Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Fifteen

For a moment neither of them moved.

The world seemed to continue around them.

Children laughed nearby.

Dogs barked.

Runners passed by.

But Daisy barely noticed any of it.

Roman couldn't stop looking at the stroller.

At Lillie.

At the tiny little girl sleeping peacefully beneath her pink blanket.

Then back at Daisy.

Then back at the baby.

As though his brain was struggling to catch up.

Eventually he looked at Daisy again.

"Can we sit down?"

She nodded.

Wordlessly, they walked toward a nearby bench beneath a large oak tree.

The autumn leaves drifted gently around them as they sat.

The stroller parked directly in front of them.

Roman's eyes never left it.

Not for more than a few seconds at a time.

Daisy found herself oddly nervous.

Not because she regretted telling him.

Because she didn't.

But because this moment suddenly felt important.

Life-changing.

Roman leaned forward slightly.

"How was the pregnancy?"

The concern in his voice caught her off guard.

Not curiosity.

Concern.

Real concern.

Daisy smiled softly.

"It was okay."

"Just okay?"

She laughed.

"I was sick for the first few months."

Roman frowned.

"Morning sickness?"

"More like all-day sickness."

His expression immediately darkened.

"I hate that I wasn't there."

The honesty in his voice made her heart ache.

"You didn't know."

"I still hate it."

For a moment neither spoke.

Roman looked toward Lillie again.

"Any complications?"

Daisy shook her head.

"No."

His shoulders visibly relaxed.

"The scans were all good. The pregnancy was healthy."

"Labor?"

Daisy laughed.

"Long."

Roman winced.

"How long?"

"Long enough."

"That's not a number."

"It doesn't need to be."

Roman laughed softly.

The sound felt familiar.

Comforting.

Dangerously comforting.

For a moment they simply watched Lillie sleep.

Then Roman glanced toward her.

"What’s your last name?"

Daisy smiled.

"Miller."

He repeated it quietly.

"Daisy Miller."

Something about hearing him say her full name made her stomach flutter.

Then she pointed at him.

"Your turn."

Roman smiled.

"Moretti."

"Daisy Miller and Roman Moretti."

"Sounds like we should've introduced ourselves properly."

"Probably."

"Would've saved us some trouble."

She couldn't argue with that.

A comfortable silence settled between them.

Then Roman asked,

"Where do you live?"

Daisy told him.

His eyebrows rose slightly.

"Seriously?"

"What?"

"I live about fifteen minutes away."

She laughed.

"You're joking."

"I wish I was."

For months they'd been searching for each other without realizing they lived practically in the same part of Manhattan.

The irony wasn't lost on either of them.

Then Roman asked another question.

One that made her smile.

"What do you do?"

For the first time since meeting him, Daisy got to answer.

"I'm a pediatric doctor."

Roman blinked.

Then laughed.

"Of course you are."

"What does that mean?"

"It means it fits."

Daisy rolled her eyes.

"You don't even know me."

"I know enough."

Something warm settled between them.

Then she pointed at him.

"Your turn."

Roman leaned back slightly.

"I own a few companies."

"A few?"

He smiled.

"That's the official answer."

"And the real answer?"

"Investment firms. Technology. Real estate."

Daisy stared.

"You're one of those people."

"What people?"

"The people who wear suits and have assistants."

Roman laughed.

"I do have assistants."

"Of course you do."

"And you're one of those people."

"What people?"

"The people who save children for a living."

Fair.

For a while they simply talked.

The conversation flowing as easily as it had that night in the bar.

Like no time had passed at all.

Like they hadn't missed nearly a year of each other's lives.

Eventually a question formed in Daisy's mind.

One she'd been trying not to ask.

She looked at him.

"Do you have someone?"

Roman looked surprised.

Then shook his head.

"No."

The relief that hit her was immediate.

And slightly embarrassing.

"You?"

Daisy laughed.

"I have a newborn."

Roman smiled.

"Not technically an answer."

"No."

His smile softened.

Then he looked away briefly.

Toward the trees.

Toward the city.

Anywhere except her.

When he finally spoke, his voice was quieter.

"I dated."

Something tightened in her chest.

Roman shrugged slightly.

"I tried moving on."

Daisy looked down.

"But?"

His eyes found hers.

"But I couldn't stop thinking about you."

The words settled heavily between them.

Honest.

Simple.

Real.

Roman shook his head slightly and laughed.

"I know how ridiculous that sounds."

"It does."

"Fair."

He looked toward Lillie again.

Then smiled.

"But it's true."

For a moment neither spoke.

The autumn breeze stirred the leaves around them.

Lillie slept peacefully.

Completely unaware she was quietly changing both their lives.

Then Roman leaned forward.

His eyes fixed on his daughter.

The wonder in them impossible to miss.

Finally, softly, he asked:

"Can I hold her?"

The question felt bigger than it should have.

Daisy looked at him.

Really looked at him.

Saw the uncertainty.

The hope.

The fear of hearing no.

And her answer came easily.

"Yeah."

Carefully she lifted Lillie from the stroller.

Roman stood immediately.

As though afraid he'd do something wrong.

Daisy couldn't help smiling.

Then she gently placed their daughter into his arms.

Roman froze.

Completely.

His eyes widened.

His entire expression softened.

And suddenly the powerful businessman disappeared.

Leaving only a father holding his daughter for the very first time.

"Wow," he whispered.

Lillie yawned.

Tiny fingers stretching.

Roman looked like he'd never seen anything more beautiful.

And watching him stare down at their daughter, Daisy realised something.

This wasn't the end of their story.

Somehow...

It felt like the beginning. ❤️