“Perfect.”
Clay disappeared through the doorway and Astrid took her time meandering down the upstairs hall, admiring the handful of framed photographs of Clay and Delia. They had the same hair color, but not quite the same features. Astrid wondered if she looked like her mother, if Clay had to see his ex-wife in his sweet daughter.
She continued to the landing, which was open on both sides and overlooked the living room below. Soft strains of late-day sunshine streamed in through tall, skinny windows that looked like matchsticks, artfully arranged on the stairwell wall. Every space Clay created was aesthetically perfect and designed with purpose, a harmonious joining of form and function. Even with the home’s seemingly simple modern design, she knew the care and love that had gone into planning it. Warm wood tones, the way the eye was drawn from one space to the next, and the central role of natural light in every room mirrored the true heart and spirit of its creator.
She wandered into his showpiece of a kitchen, just off the living room, and helped herself to a glass of water from the massive double fridge. On the counter was a large bowl of Halloween candy. She couldn’t help but smile at the thought of Clay shopping for bags of chocolate bars and peanut butter cups with Delia. Why did everything he did have to be so beguiling?
“Here comes the Snow Princess!” Delia called from upstairs.
Astrid hustled out into the hall in time to see the little girl carefully descending the stairs in her icy-blue-and-silver princess gown. Clay followed behind her, beaming with pride.
“How pretty do I look?” Delia asked, twirling in a circle at the bottom of the stairs.
“You’re the prettiest ever. You look exactly like the Snow Princess.”
Delia turned to her dad. “Can we go yet?”
“Sure. I just want to talk to Astrid for a minute if that’s okay.”
“I’ll go find my trick-or-treat bag.” Delia skittered off.
“Do you want to come with us?” Clay asked.
Astrid did like the idea of being included, but they’d had a breakthrough upstairs and she didn’t want to push it. She would have time with Delia. Tonight was all about daddy and daughter. “I would love to, but who’s going to hand out the candy?”
“I put the bowl on a chair outside my gate and let the kids grab whatever they want.”
Astrid saw the perfect compromise. “Why don’t you and Delia trick-or-treat, and I’ll take candy duty. I’ll be here when you get back.”
“Are you sure?”
“This is a special time for you two. She’ll only be five once.”
He took Astrid’s hand, tugging her close, making her light-headed with a kiss that grazed her mouth. “You promise you’ll still be here?”
“I’m not going anywhere.”
Clay took a few dozen photos of Delia. Then the two marched off down the driveway and through the gate. Astrid decided to bring a chair out to the sidewalk and hand out candy there. She’d get more takers that way. The night air was chilly, but not unbearably so with the light sweater she’d brought. Groups of children streamed past her, dressed as superheroes and witches, princesses and cartoon characters. Astrid loved handing out the candy and speaking to the little ones as their eager faces lit up with excitement at a new treat in their bag. She could often go for days at a time now not thinking about how badly she wanted to become a mom, but on a day like today, that yearning within her had new life.
She worked very hard to stay positive about it. She would become a mother one day, by adoption if necessary. The task before that was finding love. The feelings that were blooming between her and Clay were sure starting to feel like that, but she was in no rush to put a label on anything. They both had their reasons for being wary. Still, she took the phone call about the braid disaster as a good sign. She’d been his first thought. There’d been a time when she wasn’t sure she’d even been his last.
An hour and a half later, Clay and Delia returned. They both smiled as Delia held up the enormous bag of loot she’d raked in.
“All done?” Astrid asked.
“I don’t think it’s possible for her to carry any more candy.” Clay glanced at the empty bowl. “Is it seriously all gone?” He sounded more than a little sad.
She showed him the contents of her sweater pocket—a handful of assorted chocolate bars. “I had a feeling you’d want your own supply.”
“You know my sweet tooth better than anyone.” He reached for her hand. “Let’s go in and put Delia to bed, then open a bottle of wine.”
A little thrill wound its way down Astrid’s spine. “That sounds wonderful.”
The three walked inside. Delia protested when Clay took her bag of candy. “Daddy. That’s mine.”
“I know. And you can have it tomorrow. You’ve had more than enough for tonight.”
“Don’t steal any.” To drive her point home, Delia scolded him with her finger.
“I won’t. I promise. Why don’t you go upstairs and put on your pj’s?”
“Can Astrid help me?”
An instant of inner conflict crossed Clay’s face, but just as fast, it evaporated. “Sure. I’ll be up in a minute to tuck you in.”
Astrid felt honored by Delia’s request, and went upstairs with her, helping her change into her pajamas and get ready for bed. She tried to ignore the way the littlest of things, like watching as she brushed her teeth, felt so right. Oddly enough, it helped her see why Clay had worried so much about Delia getting attached to her. Astrid was more attached to them both with each passing second. “Do you want me to take out your braids?” Astrid asked.
“No. I want to wear them to school tomorrow.” Delia rubbed her tired eyes as Clay appeared in the doorway.
“Good night, Delia,” Astrid said from the doorway. She watched Clay tuck his
