Chapter Twenty Two

Chapter Twenty-Two

Roman had officially become wrapped around his daughter's tiny little finger.

Not that he'd admit it.

At least not willingly.

According to Roman, he was simply being a responsible father.

According to everyone else?

He was completely obsessed.

It started with photos.

Hundreds of them.

Thousands, probably.

Every day Olivia, his long-suffering assistant, received at least three new pictures of Lillie.

Sometimes more.

A sleepy picture.

A smiling picture.

A picture of her staring at a ceiling fan like it was the most fascinating thing she'd ever seen.

One Monday morning Olivia walked into his office carrying a stack of reports.

Roman was looking at his phone.

Smiling.

Again.

She didn't even need to ask.

"Baby picture?"

Roman looked up.

"Look at this."

Olivia sighed dramatically.

Then looked anyway.

Lillie was wearing a tiny yellow dress.

Olivia smiled immediately.

"Okay, that's cute."

"I know."

"You're impossible."

Roman looked entirely unapologetic.

Meanwhile, back at Daisy's apartment, Lillie was developing a new habit.

The second she heard Roman's voice, she started searching for him.

The first time Daisy noticed it, she thought she was imagining things.

Then it happened again.

And again.

Roman had barely stepped through the apartment door before Lillie's head turned.

A huge smile appeared.

Followed by excited baby noises.

Roman froze.

Immediately.

"Did she just recognise me?"

Daisy laughed.

"Yes."

Roman looked emotional.

Actually emotional.

Again.

Lillie stretched both arms toward him.

Roman looked like he'd just won the lottery.

Daisy watched him scoop up their daughter.

And something warm settled inside her chest.

Because Lillie adored him.

Completely.

And Roman adored her right back.

A few days later they were all at Harper's house.

Sunday lunch.

Again.

The dining table was crowded.

The food was plentiful.

The conversation was loud.

Exactly how Harper liked it.

Lillie sat happily in her baby seat beside Roman.

Mostly because Roman refused to sit anywhere she wasn't.

Halfway through lunch, Theo pointed dramatically.

"Look."

Everyone turned.

Lillie was staring at Roman.

Completely focused on him.

Then she laughed.

A real laugh.

Not a baby noise.

Not a giggle.

An actual laugh.

The table went silent.

Roman blinked.

"Did she just laugh?"

Nobody answered immediately.

Because they were all too busy smiling.

Then Lillie did it again.

A tiny burst of laughter.

Roman looked completely stunned.

Theo jumped from his chair.

"She likes you!"

Poppy rolled her eyes.

"Obviously."

Noah laughed.

Harper reached for her phone.

And Roman?

Roman looked dangerously close to tears.

Daisy noticed.

Of course she did.

Because she'd started noticing everything about him.

The way he looked at Lillie.

The way he listened when she talked.

The way he somehow made room for both of them in his life without ever making it feel forced.

It wasn't grand gestures anymore.

It was consistency.

And somehow that meant more.

Later that evening, after everyone had gone home, Daisy and Roman sat together in the nursery.

The room was softly lit.

Lillie slept peacefully in her crib.

One tiny fist resting beside her face.

Roman stood looking down at her.

Smiling.

Daisy sat in the rocking chair watching both of them.

Eventually Roman spoke.

"She's getting bigger."

"That's generally how babies work."

He laughed softly.

Then his expression grew thoughtful.

"I missed so much."

Daisy's heart squeezed.

Roman looked toward her.

"The pregnancy."

She stayed quiet.

"The first scan."

His voice softened.

"The gender reveal."

Daisy understood.

Because despite everything, there was still a part of him grieving those moments.

Moments he could never get back.

Roman looked at his sleeping daughter.

"I wish I'd been there."

Daisy stood and walked over to him.

Without thinking, she slipped her hand into his.

"You would've been."

Roman looked at her.

"You don't know that."

"I do."

The answer came easily.

Because she knew him now.

Really knew him.

Roman would have shown up.

Every appointment.

Every scan.

Every milestone.

He squeezed her hand gently.

For a moment neither spoke.

The nursery was quiet except for Lillie's soft breathing.

Then Roman smiled.

A small smile.

A hopeful one.

"At least I get the rest."

Daisy followed his gaze to their daughter.

The first steps.

The first words.

The first day of school.

Birthdays.

Christmas mornings.

Everything still waiting ahead of them.

And suddenly she realised something.

Roman wasn't thinking about visitation schedules.

Or obligations.

Or responsibilities.

He was thinking about a future.

A future with Lillie.

A future with her.

The realization made her heart race.

Because for the first time, Daisy was starting to picture that future too.

And it looked surprisingly beautiful. ❤️📖