"Seven year olds don't need to go to the spa," Lucas had told her a few days before.
In her opinion, spas were a necessity to pamper yourself and the ones you love and she loved Aria. What a wonderful little girl he was raising.
She rang the doorbell and giggled when she heard Aria yell, "Daddy! She's here! Can you get it? I want to make an entrance."
"An entrance? Seriously," he laughed as he opened the door.
Elizabeth was curious what type of entrance she was going to make but she was also a teeny bit grateful that she had a moment alone with Lucas.
"Hey," she said, pressing her lips to his.
"Hey, yourself." He kissed her back and gave her a long hug. "Are you sure you're up for this?"
"I'm always up for a spa day."
"Daddy! Did you let her in?"
"Yes, baby. She's waiting for you."
Aria walked out in her outfit and immediately Elizabeth wanted to hug her. She had a long sleeve white shirt and a white and peachy tulle skirt. She looked every bit a princess.
"Oh, sweetie! Look at you. You're beautiful."
"Thank you, Miss Thornton."
Elizabeth knelt down and smiled. "Tell you what, just for today, if Daddy says it's alright, you can just call me Elizabeth."
She looked up at Lucas and he nodded. "That's fine, sweetie."
"Awesome! Let's go, Elizabeth."
"Okay. Go put your shoes on."
Lucas leaned down and kissed Elizabeth again. "Thank you. For taking her."
"I'm happy to." She squeezed his hand and smiled.
"Oh, I'll move the booster."
"No need. I got one."
Lucas watched them leave and tried not to be scared. She had bought a booster seat. For his daughter. That was a big step, wasn't it? They weren't engaged.
His doorbell rang. It had to be Carson. He was coming over so they could have pizza and a beer. Might as well have guy time while Aria was with Elizabeth.
"Whoa, what's going on, Luke?" Carson asked.
"What do you mean?"
"Your face."
"What's wrong with my face?"
"You're pale and frowning…not feeling well?"
"I feel fine."
"Ah, Elizabeth just left with Aria….so you're having trouble with that?"
"What do you like on your pizza, Carson?"
"Now you're switching the subject."
He put down his phone, ignoring the pizza menu on the screen and figuring he might as well come clean. Carson would understand.
"She bought a booster seat."
"Okay." Why did Carson look like this wasn't a big deal?
"A booster, Carson."
"I heard you the first time."
"Doesn't it mean something? I mean, we aren't engaged. We had one date for goodness sake. I mean, it was a great date. Really great." Lucas started pacing. But, it's like saying she's her daughter too."
"So you're scared."
"Terrified."
"Why does the fact she bought a booster seat terrify you?"
"It feels big. Permanent. Monumental."
"Because…."
"She spent money on something for my daughter and now she's taking her to a spa because she says it's important that they bond if this thing between us is going to go anywhere."
"So is that it? You don't see it going anywhere?"
"No. It's because I do. I see it going for forever. I see more kids that look just like her. I see her making dinner with me in the evenings and talking in front of a fire and holding her in my arms and…."
"Lucas, you deserve to be happy. Does she make you happy?"
"Yes."
"Then relax. Let things happen. Let yourself feel love again. Let Aria get attached to her and see her as a mother-figure. She'll be a great one."
"I know." He did know. Elizabeth was one in a million. Lovely inside and out.
….
Fall River Day Spa
"Ooooo, PINK!" Aria said, very loudly. "Is there sparkles?"
"Of course," the nail tech said with a wink.
"Can she do toes too?"
"She can," Elizabeth confirmed. After picking out her own polish, they settled in to the massaging chairs that sat in the pedicure feet soaking area.
Elizabeth smiled as Aria sat at the very edge of the chair so that her much shorter feet were in the soapy warm water.
"This is fun!" Aria giggled, kicking a little at the bubbles. "Thank you for bringing me, Elizabeth."
"You're very welcome, sweet pea."
"Can we come again some day? Daddy tries but he's not a girl."
Elizabeth chuckled. "Of course we can."
"I wish I had a Mommy."
Elizabeth saw Aria's face turn serious, her eyes on the soapy water.
"That must be hard."
She shrugged. "I don't remember my Mommy. Daddy said she was beautiful like me. I have a picture. But I don't remember."
"Oh, sweetie. Maybe one day, you'll have a Mommy again, not to take your Mommy's place but to fill in. To help with girl things that your Daddy might not know how to do."
"Maybe." Aria looked up at Elizabeth. "Maybe it could be you! You kissed him today! I saw!"
Elizabeth blushed as the nail techs looked up, big smiles on their faces.
She was not opposed to that but it was soon. Like they just went on their first date soon. She definitely had strong feelings for him and wow, would their babies be cute….
"What kind of pasta is your favorite?" Elizabeth asked, changing the subject.
