Chapter Twenty-Eight

I should be happy for Daniel, but I've been counting down the hours until the party ends and it only officially started about forty minutes ago.

The doorbell rings, again, and I'm consumed by dread. I hardly know any of these people yet they're walking around my house and I feel so judged.

I pull on a smile before opening the door.

Craig forces a smile as he holds up a party bag with a bottle of wine poking out of it.

"Happy housewarming," he murmurs. "I was going to buy you a pot plant, but I thought you'd appreciate this much more."

He hands me the gift bag, and I peer inside and find a bottle of wine I adore.

"Thanks, I could do with a good drink."

"How's Noah?"

"He's probably getting bored but very excited to see you."

"I'm excited to see the dinosaur room he's been talking about for weeks. Perhaps you two need to re-design Noah's bedroom at my house, then maybe he'll sleep in his own bed."

"It's a good night if Noah sleeps in his own bed." I lazily roll my eyes. "I think with moving house and Daniel moving in, he's a bit unsettled at night."

"Does he sleep in your bed?"

"Some fights aren't worth the battle." I sigh.

I step aside and Craig walks inside the house.

"Welcome to our little humble abode. There's drinks and snacks in the kitchen, which is where all the noise is coming from."

"Thanks." He nods.

I close the front door and turn to see Noah standing across the room. A huge smile appears on his face and he goes running into Craig's arm.

"Daddy," he shouts.

Craig scoops him up and ruffles his fingers through his hair.

"Hi buddy, I've missed you."

Noah nuzzles into Craig's chest and he squeezes him. He leans back and the smile is even bigger on Noah's face.

"I have dinosaurs in my room," Noah says.

"And what else do you have in your bedroom?" I ask.

"Mummy got me a big boy bed."

"Do you sleep in your big boy bed?"

"No." He chuckles.

"At least you're honest," Craig sighs.

Craig settles Noah on his feet, then allows him to drag him down the passage and to his bedroom. Daniel catches me lingering in the entry and wanders over to take my hand.

"Craig bought wine." I hold the bag up, and Daniel grins, taking it from me.

"I'll put it in rotation with the other bottles."

Before Daniel has the chance to leave, I tug on his hand and pull him back. Daniel places the gift bag on the floor and lazily wraps his arms around my waist. He nuzzles his face into the crook of my neck and kisses the soft spot under my earlobe.

"You can breathe now, Ellie. The party is perfect, and everyone seems to be having a good time."

"I'm scared to have your mother and my ex in the same vicinity," I comment.

"I've warned her about being on her best behaviour." He sighs.

I lean my forehead against Daniel's and exhale a shaky breath.

"Sorry, but that does nothing to soothe the nerves bubbling in my stomach."

"We only have a couple of hours, then it'll be just the two of us for the night." He grins.

"Few hours? Damn parties." I groan.

"I'm sorry." He pouts.

"This house is amazing and I love that we can share it with our friends and family. You deserve the chance to show off all your amazing work."

"Hey, we did a great job."

"I hardly did anything, you're the one who built this thing."

"Your styling bought everything together, but we both know this house isn't a home without you and Noah here."

The doorbell rings and Daniel subtly chuckles.

"Take a breather and I'll answer the door."

I steal a kiss and head to the bathroom while he answers the door. On the way there, I spot Emma and Craig talking which ignites all the fears and worries. I slip between the mingling guests and approach them with the biggest smiles I can muster.

"Hi Ellie, I was just talking to, um." She frowns.

"Craig," he interjects.

"He's wonderful with Noah."

"Craig's a wonderful father," I comment.

"It's a shame you're no longer together. It must be hard for Noah to go between two houses and pick between his parents."

"Noah has the agency to decide where he goes and who he wants to see. He's not forced to go and do anything he doesn't want to. We only want what's best for all involved."

"But don't you-" Emma is cut off before she finishes that sentence.

"I'm confused by what's happening here because all I've seen is Ellie sacrifice her happiness for other people, including myself. Daniel is very lucky to have Ellie in his life and I wish I was smarter and wised up before she left."

We're left speechless.

"And that's my cue to leave. I'll grab Noah and do the round of goodbyes."

Craig departs leaving Emma and I staring at each other.

I open my mouth several times to say something, anything, but nothing comes out.

I turn around, walk to our bedroom, and take a seat on the bed. I place my head in my hands and exhale the breath I've been holding.

There's a soft knock and then Daniel sits beside me. He places his hand on my lower back and softly rubs it.

"Your mother is never going to like me." I sigh.

"What's wrong?"

"I feel she doesn't want us to be together because of my past relationship."

He brushes his lip on my temple and sighs.

"She's probably trying to work out what's wrong with you because I always chase the red flags. You're the first woman I've ever bought home that's marriage material and she's trying to work out why you'd fall for someone like me."

