In Love with a Stranger (9 page)

Now she was a sobbing mess with me, and Ophelia looked like she was about to strangle us both.

"That's it, put your big girl panties on, ladies, we have a job to do, and crying like a couple of babies isn't on the list."

It was probably best that my workday was slow. I found it hard to do anything other than text William. I was the one who texted him first, letting him know I was fine. The subsequent texts were nonstop between us from there on out. It was then I knew we both had a problem. It was difficult on the both of us to be apart from each other. We had to come up with a better way to manage it. I just didn't know what that would be yet.

Chapter 10 – Mommy Dearest

HANNAH

It was late afternoon, and I was ready to have William back in my arms. We’d moved his things over from the hotel room during lunch. I didn’t want to be away from him, and he didn’t want to be away from me, either. His luggage consisted of two suitcases and a carry on. They were stacked in the corner of my bedroom, our bedroom.

I hadn’t thought about how to tell Penelope that William would be staying with us. I didn’t want to set a bad example, but I couldn’t see William not staying with me, it just didn’t feel right. I usually didn’t go on feelings, but for some reason, everything with him was more intense and couldn’t be brushed aside, including my need for him.

Ophelia brought Penelope home, and she was wearing a huge smile. “Is my daddy here?” She searched around our tiny two-bedroom apartment looking for him. I knew exactly when she saw his suitcases, because she let out a squeal, and then I heard the springs in my bed squeak from her jumping on it excitedly.

I heard a deep chuckle. “What has our daughter so giddy?” William asked, as he came into the little apartment, kissing me hello.

“She just found out her daddy is living in sin with her mommy.”

“In sin?”

I blushed, it was such an old-fashioned term, but it was the first thing that came to mind. “I never saw myself involved with someone, let alone living with them. William, this is our daughter. What kind of example are we setting for her?”

“Do you want me to leave?” he asked worried, like I’d actually ask him to leave.

“No, never, you’re mine, you’re staying here. You’re lucky I let you out for work.”

He laughed and then leaned down, kissing me softly. “I don’t ever want to leave, either.”

“Daddy!” we heard Penelope cheer, and she slammed right into William’s leg, hugging him. He pried her off his leg and picked her up, holding her in his arms. He listened so intently, as she told him about her day.

“You guys sit on the couch and get comfortable. I’m going to finish putting away the laundry, and then we can talk about dinner.”

“So, you live with us, right?  ‘Cause that’s what daddies do, they live with their little girls, ’cause they love them.”

“That’s exactly why I live here now. I knew the moment I found out about you that I had to be with you, and your mum knew how much I wanted to be with you, too.”

“I think you love her,” Penelope teased.

“You don’t need to think. I can tell you right now that I know I love your mum very much.”

“Thanks, Daddy.”

“Thank you for letting me be here and for not being too mad at me for not knowing about you. I didn’t know where your mum was, Poppet, I swear. I would’ve been here so much sooner. I love your mum so much, so very much, and I love you just as big, too, because you’re a part of her and me together. I’m so happy to be here with you both. I hope you know that.” I heard William sniffle a little. At least I thought it was him, but it very well could’ve been me.

“I love you, too, Daddy. I told all my friends at school about you, how I have a dad who talks funny, because he’s from London. Are you going to go back?” She sounded worried.

“When I go back, it’ll be with you and your mum both. I’m not leaving anyone behind, ever again. I do have to go back to get the rest of my things, but I’m going to wait until we get your traveling papers in order first.”

“Papers?”

“Yes, you’ll need a passport. I was looking up how to get one of those for you. Your mummy and I both have ours, but we aren’t going anywhere without you.”

I heard the smack of a thank-you kiss, and my heart swelled.  I finished folding and was putting away the laundry, as I listened to William read our daughter a book. It was amazing how rapidly my feelings for him were growing. I already knew I loved him, but with each interaction, with each encounter I had with him, it grew so much stronger.

