August 2011

In the early afternoon, Daphne walked down the steps prepared to go job searching like she’s been doing for the past three weeks. She walked into the kitchen and saw Misty running around outside. She walked out onto the back patio and saw Matt chasing Misty as Jade laughed and watched them.

“You look spiffy,” Jade smiled.

“I try,” Daphne shrugged.

“Looking for a job again?” Matt asked as he strode over to them.

“Is it that obvious?” Daphne huffed.

“Will you stop job searching? I told you; you can stay here as long as you want. Even though you get on my nerves,” he smirked as he sat down next to Jade.

“Prick,” she spat as she slapped him upside the head.

“We’ll watch Misty again,” Jade smiled.

“Are you sure? I can take her to my parents,” Daphne offered.

“Shut up! I love that cutie, she’s never leaving me,” Jade grinned.

“Who’s driving you today?” Matt asked.

“Sadie is; she should be here any minute,” Daphne muttered as she looked at her phone.

“Where are you going to look today?” Jade asked.

“The next town over; its about half an hour from here. If I don’t get any offers today I’m going to have to search for something other than doing hair,” Daphne huffed.

A honk from out front interrupted their conversation.

“That’s Sadie. Misty come give me a kiss goodbye!” Daphne called.

Misty stopped playing with Bella and ran over to Daphne. Daphne smiled and scooped her up in her arms.

“You be good for Aunt Jade and Uncle Matt okay?” she asked.

Misty smiled and nodded.

“Alright have fun. I love you,” Daphne smiled as she kissed her cheek.

“Love you too mommy,” Misty smiled once Daphne set her down.

Daphne blew her a kiss before walking back inside and through the house. She walked out the front door and climbed into Sadie’s car.

“Hey you,” Sadie smiled.

“Hey,” Daphne smiled.

The drive over to the next town was filled with small talk.

“I am so not ready for this,” Daphne whined as they pulled up in front of the salon.

“You’ll be fine; I’ll be waiting for you out here. Good luck,” Sadie smiled.

“I’ll need it,” Daphne muttered as she got out of the car.

***

An hour later, Brian walked into Matt’s house and saw Misty sitting on the floor in front of the TV.

“Hey kiddo,” he smiled as he shut the door behind him.

“Hi Brian!” Misty smiled.

“Where is everyone?” he asked.

“Uncle Matt is taking a shower and Aunt Jade went to the store,” she muttered as she turned her attention back to the TV.

“Where’s your mom at?” he asked.

“She’s looking for a job,” she muttered.

“Well it looks like its just you and me kid,” he smiled as he collapsed on the couch.

He stretched his legs out and put his arms behind his head.

“What are you watching?” he asked.

“The Lion King,” Misty told him.

A few minutes later, Misty yawned and pawed at her eyes.

“Tired?” Brian asked.

Misty nodded and stood up. He stiffened when she climbed up onto the couch and snuggled into his chest.

“Misty?” he asked a few minutes later when he heard her breathing even out.

When she didn’t reply, he looked down at her and saw her sleeping. He hesitantly relaxed and put his arm around her. After watching the movie for a few minutes, he slowly felt himself drifting off to sleep.

“I can’t believe nobody is interested!” Daphne huffed as Sadie pulled into the driveway an hour later.

“Don’t give up honey. These things just take time,” Sadie muttered sympathetically.

“I don’t have a lot of time Sadie. I’m running out of money,” Daphne muttered quietly.

“What money?” Sadie asked.

“Uh, the money Derek…gave me,” Daphne lied.

“I thought he didn’t know you were leaving,” Sadie said skeptically.

“It doesn’t matter; its not important. Thanks for the ride!” Daphne smiled as she made her way out of the car.

She blew out a sigh of relief when she heard Sadie drive off. She made her way up the driveway and onto the porch. She sighed and made her way inside. She kicked off her heels and walked into the living room. She stopped dead in her tracks when she saw Brian and Misty curled up on the couch asleep. She couldn’t help but smile at the sight. She quickly grabbed her cell-phone and snapped a picture of the two. She saved the picture and walked into the kitchen. She grabbed a water bottle and a Lean Cuisine from the fridge. She put her dinner in the microwave and leaned against the counter.

“How’d it go today?”

Daphne yelped and spun around to face Matt.

“Jesus Christ you scared me,” she muttered.

“Sorry,” he laughed as he ducked down to look in the fridge.

“Where were you?” she asked.

“In the basement, I didn’t want to wake Bri and Misty,” he shrugged.

“I got a picture of them two,” Daphne laughed.

“Misty really likes him,” Matt commented.

“She likes all of you guys,” she retorted.

“Obviously! I mean that she’s really attached to him,” he told her.

“Its really weird, she’s normally really shy around people. She’s always excited when he comes over. She never got that excited to see Derek,” she muttered.

“Why’s that?” Matt asked.

“Don’t get me wrong; Derek loves her, he was just really strict with her. He was always short-tempered with her too,” Daphne sighed.

“Has he ever hit her?” he spat.

“Of course not, I would’ve killed him already,” she muttered.

“What happened between you two Daph?”

“I told you already; he’s different.”

“How though? I don’t get it Daph,” Matt shrugged.

“Just drop it Matt,” Daphne muttered.

“No, I’m not going to drop it. I want to know what’s going on,” he demanded.

“What’s going on?” Brian yawned as he walked into the kitchen.

“Nothing, what are you doing here?” Daphne asked, changing the subject.

Matt sighed and shook his head before trudging out of the kitchen.

“Zoey and I are fighting…again. So I’m crashing here tonight,” Brian shrugged.

“That’s cool,” she muttered as she turned to take her food out of the microwave.

“Are you okay?” he asked as he came up behind her.

“Job searching didn’t go too well today,” she muttered.

