My Ex-wife, My Destination

Daisy’s P. O. V.

As I enter the room after making dinner, a wide smile spreads across my face, seeing the beautiful sight. Luke is applying nail paint on Hope’s fingernails, and she is sitting, placing her legs on his lap, blowing to dry the nail paint on her other hand.

“Princess, it’s done.” As Luke says, she sees her nails with a smile.

“Daddy, my nails look pretty like Mommy. Thank you.” She raises her head to kiss Luke, and as he leans down, she presses her lips on his cheek, causing Luke to chuckle.

It still feels like a beautiful dream that Luke is living with us. My daughter is getting the love of her father, and I have someone who is there for me, no matter what.

I’m glad Luke is understanding and giving me the time to heal properly from my past.

“Dinner is ready.” As I enter the room, Hope jumps down from the bed.

“Mommy…” she rushes towards me to show me her nails. “Look, Daddy applied the nail paint.”

I bend down and hold her wrists to see them. “So pretty.” I shift my eyes to her face. “Daddy has done a great job.”

Luke walks over to us with a smile on his face.

“Yes… Hopi’s daddy is the best.” She hugs him, wrapping her arms around his legs. He caresses her hair gently, and our eyes lock for a few seconds.

***

When Luke returns after dropping off Hope at school the next day, he says, “I have planned a surprise for you,” causing my eyes to widen in surprise.

Yesterday, he took me to my favourite cafe, what today?

God! He is spoiling me.

“What have you planned, Luke?” I ask, curious and excited.

“You’ll see.” He grins, taking my hand.

He leads me up the stairs, and as we reach the top, my breath catches in my throat. The terrace has been transformed into a romantic haven. A beautiful white canopy is set up, adorned with fairy lights and soft curtains that flutter gently in the morning breeze. Underneath the canopy, a small table is set for two with two white cushions.

“Luke, I hope it’s not a date.” I give him a teasing smile. “You know we’re just friends.”

“I know, Daisy. Don’t worry.” He takes my hand in his. “Now come. I’m starving.”

He leads me to the table, and we settle down on the cushions. As I take in the delicious breakfast before me, my mouth becomes watery. Freshly baked croissants, assorted fruits, yogurt, and a pot of steaming coffee are arranged perfectly.

“Do you like the setup?” He asks as he pours coffee into the cups.

“Like? I love it.” I take the cup of coffee from his hand as he offers me. “You know, I never thought that you would be so good at planning surprises. Yesterday, you took me to my favourite cafe, and now this beautiful breakfast setup. Are you trying to impress your friend, Mr. Anderson?”

“You caught me.” We both chuckle at his words. Suddenly, he leans closer to me, accelerating my heartbeat. “Is my plan working, Miss Daisy?”

I grasp the handle of the cup as his warm breath touches my skin, sending shivers down my spine. “No.” I slightly move away from him. “Try harder, because impressing me won’t be easy.” I give him a teasing smile.

“Challenge accepted, Butterfly.” As he places a kiss on my cheek, a warm flush spreads across my face.

As we enjoy our breakfast together, I turn my face towards Luke, curiosity shining in my eyes. “Why do you call me Butterfly?” I inquire, eager to know the meaning behind the endearing nickname.

Luke’s gaze softens as he meets my eyes. “Because, Daisy, you’re like a butterfly to me,” he explains, tucking a strand of my hair behind my ear. “You’re delicate, yet resilient. You bring beauty and joy wherever you go, just like a butterfly gracing the world with its presence.”

“That’s… that’s so sweet, Luke.” A smile spreads across my face as I glance down at my coffee, feeling my cheeks heating up, which has nothing to do with the morning sun.

I can’t believe it. He thinks about me in such a way. It makes my heart flutter in a way I haven’t felt in a long time.

But I wonder, when did he start seeing me like this?

He takes my hand in his and gives it a gentle squeeze. “You have a huge heart and a beautiful soul. You endured the pain for six months to bring back my old self.” He fixes his eyes filled with love on me. “You succeeded as well. However, I wasn’t in the condition to forgive myself and to meet my eyes with you. I was ashamed of myself. I’m deeply sorry, Daisy.” Tears trickle down his cheeks, his eyes filled with guilt.

I feel a pang in my heart as flashes of the past revolve around my mind. It’s dreadful and filled with sorrow and suffering. Every time I recall it, my chest becomes heavy with pain. Therefore, I don’t want to even think about it now. I just want to focus on my present, which is like a heaven on the earth for me. Right now, I want to live in every moment to the fullest.

“Luke, I have already forgiven you. I want to move on from the past. Completely.” I wipe his tears. “Let’s just focus on our present. Okay?”

He passes me a smile and nods.

After we finish our breakfast, I rest my head on his shoulder. “Luke.”

“Yes, Daisy.” He entwines his fingers with mine.

“When did you realize that you have feelings for me?”

“I realized it a day before our divorce. Deep down, I knew I had feelings for you before that, but, you know, I was an ass.”

I raise my head from his shoulder to look at him. “You weren’t just an ass, you were a giant ass.”

He chuckles. “Yeah, a giant ass.”

“You know, I caught you once having dinner I prepared late at night. I couldn’t believe my eyes.”

I can’t believe that I’m talking about my past so casually. But it feels good because finally, it’s not affecting me.

Luke’s eyes soften as he recalls the memory. “I remember that night. I couldn’t sleep, and I was craving the taste of your cooking. So, I snuck into the kitchen to have the food.”

Like this, we spend our remaining morning on the terrace, conversing, laughing, and talking about the past without feeling the pain or guilt.

Everything seems so perfect.

***

Next month flies by in a blur. Luke plans frequent dates, taking me on a tour of New York City every few days after dropping Hope off at school. In just a few short weeks, he’s shown me more of the city than I’ve seen in the past five years.

He ensures each date is memorable, from surprising me with a bike tour to cruises along the Hudson River and peaceful strolls through Central Park. But my favourite is getting a bird’s-eye view of the city with a helicopter tour over Manhattan. It was such a beautiful experience.

He showers me with love and attention, making me feel cherished and valued in ways I never thought possible. I’m falling for him all over again, in fact, this time more deeply. That’s why I have made up my mind to take one more step closer to him.