Ophelia sat at the table, taking our interactions in with a wistful smile.  I knew she was getting tired of her meaningless dating, and I hoped she’d settle down soon, maybe with a certain Scottish behemoth of a man, who made her eyes sparkle every time he walked into the room.

She walked over and picked up a stack of towels, helping me finish up.  “You really do love him, don’t you?” she smiled, and I nodded, my grin widening, as I felt a pair of arms wrap around my waist.

“I love her, too, more than I ever imagined I could love someone.  I’m so glad you didn’t come to meet me in London, Ms. Harper.  No offense, but it wouldn’t have been pleasant, I assure you.”

Ophelia laughed loudly, patting William’s arm. “I’m glad, too.  I wasn’t looking forward to having to put up with you, either.”

William pulled me into his arms, kissing me in a way that made me want to declare an early bedtime. 

“It looks like you’re already cooking, now you just have to get some food involved,” Ophelia giggled.

William wiggled his eyebrows salaciously.

I smacked his chest and shooed them both out of the kitchen. “I’ve got dinner to make, and I believe you have a date yourself this evening, don’t you?” I teased Ophelia.

She giggled like a schoolgirl, before she skipped out of the apartment.

At dinner, William listened to Penelope tell us about her day at school. His eyes frequently settled on me with an adoring smile, before he looked back at her. It was crazy how fast and deep our feelings ran. I’d never fully believed people, when they’d said I’d run off with him after only knowing him a day, but it made perfect sense now. I didn’t want to move to England, but if he insisted, if he swore there was no way he could move to the U.S., I would go with him. I’d sell my little store and leave my adopted family behind to be with him. It’d be terrifying, but I knew it would be worth it.

“Can daddy wash my hair?” Penelope asked, begging us both.

William looked confused. “How could I wash your hair?”

“In the tub, when I take a bath.”

“You put up such a fight when I try and wash your hair, and you’re actually asking for your dad to do it?” She nodded her head yes. I looked over at William, who looked downright scared. “What’s wrong?”

“I can’t wash her hair…she’s a girl, in a bath…” The poor man looked completely uncomfortable.

“I think it’s best if we just let daddy brush your hair once you’re dressed in your PJ’s.”

“Yes, yes, that I can do. I can brush hair in PJ’s,” he said it comically excited.

After her bath, William very gently brushed out Penelope’s hair and cringed over her tangles, much more than she did. She kissed his cheek and dragged him off for story time. The way she monopolized his time made me worry that she’d been hurting for a daddy for a long time and had never said anything to me about it.

WILLIAM

My little Penelope was a whirlwind. She grabbed hold of me the moment I walked into the flat, and she chatted non-stop about her day. She was the sweetest little girl I’d ever met. I’d never really spoken much to small children before, but I was pretty sure she was smarter than your average one. I also wanted to track down a little boy named Tommy who was in her class and scare the life out of the little cretin for stealing her crayons and upsetting her.

My daughter had me doing things I’d never dreamt of doing before. I thankfully got out of washing her hair, but was tasked to brush it. My mop of hair being unruly should’ve been their first clue that I was not gifted with a hairbrush, but that didn’t bother either of my girls. I brushed out Penelope’s hair as gently as possible. If we had any more children, I hoped they’d be boys, so I could just shave their heads and not worry about their hair. Hurting my little girl was not something I wanted to do, but she promised I could make it all better by reading her a bedtime story.

I’d never pictured myself as a father. When I’d lost Hannah, I’d lost all hope of ever having a family, so being here with them now was surreal. I was in a constant state of fear that I’d wake up and it’d all be a dream.

I kissed my sleeping daughter’s head and went to find her mum.

She greeted me with a hug and a deep kiss that would’ve been inappropriate in front of our daughter. I pulled her body closer to me, doing my best to keep myself under control and get closer to her at the same time.

“It’s been a very long day,” she complained.

“Yes, it has.” It’d been difficult to be away from her, but after we got into our routine of texting, and we had a nice lunch with our friends, reassuring me that she’d be fine, I was finally able to settle down and work. “What do you have planned for tomorrow?”  Duncan had taken the lead on the presentation, after I’d proved I was completely useless and barely competent that morning. I’d written the presentation and drawn it up, but I hadn’t been able to focus enough to make the pitch.

