Page 87 of Solid Ground

I share a glance with Zoe. We stopped along the way when Daisy grizzled and made sure she was fed and changed before we got here. Brian and Serena wouldn’t have cared, but we wanted her to be happy when she arrived.

She’s a content baby. Once we got past those first few weeks, she became a lot more chill. She doesn’t always sleepwell, but we figure it’s a matter of time before she settles down and with our village around us, we don’t have to stress too much about how we’ll make it work then. Zoe’s taken to life in LA like a fish to water with the help of our friends.

We sit on the couch together and take in the sight of our daughter meeting her grandparents. It gives me pangs of sadness thinking how much my parents will miss, but I’ve got enough in my life. Maybe I’ll send them some photos of their granddaughter, but their disowning me still stings.

I slip my arm around Zoe’s shoulders, leaning back on the couch.

She smiles at me. “You okay?”

“Yeah. I really am.”

Zoe snuggles into my side, and I kiss her temple.

Serena takes Daisy in her arms and rocks her while Brian fixes his gaze on us. He even smiles a little before reaching for his coffee cup and taking a sip.

It’s amazing the difference a baby has made.

After dinner,I head outside for some fresh air.

Maybe we’ll buy a house here—divide our time between Taupo and LA. Zoe would be keen, I’m sure of it.

“Beer?” Brian approaches me from behind, holding two bottles. “It’s alcohol-free.”

I nod. “Sure.”

“I got them in especially when I knew you were coming.” He takes a sip of his and hands me the other bottle. “They’re not too bad.”

“I’ll give it a go.” I take the bottle and look at the label. I’ve had Heineken before, but not the alcohol free.

“So you’ve retired again, I hear.”

I nod. “I’m done with that life. It’s nothing compared to being home with Zoe and Daisy.”

“Why did you even make that movie if you were going to walk away?”

I pause. “I don’t really know. Ego in part. My career had been going in the wrong direction for a long time, and I really thought it was over. But I got a great offer from a good man, and I took it.” I meet his gaze. “If Zoe hadn’t supported me, I would have turned it down. And then I knew after only a few days on set that it would be my last movie. I love your daughter, Brian, and I just want to be with her.”

He studies me closely. “You gonna stick to retirement or change your mind again?”

I shake my head and smile. “It’s not me anymore. Like I said, it didn’t take me long to realise that. But I wanted my career to end on a high, and it will, which is better than the alternative. I want Zoe to be free to do whatever she wants whether that’s being at home with Daisy too or creating another app or business.”

He fights a smile—I can tell by the way his eyes twinkle—and I know I’ve said the right thing.

“Look.” I press my palms together. “I know you’re concerned about my relationship with Zoe. And you have every right to be. I’m not son-in-law material. But I’m trying to be a better man, and it’s all because of her. She’s given me a gift that I won’t take for granted. Becoming a father has changed my life.”

His jaw stiffens, as if he’s trying to suppress his own emotion. But I’m done hiding behind any kind of masculine firewall. Zoe danced her way into my life and turned it upside down. And I wouldn’t change a second of it.

“I understand,” he finally says. “We were … younger when we had Zoe, but that little girl made me want to work hard. I wanted to make sure her and her mother were taken care of. If I could have, I would have wrapped them both in bubble wrap so the world could never hurt them.”

I chuckle. “I get what you mean.”

“And then my little girl grew up and met you. I’ve googled you, you know. You’ve done some stupid stuff in your life. But you’re good to Zoe, and Lord knows I can’t tell her what to do anymore.” He shifts his gaze away and draws a deep breath. “Last time you were here, you asked for my blessing. And I was reluctant.”

“I understood. But I love her. Everything’s easy when it comes to Zoe.”

A smile shifts his lips. “I can’t stop you from marrying my daughter. She’s old enough to make up her own mind. We won’t stand in your way, Declan. You have my blessing.”

“I hope you know how much this means to me.”

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