Daddy's Little Girl

Chapter 4

I walk through the flowers and stop when I find a bouquet of wildflowers, I grab those and some pink lilies. I pay then walk back to my car, I type their address into my navigation system and I take the drive to Baytown slowly. I'm gonna be early and I need some time to calm down.

"You have arrived at your destination." The system tells me as I pull into the driveway. I look at the cute little house, it's a brick ranch with blue shutters and a sunny yellow door. I grab the flowers and walk up to the door, a quick look at my watch tells me I'm only 10 minutes early.

Emily answers the door and my jaw drops. She is wearing one of the romper thingies, you know where it's like a dress, but with shorts. It's blue and has white flowers all over it, it looks amazing on her and shows off the curves I saw 4 years ago.

"Come in, Braxton. Cora's just getting dressed. Those flowers are beautiful! Sit down and I'll be right back with a vase." I take a seat on the couch in her living room, it is small, but cozy. The room has a rustic feel and I love it.

Emily walks back into the room with two glass vases. I remove the wrapping on the bouquets and help her pour water in the bottom.

"Mommy can you help me?" I suck in a breath and Emily gives me that small smile.

"I'll be right back. Try to take a deep breath, I don't need you to pass out on us." Emily deadpans. I breathe and then give her a light chuckle. How did she know exactly what to say?

She's only gone for a minute when I hear two sets of feet on the wood floor.

Cora looks at me nervously, I drop down to my knee and hold out a hand.

"Hi Cora, I'm Braxton. I like your dress." She gives me a grin and shakes my hand, as I breathe a sigh of relief. I didn't screw this up yet.

"Hi Braxton." She twirls around in her dress, she matches Emily in blue, but she doesn't have any flowers.

"Are you guys ready for dinner? I made tacos and they should be ready." Emily says. I nod at her and Cora pulls on her mom's hand towards the kitchen.

Dinner goes pretty smoothly, Cora asks me all kinds of questions and I can't help, but be enraptured with her. She is adorable and a little shy, but she acts comfortable around me. I wish I hadn't missed the years before. I know it's not Emily's fault, if anything it's mine. I got caught up in her and didn't even think to mention my last name. As a result, I missed the first three years of my little girl's life.

She tells me about how she starts preschool in the fall and how she's excited. I learn all about the Disney Princesses and she definitely seems like a little girly girl.

"Why did you want to meet me now?"Cora asks in a small voice. It couldn't have gone better until this point, but as soon as she asks I look over at Emily and see unshed tears in her eyes.

"Well, Cora, I didn't know about you. It was my fault, I didn't tell your mommy my last name. So when she found out about you, she couldn't tell me. I'm sorry. I wish I would have known, Cora. But I promise, I'm not going anywhere now." I hope that is what they needed to hear. I can't even think straight when I see Emily about to cry.

"Okay." Cora accepts my answer and seems to be okay with it, I help Emily with the dishes while she gives Cora a bath.

Just as she walks into the kitchen I close the dishwasher.

"You didn't have to do that." She exclaimed.

"I know I wanted to, plus it means I get more time to talk to you. Thank you so much for tonight. And for giving me a beautiful little girl. I don't even know how to thank you. She's amazing. You are a wonderful mom." She looks at me with sad eyes and I wonder what I said. "What's wrong? I'm sorry."

"No, no I'm sorry. It's just I've tried so hard to be a good mom to her and I was worried that this wouldn't go well." She seems to be relieved, so I take a deep breath.

"Is she asleep?" I give Emily a hug as I say this, she seems to be surprised, but I missed this feeling. I missed her being in my arms, where she belongs.

"Yeah, she was exhausted." I can tell she expects me to back away, but I don't. I just wrap my arms around her tighter and breathe in her smell. I can still remember it, she smells like flowers in the spring, it reminds me of my mom's garden.

"Braxton? What are we doing?" She slowly pulls back from my embrace and I let her go even though that is the last thing I want to do.

"I need you in my arms. I can't explain it, but I haven't stopped thinking about you in 4 years, Emily." She looks at me with disbelief and shakes her head.

"Cora is more important." I give her a slight nod, but the look in my eyes is telling her that I'm not gonna give up. I'll give her time because I know she needs it, but I won't let her go, not again.