate how full my heart feels, knowing I’ve finally found where I’m meant to be.

CASSIDY (5 YEARS LATER)

“So.” I lean into Cal’s chest, “When should we tell her we are taking her to Disneyland?”

“At least twenty minutes after we tell her the two of us are going.” He laughs.

I spin to face him, my mouth wide open in playful shock. He pops a jelly snake in my mouth, the sweet taste lingering on my tongue.

“I think we should make her sweat for it a bit first. It’ll make the whole thing even better.”

The hardest part of keeping the secret was getting passport photos. Maisie’s pre-teen urge to poke out her tongue or throw up a love heart with her fingers runs strong, so getting a photo that was serious and straight faced was almost impossible. In the end, Audrey had helped us feign the need for a school ID photo for her private high school applications. I had no idea we had to start those this early, but apparently to get into the best schools, you do. And we all want the best for Maisie.

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