Things We Never Planned

CHAPTER FOUR:SINGLE-FATHER CHRONICLES

LIAM

I tossed and turned in bed because, for some reason, I just couldn't get her out of my mind. I should hate her, I should never want to see her again, but she has been the only thing on my mind for the past seven days.

When she walked into my office, I was oddly pleased and when she left—no, fled my office, I felt a bit sad. I shouldn't care about her, I hate that the thoughts of the night we spent together are never far from my mind. During the interview, I had to keep myself from staring too long at her plum, pink lips.

“Daddy, play baby.” My four-year-old daughter, Charlie, ran into my room with her doll.

Yes, I have a daughter. How did I get one? You might ask. Well, I dated a woman for three weeks, had lots of s*x with her, then she disappeared, and I didn't hear from her for a year, then a three-month-old baby appeared on my doorstep with a note.

“Good morning to you too, Angel.” I picked her up and set her on my lap. I tickled her tummy, causing her to giggle.

“Daddy, play baby.” She said,

“Sweetheart, Daddy has to get ready for work. Can't I play when I pick you up from school?” I told her.

Then the baby manipulation began. Her lips began to wobble, and then she gave me the sad pout with sad blue puppy eyes.

I groaned. She knew that was the way for her to get whatever she wanted from me.

“Oh, fine. Daddy will play, baby.”

“Yay!” She giggled, clapping her cute little hands together.

***

I arrived at work an hour later after playing baby and then dropping Charlie off at school, but it was worth it. Every moment spent with my baby girl was precious to me.

“You're late,” Caleb said as I walked into my office.

“And you're always in my office.”

“Yeah, because it has more snacks than mine.”

I rolled my eyes. “I had to drop Charlie off at school.”

“How's my goddaughter doing?”

“She always wants to play baby.”

“I got her a new doll when I went to China last week.”

“Great, more babies to play with.”

I groaned and took my seat. I was glad to be at work, I'd have something to focus on for a few hours instead of the blue eyes and cute dimples of a particular college journalist.

“I read your interview in the Jordan Uni magazine,” Caleb said, handing me a copy.

“Is it out already?”

“Yup. It's so good, you come off looking like some sort of Saint. I heard the girl that wrote it—Rachel Altman is on her way to becoming the best graduating student in her faculty.”

Just the sound of her name made my heart skip a beat. But I didn't show it. Caleb would ask too many questions and he could always pull out the truth from me. He was my best friend and business partner, he knew me better than I knew myself.

“Well, that's nice.”

He got up. “I'll see you later. I have a meeting with a few investors and don't forget you have that zoom meeting with the Chinese clients by twelve noon today.”

“Thanks for the unnecessary reminder, mom.” I rolled my eyes.

“You're welcome, my sweet child.” He muttered sarcastically before walking out.

I looked at the magazine in my hand. Caleb was right, anybody who read this would think I was a superhuman. That made me uneasy for two reasons, I was very far from perfect. I had so many things I'd done that were wrong and if anybody found out, I'd be ruined. Second, I didn't want Rachel to think I was perfect. Why her opinion mattered, I didn't know and I honestly didn't want to figure it out.

***

It was already two and I was already done with the day, I had just picked my daughter up from school and I was now in the parking lot of Jordan University. I had a meeting with the Dean about next year's scholarship admissions, but there was one problem—I had a restless four year old with me and I didn't know what to do with her. I knew I should have let her nanny pick her up, but I'd promised to spend more time with her.

I sat in the car, thinking of what to do, that was when I saw it—or her rather.

She had her face in a book and she wasn't looking at where she was going. I got out of the car and walked quickly towards her, out of instinct.

A car was coming at the same time she was about to step into the road. “Rachel, don't move!” I yelled to get her attention.

Her head snapped up and she saw the car, just in time to move away. I let out a huge breath that I didn't even know I had been holding.

I crossed over to meet her. “Don't you pay attention when you're crossing the road? You could have been killed!”

“Hey, thank you for saving me, but don't yell at me okay, I'm not a child.”

I rolled my eyes. “Last I checked, adults know how to cross the road.”

She blew an angry breath. “Okay, I don't have the time for this.” She said and started to walk away.

“No way, lady, I saved your life so you owe me.”

“What?” She said through gritted teeth.

My eyes moved to my car where I could see Charlie staring at whatever was happening between me and Rachel.

“Exactly what I said, you owe me because I saved your life.”

She let out a humourless laugh. “Your jerkiness has no limits, does it?”

“I guess it doesn't.”

“Well, what do you want?”

“I need you to watch my daughter for an hour while I have a meeting with the Dean.”

Her eyes widened. “Daughter? You have a daughter?”

“Yes, try and keep up. Can you watch her?”

“It doesn't seem like you're giving me a choice.”

“That's the spirit. She's over there.” I pointed to the car.

“Great, but not more than an hour. I have work.”

I nodded. “Here's some money, get her whatever she wants and hold on to whatever is left. I'll even drop you off at work when I'm done.”

“Fine.” she groaned, snatching the money from my hand.

“Thanks, you're a doll.” I smiled and walked away before she could respond.