"Dinner's ready," Dalton called up the stairs, and I closed the flaps on my blank canvases and went to meet him.
He was waiting for me at the bottom of the stairs. "Did you get everything unpacked?"
"Most of it."
"You should have time this week unless Oakley drops Lil off at some point."
I couldn't wrap my mind around not knowing when your child was going to be in your house. How did he plan anything without a nanny or a sitter? The lack of schedule would drive me crazy. But I got the impression he was just grateful for time with his daughter.
I remembered vaguely Ivy and Cooper talking about times when Oakley wouldn't let Dalton see Lilliana at all, claiming that he didn't know how to care for a newborn. As if she'd had experience before Lilliana was born. The thought made my chest burn with irritation.
We headed outside. His home had a pool and a hot tub with a lovely patio to entertain guests. He'd cordoned off the pool with a childproof fence, which I appreciated. It made me nervous to work in homes where the pool was easily accessible.
"Do you have enough room?" Dalton asked, setting the chicken on the table.
I sat down, admiring the food he'd prepared. Watermelon cubes, corn on the cob, and barbecue chicken. "It's just right. Thank you for letting me stay here."
Dalton spooned the watermelon cubes onto his plate. "You're doing me the favor. I never know when Lilliana will be here, so it will be a huge help to have you living here."
"I don't know how you managed by yourself," I murmured.
"It was difficult." He passed me the watermelon. "Do you have everything you need? I can order anything you want."
"I'm okay for now." I had visions of setting up my easel by the pool and letting Lilliana play with paint. But some parents didn't like their children getting dirty in that way. I'd learned to take my time before I brought up my love of art.
I placed a little of everything on my plate, suddenly starving from the long day. "It was nice that your brother could help me move in."
"Shep's a good guy. My brothers think he's not responsible, but he's been here for me since this whole baby thing came up. All of my brothers have been."
"You weren't planning on having a baby?" I didn't know the situation with him and Oakley, but I was curious.
"I was planning on breaking up with Oakley the night she told me she was pregnant."
I raised a brow. "You're serious."
He nodded, placing the cloth napkin on his lap. "I tried to make a go of it, because I wanted to be involved in their lives, but Oakley made it impossible."
I cut the chicken into bite-size pieces. "How so?"
"She raged at me whenever she wanted something. I was supposed to live in her apartment but not have any say in how things went. She wanted me to build the nursery when it was convenient for her. When I asked about how life would be after the baby was born, she was evasive. She said she was contemplating not putting my name on the birth certificate."
I sucked in a breath. "That means you have to get a paternity test to prove you're the dad."
Dalton nodded. "Then she said she might not want me in the delivery room. I had a feeling she said these things so I'd do whatever she wanted. She held all the power. My brothers suggested I get my own place and reclaim my independence. They said it would be better for Lilliana if one of the parents was stable."
I nodded, neither of us eating yet.
"So I bought this place and worked with my brothers to renovate the kitchens and bathrooms. We babyproofed the outlets and redid the floors so there weren't any issues when the baby is crawling or walking."
"How did Oakley take you moving out?" I couldn't help but ask.
"Not well. She raged at me, calling and threatening me. It was out of control, and it made me feel like I'd made the right decision. Of course, I worry about how she is with Lilliana. I'm not there all the time, and it scares me. I hope that her desire to manipulate only extends to me and not our child."
I wasn't sure what to say. It wasn't a great situation. "You have no reason to think that she's not a good mother. You can only react to the facts you have. If that changes, then you can make a decision. Did she let you in the delivery room?"
His mouth turned down. "Not until after."
"Do you know if she put you on the birth certificate?" I couldn't help but press.
