Chasing Day Series: Chasing Day & Catching Day (32 page)

“I would have given up everything to be in your lives. Don’t
you
understand
that
?! I would’ve moved heaven and earth to be here. I mean, were you ever going to tell me? Or would I have opened the door one day and an eighteen-year-old girl would’ve been standing there, wanting to meet the dad that never even knew she existed?” Chase glared at her.

“I had heard that you were getting divorced. I was going to tell you the moment I knew it was finalized. But it looks like you beat me to it. Or my mom did.” Day grumbled the last part.

“Goddammit! I can barely look at you right now.” Chase growled as he scrubbed his hand roughly down his face. “I’ve wanted kids for a long time now. It was one of the problems I had with Whitney. I wanted kids and she didn’t. She even told me that she’d gotten pregnant, just to shut me up. And then she pretended to have a miscarriage. I was heartbroken. That was right before I got the call that your mom had had a heart attack.” Chase stopped to take a deep breath. “To think, there I was mourning the loss of a nonexistent child. Only to get the only woman I’ve ever loved pregnant and I didn’t even know about it. This must be some kind of cruel fucking joke.” He spat out as he buried his face in his hands.

“I’m s-so sorry, Chase.” Day apologized regretfully. She felt like the biggest type of asshole.

“When did you move back from London? When did you know you were pregnant? Hell, how did I even get you pregnant?” His muffled voice reached her ears.

“After I knew my mom was well enough to be alone, I flew back to London and told Rhys I was moving back to the States. He immediately handed me the divorce papers he’d had drawn up while I was gone.” Day laughed mirthlessly. “I signed them, and then packed up and left within a week.” Day exhaled. “When I got home, I auditioned for the Symphony and got the position. With all the drama, the move, and the audition, I didn’t even realize my period was late. It was during practice for a concert several weeks later that I had to run to the bathroom to throw up. I still didn’t think much of it, until my mom pointed it out. I took a test on New Year’s Day.” she recalled. “The reason I got pregnant was because I wasn’t thinking. Rhys had told me shortly after we were married that he’d had a vasectomy years before. I was furious that he’d never told me. Over the years of our marriage, I tried to convince him to get a reversal, but he wouldn’t listen. During that time, I didn’t see any point in staying on birth control, so I stopped getting the shot and let my body take a break. When I came home to take care of my mom, I was so used to having sex with you without protection, it never even crossed my mind that I could get pregnant. So there you have it,” she finished.

Chase turned his head to look at her. His eyes were filled with hurt and betrayal. He was quiet for several excruciating minutes.

“I want her in my life,” he informed Day.

“Of course.”

“I wasn’t sure where I was going to go, once the divorce was finalized and my pro-ball career was over. But now I do. I’ll be moving back here as soon as possible,” he told her.

“Alright.” Day conceded without complaint. “Y-You can stay here while you look for a place if you want.” She offered.

“I would say no, that’s how angry I am right now. But I want to spend every waking moment with her. I want to read her bedtime stories. I want to be there when she wakes up. Just to know if she’s a morning person or likes to sleep in. I just want to know her.” Chase said huskily.

Day blinked back tears as she nodded her head. “Okay.”

“Tell me about her?” Chase asked softly. “Is she smart?”

Day laughed softly and smiled. “Yes. But of course, all parents think they’re kids are smart. But she really is. Not only does she look like you, but she acts more like you than me as well.” Day rolled her eyes. “I thought that since she looked like you, she’d at least be more like me. But she’s her father’s daughter through and through, which was probably my punishment for not telling you. I had to be reminded of you every day.”

Chase picked up the photo album once more and began flipping through it. He stroked his hand over some of the pictures and others he chuckled as Lyric hammed it up for the camera.

“She’s beautiful, Day.” Chase breathed.

“That’s because she’s yours, Chase.” Day said quietly.

