Fighting for her (Novak series #1) {Completed}

6. Beautiful

Life as a parent isn’t f*****g easy. Whatever i***t is claiming otherwise is a pathological liar! I thought I had the world’s kindest and quietest baby; now I know better when she screams loud enough to make the windows shake in my parents’ house.

“It’s okay, Mila,” I mumble and keep rocking her in my arms while walking around the room.

It’s in the middle of the night, and I know mom said I could wake her if I need help, but she’s doing enough for me already. However, I don’t think it matters anymore; by now, Camilla has awakened the whole house with her screams.

“If I don’t know what’s wrong, I can’t fix it, my darling,” I say helplessly, sighing soundly.

With my daughter in my arms, I walk down the stairs to hopefully reduce the sounds the others hear. In the meantime, I’m thinking about what might be wrong, considering I’ve done everything I can think of. She isn’t gassy, not hungry, and doesn’t need a diaper change. The basic needs are met, so what’s wrong!?

“Please, Mila,” I say, almost crying over the fatigue I feel after today’s work. “Can you please stop crying? I’m exhausted.”

“Moj fant,” mom says and comes up to me. “Give her to me. Go to bed; you just worked a hard-working day. There are many changes in your life simultaneously, and you haven’t had time to deal with it. Take care of yourself, and I’ll take her.”

(My boy).

I smile gratefully and put over my daughter in my mother’s arms. Don’t get me wrong; I love Camilla above all else. But I’m still new to being a parent, and with all the other sudden changes that have taken place, I’m dead tired.

“Hvala, mama,” I answer, kissing her cheek before hurrying up to my room to get some sleep finally.

(Thanks, mom).

❖❣❖❣❖

“Darby, are you okay?” Hugo asks, and I jump up from my seat in the staff room. “You look very tired. I’m not tiring you out too much, am I, young man?”

His words make me smile. Even though we don’t know each other very well, it feels like he’s an older, dear friend I haven’t met in ages. Hugo has a friendly and understanding aura around him; it’s impossible not to like him as a person.

“I’m sorry,” I answer with a sigh. “My daughter decided to scream half the night. I guess four hours of sleep isn’t enough for me not to fall asleep in my lunch.”

“Oh, you have a daughter!” he exclaims with a big smile on his lips. “How old is she?”

“Three months, but I found out she existed recently,” I respond and yawn soundly. “Don’t get me wrong, I love Camilla, but unless I get to sleep tonight, I don’t know how to function as a human being.”

“I know the feeling,” he responds with a warm smile on his lips. “I have a twin couple at home that never gives me a quiet moment.”

“Girls?” I ask and he shakes his head.

“Boys, Samuel and André. They turn six soon,” he replies, picking out a photo from his wallet that he proudly shows me.

Two dark-haired boys who lack milk teeth smile into the camera. The similarity between sons and their father isn’t possible to mistake. They remind me of my youngest brothers, Will and Oscar. Hugo’s eyes shine with such love only a parent can give their children, and I understand the feeling.

“You have two very admirable boys, Hugo,” I say and return the photo. “You must be proud of them.”

“There’s no greater pride I have in life. After Helen left us, it’s been tough for me in periods, but my boys have always been my motivation to keep moving forward. You must know the feeling, don’t you?”

I can do nothing more than agree with him. Even though Camilla still is news to me, there’s nothing I wouldn’t do for my daughter. My oldest brothers and I grew up without our dad the first few years; it wasn’t a dance on roses.

Even though we have a good relationship today, despite the circumstances, I know that his absence during that time has affected us, at least me. Who knows, maybe that’s why I find it difficult to let people into my life because I’m constantly preparing for them to disappear as quickly as they came?

“I understand you perfectly,” I respond with a tired smile.

“How about we help each other with trying to fix Ms. Hathaway’s car? I have no repair scheduled until three o’clock, which gives us two hours.”

“That would be great!”

We work together, and when the clock strikes three, we’ve just finished the repairs we were able to do. Given the condition before the car came in, I feel that it won’t be long before it breaks down again. But as Hugo said, that’s the only thing this woman has inherited from her father.

I have no idea if he passed away or if he donated it to his daughter. What I managed to get out isn’t much, just that she had a tough childhood and that life wasn’t easy on her. I feel for her, even though we don’t know each other.

I may appear to be an angry beast without the slightest drop of humanity in my body, but believe me, I understand perfectly when it comes to people from tangled family relationships. Even though my parents have a good relationship today and everything is going as it should, it hasn’t always been that way.

There are many stories I’ve heard in recent years that I’ve never even could've imagined before. Like when mom shot down every single one of the Ravellie brothers here in New York, or when she was raped and had an abortion to make sure the child wouldn’t have to grow up knowing that its father was a rapist.

Then there’s Melissa. Sweet, loving, and friendly Melissa who messed up her life all on her own. How she managed to take so many steps in the wrong direction with parents like Hugh and Bernice, I don’t understand. I love my parents, but they’re far from being saints.