"Don't say that about yourself, you're the amazing one in this relationship."

"I'm not afraid to admit I chased the red flags, that I've been stung in relationships more than I care to admit but all of those relationships taught me and guided me to you. So I would gladly endure that pain if it means being with you."

"I don't understand why she's so focused on Craig and I's relationship. We're never getting back together."

"I don't think she means to upset you, she's overly protective. I never told her about the abortion, she just saw me spiral into the darkness after my last relationship ended. So I think she worries that if this relationship doesn't work out, I'll spiral back there."

"After that discussion, I hope she realises I love you and I want the life we're building together. I want to be Mrs. Sullivan and I want to convert our junk room into a nursery one day."

Daniel's lips crash onto mine and our kiss is feverish. He grabs my waist and places me on his lap. His fingers slide down my body, then creep under my dress. Daniel's fingers dig into the soft flesh of my thighs.

"I want you," he groans into my neck, "but they're probably noticing we've been gone for a bit."

I weave my fingers through his hair and bring his lips back to mine. His tongue etches across my bottom lip, then he nips it.

"We have all night when the guests go home." I smile.

Daniel steals one more kiss before standing up and settling me to my feet.

"Oh, I plan to make the most of every second." He smirks.

A tingle shoots up my spine and I grin.

Daniel swipes his thumb under my lip, probably fixing the smudged lipstick. I fix his hair before we return to the party. Thankfully, nobody seems to have noticed we disappeared. Daniel kisses my cheek before being swept away to discuss something he built while I head to the bucket of wine.

Clara joins me to top up her wine glass.

"How are you?" Her smile is grim.

I take a very long sip, almost half the glass, before settling the glass back down and re-filling to the brim.

"Did you hear?" I raise an eyebrow.

"Emma feels awful for upsetting you."

"I thought as a parent, maybe I would understand the protectiveness but to keep pushing me away? I don't understand."

"Daniel hasn't been this happy in like ever. I hope Emma realises soon just how special you are and the impact you're having on Daniel's life."

"I hope so."

I brush a stray tear from my cheek and take a deep breath. She rubs my shoulder before moving on. I turn around and come face to face with my mother. Her smile drops and her eyebrows knit together.

"What has he done?" Her eyes blaze with anger.

"It's fine, everything is fine." I force a smile.

"You're upset, Ellie. Is it Craig? I notice he left rather quickly with Noah."

"No, for once. It's tricky in-laws." I sigh.

Her eyebrows narrow.

I hug my mum tightly and don't let go until the tightness in my chest eases.

"What can I do?"

"Thanks, but everything will be okay." I exhale a breath. "I just need to get through the remainder of the night. I'm looking forward to changing out of this dress and into something more comfier."

"Amen to that," she chuckles.

I look for Daniel in the crowd and I find his gaze already on me. He nods his head like he's listening to the conversation, but his sole focus is on me. I tug on a smile to show him I'm okay, but he excuses himself and comes over.

"I'll send everyone home," he whispers and he pulls me into a hug.

I nudge him away and shake my head.

"I promise I'll be fine, it's just hard when people ask if I'm okay."

"How about we sit outside for a little? I'm sure the fresh air will be good"

"Okay." I nod.

We slip outside and take a seat on the bench that overlooks the living room. Daniel hooks his arm around my shoulder and I snuggle into his chest. We watch the guests mingling with each other and listen to the wind rustling the leaves.

Daniel exhales a big breath and I place my hand over his chest.

"Are you okay?" I peer up at him.

"Just looking at the house and you in my arms...I never thought I would be here a year ago."

"Neither," I chuckle.

"I love you, Ellie."

"I love you."

"And I love the sound of Mrs. Sullivan." He smirks. "But that's a question for another day."

"Craig will lose his mind because I fought hard for Noah to have my last name. I wanted us to have the same name and here I am, dreaming about becoming Mrs. Sullivan."

"Mr. Rhodes sounds good as well," he comments.

"You'd change your last name for me?" I gasp.

"You'd change your last name for me, so it only seems fair I'd be willing to do the same." He smiles. "Or we could hyphenate the names? Mrs Ellie Rhodes-Sullivan."

"Mr. Daniel Rhodes-Sullivan," I comment.

"It has a nice ring to it." He nods.

"Would our future children be mad because they have a long last name?"

"I like that it's a combination of our last names. Plus our future children will have a connection to Noah with Rhodes."

"That's a good point."

"Now to decide which order to have the last name."

"Mm, that's a tricky question!"

Daniel pecks my cheek and grins.

"Luckily we have time to figure that all out."

I trail my fingers over the fabric of his t-shirt while his fingers softly stroke my shoulder. Our close connection soothes the nerves and drains the tension from my body.

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