Page 111 of I Saw Her First

I shake off the thought of my son and focus on Daisy, on all the good in front of me. All the happiness that’s here, right now.

“You know this is way too much food for just us,” I point out as I slide back onto the stool at the kitchen island and pick up my wineglass again.

She lifts a shoulder, serving up the mashed potato. “We’ll give some leftovers to Kyle and Vi.”

I smile. We’ve spent a lot more time with our neighbors lately, since Daisy moved in. She and Violet get on well, and it’s been great getting to know Kyle better. Great to feel like I’m part of something again, part of a community, and not just sad and alone in my big house.

My gaze drifts to the Christmas tree in the living room, lights twinkling in the dark, and a bittersweet sensation weaves through me. It’s the first year I’ve bothered to get a tree since losing Lydia, but it was a no-brainer. With Daisy here, filling the house with her photos and her laughter and her love, I knew we needed a tree. It’s sad to celebrate without Lydia, but I couldn’t be more grateful for the chance at a new beginning.

Daisy wipes her hands on her apron, surveying the spread on the kitchen island. “I think that’s everything.”

“Not everything,” I say, rising and rounding the island to her side. I take her face in my hands, tenderly brushing flour from her cheek, and press my mouth to hers in a soft kiss. Her hands stroke my chest, settling over my heart. We share another lingering kiss before she playfully pushes me away.

“I did not spend the entire day cooking just so it could go cold.” She smacks me playfully on the butt as she passes. “You’ll get your dessert after.”

I chuckle, helping Daisy carry the food through to the dining room. I haven’t eaten at this table in years, but it feels good to use it again. Daisy lights two candlesticks in the center of the table and lays out the plates while I begin to carve the turkey, trying to ignore the pain tugging at me. The last meal I ate in here was with Lydia and Jess, and I taught Jesse how to carve the turkey. The memory makes my eyes sting, and my throat is thick when I swallow. Will there ever be three plates at this table again? Will I ever get the future I want with Daisy, with my son’s blessing?

A sound at the front door interrupts us, and Daisy’s gaze meets mine, curious.

“What was—”

The sound comes again, clearer this time. A knock.

Her brows draw together in confusion. “Were you expecting someone?”

I shake my head, setting the carving knife down. Daisy trails behind me as I wander to the front door, wiping my hands on a dishtowel. Without looking through the peephole I swing the door open, expecting to see Kyle or Wyatt, maybe carolers.

I’m completely unprepared to find my son, standing beside a woman with long dark braids over one shoulder.

My heart jams in my throat. Has he come here to get the rest of his stuff from his room? To tell me again what a fucking terrible father I am? Has he—

“Hi, Dad.” His voice wobbles, and the woman beside him slides her hand into his. When I glance up again into my son’s stormy blue eyes, I notice they’re not as stormy as I remember them. And despite myself, hope balloons in my chest.

“Jess,” I say on an exhale. “What are you…” I trail off, not totally wanting to ask the question in case I’m wrong. In case I’m kidding myself.

The woman beside him extends her hand. She’s a foot shorter than Jess, with a broad smile and warm umber skin. “I’m Simone. It’s nice to finally meet you, Mr. Abbott.”

To finally meet me? What’s happening?

I glance at Daisy for clues, but she looks just as lost as me.

“Uh…” I clear my throat, finding my voice. “Nice to meet you, Simone. Please, call me Weston.” My gaze drifts to Jess, his breath puffing out in the cold December air. His eyes reflect my uncertainty back at me.

“I hope it’s okay we just showed up,” he mutters, kicking his sneakers against the door frame absently. “Simone thought we should stop by.”

“Of course it’s okay.” The tight ball in my stomach eases. “It’s always okay.” Daisy nudges me gently, and I step back, motioning for them to enter. “Come in out of the cold.”

Simone grins, leading Jesse inside by the hand. I don’t know who this young woman is, but I like her already.

“It’s nice to see you again,” Daisy says, reaching for Simone’s coat with a broad smile. She leans in and murmurs something to her that I don’t catch, but Simone nods, and the girls share a giggle. It makes me smile. How do these two know each other?

Jess shucks his coat and hangs it on the hook by the door, shifting his weight. I’m not sure how much he wants to be here, how much of this was Simone’s idea.

But he’s here. That’s what matters.

“Have you eaten?” Daisy asks, finally peeling the apron from her waist as she leads Simone and Jess into the kitchen. I trail along behind them, half afraid that Jess is going to bolt out the front door at the first opportunity.

“Not yet,” Simone says. “We were going to grab something on the way home.”

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