Melissa’s parents, on the other hand, are precisely that. I remember a month when I had no money left because I was fired from my job and was about to be kicked out of my then apartment. Someone knocked on the door, and when I opened my in-laws stood there.

Bernice had a form with lasagna and Hugh a receipt for my paid rent. They’re nice people, and that’s probably one of the biggest reasons I can say with a clear conscience that I’m not very fond of Melissa for what she did. For what she put them through.

There’s only one thing that makes my irritation with her turn into hate, and that’s to leave poor little baby Camilla in separation the way she’s done. Our daughter could have been seriously injured or, at worst, even died. Did Melissa care? No, because she’s a selfish b***h.

Part of me will always love Melissa, especially since she created beautiful Camilla together with me. At the same time, a more significant part hates her with all my soul. I’ll never be able to forgive her for the pain she has caused to the people around her.

I don’t give a s**t that she let me down. It’s nothing new. That, on the other hand, with a clear conscience, she can betray those who gave her life, and the tiny human she’s the mother of is unforgivable. Therefore, I’m glad that I have that mother I have because I know that nothing could keep her away from us.

My mother is one of the strongest women I know, and she wouldn’t hesitate to give her life for us. She’s the kind of mother that everyone should have, and I can estimate myself lucky that I have her. It makes what I did a few years ago even more unforgivable than it already is.

I could never do such a thing today now that I’m an adult. Maybe it’s that I had to f**k it up to mature as a human being and become an adult? We’ll probably never find out, which is perhaps as good, considering how my journey after I left my home became.

The only good thing I achieved during my time away, is my daughter, and then I still didn’t get to be with her from the beginning. You may think that the first few months aren’t crucial for a parent and its child, but it is. I could have given anything to go back in time with the knowledge that my daughter will be born.

It’s during the initial time that you create a bond with your child and learn how to put someone else’s needs in front of your own, probably for the first time. Yes, there may be people who work that way in their everyday life, but it still doesn’t work the same way.

You not only override your needs and feelings for your child but also undertake a lifelong responsibility. Sacrifices you could never before imagine doing for someone else, you suddenly do without any fuss. That extra hour of sleep you’re happy to replace to ensure that your child’s stomach pain disappears.

Suddenly you find yourself doing anything to see the little human smile and be safe, even giving up your life. I don’t think it’s until now that I realize how much Camilla means to me; she’s saved my life. Without information about her birth and existence, it might’ve taken a decade before I reunited with my family again.

I might have missed even more family dinners and life achievements that my family members accomplished. Yeah, she’s genuinely my salvation. If I meet someone in the future, I can picture getting another one or two.

However, it’ll be some time before I start dating again; the wound after the incident with Melissa is still too sore. In addition, Camilla deserves my full attention for at least another couple of years.

“Darby, you can go home if you want. There isn’t much more we can do today anyway,” Hugo blurts when he drive tomorrow’s repair objects into the garage. “Take the opportunity to hang out with your girl as long as she’s this small; you’ll miss this time when she’s an obstinate teenager.”

“And you go home to hang out with your little girl charmers,” I laugh.

“You can only imagine,” Hugo says with a big smile on his lips.

I’ve borrowed my mom’s car for another day because I felt compelled to complete Ms. Hathaway’s car today. Even though she apparently prefers public transportation, I think she’d feel more comfortable having her vehicle available if something happens.

Mom was carpooling with dad this morning, and it was no problem; if I know them right, they probably took a quickie in the car before going into the office. Although I don’t want to know any details, I can’t do anything but be proud of my father for managing to get such a beautiful woman as my mom is.

I’m almost eager to give him a high-five. However, it feels a bit strange. Is that weird? Probably, I’m an exceptional person; believe me, I’m well aware. It doesn’t take long to drive home and park the car. When I open the door, I hear a heavenly voice singing.

“Little bumblebee, sparkling light,

little bumblebee, shining bright,

little bumblebee, everything’s all right.”

I hang my jacket at the door and kick my shoes off. As in a trance, I follow the sound through the living room and stop at the kitchen door. Camilla smiles big, and a blonde woman holds her close. The unknown woman suddenly looks up at me with the most bottomless dark brown eyes I’ve ever seen.

“Oh, Lord, have mercy on my soul. You’re an angel.”

A/N:

Hello everyone!

Hmm, it looks like Darby is starstruck by this woman who’s his daughter’s new nanny.

~ What did you think about his feelings and thoughts about Melissa?

~ Is his anger toward his ex justified or not?

~ How do you think this woman will react to Darby’s words?

I’m sorry that it has taken me some time to update. As I’ve mentioned before, I had to prepare for my graduation, and I actually made it! Top 5% with the highest grade score, and I know it sounds like I’m bragging, which is okay because I am! If you’d know about how my life used to be, you’d also understand how big this is for me. I might tell you all about it in a live stream someday. By the way, the lullaby is my own creation. I don’t know where it came from, but I thought it was cute.

Well, now I’m back anyway. Please, comment and tell me what you think of the content. I’m also very eager to know what you think will happen? I take suggestions; tell me, people! Lots of love<3