Two Weeks Later

Dex pulls the car in front of the one story brick house with a ramp to the front door. In front of the house is a rose garden. I step out of the car.

Dex stands on the footpath looking up at the house. When I move to his side he wraps his arms around me. "I brought this place for your father while we were in North Carolina. It's a big place and he won't have any problems going anywhere. I hired a crew to fix this place for your father."

I kiss his cheek. "Thank you."

A removalist truck pulls into the driveway and a group of guys exit the truck.

Dex looks at me. "I need to open the door for them. Stay out of the way, Ava. I don't want you to get hurt."

I nod.

Dex walks over to the front door and opens it.

I see a car pull in behind Dex's.

Christa steps out of the car. She walks over to the boot and pulls out Dad's wheelchair. She sets the wheel chair up and places it next to the car.

Dad opens the door and moves to his wheel chair.

I move toward Dad and Christa.

Dad smiles. "Hey, sweetheart. When did you get here?"

"Dex and I got here the same time as the removal-list. He's in the house putting the furniture in the kitchen."

Dex exits the house with the guys. He carries a bed inside.

Dad holds my hand. "Thank you for coming over and helping with setting up the house."

I push Dad towards the house. "I'm not helping. But, I couldn't miss seeing you move into your new home. I'll order a pizza for lunch." I push the wheelchair into the house.

Christa walks into the house behind me. "I'm going to check-out the bedrooms." She walks to a room down the halls and puts a sign on the door.

"Dad, where do you want to sit?"

"Can we go outside? I want to see the ocean."

Dad and I exit the house and I wheel him to the fence. He turns to me. "I missed seeing the beach when I was put in the home."

I touch his shoulder. "I'm sorry I couldn't look after the both of you."

He shakes his head. "You did the best you could, Ava. When you left your mother and me it was the proudest moment of my life. I didn't stay in contact with you because I would have begged you to come back to us. But, I had to let my little girl go. When you came to us a couple weeks ago you were a woman and a strong one at that. You even came back with a billionaire and a baby on the way." He pulls me onto his lap.

I wrap my arms around him like I used to when I was younger. "I love you, Dad. Thanks for moving to California."
He kisses my cheek. "I didn't have anything else for me in North Carolina. I'm hoping that Christa will find someone her own age and settle down with him."

I smile. "Hopefully she does. I promised her that I'd introduce her to Dex's brother."

"Do you think that's a good idea?"

I shrug. "I don't know. But, I'll find out when the Clarkson's throw another party. I think they might be having a party for Easter." I start to feel nauseous. I rise. "I'll be right back." I run into the house and look for the bathroom. I find it at the end of the corridor. Leaning over the toilet, I throw up.

Why did I agree to do this?

I feel someone move my hair to the side and rub my back. I turn to see Dex with me. I groan. "Why do you have to see me like this?"

He chuckles. He leans into me and whispers. "You still look gorgeous leaning over the toilet. Why don't you clean yourself up and I'll get some crackers and water for you."

"Thank you, Dex."

He walks away.

I rise and move toward the sink. I rinse my mouth out with the water.

I wish I had mouth wash.

Christa enters the bathroom with her supplies. She pulls out some mouth wash. "You can keep the bottle. I don't want you to make out with that sexy man with vomit breath."

I hug her. "Thanks." I use the mouth wash. I exit the bathroom and walk toward the kitchen.

In the kitchen I see Dex leaning against the kitchen counter. "What are we doing for lunch?"

"I was thinking about ordering pizza and sitting on the deck."

He nods. "I'll order the pizza. I'll pick it up. I need to get something from the shops." He picks up his phone and makes the call.

I put a cracker in my mouth and rub my stomach.

Christa enters the kitchen. "What's for lunch?"

"Pizza, I got him to order your favorite."

Christa jumps on the counter and she looks at me. "Thank you for getting this house for Dad and me."

I shake my head. "It wasn't me that got it for you. "It was, Dex."

Dex enters the kitchen. "I'll be back in half an hour."

Christa hugs Dex. "Thanks for getting this house for us." She kisses his cheek.

Dex pushes her away. He looks at me and mouths. "I love you."

I wish I could say it back to him at this moment. But, I can't. Not, with what Christa just did.

Christa looks at me. "What?"

I shake my head and exit the house. I sit on one of the chairs.

I hear Dex's car start.

Dad wheels over to me. "What's wrong, Ava?"

I look at the house. "I'm worried that Dex is going to be tempted by Christa."

Dad touches my shoulder. "Dex, won't be tempted by her. I've seen the way he looks at you. He treats you like a Princess. That's all a father wants for his daughter."

I sigh.

Christa exits the house and she sits next to me. "I was thanking him for buying this house for us. I didn't think you'd get jealous."

I cross my arms. "How did you expect me to react? You've taken countless guys from me. How do I know you won't take My Billionaire Baby Daddy?"

She leans back in her chair. "You don't." She sighs. "If you don't trust him, then you don't deserve him. Maybe, you should step aside and let someone else have him."

"Christa." Dad yells.

She turns to him. "What? I'm only telling her the truth."

I kiss Dad's cheek. "I'm going to wait out front for Dex. But, Dad." I walk back into the house and pick up my handbag. Pulling my phone out of my handbag, I press the round button and tell Siri to call Dex.

Dex: hello, this is Dex.

Me: Dex, can you come back now? I can't stay at this house anymore.

Dex: I'm on my way back. I'll be there in five.

Me: okay.

I end the call and sit on the stairs.

A couple minutes, Dex pulls into the driveway.

He steps out of the car with a box pizza. Be walks over to me. "Is everything alright?"

I shake my head. "I don't want to be around my sister."

Dex holds up the box of pizza. "I need to drop this off for your dad and sister."

I take the box from him and we enter the house.

Dad and Christa are sitting on the decking. "Christa, when are you going to stop competing with your sister? She seems happy with, Dex. Why can't you be happy for her?"

I pull Dex against the wall and we listen to the conversation.

"I'm happy for her. But, she always gets the guys I want. I have to work hard to get the guys to notice me. She walks into a room and the guys run to her. What does she have that I don't?"

I look out the window and see Dad shake his head. "I can't believe I'm about to say this to my daughter. But, I think you need help."

She crosses her arms. "Fine, I'll get some help."

Dex and I exit the house and I put the pizza on the table. Dex shakes dad's hand. "I'll see you next time, sir." Dex and I leave the house after we've said 'goodbye.'