Two Months Later

August 5th, 2008

“Happy Birthday to you…Happy Birthday dear Emma…Happy Birthday to you!”  Applause sounded throughout Justin’s kitchen and Emma grinned, loving the attention.

“I can’t believe she’s one already.”  Adah leaned against the counter top, wedged between Lynn and Paul as they watched the festivities.  Justin was helping Emma eat her cake, which she proceeded to smear all over her face.  There were cheers and giggles all around.  It was a heart warming sight for everyone involved.

“You’ve done an incredible job with her, Adah.  She’s beautiful.”  Lynn wrapped her arm around Adah’s shoulders, bringing the younger woman in for a tight hug.  “I’m really glad you’re here.  Justin is too, you know.”

“Yeah…I know.”  Adah glanced back over at Justin and Emma, a smile permanently attached to her face.  Seeing them together made her feel that all of the struggles were truly worth it.  Justin had stepped up to become an incredible father and Emma had him tightly wrapped around her little finger.  They were slowly starting to become a family and it felt really good for Adah.

“Presents!”  Rachel’s voice called out over everyone else, ushering the crowd into the living room where a mountain of gifts awaited the little birthday girl.  Adah hung back, letting everyone else take over for the day.  She hadn’t had to change a diaper, give a bottle, or wipe Emma’s face all day.  It was relaxing, if strange.

“I think she liked the cake.”  Justin’s grinning face broke through Adah’s thoughts and she chuckled at the sight of him.  He was covered in pink frosting and chocolate cake.

“I think she liked seeing it all over your face.”  She reached up to wipe a glob that had stuck over his eyebrow.  “You’re a mess.”

“I love it.”  His happiness was contagious.  “You having a good time?”

“This is incredible, Justin.  Thank you.  Emma is having the time of her life.”  Adah glanced around the room at the decorations and piles of bakes goods.  Streamers hung from the ceiling, balloons littered the room, and confetti covered every spare inch of surface.  It was beautiful and it was homemade.  Adah couldn’t have asked for anything more for Emma’s first birthday, and she didn’t have to lift a finger.

“I know she’s enjoying it, but I asked about you.”  Justin finished washing off his face and hoping that the pink frosting wasn’t going to stain his shirt.  He watched Adah carefully, sensing that something was slightly off.

Despite her extreme hesitation, Adah had moved into Justin’s house a little over a month ago.  He loved having his daughter with him every day, and it was even better getting to share all of those moments with Adah, too.  He truly felt their family growing together and he felt complete.  Adah had been very upfront with her feelings and her apprehension about getting into a relationship with him.  He was trying his best to respect her wishes, but the more time he spent with her, the more he knew that he was ready to be with her.  He was letting her set the pace though, even if it meant being at a stand-still.

“I am enjoying myself.”  Adah finally answered.

“But?”

She shrugged, looking up to meet his eyes.  “I just wish my Mom could be here to see this.”  She dropped her gaze when her eyes started to fill with tears.  Justin’s arms wrapped around her, pulling her into his chest.

“I’m so sorry, Adah…”  He rubbed her back in slow circles, feeling truly terrible.  Most of Justin’s family had flown out for the occasion, including his grandparents, but he’d forgotten that Adah didn’t have any family to invite. 

“It’s okay.”  She pulled back, wiping at her eyes.  “I shouldn’t be crying.  This is a happy occasion.  Our baby girl is a year old.” 

Justin pulled her back in for another hug, giving her a light kiss on the forehead.  “You have every right to feel sad, Ads.  I’m sorry I didn’t think about this before.”

She shook her head, stepping back from him completely.  “No, it’s fine.  I’m fine.”  Wiping at her eyes again she gave him a watery smile.  “We should get in there.  Emma would be upset if we missed opening her presents.”

Despite his worry, Justin laughed.  “She doesn’t even know we’re gone.”  He wrapped his arm around Adah’s shoulder, walking with her into the living room.  Everyone was spread out and Lynn had Emma in her lap as they tore at wrapping paper and cooed over presents. 

Adah leaned into Justin, looking up at him.  “Thank you for this.”

He grinned down at her, “Thank you for my daughter.”  He felt Adah chuckle softly.

“You have a point.  I did work harder than you.”  Her smile was genuine and her eyes sparkled.  It took a lot of will power, but Justin resisted kissing her.  It was getting more difficult by the day, but he managed.

“I think you’ll always have me trumped with that one.”

She rested her head on his shoulder.  “Don’t you forget it.”

~*~

“I never thought a baby’s birthday party would be so exhausting.”  Adah plopped down on the lounge chair by the pool, happy to have her feet up.  “I think I might pass out.”

“Tell me about it.”  Justin handed her a beer, taking his own seat next to her.  “I’m just happy my parents are here to watch her tonight.  I need a break.”

“You were great today, really.”  Adah smiled over at him, “Being Daddy fits you well, Justin.”

He laughed, blushing.  “It’s only because I’m still a big kid myself.”  He took a long swig of his beer and settled his head back against the chair.  Despite being close to dusk, it was still comfortably hot outside and the drink was refreshing after the long day.  It had taken them just as long to clean up the house as it had to set up.  It had been worth it, though.  Watching Emma toddle her way around the house, laughing and giggling had made being a dad the coolest thing in the world.  She was by far his best accomplishment, and that was saying a lot.

“I don’t know if I tell you this enough, but you’re a wonderful father.  She’s really lucky, you know.  It’s obvious how much you love her.”

Justin sat, speechless.  He was completely flattered by Adah’s words and he wasn’t entirely sure why he was getting so choked up about it.  “Thank you.”  He cleared his throat, taking another long swallow of his beer to cool off.

“I’m sorry that I’ve been so distant lately.”  Adah wasn’t entirely sure why she couldn’t stop talking, but something about this night invited honesty.  For the first time in a while they didn’t have Emma running around to steal their attention and she had a lot on her mind.  “You’ve been trying so hard to respect my wishes with everything and you’ve taken time off from your career to be here with me and Emma…”

“Adah…”  Justin tried to stop her, to tell her that this wasn’t necessary, that he knew, but she held up a hand to quiet him.

“No, let me say this now or I won’t.”  She took a deep breath and closed her eyes.  “You scare me, Justin.  What you do, who you are…it scares the shit out of me.  But it’s so damn difficult for me to remember all of that when I watch you with our daughter.  I don’t see the entertainer.  I don’t see the musician.  I see the dad and the man that stepped up to be that dad.  You’re making it really hard to stick to my guns and avoid any feelings I may have for you.”

“Adah…” He tried again.  He knew she’d only had one beer, but he was afraid that she was talking from alcohol and he didn’t want her to say something she might want to take back later. 

“I love you.” 

The air around them seemed to still with her confession, and Justin felt his heart slow before picking up and beating rapidly.  “What?”  He didn’t dare turn to look at her.  He didn’t want to disrupt the moment.

“I’ve fallen in love with you, Justin.”  She laughed, “No matter how hard I’ve tried to keep my distance, you still managed to get me to fall in love with you.”

“I’m…sorry?”  He chanced a look at her and was happy to see her smiling.

“You should be,” she chided, “you did it all backwards.”

“Backwards?”

“Yeah.  You got me pregnant and then made me fall in love with you.  I think you’re supposed to do it the other way around.”

Justin’s grinned stretched across his face.  He could still feel his pulse racing at her mention of being in love with him.  It felt right.  “We ended up in the same place, eventually.”

“Well, next time we can do it the right way.”  Adah’s voice floated over to him and he sat up, giving her a look.

“Next time?!”

He was met with the cadence of her laughter filling the backyard and floating off into the approaching evening.

**The End**