Page 137 of Downfall

“Yes please.” She says sinking into the chair beside Lara. She’s wrapped a silk robe around herself. Her hair is dishevelled from sleep and she doesn’t have even a smear of makeup on. She looks beautiful. Radiant.

I force myself to look away, to pour her a cup, and put it in front of her. She reaches for it and our fingers brush making my skin erupt into goosebumps. God, I’m acting like a teenager, like this is some romcom romance.

“How can you drink that? It’s disgusting.” Lara says.

“We had a little bet.” I tell Rose. “And our daughter just lost.”

“I see.” Rose says. “And what were the terms?”

“If she loses she has to give me a kiss.”

Rose raises an eyebrow. “So your dad gets a kiss but I don’t?”

Lara smiles before putting the dog down and hugging her tightly. “You don’t have to make me drink coffee to give you a kiss.”

Rose laughs as she hugs her back. And then I notice what she’s put on the table. What’s right in front of her.

I smirk looking at the flower.

“Someone left this outside my door.” Rose murmurs.

“I couldn’t imagine who would be that bold.” I reply.

She smiles. “Want a hand with breakfast?”

“Nope, I’ve got this.” I say.

Her eyebrows raise at that but she doesn’t try to change my mind. Instead she sits beside Lara, talking to her, while I cook up some eggs and bacon and pancakes.

When I put the plates in front of them Lara doesn’t wait for permission to dive in. Rose studies it, like she’s comparing it some five star meal she’s had.

“You can cook.” She says.

“I had to learn.” I reply before scooping up some eggs and putting them in my mouth.

She studies me then, like she’s trying to figure something out but whatever it is, she doesn’t tell me, she just frowns a tiny bit and then begins eating.

I smirk as I see her reaction. She’s clearly surprised it tastes as good as it does.

And then I realise, I’ve never cooked for her before, never taken care of Rose like that. I can feel my body reacting to the idea, of taking care of both of them, of providing for them.

That’s how I’m going to show her, that’s how I’m going to win Rose over. I’ll show I’m not all flashy money and big words with no substance, I’ll prove I’m the complete opposite of every other man in her life.

I’ll win her by my actions. I’ll turn us into a real family and she’ll realise she can trust me, that we can trust each other.

* * *

We’re outside,just the three of us. Me, Rose, and our daughter.

And her dog technically, although it seems more interested in hiding in the shade, not that I can blame it.

Lara is fidgeting because she knows she’s getting a surprise and like her mother she clearly has no patience whatsoever. Rose is eyeballing me, but looking away whenever I catch her gaze.

I had this planned out yesterday. Another gift. A memory too for Lara to savour.

The gates open, a Land Rover drives in pulling a big animal trailer behind it and Rose turns to look at me again.

“Daddy? What is it?” Lara says, squeezing my hand, hopping from one foot to the other.

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