Chapter Thirty one

Chapter Thirty-One

It had taken weeks.

Actual weeks.

A ridiculous number of conversations.

Three separate interventions from Harper.

And one extremely patient Roman.

But somehow they had finally convinced Daisy to leave Lillie for more than an hour.

Just once.

For a girls' day.

Daisy still wasn't convinced it was a good idea.

"She's fine."

Roman looked up from making coffee.

"I know."

"You don't sound convinced."

"Because you've said that twelve times."

Daisy folded her arms.

"I have not."

"You absolutely have."

From the couch, Harper pointed dramatically.

"Fourteen."

Traitor.

Lillie was now old enough to happily spend a few hours with other people.

The problem wasn't Lillie.

The problem was Daisy.

Because Daisy had spent months with her daughter attached to her hip.

Every bottle.

Every nap.

Every cuddle.

Every day.

The thought of leaving felt wrong.

Even if it was only for a few hours.

Harper stood and grabbed her handbag.

"We're going."

Daisy looked toward the nursery.

Immediately.

Roman noticed.

Again.

"Daisy."

"What?"

"She's staying with me."

"I know."

"And Noah."

"I know."

"And Poppy and Theo."

"I know."

Harper rolled her eyes.

"Honestly, you'd think we were asking her to leave the baby for six months."

Maybe it felt like six months.

A few minutes later Daisy stood beside Lillie's crib.

One final check.

Then another.

Then one more.

Roman leaned against the doorway watching.

Amused.

"Daisy."

"I'm just making sure."

"She's asleep."

"I know."

"You checked five minutes ago."

"I know."

Roman walked over.

Wrapped an arm around her waist.

And gently turned her toward the door.

"Go."

Daisy laughed despite herself.

"You're kicking me out."

"Absolutely."

Harper appeared behind them.

"Let's go before she changes her mind."

The second the apartment door closed behind them, Roman looked toward Noah.

Noah looked toward Roman.

Then both men looked toward the three children.

Silence.

Theo grinned.

A dangerous sign.

"What do we do first?"

Roman suddenly understood why Harper always looked tired.

Meanwhile Harper dragged Daisy into Manhattan for a proper girls' day.

Coffee.

Shopping.

Lunch.

More shopping.

Daisy hadn't realized how much she'd missed it.

For months every conversation had revolved around babies.

Sleep schedules.

Bottles.

Nappies.

Now she was wandering through the city with her sister laughing about absolutely nothing.

It felt good.

Really good.

Still...

She checked her phone.

Constantly.

Harper noticed immediately.

"You need help."

"I'm checking on her."

"She's been gone twenty-seven minutes."

Daisy looked offended.

"You timed me?"

"Of course I did."

Back at the penthouse, chaos had officially begun.

Lillie had woken up happy.

Poppy wanted to dress her in six different outfits.

Theo wanted to teach her soccer.

Noah was attempting damage control.

Roman was trying not to laugh.

"Lillie can't play soccer."

Theo looked disappointed.

"Why?"

"Because she's a baby."

"She's got legs."

Honestly, there was no arguing with his logic.

An hour later Daisy's phone buzzed.

A photo message.

Roman.

She opened it immediately.

Lillie sat happily on Roman's lap.

Poppy beside her.

Theo making bunny ears behind everyone's heads.

Noah looked exhausted.

The caption read:

We're surviving. Barely.

Daisy laughed so hard people turned to look.

Harper smirked.

"What?"

Daisy showed her the photo.

Harper immediately burst out laughing.

"Poor Noah."

By late afternoon, Daisy found herself actually relaxing.

No worrying.

No rushing home.

Just enjoying being Daisy for a few hours instead of Mum.

And surprisingly?

It felt nice.

Not because she loved Lillie any less.

Because she was remembering she was still herself too.

When they finally returned to the penthouse that evening, the apartment was suspiciously quiet.

Daisy frowned.

"That's never a good sign."

The front door opened.

Inside, Roman was asleep on the couch.

Lillie asleep on his chest.

Theo asleep on one side of him.

Poppy asleep on the other.

Noah sat nearby drinking coffee and staring into space.

Harper immediately laughed.

"What happened?"

Noah looked up.

His expression completely blank.

"I'm never having more children."

Roman opened one eye.

"Neither am I."

Daisy couldn't stop laughing.

The sight was ridiculous.

Three sleeping children piled on top of Roman.

Who looked completely trapped.

Yet completely happy.

Lillie stirred slightly.

Roman immediately looked down at her.

His whole face softened.

Just like always.

And standing there watching the people she loved most in the world, Daisy realised something.

Leaving had been hard.

But coming home?

Coming home was pretty wonderful too. ❤️📖