“Tomorrow?”

“Yeah, I was thinking we could maybe see about getting some of Penelope’s paperwork done.”

Her grin was big. “Yeah, I think that’s a good plan. I’ll have Shawna work another shift, and we can spend the day together.”

I leaned in for a kiss, unable to get enough of her. I wanted her so badly, but I didn’t want to push her. After a heavy snogging session on the couch, we readied for bed. With Hannah in my arms, I’d never slept better.

I woke to my phone ringing. I knew it was too early for any sane person to call, so I knew it must’ve been my mother. I quickly and carefully slipped out of bed, grabbing my phone and sneaking out of the bedroom, so I wouldn’t wake Hannah.

“Mum, do you know what time it is?” I groaned.

“Oh, William, dear, I forgot you were in America. It would’ve been a perfectly reasonable time to call you if you were home.”

“Okay, what do you want?”

“Well, you could be nice about it, exchange some pleasantries. I am your mother, after all.”

“Mum, it’s five o’clock in the morning here. I’m not pleasant.”

“Fine, I was just calling to check on you. I hadn’t heard from you in over a month, and there’s a lovely party coming up…”

“I can’t make it.”

“You don’t know when it is.”

“I can’t make it, Mum, it’s not happening. You know I don’t like them, and even if I was able to go, I’d still tell you I couldn’t.”

“Now, William, let’s not be unreasonable.”

“Mum, please,” I begged.

“Fine, if you refuse to attend, at least come for dinner sometime soon,” she implored.

“Daddy?” I heard a sleepy little voice call to me.

“Hey, Poppet, did I wake you up?”

She nodded her head yes and climbed into my lap.

“I’m sorry, Mum, I have to go.”

“Go? Who was that, William, who’d you wake up?”

“Night, Mum.” I hung up, not answering her.

“Was that your mom?”

I nodded yes and leaned my head on top of hers. It was too early for us both. “We need to go back to bed, pretty Penny.”

“Will you sleep with me? I don’t like to be in my room alone at night.”

I wasn’t sure I believed her, but I figured I could stay with her until she fell asleep.

HANNAH

William was gone when I woke up. I panicked for a moment, scared he’d left me, until I heard him snoring. I followed the sound to our daughter’s room and snickered at the sight before me. William had one knee and foot on her bed and one arm, which Penelope had a hold of. Of course, the rest of him was fast asleep on the floor, much like he’d been that first night in his hotel room so long ago.

I was startled out of my reminiscing by his phone ringing. It was on the bed next to my daughter, so I quickly picked it up, before it woke her. “Hello, Mr. Greyson’s phone.”

“Mister,” a woman said in distaste, “I don’t know why he insists on mister, when his proper title is Lord Greyson.” I pulled the phone away from my face to see if the caller ID would give me a name to go with the voice, but it only said, “Uppity Git.” I had a feeling that wasn’t this woman’s name.

“Can I take a message for you, Ma’am?”

“It’s countess, dear, and no. I want to speak with my son. I called him this morning, and he off and hung up on me to run off with a woman.”

I smiled at the door my daughter and her dad were behind. “I’m very sorry, but he’s indisposed at the moment.”

“I’ll wait,” she said stubbornly.

“He’s still asleep.”

“So you’re the one he cut me off for?”

“No, Ma’am, ah…Countess, that was my daughter.”

“Daughter? Who is this, and where is my son? I insist on speaking with him now!”

She was shouting, so I held the phone away from my face. She was so loud, it woke William. “Go away, Mum,” he whined.

“William, someone’s on your phone, and they sound mad,” I whispered.

He peeked one eye open, squinting at me. It took a moment for him to orient himself, and all the while, the woman was still shouting over the phone. “Why do you have my phone?”

“It was ringing. I didn’t want it to wake up Penelope. She has another thirty minutes before she has to get up for school.”