Chapter 111

Will fell asleep, slumped over on his desk.
“Ugh,” he yawned as he straightened up. “That was a bad idea.” He stretched his arms out feeling all of the knots in his back. Nothing a hot shower won’t fix. He figured after his shower he’d let Emma know he was her new neighbor. She’d probably be upset about it. But it was done, and he wasn’t going back now. He recalled the way Emma stared at him while he was wearing more casual clothes. There was no hiding that hunger in her eyes. He knew it too well.
“Well,” he smirked to himself. “I won’t be going to work. No need to wear a suit every day.” It was a diabolical plan. But if he was ever going to be with Emma again, he had to start somewhere. He stepped into the shower and enjoyed the feeling of the water cascading around him. It ran all over his body, and he couldn’t help but think it should be Emma’s hands all over him instead. He imagined her in the shower with him, her nails dragging down his back as he pressed his body into hers.
“I don’t know how much longer I can hold out. God, I want her so bad,” he groaned. “I’ve got to get a hold of myself.” He switched the water from hot to cold, to keep himself from getting to worked up. Something told him Emma wouldn’t appreciate him greeting her with a full-blown erection. Or maybe she would… but let’s not take that chance.
After calming down, he got dressed in another pair of sweatpants and a t-shirt. As he was only going across the hall to see Emma and his baby, it seemed like an okay enough outfit. He knocked on the door and waited.
Inside, Minnie and Kelly had been up taking care of things for a while. Emma was up as well, breastfeeding Lizzie.
“She’s taken quite well to that,” Kelly commented with a warm smile.
“Yes, she has. It’s the only time of day she’s calm,” Emma giggled.
“You’ve got a troublemaker on your hands,” Minnie commented. “Just like her father.”
“I’ve been meaning to ask you about that,” Emma looked up. “How do you know him?”
Minnie and Kelly exchanged a look.
“Well, darling, I’m not entirely sure that’s my story to tell. But I would wait to ask him about it. It’s… not pleasant. It may be something he would rather forget.”
Emma looked into Minnie’s eyes and was surprised to see anger mixed in with the sadness she spoke with. Her usually fierce and jovial demeanor took a dark turn. It was then that Emma realized that she never thought about what happened to Will during the time they were apart. She had done so well and was thriving. But what of him? She knew he divorced Grace. But that was all. They never got into why. What had happened?
A knock came at the door. The three women looked at each other. A sting of panic hitting all of them.
“Are you expecting someone?” Minnie asked. Emma shook her head no. After a few moments of silence they heard,
“It’s me,” Will’s muffled voice said. They visibly relaxed.
“If I was his mother, I’d give him the verbal lashing of his life!” Minnie yelled.
“I don’t think he’d mind,” Emma smiled. She pulled Lizzie off her breast and covered up. The infant fussed. “Let him in.”
Minnie opened the door and placed her hands on her hips.
“You scared us half to death!” she chastised him.
“Sorry,” he smirked. Not looking sorry at all, he crossed over the threshold and walked over to Emma. He ignored everyone and picked up the baby. Lizzie cooed happily as Will held her. “Hey there, princess. Daddy missed you,” Will kissed her forehead.
Emma melted as she watched the tender moment. Every time she saw them together, she kicked herself for ever thinking that she could keep them apart. There was a softness about him that she never knew he could have. He was gentle, and affectionate. Love poured from his body in waves when he held her. They shared an amazing bond and she hated that she wasn’t going to allow them to have it.
“How are you here so early?” Emma asked.
“I rented the apartment across the hall,” he answered without looking up. “So that I could be closer to you, princess. Yes, Daddy wanted to be closer to you,” he gave Lizzie another kiss.
“Well,” Minnie began, a warm smile on her face,” Kelly and I don’t have anything left to do here today. How about we leave you two alone for the evening?”
“Great idea!” Kelly piped up, understanding where Minnie was trying to do.
“Yeah, that’s fine,” Will agreed. “In fact, now that I’ll be right here, I’d like to rework your schedule. We shouldn’t need you both here every day.”
They decided that Minnie and Kelly would only come on weekends for the duration of Will and Emma’s parental leave. Minnie was more than amenable to that decision and gave Will a wink as they were leaving.
“A pleasure as always, Will,” she smiled.
“See you this weekend.”
Minnie leaned in to hug him goodbye, but then whispered some words of encouragement in his ear.
“I hope you win her back. She’s amazing.”
“Good luck,” Kelly encouraged him, and they left.
“Why?” Emma asked him when they were alone.
“Why what?”
“Why have you dismissed them? Moved across the hall? All of this?”
“I want to be close to you. And Lizzie. I figured being close by, we could take care of her together. You don’t want me to live here with you.” It wasn’t a question. It was statement.
Emma was stunned by this. The Will she knew wasn’t afraid to take what he wanted, but it was usually at the expense of someone else’s emotions. This Will had that same fearlessness, but there was a sensitivity she never knew him to possess. Is this what being a father did to him? Or did losing me do this to him?
Over the next few days, it became a routine. Will would come over and they spent their day together. Emma taught him how to properly care for her. They soon found that his favorite thing was to dress her. He’d ordered her more clothes than she would ever need and so he changed her outfits at least four or five times a day.
