Chapter Twenty one

Chapter Twenty-One

Sunday mornings quickly became everyone's favorite day of the week.

Not because they were relaxing.

They weren't.

Not with Poppy and Theo involved.

But because somehow Sunday had become family day.

The tradition started accidentally.

Roman had shown up one Sunday morning with coffee, pastries, and an expensive baby toy that Lillie immediately ignored.

Then he came back the following Sunday.

And the one after that.

Before long, nobody questioned it anymore.

Sunday belonged to family.

Including Roman.

Which still felt strange sometimes.

Wonderful.

But strange.

This particular Sunday began with Roman arriving at Daisy's apartment just after eight.

Lillie was already awake.

Unfortunately.

Daisy hadn't slept much.

Also unfortunately.

Roman took one look at her and immediately handed over a coffee.

"Rough night?"

Daisy accepted it gratefully.

"She was awake at two."

Roman nodded.

"Okay."

"Then four."

He nodded again.

"Right."

"Then six."

Roman looked at Lillie.

Lillie smiled.

Roman melted instantly.

Traitor.

"She's adorable."

"She's exhausting."

"Both things can be true."

Fair.

A little while later they loaded everything into Roman's SUV.

Baby bag.

Spare clothes.

Extra bottles.

Emergency supplies.

Approximately seventeen items Daisy insisted were essential.

Roman was beginning to suspect babies required more luggage than international travel.

Their destination was a small family festival being held near the edge of Central Park.

The weather was perfect.

Warm sunshine.

Blue skies.

The kind of day New Yorkers dreamed about after long winters.

Families filled the park.

Children ran everywhere.

Food stalls lined the walkways.

Music drifted through the air.

Lillie sat happily in her stroller watching the world go by.

Or at least staring at random objects with great determination.

Roman pushed the stroller while Daisy walked beside him.

Every now and then their hands brushed.

Neither moved away.

Neither commented.

The comfortable feeling between them had grown stronger over the last few weeks.

Natural.

Easy.

Safe.

Something Daisy hadn't expected.

At one point Roman stopped beside a stall selling handmade baby blankets.

Five minutes later he'd bought three.

"Roman."

"What?"

"She already has blankets."

Roman looked offended.

"You can never have too many blankets."

"That's exactly what someone with too much money would say."

Roman laughed.

"Probably."

Later that afternoon they met Harper, Noah, Poppy, and Theo for lunch.

The children immediately surrounded Lillie.

As usual.

Poppy carefully adjusted the baby's hat.

Theo stood beside the stroller acting like a bodyguard.

"No strangers."

Harper sighed.

"We need to stop letting him watch superhero movies."

Noah nodded.

"A long time ago."

Roman laughed.

Then Theo turned toward him.

"When can Lillie play soccer?"

"She's two months old."

"So next week?"

Honestly, Theo's confidence was impressive.

Lunch was loud.

Chaotic.

Perfect.

The kind of family gathering Daisy hadn't realized she'd missed.

For years her life had revolved around work.

Hospital shifts.

Emergency calls.

Long hours.

Now she sat surrounded by people she loved while her daughter slept peacefully beside her.

It felt different.

Better.

At one point Harper quietly slid into the empty chair beside Daisy.

"You look happy."

Daisy smiled.

"You said that before."

"Because it's still true."

Harper glanced across the table.

Roman was currently letting Theo explain what appeared to be a completely fictional near-death experience involving a bicycle and a squirrel.

He looked completely invested.

As if it were breaking news.

Harper smiled.

"He fits."

Daisy followed her gaze.

Roman laughing.

Theo talking.

Poppy climbing into Noah's lap.

Lillie sleeping peacefully.

Family.

The word settled warmly inside her chest.

Because Harper was right.

Roman fit.

Not awkwardly.

Not like someone trying.

Like someone who belonged.

Later, as the afternoon sun began to fade, Roman and Daisy walked slowly through the park while Lillie slept in her stroller.

For once it was quiet.

No children.

No chaos.

Just them.

Roman looked down at Lillie.

Then at Daisy.

"I didn't know I could be this happy."

The confession was unexpected.

Honest.

The kind Roman only shared when they were alone.

Daisy smiled softly.

"Me neither."

Roman reached for her hand.

Not hesitantly.

Not cautiously.

Naturally.

Like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

And this time Daisy didn't overthink it.

She simply held his hand back.

Together they continued walking beneath the golden afternoon sunlight.

A mother.

A father.

And the little girl who had changed everything.

For the first time, Daisy found herself wondering less about whether Roman would stay.

And more about how she ever managed without him. ❤️