“No, it’s because she’s
ours
.”

~~~

A few hours later, after they’d eaten the takeout that Day had ordered, and Chase had drilled her for more stories about his daughter. Day dropped him off outside of his hotel.

“There're a few things that I need to settle back in California, but I’ll be back in a few days,” Chase said before getting out of her car. “I’ll call you to let you know when my flight gets in.”

“Okay. See you in a few days.” Day said before she pulled away.

Chase watched the car till it disappeared around the corner. As he made his way inside and up to his room, he had no idea how to feel. He was furious that Day hadn’t told him. He was devastated that he’d missed four years of his daughter’s life. Yet, at the same time, he was elated that he had a little girl and that he was going to be a part of her life.

When he’d gotten that letter and ticket from Pat, he’d had no idea what awaited him here in Chicago. Just the thought that he’d almost thrown away the ticket and note made his stomach drop. Now that he knew she existed, he had every intention of spoiling her absolutely rotten. He hadn’t even left yet, and he was already ready to be back.

Lyric Stephanie
Daniels
. Lyric Stephanie McCoy.

Chapter 14

Day pulled up to the curb at the Arrivals terminal at the airport, Tuesday evening. Chase stood there in jeans and the brown leather bomber jacket that she and her mom had gotten him for Christmas all those years ago. The cold November wind ruffled his hair as he walked towards her car and put his luggage in the back. He was gorgeous as always. Day knew it was going to be a rough couple of weeks being in the same house with him. He wanted nothing to do with her and the history of their past…World War I, II, and III, was enough to make her shy away from him as well.

Chase slid into the passenger seat after putting his luggage in the trunk and glanced into the backseat. “Where’s Lyric?”

“She’s at home with my mom. I’m great! How are you?” Day added sarcastically.

“Oh, sorry,” Chase said contrite. “How are you, Day?”

“I’m good. How was your flight?”

“Smooth,” Chase responded.

Day didn’t think their stilted conversation could get any more awkward. She prayed that they could get to a place where they could at least be friends again.

“If you don’t mind, I’d like to stop at a toy store. I wanted to get something while I was in California, but I thought it would look funny if walked around the airport with a giant teddy bear. And the one I was looking at, I would’ve had to buy an extra plane ticket because it was as big as me.” Chase joked, easing the tension slightly.

Day chuckled and nodded her head in assent. “Of course I’ll take you. Although we better hurry before they close,” she said as she headed for the highway.

Once the made it downtown, Day circled around the block several times before she finally found a parking spot. Chase chose the American Girl store. Day watched with a small smile as he hunted around the store. Her heart couldn’t help but warm as the large masculine man painstakingly looked at dolls for his daughter.

He finally found a collection of dolls that were made to look like their owners. Chase chose a medium dark-skinned doll with curly light brown hair. He found a pretty yellow dress with yellow and pink ruffles after he’d asked what Lyric’s favorite colors were. The doll’s dress had a matching dress in Lyric’s size and he bought it as well.

“Do you think she’ll like the doll and the dresses?” Chase asked nervously as they headed towards Lincoln Park.

“She’ll love them. Trust me.” Day reassured him.

“Do you think we should tell her right away that I’m her dad? Or should we wait till she gets used to me?” Chase fretted.

“Let’s play it by ear. As long as you plan on being a part of her life, it doesn’t matter either way to me.” Day told him.

“I do,” Chase responded firmly.

A little while later, they walked to the front door and Day turned to Chase before she unlocked the door.

“She’ll probably already be asleep since it’s passed her bedtime,” she warned him so that he wouldn’t make too much noise once they were inside.

When they walked in, Pat was sitting on the couch watching one of her reality television shows. They took off their coats and hung them on the hooks by the door.

“Hey, mom. Lyric in bed?” Day asked as she headed for the kitchen.

“Yeah, she’s been out like a light for a while now,” Pat informed her as she stood up.

Chase walked into the living room with his luggage and bag of purchases. Pat came towards him and wrapped him up in a warm hug. He hugged her back stiffly. Day could tell that he wasn’t too happy with her mom either.

“Don’t be too hard on her,” Pat said to him quietly. “I told her to tell you, but she really didn’t want to interfere with your life.”

“I wouldn’t have cared,” Chase grumbled. “You could’ve told me.”

Pat stepped back and raised her hands in surrender. “My name is Bennett. And I ain’t in it.”

“Ha! Like you haven’t been in it before, Mrs. D.” Chase said, giving her the side-eye.

“Not with this. Not when it involved an impressionable little girl.” Pat said seriously. “Maybe it was wrong of us to keep it from you. But can you imagine what your wife would’ve done had she known? How that little girl would feel, while your ex dragged you through the mud and made it impossible for you to see Lyric? As much as it hurts, maybe it was better this way.” Pat reasoned.

Chase just nodded his head in response, deep in thought. Day hoped that her mom’s words helped him see the dilemma she’d been in.

“Chase, are you hungry? I can warm up some leftover lasagna I made yesterday?” Day offered.

“Sure, that sounds good,” he answered.

“Thanksgiving’s the day after tomorrow. I’d love for you to come along with the girls to my house for dinner.” Pat invited.

“That would be nice.” Chase smiled slightly.

“Good. Then it’s settled.” Pat rubbed a hand down his arm, before walking over to shrug on her coat.

Day walked over to give her mom a hug and let her out of the house. She locked the door and turned to Chase. They stared at each other for a moment. Then they both looked away for their own reasons. There was no doubt that there was still an intense attraction between them, but guilt and anger continued to drive a wedge between them.

“Come on. Let’s eat.”

