Page 9 of Seeking Happily Ever After

“In the meantime,” Chris continued, “we’ll appeal to the courts for an adoption hearing. You will need to prove that you are the best possible choice to be Amelia’s parent.”

“No problem.” Nick paced back to the table and picked up his pen, ready to take some notes. “I am the best choice.”

“You think that.” He could almost hear Chris sigh. “And I might even think that. But we need the courts to think that. And I have to be honest—a single dad with no history of a serious relationship, let alone no actual partner to help raise the baby, might be a hard sell.”

“But I have—”

“Resources? Yes. You do. But you’re going to need more than money.”

Nick scribbled some notes but then lifted his head again. “More than money?”

“Yes, Nick.” Chris didn’t bother trying to hide his sigh this time. “More than money. You’re going to need a partner.”

“A partner?”

“For a genius, you’re not picking up on this very quickly.” Chris laughed. “Nick, you need a girlfriend. A wife, preferably. And you need one now. Actually, yesterday.”

Charlotte’s brain overflowed with ideas she could put together and present to Stephanie Starz for her new cabins. It was an amazing opportunity. No, it wasbeyondan amazing opportunity. It wastheopportunity.

If she could impress Stephanie, she’d get the job. And not only would that kick-start a career she’d thought long dead, it could be the launch of an even grander career. Stephanie washuge.And that was an understatement.

The entire world hung off every single thing the woman did. If she chose Charlotte to design the interiors of her cabins…Char couldn’t even process how major that could be for her.

Not only would she be able to afford her own apartment away from her parents, she would be able to afford…well…a life! Which was why she had to nail this meeting. Stephanie hadn’t called it an interview, but it might as well be one. She was going to be in town in five days. And Char wanted to show her something that would make it almost impossiblenotto hire her.

Her mind was still preoccupied as she hustled down Main Street, eager to get home and start putting things together, when she heard a baby cry. She turned toward the grocery store, at the sound of the cry, and her stomach did that odd squeezey-flip thing it had started doing lately whenever she saw Nick Newton. Or maybe it was when she saw his baby, Amelia. She couldn’t be sure. Either way, she changed course, drawn to the pair like a magnet.

“Let me take her,” Char said when she got close enough to see that Nick was struggling trying to balance an arm full of groceries and the fussy baby. Before waiting for an answer, she took the baby, who almost immediately calmed in Charlotte’s arms.

“I don’t know how you do that.” Nick shook his head in amazement and adjusted his load. “She likes you.”

“You look like you have your arms full.”

“I don’t know what I was thinking.” Nick smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes the way it usually did. “I just needed a few things, so I didn’t bother with the stroller, but a few things turned into…well…I won’t bore you with the details. Thank you,” he added, almost as an afterthought. “Would you mind…” He used his head to gesture toward the parking lot.

“Not at all.” Char focused on the baby and tickled her under her chin. “She’s just so sweet.” They started walking. “And you’re doing it all on your own…that must be hard.” Char didn’t know Nick very well yet, but she did know he was a single father. From what she could tell, not many people in town knew the details about his situation. At least, if they did, they weren’t talking about it.

“It is hard.” He stopped at a sleek, black SUV and used his foot to wave under a sensor so the back hatch lifted.

Char lifted her eyebrows, impressed, but didn’t bother saying anything.

“I don’t say this very often.” Nick tucked the bags of groceries inside. “But it isn’t easy. And you know what’s even harder?”

She stayed quiet, pretty sure it was a rhetorical question.

Sure enough, Nick finished his thought. “Navigating the whole legal system.”

The comment jarred her. “Legal system? Are you being sued?”

“No.” Nick turned around. “Sorry, I shouldn’t have said anything. It’s just…well, let’s just say, the legal system is definitely not designed to make things easy for a single dad trying to secure custody.”

“Oh. I…I had no idea it was so…” She swallowed hard. “I’m sorry, Nick. I can’t even imagine how difficult that must be.” It felt like the most inadequate thing to say, but Charlotte really had no ideawhatto say. She wanted to ask him more about it, but it didn’t feel like the right time, and Nick didn’t seem like the kind of man to open up easily. She turned her attention back on Amelia, who was trying to grab her hair. “For what it’s worth,” Char said, “I think you’re doing an amazing job.” She smiled at the baby. “I mean, look at how happy she is all the time.”

Nick chuckled. “You don’t see her at four in the morning.” He reached out and tickled Amelia, who turned and beamed at her daddy. “Someone likes to wake up nice and early these days, don’t they?”

Amelia giggled and it was just about the sweetest sound Charlotte had ever heard.

“I’ll take her,” Nick said, his arms outstretched. “Thank you so much for your help.”

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