Page 121 of Always Been Yours

“Stellaaa!” Daisy giggles a few seconds later, and when I turn back around, my oldest daughter is holding Vivi’s other hand. She uses the support to practice her pirouettes. She’ssureshe wants to be a ballerina after learning that her favorite person Calypso was in dance her entire childhood. I signed her up to start classes in the new year.

Vivi just stands between them, beaming down at each of my girls and reciting the words while she sways in place. They use her as balance as they twirl, bounce and shake. When the bridge starts, Vivi takes their hands to pull in a sort of marching line, leading them to the dining room table. My cheeks hurt from smiling so wide by the time I plate all of the food and carry it over to the table.

Vivi’s getting the table set with their glasses of juice, plates and silverware. She grabs her coffee cup and my small, handmade one from the counter.

With an endearing quirk to her lips, she bites back a laugh. “So I’ve been meaning to ask… Who made this masterpiece for your dad?”

Daisy shrinks in her seat a little, hardly ever shy, and lets out a sweet little giggle. “Me. But I’m going to make him a new one,” she adds quickly.

“I love my mug.” Truthfully, it works because I like my brewed coffee black. If I needed to mix in creamer and sugar, it’d be a bit harder to use it so often with the add-ins taking up half the small capacity.

“Daaaddy,” Daisy rolls her eyes dramatically. “I know there’s a hole in it.”

Stella and Vivi laugh. “So?” I ask.

“It’s too small for you!”

“Do you enjoy pottery?” Vivi cuts in.

Sitting up on her knees, Daisy nods empathically. “Yes! Stella’s starting ballet after Christmas, and Daddy said he’ll find a pottery class for me.” With a giddy smile, she tells Vivi, “Matty’s going to do potteryandsurfing with me.”

“Matty’s a good one,” she winks at Daisy.

“He’s thebestfriend I could ever want.“ She’s saying it like confirmation, like a secret between the two of them. “But I wanna make you a mug soon too.”

“I’d love that, Daisy.”

Daisy’s shimmying her shoulders in the chair, happy as can be, when Stella asks reluctantly, “Will you come to my recitals? I mean… it might not be for a while…”

Reaching across the table, Vivi gently sets her hand on Stella’s and promises, “Doesn’t matter when it is. I wouldn’t miss it for the world, Stella girl.”

Stella grips her hand and smiles wider than I’ve seen in months.

Daisy, needing in on the lovefest, jumps off her seat to take the free one on the other side of Vivi and grips her other hand. “I’m happy you’re here.” Stella nods lightly in confirmation.

Chapter Forty-Three

Vivi

About two weeks after all the kids got sick, things started to change quickly. Grady and I are almost done with the fair. Last week, we met with each of the groups to get an idea of where they are with their booths. Not surprising, Harper and some of the coaches haven’t started any sort of preparation. I think Grady noticed my eye twitching because he took over the conversation without a second thought. The flippant shrug he gave Harper mixed with his commanding demeanor as he told Harper exactly what to expect over the next few weeks was sexy as hell. I may have invited him back to my house that night just to give him head—as if it’s any sort of hardship.

We haven’t had any more sleepovers with all four of us, not wanting to put too much pressure on the girls. I’m taking each day at a time with them and enjoying every moment for what it is. That isn’t something I’ve done in a long time.

At the last family dinner, Calypso and I finally told my mom how we planned a late birthday celebration for her. A girls’ day at the new tearoom, Spilled Honey. Daisy, Stella and Millie have been giddy about it for the last two weeks, especially after my momchose the Alice in Wonderland themed room when she heard the options.

To all of our surprise, and Selena’s motherly delight, Blake not only sewed each of the girls their own Alice-inspired dresses, but she joined us. She kept mostly to the kids and our moms, but the fact she showed up at all is a good sign for the future. Lexi even went out of her way to get to know Blake better.

It was such a great day, and the first time I’ve gotten to spend time with Stella and Daisy without Grady outside of the school. I can only hope that it’ll push our relationships forward even more. Even on the harder days, I find myself falling more and more in love with these little girls just like I am with their dad.

Now they’re sleepy and buckled up in the backseat with the quiet tunes of Calypso’s playlist coming through the speakers. They were so excited to see her in the car when I picked them up, especially Stella. It was adorable. But watching Calypso open her heart to them fills me with so much love I can’t express it.

“Who is that?” Calypso sits up straighter in her seat. As we pull down the street, I can see who she’s talking about, but I don’t know her. She is tall and thin, similar to Lyp, but her hair is dark, and her skin is even fairer than mine. Her and Grady are standing a few feet apart, but they look comfortable with each other. That’s until Grady sees my car approaching. His smile drops a fraction, and even from a distance I can see his shoulders tense.

I know who is standing on his driveway before Daisy says anything.

“Mommy! She’s here already!”

“What?” Calypso and Stella ask at the same time. Both sounding confused but the latter’s is mixed with excitement too.

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