~~~

Chase felt something on his cheek as he slowly came up from a deep sleep. He blinked his eyes open and standing before him, next to the bed was the prettiest sight he’d seen since he’d looked at her mother the night before. Lyric stood there in a yellow flannel nightgown. Her wild wheat blonde curls were in disarray around her face and shoulders. Her light brown eyes, curious. It was her tiny hand that he had felt on his cheek as she lightly patted him awake.

“Well, good morning to you too.” Chase grinned.

Her little lips spread into a smile and she giggled. It was a sound Chase would never forget. So sweet and innocent. It was obvious that she was a morning person.

Chase pushed himself up on the bed in the spare bedroom. He scrubbed at his eyes to get the cobwebs out and grinned down at the little cherub that still remained quiet. He reached for her and then stopped.

“May I?” He asked and she nodded. Chase lifted Lyric up and sat her on his lap. Two sets of green-flecked amber eyes stared at each other for a few moments. “So what are you doing up so early?”

“My mommy told me to wake you up for breakfast,” she informed him in her sweet little voice. “My mommy also said that you have a present for me,” she added brightly.

“Ahh…that’s why you came to wake me up,” Chase smirked at her. “Well, do you know what happens to little girls that wake up sleeping giants?” He asked.

Lyrics eyes widened and she shook her head hard.

“They…get…tickled!” Chase shouted and started tickling her under her arms.

Lyric pealed with laughter and wiggled, trying to get away from his determined fingers. Chase stood up and flipped her upside down like a ragdoll. Her wild curls hung down as she giggled with delight. He hefted her up to hang over his shoulder, his right arm banded around the backs of her thighs as he walked out of the bedroom. His healing shoulder, tweaking slightly as he carried her down the stairs, her infectious laughter making him grin.

“I found a sack of potatoes in my room,” Chase said to Day.

Day turned from the stove and smiled brightly at him. “Is that so?”

Chase turned his back so she could see the so-called sack.

“I’m not a sack of potatoes!” Lyric said between giggles.

“Oh, then what are you?” Chase asked.

“I’m a little girl!” She informed him.

“Oh, that’s right. Sorry, I forgot.” Chase apologized as he lowered her to her feet.

“That was fun! Can we do it again? Please, please,
please
!” Lyric begged and Chase was ready to lift her back up.

He knew he was going to be a sucker to that face in no time.

“How about later. After breakfast.” Day said, stopping Chase from lifting her up.

“But mom!” Lyric began.

“Don’t you want to see what Chase got for you?” Day reminded her.

“Oh! May I, please have my present now?” She asked politely.

“Of course, sweetheart.” Chase agreed.

