I would strongly suggest that you read the previous 4 parts, if you haven't already, so that the story and characters make a lot more sense.
Constructive comments and criticism are welcome. It's always nice to know what's good and what's not so good about your work.
However, trolling hateful comments will be deleted.
Remember it is just a story.
Enjoy.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
DADDY'S GIRL
Chapter 13 -- What now
Gazing out of the aircraft window Lucy stared at the rather drab overcast England they had returned to, the weather matching her mood, as the plane taxied towards the terminal building.
A few rows in front of her, Danny was doing something very similar sitting next to his daughter as she watched carefully everything that was happening outside.
"When do we get off Daddy?"
"Soon sweetheart."
"Will Lucy be getting off to?" She asked yet another question about the brunette who seemed to have captivated her.
"Yes munchkin, she will be."
Disembarking from the aircraft Danny had been tempted to make the break quick and clean by simply walking away without waiting for Lucy, but he had quickly realised there was no way that Jessica would let that happen. Also, it would be very difficult to explain if she then caught up with them at baggage reclaim,
"Let's wait for her." He suggested, stepping to the side once they were out of the aircraft door.
A dozen or more passengers passed them by before she finally appeared.
"Oh, you waited." Lucy said with surprise as she got off the plane, mentally kicking herself for making it sound like she had expected them to just go.
"Well Jess wants to say goodbye properly." Danny gave her a sad smile.
The three-year-old happily took both their hands, skipping between them, clearly unaware of the air of despondency that had descended over the two adults.
With an inevitability hovering over them the pair almost silently guided Jessica through immigration before going on to collect their cases from the carousel.
As she had on the journey out Jessica took a great deal of interest in the numerous bags going around on the belt, eagerly looking out for hers.
"It's here daddy... it's here." She shouted with excitement when her bag came into view, making both Jess and Danny smile despite their unhappiness.
It took a few minutes before they had retrieved everything and made their way through customs and out into the terminal.
"Well, I guess that's the holiday finished." Danny gloomily stated as the three of them stood in the arrival's hall with their bags, "Back to normality now."
Lucy gazed at him wanting to throw herself into his arms and tell him that she loved him. However, her mind was filled with thoughts about his statement that he wasn't looking to expose his daughter to a string of girls, his only concern was Jessica.
'Couldn't he make an exception for just one girl. Her?'
The trouble was that it was her concern to. She understood his reasons perfectly but why couldn't he see that she had fallen in love with the little girl as well as him.
"I suppose so." Instead, she unhappily agreed with him, her heart breaking apart as she spoke.
She had her new job to look forward to and her life to get on with but now, all she wanted was to be with the man standing in front of her and his adorable daughter.
"How are you getting home?" Danny asked prolonging their goodbye's a little longer.
"Oh, my friend.... she's collecting me."
"Fair enough, otherwise we could have shared a taxi....."
They went silent again.
Resisting the urge to reveal how he felt Danny picked up his daughter and swallowed hard. Lucy had been adamant when she told him she had only been looking for a holiday fling with no strings and he had been it.
The only problem was that somewhere along the way he had fallen in love with her and so had Jessica.
"Maybe I'll see you around." He stated flippantly not knowing what else to say.
"Yeah maybe... or...."
"Bye Luce I....."
"Oh yeah, bye Danny." Not giving him a chance to finish she kissed him on the cheek.
"Be a good girl Jess." Kneeling down she drew the little girl against her in a hug, "I'm sure you're going to enjoy school."
"No. Don't go Lucy." The three-year-old started to plead as soon as she realised what was happening.
Lucy tried to smile as she blinked back the tears she knew were coming.
"I have to sweetheart. I'll... I'll miss you." Choking off a sob she stood and turned, immediately starting to walk away.
"Luceeeeeeeeeeeee!"
She had barely gone two steps when she started to cry as her heart shattered into a million pieces, the tears streaming down her cheeks at the sound of Jessica's pitiful wail.
"Luccceeeeeeeeeeeeeeee don't go.... come back. I love you."
It took every ounce of her willpower but she didn't turn around, she knew that if she did, she would end up running back and telling him how she felt about him and his daughter.
Continuing to hurry away she could hardly see in front of her as her tears clouded her vision while she tried desperately to block out the sound of the little girl's voice.
"Mummmeeeeeeeeee!" Thankfully, the sound of Jessica crying eventually faded into the background and stopped wrenching on her heartstrings.
The tears coursed freely down her cheeks as, ignoring the inquisitive stares from strangers, she made her way through the crowds and out of the airport building to where Annabelle would be waiting to give her a ride home.
"Lucy, over here." Her friend waved and moved towards her, "How was your...."
"Take me home please... I want to go home." Sobbing she left her case and slid into the passenger seat crying almost hysterically.
"What's up Lucy. What's happened?" Annabelle clambered in after her once the case was stored in the boot.
"Just take me home.... Please. I just want to go home." Lucy looked out of the window, trying not to think of the pain in her chest, unable to stop crying.
Annabelle stared at her friend for a moment but didn't press her on what was wrong. Keeping quiet she drove them back to Lucy's flat, the silence only punctuated by the desperate sobbing coming from the passenger seat.
Once they were inside, Annabelle left Lucy to cry as she made tea for them both before resuming her inquisition.
"Ok Luce, are you going to tell me what's up?" Placing two mugs on the table she sat down and asked.
Lucy looked at her with black rimmed eyes where her mascara had run.
"I... I love him." She whispered softly.
Annabelle sat back open-mouthed in shock, "For fuck's sake, I said have a fling not fall for some Greek gigolo."
"He's not Greek and he's not a gig-a-whatsit." She sniffled taking a sip of her tea, "I love him and I love his little girl."
"Oh shit no, you've not gone and fallen for a married man Luce, surely?"
Lucy shook her head, "No, he's... he's divorced and... and his ex was killed recently in a car smash."
"But all the same. A guy with a kid."
"You don't understand. He lives round here. I saw him before.... before I went away."
Her friend looked at her clearly puzzled.
"What? Where?"
