Summer Rental-Ch 2

Derek stood up and started pacing through the cluttered living room but when Penelope walked into the room carrying the little girl she said, "Derek I would like for you to meet our daughter Melody". He said, "o o our daughter, as in yours and mine"?, she laughed and said, "yeah that's what I mean", he took a deep breath and said, "why didn't you tell me about her"?, Penelope said, "I was afraid".

Derek sighed and said, "afraid, afraid of what"?, she said, "afraid that you wouldn't want her, wouldn't want us", he said, "of course I wanted you, want you". Melody laid her head down on Penelopes chest and started sucking her thumb, Derek caressed her cheek with his finger and said, "she's so beautiful",
Penelope grinned and said, "she reminds me so much of you".

Penelope kissed the top of her daughters head and said, "Mel this is your daddy", the little girl looked up at Derek and said, "daddy"?, he smiled and held out his hands and said, "can daddy hold you"?, she buried her head in his chest and shook her head no". Derek smiled and said, "I won't hurt you baby girl,
I just want to hold you".

Penelope said, "it's okay baby, he won't hurt you", she reluctanly leaned over into his arms, Derek said, "I still can't believe it, I can't believe that we have a child". Derek said, "soooo you would be a little over 3 years of age right"?, the little girl nodded her head yes and Penelope said, "I tried to call you once".

He said, "I don't remember getting any calls from you", she took a deep breath and said, "your number had been disconnected and I didn't have any other way of getting hold of you". He kissed the top of his daughters head and said, "what kind of things does Melanie like"?, Penelope said, "ohhhh she loves all of the disney princesses and definitley her favorite color is purple".

Derek laughed and said, "now that I can tell", the little girl was in a purple shirt, white shorts and purple sandals, Derek opened his mouth to speak when a man walked into the house saying, "P I'm here". Derek looked over his shoulder and said, "bab, I mean Penelope can I talk to you outside for a minute please"?, she nodded her head yes and said, "yeah sure".

He carried Melody outside and said, "I thought you said that you weren't married", she said, "I'm not married", he said, "well who's that man in there, you know the one that's calling you baby"?, she opened her mouth and said, "he's a good friend". Derek said, "a few minutes ago my tongue was down your throat and we were seconds away from making love",

Penelope said, "Derek I", the man came to the door and said, "P where did you put my stuff"?, she said, "second room on the right", he grinned said, "thank you". When he turned and walked inside Derek said, "he seems to really care about you, alot", she nodded her head and said, "he's a great guy and he was here for me when I found out that I was pregnant".

Derek looked down at his daughter and said, "if I'd known about her I'd been here", she stroked her daughters cheek and said, "I know that now Derek but you have to look 4 years ago I was 18 years old, I was scared to death and he was, well he was here for me and Melody". Derek said, "do you love him"?, she took a deep breath and said, "yes".

Dereks heart dropped and he said, "oh", she looked at him and said, "Derek I", Melody said, "nackie momma, nackie", Penelope said, "ohhhh it is snackie time for you isn't it princess"?, she nodded her head yes as she leaned over for Penelope to get her. Derek said, "well I'll go and let her get her snack", Melody smiled and said, "bye bye daddy".

Penelope said, "you don't have to go, you can stay ya know", he said, "I'm your neighbor I live right over there", he pointed to the house right through the fence. He said, "but I was hoping that maybe later I could spend some more time with Melody"?, she said, "of course you can, you can see her whenever you want to".

Derek said, "Melody how about later you and daddy go play in the sand"?, the little girl looked up at Penelope and Penelope said, "would you like that baby girl, would you like to go play in the sand with daddy"?, she nodded her head yes and said, "pweaseeeeeeee". Penelope kissed her on the top of her head and said, "of course you can".

Derek said, "how about 2:00"?, she said, "that's fine", as he turned and said, "see you 2:00 princess"?, Melody waved and said, "byeeeeeeee" as she watched Derek head up the beach toward his place. Penelope walked into the house and sighed as she put Melody into her high chair and said, "how about some fruit baby"?, she clapped her hands and said, "fwut fwut", Penelope laughed as she put the little girls favorite fruit strips into her bowl.

As he stepped into his house he said, " I let her go once and I'm not about to do it again", he then opened his beer and took a drink and said, "I don't know who he is but he's got to go". As he looked out his kitchen window he saw the man sitting at the table playing with his daughter and wondered if it was already to late, he wondered if it was to late for him to win Penelopes heart again"