Kayleigh woke up from her nape around eight o’clock when Nicole came into her room.

“Hey Leigh,” Nicole greeted as she sat down on her bed.

“Hi,” Kayleigh said, yawning.

“How are you feeling?” Nicole asked, concerned.

Kayleigh shrugged. “Okay, I guess. I really needed that nap. Where’s Elizabeth?”

“Downstairs with James and Nick,” Nicole answered. Kayleigh nodded and they both sat in silence for a few minutes. “Nick wants to take you guys back to Florida.” Kayleigh sighed. She knew she was going to have to make this decision sooner or later. It would be so easy to stay in California with Nicole and James and continue on with the rest of her life. But Kayleigh knew she couldn’t hide anymore. She was going to have to go back to Florida and face everyone.

“What are you going to do, Kay?” Nicole questioned.

“I don’t know, Nicole,” Kayleigh answered. “What do you think I should do?”

“It’s your decision,” Nicole replied. “As much as I would love for you and Elizabeth to stay out here, I think you should go with Nick. Elizabeth needs a father. Nick deserves to know his daughter and you need Nick. I can tell.”

“I do,” Kayleigh whispered. “I’ve always needed him.”

“He loves you, Kayleigh,” Nicole told her. “He still does. And I know you love him too. You two deserve a chance together.”

“I know,” Kayleigh said, starting to cry. “But what about—“

“No buts,” Nicole interrupted. “No matter what, you guys should give it a shot. Be a real family for your daughter.”

A little while later, after she had cleaned herself up a bit, Kayleigh decided to go downstairs. It was almost Elizabeth’s bedtime anyway and Kayleigh knew that this would be one of the last nights that she and her daughter would be in this house.

When Kayleigh reached the living room, the sight in front of her brought tears to her eyes. Nick and Elizabeth were sitting on the couch together watching one of Elizabeth’s Disney movies. Nick had his arm wrapped around her tiny shoulders and they were both singing along. With them sitting so close to each other, Kayleigh could see, now more than ever, how much Elizabeth resembled her father.

“Mommy!” Elizabeth shrieked, breaking Kayleigh out of her thoughts. The little girl jumped off of the couch and ran over to mother, her blond curls bouncing the whole way. “Nick and I are watching Mermaid.”

“I see that, honey,” Kayleigh replied, kneeling down to her daughter’s level. She met Nick’s stare over top of Elizabeth’s head and knew what she had to do. “Lizzie baby,” she began. “Remember the other day when you asked if you had a daddy?”

Elizabeth nodded. “Do I have one?”

“Yes you do, honey,” Kayleigh answered.

“Well where is he?” Elizabeth questioned.

Kayleigh pointed towards Nick. “He’s right there, Lizzy. Nick is your daddy.” Elizabeth looked back and forth between her mother and Nick a few times before running into Nick’s arms. Nick scooped her up into his arms and hugged her tightly, leaving Kayleigh watching with tears streaming down her face. How could she have let Nick miss so much of Elizabeth’s life?

“Mommy come over here!” Elizabeth called. Kayleigh walked over to where they were standing and Nick wrapped an arm around her. The three of them stood there, finally, together. As a family.

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