One Night Stand

Chapter 7

Dale’s POV

I have a daughter. Can you believe that. She is so adorable. And Bree, hell, she has gotten even more sexy. I definitely think her boobs have got bigger since I saw her last. Hell, I have been searching for her for over a year. Who would have thought I would find her at a birthday barbecue that my employee was throwing.

Joanna had dropped hints that I was her sisters type, if only I knew that her sister was my Bree from last year, I’m sure she would have slapped me for bailing on her.

I know for a fact my family will scold me for this. I knew I should have left my number, but I thought I would remember where she stayed. How stupid I was. I will not be making the same mistake again.

Even after I told why I left that night she still showed so much concern for my sister. God, Skye will blame herself when she finds out I missed out in my daughter being born.

I’m the one to blame. It’s me that left Bree that night. I don’t know what I was thinking.

“Please give me your number Bree. If I had known I would have been there. I want to be in Abigail’s life.” I beg her after we sang happy birthday.

“Not here. My parents don’t know you are her dad.” She whispers.

Shit. They are going to hate me.

“How can I make it up to you and Abigail?” I whisper to her just as Joanna makes her way over with a plate filled with cake.

“Dale you have to try this cake. Bree made it. It’s so amazing" she says cheerily.

“Thanks" I take a piece with a napkin and take a bite.

“Mmm. Its delicious" I say. It really does taste amazing. Bree is very talented.

“You too getting along?” Joanna asks with a smirk.

“Yeah.” Bree replies but excuses herself and walks away.

I stand and chat with Joanna trying to keep an eye out for where Bree went.

“She’s had a hard time this last year. She struggled when she first found out she was pregnant. If you walk out on her again you’ll have me to deal with, and you being my boss won’t stop me" she days through gritted teeth and walks off.

Well damn. Joanna has figured it out. I walk over to where Bree is standing with Abigail in her arms. My daughter. I want nothing more than to hold her in my arms, the both of them.

“Do you have a minute?” I ask Bree quietly. She nods her head and walks back into the house where the pram is.

“I think Joanna has figured out who I am" I say quietly. Not sure how she will react.

“s**t. What did she say?” she looks scared.

“That if I walk out on you again she’ll kill me” I chuckled nervously.

“I’m sorry about her. She has always been protective and even more now since I’ve had Abigail.” Bree says as she sits down.

Abigail sitting quietly looking over at me  blowing bubbles and just looking too cute.

“Can I hold her?” I ask not talking my eyes away from my little girl.  Bree nods and gets up and brings her over to me.

With a steady hand I sit her on my lap with both my hands around her tiny waist. She plays with my watch with one hand and holds my thumb with her other.

With a breaking voice and tears in my eyes “she is beautiful Bree. Please let me stay in her life, your life. I won’t walk away again. I want to be there for her, for you both. I shouldn’t have left like I did. I should have left my number. It was stupid of me.”

“We can work something out. But my parents will have to know.” She says looking up with tears running down her face.

“I’ll do anything. I promise.” I say as I stand moving over to sit with Bree. I wrap my arm around her shoulder and kiss her hair. God, I have missed that smell. Coconut. I love coconut.

We sat for a little bit just chatting, Bree telling me more about Abigail. What she likes, what her little personality is like. We hadn’t realised that while we were talking that Abi had fallen asleep in my arms, cuddle into my chest. One of her tiny hands fisted in my shirt. I managed to get her settled into her pram without wakening her, which I was surprised at.

I’ve never been around babies really. I have a few younger cousins, but I don’t really hang out with family much. A few friends have kids, but I rarely held any of them or have to feed them.  That will all change now. I want to change the dirty nappies, do bath time and feeding. I just hope Bree let’s me in.

I decided it best I head home since Bree was getting ready to leave with Abi, who sure sleeps a lot. A bit like me, I like my long lies and lazy weekends. I said my goodbyes to Joanna who had been glaring at me for the last few minutes as I helped Bree with her things to her car. I’m going to have to work my ass of to get on her good side. The last thing I need is an upset employee and Auntie to my daughter.

As I headed back to my place, I called up my best mate Owen. He is newly married and has a kid on the way. We’ve known each other since we were in nappies. Grew up on the same street and have been practically inseparable since.

“Hey bud, how’s it going?” he asks as he answers.

“Been a weird day. You able go meet up for a beer?” I ask as I pull up outside my flat.  I hear him talking to his wife, totally whipped that he is.

“Sure. See you at The Swan in say half hour" he says.

“Perfect. See ya then" I hang up jumping out my car and heading upstairs.

The Swan is on a five minute walk from where I am, so I have time to get changed and call Bree. I just want to make sure she got back ok. And if I’m honest I am missing her and Abi.

I quickly get changed and give her a call. The conversation went great, and she agreed to let me pop by tomorrow to see them. She also sent a couple pictures to my phone so I can show my parents and Owen. He is going to be shocked when I tell him I’m a daddy.

I headed to the bar just as Owen was getting dropped off by his wife. She waved at me before pulling away.  Heading inside I grab us some beers and sat in a quiet corner to the side of the bar.

“So how was your day weird?” Owen asks.

“You remember that chick from last year, your stag night?” I ask him. He nods in response.

“The one you walked out on regretted it ever since. The one you hunted for, for months after" he goes on to say as I sip my beer.

“Yeah that one. Well, I found her. Today. At that birthday party I went to” I tell him. He looks surprised.

“And how was it? Has she got herself a new man?” he chuckles.

“It was amazing. She was amazing. She still is as gorgeous and sexy as ever and no she doesn’t have a new man. She hasn’t been with anyone since that night. She has a daughter.  My daughter" I tell him as I show him the pictures Bree had sent me.

“f*****g hell Dale. You left her pregnant?” he practically screams at me.

“I didn’t know she was pregnant. You know what happened that night and how long I looked for her. How pissed I was I couldn’t remember her address and when I did remember where she lived and went there she moved out.” I said getting myself angry at the way it all went down.

I managed to calm myself as I told Owen everything I found out today. How Joanna is her sister and everything that Bree told me about the pregnancy and the birth and her bakery. By the end of it I was smiling like an i***t staring at my little girl on my phone.

“s**t. So what you going to do?” Owen asks as we finish our second beer.

“Do what I should have done last year. Be there for both of them. I knew we had a connection that night and I blow it by leaving. Even after she found out why I left she was only concerned for Skye. She is amazing Owen. A brilliant mother and Abi, is the sweetest little baby. She has my eyes and the cutest smile" I tell him, I have a lump forming in my throat at what I have missed out on so far.

“how do you think your parents will react?”

“No clue. They will be pissed but they’ll get over it when they see her. I know Skye will feel guilty about it all, since she called me that night. Bree was surprisingly understanding about it all. I’m going to be there every day for both of them. I’m not missing out on anything else, not a single moment.”

After another beer we decide to head home. Owen calling a cab for himself and I headed back to my flat. I have an important phone call to make to my parents. I not looking forward to it, but it needs to be done.

They are currently on a 3 month holiday touring Italy and France. Since they are retired they can afford the luxury of have long holidays. Checking the time difference I know they will still be up, they are only an hour ahead of us so I dial their number and wait for my balls to get chewed.

After five minutes of pleasantries. I bit the bullet and just got to the point.

“Do you remember me telling you about the girl I met at Owen’s stag do?” the mumble a yes. “well I found her today and I have some news"  the line is quiet. “I have a daughter."