A few days passed, with Emily's cough gradually subsiding.
Missy, had had to take a few days off work, which of course, hadn't particularly gone down well with the other staff members in her office. She barely had anyone who spoke to her as it was….but the whispers only seemed to worsen.
"You think I can get extra time off if I have a kid?" – Missy had heard one woman utter in a carrying whisper as she passed the copier one day.
Missy had instantly dropped her head and hurried back to her desk, hiding her red face from everyone.
Things were not really getting any easier for Emily either. The cough had only made her hearing worse…causing the little girl to jump in fright, at the loud noises the other kids in day-care made.
So both of them were obviously excited when Saturday finally came, and they could spend the entire day together.
Just the two of them, with nothing to care about in the world.
It was a cold, crisp morning in December, and Missy was just getting Emily into her little red boots ready for a trip to the park to see the newly decorated Christmas trees.
Emily was sitting there quiet and happy, watching her mother crouched down before her. Emily always did this. Always watched Missy so carefully, mirroring and copying everything that Missy did. One of the little girl's favourite things was to try and style her own hair as Missy did hers in the mornings.
"So are you excited to see the ducks today, baby?" Missy asked Emily gently, pushing her foot into her little bootie.
Emily nodded. "Duks?" she enquired, her eyes wide.
Missy merely smiled. "Yeah, we can feed them if you want?" she said, getting to her feet. "But let's get your coat on. It's freeeezing out there."
But as Missy stood, her phone suddenly buzzed loudly across her nightstand.
She rolled her eyes but couldn't help but let out a small smile.
She knew exactly who that was…
Since getting her number, Wade had been texting her relentlessly. He had promised to bombard her with boundless emoji-filled texts and boy had he delivered!
Every morning as if on cue, he would send her a text, most of them filled with nothing more than a little egg emoji and the word [Breakfast?].
And Missy every day replied with the same thing…
{Busy, sorry. Gotta work. M}
But today, as Missy picked up her phone she grinned as she saw his message.
[*egg emoji* Breakfast? And DON'T say you have to work, Ms Oh-So-Perfect…because it's a Saturday. *streamers emoji*]
Missy bit her lip, staring down at her phone for the longest of moments, before typing a hasty reply.
{We're going to the park to feed the ducks….but if you happen to be around, I guess we might catch you at the little coffee stand on the corner of ninth. M}
Missy smiled to herself as she pressed send.
She had actually been hoping to run into him…just to say thank you of course, for him coming over and minding Emily for her last weekend.
Apart from the daily texts, she had barely heard a peep out of her neighbour. The only time she even noticed him was the slamming of his door late at night, after he had gotten home from whatever bar, she presumed, he frequented.
Not that she missed him or anything…
Giving a slight inward sigh, Missy turned back to Emily, giving the little girl a soft smile.
Regardless of whether or not Wade turned up, Missy was still going to make this the loveliest day.
In five minutes, the pair had pulled on their warm winter coats and were now headed towards the park, hand-in-hand, a bag of stale bread crusts shoved into Missy's pocket.
The street was fairly quiet but even so, Emily didn't speak.
Missy knew that the little girl found it hard to concentrate on someone talking from her side. And so Missy always kept all conversation until they had come to a stop.
But crossing the street, Emily's little eyes suddenly widened as she pointed at something in the distance.
The little girl mumbled something Missy didn't quite catch.
As they reached the sidewalk, Missy crouched down in front of her daughter, adjusting her tiny red bobble hat.
"What's wrong sweetie?" she asked her, Missy's face full of concern.
"Tha Waydee," said Emily, her tiny mittened paw suddenly waving up at a figure, strolling towards them.
Missy glanced up, her eyes instantly meeting with his.
There was Wade, as casual as ever, sheepskin jacket thrown haphazardly over a white vest, barely even acknowledging that it was freezing out, strolling towards them, a wide grin plastered over his features.
He waved back cheerily.
"Well isn't this a surprise…" he said, his tone thick with sarcasm. "Running into your two gorgeous Princesses like this."
Missy couldn't help but roll her eyes.
"Aren't you freezing?" she merely asked him, shooting him a playful look.
"Aren't you smokin' hot?" he retorted almost instantly, his eyes travelling down her wrapped up form.
Missy scoffed, but before she could even say another word, much to her surprise, Emily had detached her little hand from Missy's, and run toward Wade, waddling over on her chubby little legs.
"I goin see duks," she said in her croaky little voice, holding her arms up towards him and making grabbing motions with her hands.
It was obvious what she wanted.
Missy smiled to herself, as Wade lifted Emily into his arms. She was never normally like this with people. Never normally got attached so quickly.
"Ducks?" he said in amazement, as Emily pawed at his chest with her red-mittens. "Well it's lucky I'm here isn't it? Because I know all the best places to see those noisy little quackers."
Emily giggled shyly at his words, as Wade turned to Missy, who was stood there staring at the two of them, her eyes narrowed slightly, but a smile lingering over her pursed lips.
"Oooh, but I think by the look on your Mommy's face, she needs a very strong coffee first," said Wade goadingly, before turning back and jiggling the little girl in his arms. "What do you think Chicken-Little?"
Emily, who was busy chewing on her mitten and staring at Wade's long face in awe, gave a slow nod.
Missy let out a snort, raising an eyebrow.
"Why?" she asked, folding her arms across her pale blue coat. "You buying?"
But Wade merely grinned back.
"Of course," he said matter-of-factly ,strutting over to her, Emily still his arms. "But you realise that if you'd accepted my offer of breakfast sooner, you'd have had breakfast paid for all this week, by yours truly."
Something passed between the pair of them, as Wade came to stand close to her.
Missy felt her heart begin to pound inside her chest and a warmth spread through her.
As Missy smirked, her green eyes meeting Wade's chocolate ones, Emily turned to look at her mom.
"Mommy kissh Waydee," she said looking back and forth between the pair, and lifting her drool covered mitten to Missy's face.
But Missy ducked gently away from the toddlers grasp, her face almost immediately flushing red.
"Uh….I did not make her say that…" murmured Wade, giving a grin, as Emily turned back to him and proceed to grab at his ear with her wet paw. "Although….maybe we should do as she says…"
Missy shook her head, laughing, as Wade flashed her an award-winning smile.
"Come on," she said gesturing over towards the coffee stand, tucked just to the right of the entrance to the park. "Mine's a latte."
Wade stared after her ,as Missy walked on ahead of them in her sky-scraper high-heels.
He turned to Emily and gave a nod, raising his eyebrows.
"I think your Mommy likes me…" he uttered in a soft voice, before the pair of them followed after her obediently.
Sorry I haven't updated in a week. You know that's not like me. Sorry. This chapter is only a small one, but hopefully I will get back into it soon.
Thanks so much to Guest, Sabrina Colt, dancindonna, RomansBride, kaayrakoi, starrat, Claire, LegolasGirl31, XxxXCherriesXxxX, ShadowQueenKat, AngiMK, Guest, jonstar1034, kiera666, alleycat023, jeffhardyluvsme, Roseflame CrystalHeart, LittleMeep, RandomFandoming, Smaug the golden and PhanPhicAddict for reviewing the last chapter. I really appreciate every word you guys write!
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