I could see that easily too. But there was something else at the periphery of my mind, another child, maybe a boy who was running to keep up with his sister. The vision was so real; it took my breath away. I wanted another child, a sibling for Lilliana. And I wanted that with Blake. There was no telling if she felt the same way. She had school to finish, a career to build. She probably wanted to wait a while to have a family, and that was her right.
I had no business asking her for more.
She frowned at me. "What? You don't think so?"
I felt Blake's gaze on the side of my face. "I hadn't thought about what it would be like to take Lilliana through something I designed."
"It was the first thing I imagined. Lilliana running through, seeing the clues, and her excitement at seeing the pool from the lookout. Then running down to dip her hands in it. The misters are a nice touch. They will help with the heat."
The first thing Blake imagined was enjoying this thing I built with my daughter. "We have to build this. People are going to love it."
"I'm so impressed. I wouldn't know the first thing about designing a maze."
"I did a lot of research and incorporated the best elements from each one."
"Have you shown your family?"
"Not yet. I'm worried they won't like it."
"How could they not? And besides, doesn't it only matter what Phyllis at the center thinks? It's her project."
"You're right. It's hard to show people something that you worked hard on. It feels like giving them a piece of me and asking them to judge it."
She frowned. "Are your brothers hard on you? I can't imagine that they won't like it."
"I haven't been tasked with something this big before. I don't want to screw it up." I'd spent all my spare time researching options and reaching out to other's who'd already designed mazes. It was actually a small community, easily accessible online.
"I, for one, can't wait to see it," Blake said excitedly.
I set the laptop aside and cupped her face. I kissed her, pouring everything I was feeling into it. I needed her to see that I appreciated her, I wanted her, and that I wouldn't let anything come between us. I wished I could say the words, but actions spoke more loudly.
Lilliana was asleep in her crib, so there was no way she could walk in on us, and I had the monitor on the coffee table.
Blake was quickly becoming everything to me. I just hoped I wasn't getting in too deep by myself.
Chapter Sixteen
Blake
It was the perfect week with Lilliana and Dalton. I painted with Lilliana every day and took her various places around the island on days we didn't spend at the beach.
I was avoiding making a decision about my career. But I'd need to figure something out. The next semester would be starting up soon, and I needed to decide if I'd be in the classroom this time or not.
With the money I'd already spent on tuition, it made sense to finish my degree. But it felt like I was pushing my dreams off for another year or even two.
I wanted to spend my time painting and making a difference in people's lives. I wanted to share my passion with others.
I didn't want to leave Blake and Lilliana. That's why I was avoiding thinking about it at all. On Sunday night, we were just sitting down to dinner when the doorbell rang.
"You don't think it's Oakley, do you?" I asked, somewhat nervous that she thought she could take Lilliana when it was Dalton's week.
"I don't know." Dalton headed for the door, and I held my breath, listening for who it could be. I focused on Lilliana, not wanting her to sense that I was upset.
The door opened, and there was a murmuring of voices, but I couldn't hear who it was.
"She's my daughter. I can take her whenever I want," Oakley's voice broke through.
I felt panicked. I should take Lilliana away from her mother's yelling. I quickly cleaned up the high chair and pulled her from her seat. "Let's get you in the bath."