Chase realized he had a lot to learn about not giving in to her demands and coming up with compromises. Even though, Day had four years to learn that little trick, he was just getting started. The reminder rose up his hackles, so he distracted himself with walking over to grab the bag with Lyric’s new doll.

He handed her the bag and watched as she reached inside and pulled out the doll, along with the matching yellow and pink dress for her. Chase smiled in relief as Lyric’s entire face lit up. She immediately hugged the doll to her.

“What do you say, Lyric?” Day prompted her.

“Thank you!” She said as her little face looked up at him.

Chase cleared his suddenly thick throat. “You’re very welcome.”

“Can I wear the dress now? Please?!” Lyric asked.

“Why don’t you wear it tomorrow for Thanksgiving?” Day negotiated.

“Okay.” She pulled the doll away from her chest and looked at it lovingly. “Oh my gosh, she’s so beautiful,” Lyric said in awe.

“Just like you. I found the only doll that looked like you. It was the prettiest one in the bunch.” Chase said sincerely.

“Really?” Lyric asked.

“Yes, really,” Chase answered. “So what are you gonna name her?”

“Hmm…Melody!” She said excitedly.

“What a pretty name for her! What made you think of that?” Chase asked curiously.

“If she looks like me, then she can be my little sister. I’m Lyric and she can be Melody, like a song,” she announced logically.

Chase looked up at Day and she gave him a knowing smirk.

“Wow! She is smart.” Chase said impressed.

“Mom, can Melody sit at the table with us?” Lyric asked.

“Sure, baby.”

Day made their plates of bacon, eggs, and tiny pancakes, and they all sat at the kitchen table. Chase looked around at them and felt his chest tighten.

“How about you say grace, Lyric?” Day suggested.

“Okay,” the little girl said softly. Chase watched as she put her little hands together and bowed her curly head. “Dear Lord, thank you for the food, mommy, my new friend Chase, and Melody. Amen,” she finished and lifted up her head to smile proudly at her mother.

Chase tried to wipe at his eyes inconspicuously, but he looked up and found that Day had caught his emotional moment. She smiled in encouragement and he looked away quickly. One minute he wanted to hug her and the next he wanted to shake her.

They ate in silence for a while. Then Lyric said something that stopped their forks in midair.

“Are you my daddy? My friend Tara has a daddy. He’s a big boy like you. And some other kids at the playground have daddies too. They throw them up in the air and push them high on the swings. Higher than the mommies. I wanted one, but mommy never brought a big boy home to be my daddy.” Lyric rambled innocently.

Both Chase and Day swallowed hard as they got their thoughts together.

“Sweetie, you never told me that you wanted a daddy.” Day said softly.

“I didn’t want to make you sad. Sometimes you look sad like maybe you wanted a daddy too. To kiss like Tara’s mommy and daddy do.” Lyric said honestly, her kid logic hitting close to home.

Day blinked rapidly and cleared her throat though nothing came out. It was obvious that she was at a loss for words.

“Lyric?” Chase waited for her to look at him. “You’re right. I am your daddy.” Chase confirmed to the little girl’s delight.

“Really?” She asked in awe.

“Yes, really.”

“Where have you been?” She asked with a little frown.

As much as Chase wanted to point the blame at her mother, he didn’t think it was a good idea to drag their daughter into their adult drama.

“I’ve been away working. But I’m all done now. And guess what?”

“What?”

“I’m not going anywhere.” Chase placed his large hand over her little one.

“You’ll stay forever?”

“Yes,” he answered, saving the death talk for another time.

“Oh!” Lyric clapped her hands together, a little light bulb turning on above her head. “Will you take me to the park and push me high on the swing?”

“Heck, yeah! Today, if you want?”

“Mommy, can we go to the park?! Pretty please?!” Lyric bounced in her chair.

“Yes Lyric, we can go.” Day answered, finally finding her voice.

The little girl smiled so hard every little tooth in her mouth could be seen. In her innocent mind, the significance of having a father in her life only added up to high swings and tosses in the air. His absence for the first four years of her life, forgiven with a promise of forever.