Page 114 of Charm

“I can come with you?” I ask so there’s no misunderstanding.

“I want you to.” She holds out a hand. “I know she’d love to see you.”

I kiss her hand softly. “I’d love to see her, too.”

She motions to the friendship bracelet on my wrist. “Have you taken that off since Olive gave it to you?”

I hold up my hand, kissing one of the beads. “I never will.”

CHAPTER SIXTY-SEVEN

Greer

“What wereyou going to say back at my place?” Holden asks as we descend the stairs to the main level of my home.

I glance over my shoulder at him. His suit jacket is in the kitchen along with his cufflinks. The sleeves of his white button-down shirt are rolled up to his elbows. He looks comfortable and content.

I know a lot of that has to do with the fact that he read Olive her second bedtime story of the night. She hung on every word, and when it was time for her to go to sleep, he kissed her softly on the forehead.

The tears that were streaming down his face as he walked out of her room and brushed past Bruce and Martha were all the proof I needed that he’s Olive’s dad.

As soon as we reach the kitchen, I turn to face him. “I was going to ask you not to take her away from me.”

He pulls me close, cradling the back of my head in his hand as I rest it against his chest. When I was about to ask thequestion earlier, I was on the cusp of tears. I don’t feel that now because I know how he feels about me.

“I’d never do anything like that,” he whispers as he holds me. “You’re her mom.”

I push back so I can look at his face. “You’re her dad.”

He nods. “We’ll get the paternity test taken care of this week.”

We discussed it in the rideshare here. Even though my heart is telling me they are father and daughter, I know the prudent thing to do is get the test done.

Celia and I never discussed who she was or wasn’t sleeping with. She took that pendant from Holden nine months before Olive was born. My daughter’s eyes are the same shade as Holden’s, and even Bruce noticed that they share the same hair color, although he made a whispered remark to Holden that Olive was missing the gray streaks.

“Once it’s confirmed, where do we go from there?” I ask quietly.

“I’ll spend time with our little girl,” he says. “We’ll spend time altogether. I get to spend some quality time alone with you.”

I let out a laugh. “I miss our quality time alone.”

“You and me both,” he quips.

“Soon,” I promise. “We’ll be together again soon.”

He kisses my forehead. “I can’t wait.”

We stare into each other’s eyes for what feels like endless moments.

“I’ll book the paternity test this week,” I whisper. “Is there a day that works best for you?”

“You name the time and place and I’ll be there.”

“We’ll talk to her together when the test results come back.” I smile. “I want us to tell Olive together that you’re her dad.”

“We will.” He cups my face in his hands.

“I can’t wait for our life together,” I whisper, knowing it will help him understand how deeply I care for him.

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