Julia
Over the next few days, life returned to some sort of normalcy.
Or at least as normal as possible.
Whenever the phone rang, Lachlan, Nikko, and I would jump, hoping it was Agent Curran delivering the news that Nick had finally been caught and we could all breathe again. Or that it was Ethan calling to tell us he’d received photos from some of the other funerals and Dax was at every single one.
That never happened, though.
Instead, Ethan confirmed what Nikko feared would happen. That the families didn’t take many pictures, considering it wasn’t exactly an event they wanted to remember. Agent Curran hadn’t received any viable leads on Nick’s location, either. I tried to not wonder if that was because he’d found a new woman to brutalize. When I voiced my concerns, Agent Curran claimed there hadn’t been any additional attacks of a similar nature.
I tried to find comfort in that. But I wondered if it was because this time, Nick actually did kill the woman and no one had discovered her body just yet.
I didn’t voice that concern to Curran, though. Or Lachlan.
I didn’t want to burst our bubble. Because, despite everything going on, things were going great.
I woke up in Lachlan’s arms every morning. After we made love, he’d get up to cook Imogene breakfast before we drove her to school in the Mustang. Always in the Mustang.
Once we returned to his house, he’d disappear into the home gym. Sometimes I’d join him for a quick run on the treadmill or just to watch him lift weights, which was certainly a sight to behold. After a shower together, we’d have lunch before he headed to the field for a few hours of conditioning. Even though their first playoff game wasn’t until Saturday and Lachlan wasn’t scheduled to pitch until Tuesday, they still did some light drills every day so they were ready.
While Lachlan was at the field, I’d spend my day experimenting with new recipes, using Nikko as my very willing guinea pig. I’d regale him with stories about my meemaw and her love of food, and he’d share snippets from when Lachlan was a small boy, as well as teach me a bit about Hawaiian culture.
I couldn’t remember the last time I’d spent so much time in the kitchen experimenting. No board meetings. No advertising pitches. No looking at sales figures.
For the first time in years, I actually felt happy again.
And for the first time, I considered accepting one of the many offers I’d received from various restaurants vying to own my brand.
I’d built The Mad Batter as a tribute to my meemaw. Somewhere along the way, however, I veered off the original path I’d set out on.
I didn’t want to own a bakery on every street corner. Didn’t want my cupcakes packaged and sold in grocery stores. But that was what happened. The brand had been diluted so much it was no longer the unique, independent bakery I once imagined where I’d shower people with love through food.
But if I’d learned anything after my crazy love affair with Lachlan it was that it was never too late for a fresh start.
I found that fresh start in love.
Maybe I could find it in my career, too.
Friday afternoon, as Nikko and I were about to head out, the door opened, Lachlan walking in.
I furrowed my brows, confused. He was supposed to be at the field for one last day of conditioning before their first division championship game.
“What are you doing back? It’s only 2:30.”
“But Imogene has a soccer game at three today, yeah?”
“Yeah…,” I drew out, looking between Nikko and Lachlan.
“That’s why I’m home early. They took it easy on us today anyway, since they want us all rested and ready for tomorrow. Now that we’re essentially ‘out’ as a couple, I didn’t want to miss the opportunity to watch Imogene play.”
“You left practice early so you could go to a high school soccer game?”
“Of course,” he replied, as if it were completely normal. “You don’t mind, do you? I guess I should have made sure you’d be okay with this. I just—”
“Of course I don’t mind. I just thought…” I shook my head, words seeming to escape me. “I’m not sure what I thought. But I do know you wanting to sit through her game never crossed my mind. I didn’t think it would interest you.”
He looped his arm around my waist. “I love you. And I also love your daughter. This is important to her. Therefore, it’s important to me. I can’t promise I’ll always be able to make it to her games, but I’ll do my best to support both of you any way I can.”
I parted my lips, searching for something just as meaningful to say in response. But nothing seemed adequate. Instead, I brushed my mouth against his, not caring that Nikko stood just a few feet away. At this point, he was used to seeing us kiss.
“Can you be any more perfect?” I sighed against him.
And just like every other time I made a similar comment, he laughed. “I have my faults, but I’m glad you think I’m perfect.”
“You’re perfect for me. That’s all that matters.”
“I hope that’s all that will ever matter.”