Page 18 of Sparks Fly
Trish
I don’t think I’ve ever been so nervous to let another person into my house, and judging by the way Cora is bouncing off the walls. She’s nervous too.
“Mom? Do you think he’ll like me? Dad doesn’t really come to see me anymore…” she trails off, and my heart absolutely breaks for her. The divorce was rough on both of us, but the way Derek has failed her really pisses me off.
“Cora, you’re the best part of my life, and I’m sorry that your dad has continually disappointed you. That has nothing to do with you, and everything to do with him.” Although I know she doesn’t understand that sentiment right now, I still feel as if I need to reiterate it to her. I could kill that man for what he’s done to her.
“Everyone else seems to have their dad around, and he just never wants to see me,” she argues.
“That’s not your fault, I promise. I wish I could explain it to you better, but he’s busy.”
“So are you, and you make time for me.”
Tears burn the backs of my eyes and I wish I could make this more simple, but I can’t. “I know baby girl, and that sucks. There’s no other way around it, it just does. Know that I love you, and I will do whatever I can to prove that to you every single day.”
She pulls her bottom lip between her teeth. “Do you think Mark will like me?”
Fuck Derek. Fuck him and every single lie he’s spoken, and promise he’s broken. “Cora, you’re going to be one of his best friends. Just wait and see.” I pray that Mark doesn’t end up disappointing her the way her dad has.
When I hear the knock, I realize he’s right on time. I half expected to get a message that he’d changed his mind, but not this man who is proving to me that people can keep their promises. Cora freezes next to me in the kitchen, her eyes going wide.
"Is that him?"
"That's him."
She smooths the front of her shirt, the bright orange one with the rhinestone butterfly that she picked out herself because she said it was her prettiest shirt. My heart clenches in my chest because she dressed for this. She prepared, the same way I've been preparing all afternoon, convincing myself this is fine, this is just dinner, this is not a big deal.
But it is a big deal. I know it's a big deal. It's one of the biggest ever. This makes or breaks whatever is going to happen between Mark and I.
I open the door, and the first thing I register is all of the colors around him. He's holding the most ridiculous, beautiful bouquet of flowers I've ever seen. There are sunflowers and zinnias and others I don’t know the names of, wrapped in brown paper and big enough to almost hide his head, and in his other hand is a white bakery box tied with a ribbon.
"Hey," he says, and he's looking at me like he's searching for my approval, before his gaze drops down beside me. Cora is there, her little hand in mine. He crouches down without any hesitation, bringing himself to her level. "You must be Cora. I'm Mark."
She stares at him with the unflinching assessment of a seven year old who only knows how to be honest. "Those flowers are very colorful."
"They are," he agrees, completely serious. "I heard from someone who knows you that it's important."
She points at the bakery box. "What's in there?"
"Chocolate cake," he whispers like it's a secret between the two of them, and my heart gives a little clench again.
The sound she makes is so loud I have to plug my ear. It's pure joy, and she spins around to look up at me like she cannot believe her life. "Mom! He brought my favorite chocolate cake."
"I see that." My voice comes out steadier than I feel. I look at Mark over the top of her head and he's already looking at me, hope in his expression, and I mouth thank you before I step back to let him in.
He hands Cora the flowers, and she carries them to the kitchen counter like they're the most precious things she's ever gotten. Which to her, they might be. No one's ever given her anything like that before.
I watch the two of them as I head into the kitchen. I'd already planned on hamburgers and fries, which is Cora's standing request for any special occasion, and Mark settles in there like he's supposed to be here. He doesn't hover, or get in the way. He spends time with Cora talking to her quietly. I can’t hear what they’re saying, but the conversation seems to be serious.
There are giggles, and I look over, seeing him pull a coin from behind her ear.
“I didn’t know that you’re a magician.” I raise my eyes at him.
“I have to keep some of my talents a secret.” He throws me a wink that goes straight between my legs.
Knowing that my daughter is here and he’s giving her the attention she hasn’t been getting from her father, I turn back to finish cooking the food. When I get done, I turn off the stove. “Are you two ready to eat?”
“Yeah!” Cora answers. “Because after we eat dinner, I can have my chocolate cake.”