"Spaghetti. So?"
"So, what?"
"Don't you think you could be my Mommy? You like my Daddy, right?"
"Yes, sweet pea. I like your Daddy but it's not that simple."
"Why not?"
"Because it just isn't. It takes time to fall in love and to make your lives fit together."
"Like two weeks?"
Elizabeth giggled. "No, sweetie. Much longer than that."
"Oh. But, can you think about it?"
Elizabeth didn't have a choice to think about it. It was now very much in her mind and especially her heart. Just like the beautiful, blunt girl sitting in the next chair. And, just like her handsome father.
….
When they got home after a nice Italian dinner, Aria burst into the house. "Daddy! Look at my nails!! And Elizabeth bought me a book and new slippers! They're doggies!"
Lucas walked from the kitchen and scooped up his daughter. "Beautiful, princess." He hugged her tight and put her down. "Will you please go take a bath?"
"With bubbles?"
"Yes, but one cap full and fill the tub only halfway."
"I remember," she said with plenty of sass. Then she turned and ran a few steps to Elizabeth to hug her too. "Thank you so much! It was the perfect day!"
Elizabeth couldn't help but smile back. "It was, wasn't it?"
"Mmhm. Now don't forget to think about it!" she shouted as she ran out of the room.
"Think about….?" Lucas asked as Elizabeth walked slowly up to him, holding a white takeout container.
"Dessert?"
"What is it?"
"A cannoli," she told him, reaching up to kiss the corner of his mouth. "Want to share it with me?" He wanted to share so many things, but the cannoli was a good start.
"Yeah and then, can we maybe talk?"
"Sure. About what?"
"The booster and the spa day and the book and the doggie slippers."
"You sound like you don't want me buying her things."
"Well, yeah."
"Really, Luke?" she said, putting the container down and crossing her arms. "I um…I'm going to go."
She held her tears back and headed toward the door.
"What about dessert?"
"I'm full," she said stubbornly, putting on her shoes.
"I thought we were going to talk."
"I'm not sure what there is to say. You're apparently not okay with me bonding with your daughter. So, I guess that's it."
"What do you mean?"
"How can we be together if there's no chance of…" she said, her voice cracking. "If she and I can't bond, you and I can't either."
"Elizabeth, may I please explain? It isn't what you're thinking."
"You don't have a problem with me buying her things? Getting to know her?" She stopped to wipe her eyes. "Loving her?"
He held out his hand and waited. "Come sit. I need to explain."
She crossed her arms and walked past him toward the couch. "You don't get to hold my hand yet, buster."
He chuckled and followed, sitting close to her on the couch.
Gosh, he smelled wonderful. Not like pizza or beer. Like his cologne that she loved.
"Elizabeth, to be honest, I did freak out a bit when you told me you bought a booster seat for Aria."
She started to open her mouth to speak but he placed a finger on her lips. She fought every impulse not to place a kiss on that finger or those lips.
"But, Carson helped me see that it didn't need to mean anything more than you being nice."
He lowered his finger and slowly tucked her hair behind her ear.
"I'm scared, terrified really," he admitted quietly. She took his hand and threaded their fingers together. It was something about his admission that tugged even more at her heartstrings and she couldn't stay irritated at him for long.
"Of what?"
"Losing you. Aria getting too attached and losing you. My heart was broken for a long time after losing Clara. I'm not sure I'd recover if I lost you too."
"My heart is involved too, Luke. I love her. I've loved her since I met her. She's smart and beautiful and says exactly what she thinks."
He brought her hand to his lips and softly kissed her knuckles. She watched his mouth as it touched her hand, immediately needing to kiss him, so she did.
Until they heard, "Daddy! Can you wash my hair please?" from the bathroom.
"Hold that thought," he told her, his warm mouth teasing hers, just enough to make her shiver and miss him the second he stood up.
He returned about five minutes later. He put his arm around Elizabeth's shoulder and pulled her close. "Where were we?"
She smiled and rested her head on his chest, her arm over his abs. "Lucas, I need you to know something."
"What's that?"
"You mean so much to me, but if we need to slow down so you're less terrified, we can."
He brought his magical lips to her forehead and then the tip of her nose and finally, tipping her chin up, he kissed her mouth. Slow and deep, giving her goosebumps everywhere.
"You mean so much to me too," he whispered. Another kiss draws her in even more. She didn't want slow, except when it came to his kisses, but this relationship involved both of them. "I'm good with the speed we are going."
"Thank goodness," she told him, laughing.
"Daddy?" Aria said from right beside them. "Sorry to interrupt but can Elizabeth read me the new book she bought me?"
"Sure, but what about me, Aria May?"
"I guess you can come."
"Gee, thanks."
"You're welcome. Will you pretty please with sugar on top read to me, Elizabeth?"
"I'd love nothing more."