“You’re tense,” he commented as he started rubbing her shoulders.

“Obviously,” she laughed lightly.

“Don’t stress over this Daph. You’ll find something eventually,” he muttered.

“I need to find something soon Bri. I want to get Misty and I a place of our own,” she muttered.

“Hey, look at me,” he told her as he turned her around.

Daphne sighed and hesitantly looked up at him.

“Why are you so eager to get a place of your own?” he asked.

“Just because,” she shrugged.

“Daphne you know I can see right through you,” he muttered.

“Because of Derek,” she finally sighed.

“What does Derek have anything to do with this?” he asked.

“When I first came here, he called me and told me to bring Misty back. When I refused he yelled at me and told me I’m not even capable of taking care of her. I just want to prove him wrong Bri,” she muttered as she wiped at her eyes.

“Don’t cry Daph,” he sighed as he tightly held her against him.

“He’s wrong; you are perfectly capable of taking care of Misty. You have all of us here to help if you need it. He obviously didn’t take care of her if Misty doesn’t even ask about him. Don’t give up Daph, you got this. I know you do,” he smiled lightly.

“Thanks Bri,” she muttered a few minutes later.

“Anytime baby girl,” he muttered as he kissed her forehead.

“Now lets grab Misty and take a walk on the beach like we did when we were kids,” he smirked.

“Why are we still standing here?” Daphne smiled as she walked into the living room, forgetting about her food.

“Hey cutie!” she smiled when she saw Misty sitting on the couch.

“Mommy!” Misty smiled as she ran over to her.

“I missed you,” Daphne smiled as she picked her up and settled her on her hip.

“Alright kiddo, I’m taking my two favorite girls to the beach,” Brian smirked as he walked towards them.

“Shouldn’t your wife be one of your favorite girls?” Daphne smirked as she slipped on her flip flops.

“Have you met my wife?” Brian laughed humorlessly.

“Good point,” she muttered.

The three walked back through the kitchen and out the back door. They walked the five minute walk to the beach and Daphne rolled her jeans up. As they walked along the shore-line, Misty walked ahead of them to collect seashells.

“Bri?” Daphne asked a few minutes later.

“Hmm?” Brian replied.

“If you don’t love Zoey then why are you still married to her?” she asked.

“I love Zoey,” he defended.

“Let me rephrase it; if you’re not in love with her then why are you married to her?” she rephrased.

“I-”

“Don’t even lie Brian,” Daphne cut off.

Brian sighed, defeated.

“I don’t know. I do love Zoey I’m just not in love with her,” he shrugged.

“Were you ever?” she asked.

“I tried convincing myself that I was in love with her, but it never really worked. There was always someone else,” he muttered as he glanced over at her.

“So why don’t you divorce her?” she asked.

“Because I made a vow when I married her; for better or for worse. It seems like its just getting worse though,” he muttered.

“I’m sorry Bri, you deserve better than her,” she muttered as she linked her arm through his.

“Thanks Daph,” he smiled.

“Can I ask you something?” he asked a few minutes later.

“Sure,” she nodded.

“Do you miss Derek?” he asked.

“Sometimes,” she sighed.

“Do you want to go back to New York?”

“No, I’m happy here. I just hope I’m doing the right thing for Misty by keeping her from her father.”

“She seems to be doing okay,” Brian shrugged.

“But what if it affects her when she’s older? What if she needs a father figure when she’s older?” Daphne pondered.

“Daph you’re doing fine by yourself. I know that being a single mom must be hard, but you make it look easy,” he smiled.

“I just don’t want her to grow up and hate me for keeping her from him,” she frowned.

“Daphne you know that little girl could never hate you; she adores you. You did what was right for her by giving up your engagement to Derek. A lot of women wouldn’t do that,” he told her.

“You really think I’m doing the right thing Bri?” she asked.

“I know you are baby girl,” he smiled.

***

Hours later after they walked on the beach and boardwalk, Daphne and Brian walked into the house. Brian had a sleeping Misty cradled in his arms.

“Where’s her room at?” he whispered.

Daphne led the way upstairs and into Misty’s room. Brian laid Misty on her bed and tucked her in. Misty stirred and opened her eyes.

“Its time for bed baby,” Daphne smiled as she sat on the edge of her bed.

“Night mommy, love you,” Misty smiled as she hugged Daphne and kissed her cheek.

“Love you too baby,” Daphne smiled as she kissed her head.

“Night Brian,” Misty smiled as she wrapped her arms around Brian’s neck.

“Night Misty,” Brian muttered.

“Love you,” Misty muttered as she kissed his cheek.

Brian hesitated.

“Love you too princess,” he smiled as he kissed her forehead.

Daphne couldn’t help but smile as the sight warmed her heart.

“Where are you sleeping?” she asked as they walked out of Misty’s room.

“Well before you moved in I used to sleep in your room when Zoey and I fought so I’m just crashing on the couch,” Brian shrugged.

“No you’re not, you can sleep with me,” she argued as she led the way to her room.

“You sure?” he asked.

“Of course,” she brushed off as they walked inside.

“Let me go change real quick,” she muttered as she grabbed a pajama set.

She walked across the hall and into the bathroom to change. She slipped into the Victoria’s Secret shorts and a tank top and ran a brush through her hair. She walked back into her room and saw Brian stripping down to his boxers. She couldn’t help but stare at his defined muscles and abs. She shook the dirty thoughts from her head and climbed into bed. Brian smiled and climbed in next to her.

“Can I ask you something?” she asked as she turned on her side to face him.

“Anything,” he urged as he loosely wrapped his arm around her waist.

“What do you think of Misty?” she asked.

“I love her to death,” he smiled.

Daphne smiled as she finally realized that she wouldn’t have to worry about Misty growing up without a father figure.