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She laughed and kissed me again before she took a step back. “Right. The picnic.”
I laughed with her. “I know just the place.”
***
An hour later we sat on a blanket on a soft patch of grass. “Wow, all of this is part of your MC?” Emma looked around the green space with a growing smile.
I nodded. “Yep. We came in through another entrance but if you look over there, you’ll see the clubhouse.” We were about a half mile from the building, close enough for protection or backup if we needed it and just far enough for privacy. Plus, as the land was ours there was no chance of her asshole soon-to-be ex brother-in-law turning up. Emma had told me she was going to file for divorce, and I’d agreed with her that it was a good idea. Not just that it made her a free woman, but also from the cops’ point of view it looked like she believed he was still alive.
As for what would happen once Emma was free… I knew it was still early days and not even two months since we’dreconnected, but looking at her and my daughter both happy and contented, everything just seemed right, I wanted them to be my family. We’d both had a chat and decided that today would be the day we’d tell Ash I was her father. I was equal parts excited and scared as hell as to what her response would be.
“Well you’re right, this is the perfect picnic spot.” She looked around, let out a deep breath and then began to unpack the basket. “We have a little bit of everything, roast chicken, potato salad, caramelized carrots, and there’s mini cheesecakes. Enjoy!”
“Mommy it looks so good!” Ash’s eyes were wide as saucers as she looked at everything, hesitantly testing out a carrot. “It’s so sweet.”
“See? Vegetables can be really good.”
She nodded and handed one to me. “Wanna try?”
I leaned forward so she could pop into my mouth. “That’s delicious, Emma. Gimme more.”
Ash giggled and fed me another one. “Don’t eat them all.”
Emma let out a wistful sigh and when I turned, she wore a small smile. “Guys,” she began with another sigh, but this one was tentative. Almost scared.
“Yes, Mommy?” Ash held a piece of shredded chicken between her fingers, her greasy smile fixed on her mother.
Emma smiled again and her shoulders visibly relaxed. “I want to talk to you about something important, Ash. Your father.”
My heart skipped as I realized what was happening. I watched Emma’s smile spread wide as she cupped one side of Ash’s face.
A look of worry flashed over my daughter’s face, “Daddy Alex?”
“No sweetheart, your real dad.”
“My dad? My real dad?” her eyes widened.
Emma nodded. “Your real father. Remember what I told you about him?”
Ash nodded and closed her eyes. “You and Daddy were like two ships in the night and by the time you realized I was growing in your tummy, the ships had passed.” Her eyes opened. “And you couldn’t find him.”
“That’s right.” She smiled softly. “Well a funny thing happened recently, and it brought me face to face with my past. Your dad.”
Ash sat up taller, her elbows rested on her knees, face cradled in her hands. “Where is he?” She looked around, her smile grew wide.
“He’s here. Back when I knew your father his name was Asher which is why I named you Ashlyn, so you would always have a small piece of him with you.”
I smiled. Until that moment it hadn’t occurred to me that was why her name was so close to mine.
“Mommy,” she moaned.
Emma’s smile widened. “You know him as something else.” Her gaze landed on mine. “Slate. Ashlyn meet your father, Asher.”
Ash gasped and covered her mouth with both hands. She turned slowly to look at me and her smile grew bigger and bigger until she laughed. “You’re my daddy?”
My gaze went to Emma first and then back to Ash. “Yeah, Ash, I’m your dad. How do you feel about that?” I was grateful to Emma for telling our daughter some version of the truth that didn’t make it seem as if I abandoned her.
The little girl licked her lips, her gray-blue eyes never left mine as she tilted her head and studied me. “Are you happy to be my daddy?”
