"Well, here we are," Karis announced, stopping in front of a building with a daycare sign in the front window. JC took a deep breath. "Remember what I said? You're only a friend, okay?"
"Yeah, I know," JC nodded. Karis smiled softly, seeing how nervous he was. She walked up the steps and into the daycare with JC behind her.
"Hello, Marge," Karis greeted the woman in the room. "This is a friend of mine, JC."
"Hello, nice to meet you," Marge smiled and shook JC's hand.
"You, too," JC said.
"Ellie's upstairs coloring. I'll go get her," Marge smiled, walking up the stairs. JC watched the stairs until he saw a little girl who looked like she was three or four run down the steps. Her dark curly hair was pulled back in a pony tail, but was falling out, leaving little tendrils around her face.
"Mommy!!! I made you a picture," she yelled, running straight into Karis' awaiting arms.
"Really, sweetie? Can I see it? Wow, it's beautiful, and your staying in the lines so well," Karis smiled. Ellie shook her head in response. "Ellie, I'd like you to meet a friend of mine. This is JC," Karis said, pointing to JC, standing next to them.
"Hello," Ellie said shyly, "You look like one of the boys from 'N Sync."
JC smiled as he looked into her eyes that seemed like smaller versions of his. "That's me. It's nice to meet you, Ellie." He took her small hand into his and shook it.
"Really!! I love 'N Sync. Mommy and I listen to your CD everyday when we get home," she said, a huge smile spreading across her face.
"That's great. Do you have a favorite song?" JC asked, laughing.
"Giddy Up, 'cause I want a horsey like at grandpa's," Ellie answered. JC laughed, knowing the song had nothing to do with horses.
"And I told you, sweetie, it wouldn't fit in the apartment," Karis laughed, grabbing her bag. "Are we ready to go?"
Ellie nodded and took her mother's hand as they walked out. "Can JC eat with us, Mom?"
"Well, I don't care, if he wants to," Karis said.
"Do you want to?? Tonight's pizza night, please?!" she asked, looking up at JC and tugging on his arm lightly.
JC smiled down at the little girl, his daughter. "I would love to."
"Yah!! You can see my books and stuffed animals," Ellie squealed happily. JC laughed and watched as the little girl slipped her hand into his as they walked.
"Well, here we are, home sweet home," Karis said as she unlocked the door to the apartment and swung it open. JC looked around and noticed it wasn't great, but it seemed to suit them. "I'll call and order the pizza and Ellie, you can show JC around, okay?"
"Okay! Come on," Ellie smiled, pulling on JC's hand and leading him into the apartment. She took him on a short tour of the place, and they ended up in her room, which was decorated in a beach-type theme. "Look, Grandpa bought me this book," Ellie said, pushing the book into JC's hands.
"Wow, have you read it?" he asked, sitting on the ground.
"No, not yet," she said.
"Would you like me to start for you?" he asked. JC watched as her eyes lit up and she shook her head yes. She walked over and settled herself comfortably in his lap. It was at that very moment that JC fell in love with her, fell in love with his daughter. He looked closely at her, etching every feature in his mind like he had done with Karis.
"Come on," she said quietly, tugging on his sleeve.
"Oops, sorry," he laughed, opening up the book and reading the first page.
Karis watched silently from the door as the two interacted with each other and smiled to herself. She had let JC go once and wasn't going to let it happen again. She needed him and her daughter needed him. That was all it took for to know that somehow, some way, things would work out for them and they could be happy once again.