“I just don’t understand why you got her such an elaborate dress,” Emma laughed. Lizzie was dressed in a fluffy yellow dress. It had layers and layers of tulle and lace. Shimmering beads and intricate floral embroidery adorned the ornate gown.
“It was cute!” He defended himself. “And besides, she is royalty.”
“Are you a prince?” Emma mocked him.
“I am a king,” he corrected. “And this,” he picked up the baby, “is my princess. And she will have everything she wants. The best of everything.”
“You’re going to spoil her.”
“You bet I am,” he assured. Will laid her down on her playmat and got on the floor next to her. “Right?” he lightly poked Lizzie’s belly and she giggled.
“What was that?” Emma was stunned. “Did she just giggle?”
“Was that funny, baby?” Will asked his daughter, tapping his fingers on her stomach. “Is Daddy funny?” Lizzie laughed again, and Emma gasped, happy tears stinging her eyes.
“She’s laughing!”
Lizzie’s bright golden eyes sparkled with mirth as she continued to laugh. Will laughed along with her, and Emma’s heart filled at the sight. She remembered a time when she longed to know the Will that Grace once knew. The William Stewart that still believed in love, the one that smiled and was hopeful. She always knew he was there, hidden behind his walls. And there was, sprawled on the floor and laughing with their baby.
“You’re different.” The words left her mouth without permission.
Will looked up, his eyes looked were of joy and an innocence she couldn’t believe he was capable of.
He was caught off guard as he took in the way she watched him. It reminded him of the last night the spent together. The most glorious night… and morning of his life.
“Come on,” Emma said to him. “Take her out of that dress. She’s got to go to bed. She’s finally sleeping through the night, and I don’t want to mess up her schedule.”
Will scooped her up and stood from the floor.
“Right.” This was always the worst part of the day. After Lizzie went to bed, he would have to leave. But he was feeling bold that day. If anything was going to happen, he had to make a move. He knew that Emma wouldn’t be the one to do it. “I could stay tonight. You know in case she wakes up. That way I can take care of her, and you can get some sleep.”
Emma blushed.
“Oh, um…” she was flustered. “That would… I mean…”
“I’d sleep out here, of course. On the couch. Or even on the floor of Lizzie’s room.”
“Uh uh,” Emma found herself in that comment. “You’d just talk to her and play with her all night.”
“You’re probably right.”
“So, I guess you can sleep out here.” Her face was bright red.
“Great!” he flashed a huge smile at her. It was equal parts adorable and hot. God, his smile is gorgeous.
“You’ve never smiled at me like that before,” she blurted out.
“I wasn’t very good to you before,” he admitted. “Come on, baby,” he said to Lizzie. “Let’s go to bed.”
After Lizzie was tucked in and fast asleep, Will went over to settle himself on the couch. Emma was still in the living room, stunned by what had just transpired.
“Are you okay?”
“Yeah,” she answered. “I guess when you said that… I try really hard not to think about…before.” She hung her head.
“It’s all I ever think about.”
“What?” Emma’s head snapped up.
“The second I walked away that day, all I wanted to do was rip that door down and tell you I wasn’t leaving.”
“I…,” she was dazed by his confession. His honey eyes burned and looked like molten gold with the intensity of his stare. It held her in place, reminding her of the power those eyes alone could wield over her. “Sometimes I wish you had,” she whispered.
Will crossed the room in a flash and stood in front of her. Electric currents seemed to pass between them. He walked towards her, but Emma backed away. Her mind screamed at her. No! Tell him to go away! Or go to your room. Anything! Her heart and body were silent, resigned to whatever the moment was going to bring. Her back was against the wall. Will towered over her, his body practically pressing her against the wall.
“There were so many things I wanted to say,” his voice was low and husky. “I should have told you that I was sorry, and that I believed you.”
“You did?” Her chest heaved as she tried to fill her lungs with air. But all she did was inhale Will’s scent and it left her practically panting. She fought for control of herself.
“I did. But I was scared.”
“Scared of what?”
“I was scared of what it would mean if I acknowledged how I really felt about you.” His fingers caressed her face. She sighed at his touch and closed her eyes. He tipped her head up. When she opened her eyes, his face was mere inches from hers.
“Will…”
“I should have told you everything. Emma, I…”
Before he could finish, Emma’s phone buzzed loudly.
“Don’t answer it,” he whispered.
“Could be an emergency…” she breathed. It buzzed again, effectively giving her something else to anchor on to and break the spell.
911. Please come meet me. It’s about my dad.
“It’s Jess!” Emma gasped. The moment was over. “She needs to see me. Stay with Lizzie, okay? I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
“Emma, wait!”
She threw on a jacket and some shoes and was out the door before Will could stop her.
“Fuck!” They had been so close. So, fucking close. Will walked into Lizzie’s room, to make sure his outburst hadn’t disturbed her sleep. She was sleeping soundly, and Will couldn’t help but smile. “I’m trying, Princess. I’m trying to make us a proper family. But maybe… I messed up too much.”
He closed the door to her room and laid on the couch. About an hour passed and he couldn’t get to sleep. Something just didn’t feel right. Jess had disappeared for a long time, trying to handle all this on her own. She was fiercely independent and had only reached out when she had no other options. Now she was messaging Emma in the middle of the night, knowing Emma had a baby? That didn’t add up.
He grabbed his phone and called Emma. Just make sure she was okay.
The number you have called is out of service at this time.
“Shit.”