Braxton

Holy shit. HOLY SHIT! I have a daughter! That little girl is mine. Looking closely, I can tell she has my eyes and very similar hair.

I can't believe it.

I have a daughter. A little girl, who is three years old and looks just like the beautiful woman across from me. The beautiful woman across from me that looks terrified.

"Can I meet her?" My voice is trembling.

"Really? You want to meet her?" Her eyes start to tear up and I start to panic. Shit. What did I do? Damn it. I can't deal with woman tears. I can't. Especially this woman, I want to kiss her tears away, but I don't think that would go well.

I stand up and slide into her side of the booth and rub my hand on her arm.

"Yeah, I mean if that's okay with you? I don't know what I'm doing. Shit, and now you're crying. I'm sorry. I just don't really know what to do. I've never done this before and I'm sorry. Just I'm sorry." She gives me a tiny smile as I ramble and stops crying.

"Yeah, you can meet her. It's just that I thought this would go awful and you would think I'm lying or take her or not want to be in her life. Thank you for trusting me. I should probably ask, do you have any other kids."

"Not that I know of." She laughs and gives me that blinding smile, the one that I haven't seen in 4 years. That one that lights up the room and makes me want to take her back to my place, but this time I'm not letting her out of my sight.

We spend hours talking and catching up, by the end I know that she's single and Cora is her only child. I know that she moved to Baytown when she learned she was pregnant and I know all about her job and how she loves to bake. She told me all about Cora Hazel Shaw and I can see the love that she has for our daughter written all over her stunning face.

I told her about my job at the hospital, as a pediatrician and she knows I'm single with no other kids.

We talked about our families, my parents and sister, and her parents and brother, who might propose to his girlfriend soon.

After we made plans for me to meet Cora, I realised something. I don't just want to be in Emily's life as Cora's father. I want to date Emily and spend time with both of them. Maybe, just maybe we could be a family. I will fight for her and the amazing life we could have, as a family.

***

Today is the day I meet my daughter.

I thought I was scared when I took my medical certification test, but that was nothing in comparison to this crippling fear I've been plagued with all morning. I don't know anything about little girls.

I don't know how to braid hair or have tea parties. Emily told me that Cora loves Disney princesses and I couldn't even name one.

I am always prepared for almost any situation, except for this one. I should have asked more questions. What if she doesn't like me? What if she doesn't want a dad? What if I fuck this up and she remembers it forever?

I count to ten and slowly inhale. Then exhale.

I can do this, it's just meeting them for dinner. We decided that it would be easiest for Cora to meet me at Emily's place, so she would be comfortable. The last thing I want to do is overwhelm either of them. Emily is already holding me at arm's length, which I don't blame her for. She has provided for our daughter for 3 years and she is just trying to protect them both.

It's my job to show her that I will protect them.

I have an hour 'till I need to be at their house, so I get in the car and drive to the grocery store. Why didn't I ask about their favorite flowers?

I walk through the flowers and stop when I find a bouquet of wildflowers, I grab those and some pink lilies. I pay then walk back to my car, I type their address into my navigation system and I take the drive to Baytown slowly. I'm gonna be early and I need some time to calm down.

"You have arrived at your destination." The system tells me as I pull into the driveway. I look at the cute little house, it's a brick ranch with blue shutters and a sunny yellow door. I grab the flowers and walk up to the door, a quick look at my watch tells me I'm only 10 minutes early.

Emily answers the door and my jaw drops. She is wearing one of the romper thingies, you know where it's like a dress, but with shorts. It's blue and has white flowers all over it, it looks amazing on her and shows off the curves I saw 4 years ago.

"Come in, Braxton. Cora's just getting dressed. Those flowers are beautiful! Sit down and I'll be right back with a vase." I take a seat on the couch in her living room, it is small, but cozy. The room has a rustic feel and I love it.

Emily walks back into the room with two glass vases. I remove the wrapping on the bouquets and help her pour water in the bottom.

"Mommy can you help me?" I suck in a breath and Emily gives me that small smile.

"I'll be right back. Try to take a deep breath, I don't need you to pass out on us." Emily deadpans. I breathe and then give her a light chuckle. How did she know exactly what to say?

She's only gone for a minute when I hear two sets of feet on the wood floor.

Cora looks at me nervously, I drop down to my knee and hold out a hand.

"Hi Cora, I'm Braxton. I like your dress." She gives me a grin and shakes my hand, as I breathe a sigh of relief. I didn't screw this up yet.

"Hi Braxton." She twirls around in her dress, she matches Emily in blue, but she doesn't have any flowers.

"Are you guys ready for dinner? I made tacos and they should be ready." Emily says. I nod at her and Cora pulls on her mom's hand towards the kitchen.

Dinner goes pretty smoothly, Cora asks me all kinds of questions and I can't help, but be enraptured with her. She is adorable and a little shy, but she acts comfortable around me. I wish I hadn't missed the years before. I know it's not Emily's fault, if anything it's mine. I got caught up in her and didn't even think to mention my last name. As a result, I missed the first three years of my little girl's life.

She tells me about how she starts preschool in the fall and how she's excited. I learn all about the Disney Princesses and she definitely seems like a little girly girl.

"Why did you want to meet me now?"Cora asks in a small voice. It couldn't have gone better until this point, but as soon as she asks I look over at Emily and see unshed tears in her eyes.

"Well, Cora, I didn't know about you. It was my fault, I didn't tell your mommy my last name. So when she found out about you, she couldn't tell me. I'm sorry. I wish I would have known, Cora. But I promise, I'm not going anywhere now." I hope that is what they needed to hear. I can't even think straight when I see Emily about to cry.

"Okay." Cora accepts my answer and seems to be okay with it, I help Emily with the dishes while she gives Cora a bath.

Just as she walks into the kitchen I close the dishwasher.

"You didn't have to do that." She exclaimed.

"I know I wanted to, plus it means I get more time to talk to you. Thank you so much for tonight. And for giving me a beautiful little girl. I don't even know how to thank you. She's amazing. You are a wonderful mom." She looks at me with sad eyes and I wonder what I said. "What's wrong? I'm sorry."

"No, no I'm sorry. It's just I've tried so hard to be a good mom to her and I was worried that this wouldn't go well." She seems to be relieved, so I take a deep breath.

"Is she asleep?" I give Emily a hug as I say this, she seems to be surprised, but I missed this feeling. I missed her being in my arms, where she belongs.

"Yeah, she was exhausted." I can tell she expects me to back away, but I don't. I just wrap my arms around her tighter and breathe in her smell. I can still remember it, she smells like flowers in the spring, it reminds me of my mom's garden.

"Braxton? What are we doing?" She slowly pulls back from my embrace and I let her go even though that is the last thing I want to do.

"I need you in my arms. I can't explain it, but I haven't stopped thinking about you in 4 years, Emily." She looks at me with disbelief and shakes her head.

"Cora is more important." I give her a slight nod, but the look in my eyes is telling her that I'm not gonna give up. I'll give her time because I know she needs it, but I won't let her go, not again.