The week flew by quickly, and now it was Saturday. Kelly woke up feeling refreshed for the first time in a while. Over the past few days, he had been keeping himself busy, trying to push thoughts of Jane out of his mind. He spent more time at Anita's than usual—something he rarely did since his celebrity status made it easier to manage things from a distance. Normally, he only showed up on Thursdays for his signature dish, but this week, he was there daily.
After work, he found himself at Wood-Shaw Daycare, unwinding with Mary and the kids. He had become particularly close to Ayla, and spending time with her brought a strange sense of comfort. She had a way of making him forget his problems, even if just for a little while.
Yawning, Kelly got out of bed, stretching his arms as he made his way toward the bathroom. Just as he reached for the door, his phone rang. He glanced at the screen—Robbie.
With a sigh, he answered, "Hello?"
"Hey, my favorite brother-in-law!" Robbie's voice was annoyingly cheerful. Kelly rolled his eyes, already sensing a favor coming.
"I don't have the strength for this today."
"Kelly, please." Robbie's tone turned pleading.
"Funny how I go from 'favorite brother-in-law' to just Kelly real quick." Kelly smirked.
"Dani's mad at me," Robbie admitted.
"Not my problem."
"She left me with Raymond."
"So? He's your son."
"He's also your favorite nephew."
"He's my only nephew."
"Exactly! So help me out."
In the background, Kelly heard the sound of rustling and then Raymond's tiny voice protesting.
"No!"
"Ray, put that down," Robbie said.
Kelly frowned. "Yo, what's going on?"
"He's messing with Dani's vase."
"Dani's favorite vase?" Kelly asked, already knowing the answer.
"Yeah…" Robbie sounded sheepish.
A second later, Raymond's cries filled the phone speaker.
"Damn," Kelly muttered, pinching the bridge of his nose.
"I took it from him before he could break it!" Robbie defended himself. "But now he's crying, and Dani's already mad at me. If she finds out I made Ray cry over the vase, I'm dead, man."
Kelly sighed. "So what do you want me to do?"
"Come get Raymond, please. I need to fix this before Dani gets home."
"Robbie—"
"Kelly, please," Robbie practically begged.
Kelly exhaled loudly. "You need to start paying me for this."
"I called Treon first, but he's out of state for a book signing, so…"
"Oh, so I'm just the backup option now?" Kelly asked, feigning offense.
"Yes—no! I mean—just come, please!" Robbie was clearly at his limit.
Kelly chuckled, shaking his head. "I'll be there in thirty."
"Make it twenty."
"Fine. Just have Raymond ready."
"You're a lifesaver, bro. Thank you, Kelly."
"Yeah, yeah," Kelly muttered and hung up.
Tossing his phone onto the bed, he let out a tired sigh.
"It's gonna be a long day."
With that, he headed into the bathroom.
***
"Mommy?" Ayla called as she walked beside her mother in the park.
"Yes, baby?" Emily answered, glancing down at her daughter.
"Angel told me I'm pweety," Ayla said matter-of-factly.
Emily sighed internally. Angel again. Ever since Monday, Ayla had been talking nonstop about the "Angel" she met—the one who "looked like a god." At first, Emily brushed it off as just another one of Ayla's imaginary friends, but curiosity got the best of her, so she asked Mary about it.
Mary had laughed, telling her that Angel was actually her boss.
"A man?" Emily had asked, surprised.
Mary nodded. "Yeah, he owns the daycare."
Emily had stiffened. She had never heard of a man running a daycare before. Immediately, her mind went to the worst possibilities. Was he a predator? Could she trust him around children?
Mary must have noticed her reaction because she quickly reassured her. "Emily, trust me, he's not what you're thinking. Kelly loves kids, and if he were anything close to what you're implying, I wouldn't be working for him."
Emily had nodded, pretending to be reassured, but deep down, she still wasn't sure.
Now, as she looked at Ayla's bright, expectant face, she forced a smile.
"Really?" she asked.
Ayla nodded. "He's right, Mommy?"
Emily softened. "Of course, baby. You're very pretty."
Ayla giggled. "Let's eat ice cream!"
"Okay, baby," Emily agreed, and Ayla squealed, grabbing her hand and pulling her toward the ice cream stand.
After getting their cones, they sat on a bench, watching people in the park. The air was warm, and the sound of laughter filled the space around them. Emily was just starting to relax when Ayla suddenly gasped.
"Mommy, look!"
Emily followed her daughter's gaze. "What is it?"
"He looks like Angel," Ayla said, pointing excitedly.
Emily's eyes landed on a man playing with a little boy and a dog.
"Him?" she asked.
"No, the other one," Ayla corrected.
Emily's eyes shifted to a figure dressed in black, leaning against a tree a few feet away. The way he stood—half-hidden, watching from a distance—immediately made her uneasy.
"Where are you going?" Emily asked as Ayla slid off the bench.
"He's Angel!" Ayla declared and started walking toward the man.
"Ayla, come back here!" Emily ordered, but Ayla ignored her.
Emily's heart pounded as her daughter broke into a run. "Ayla!" she called, but the little girl didn't stop.
To Emily's horror, Ayla reached the man and hugged him like they were old friends. Panic surged through her veins.
Emily sprinted after her daughter. "Ayla!"
When she reached them, Ayla was still clinging to the man's arm, beaming up at him.
"Come here," Emily demanded, but Ayla only tightened her grip.
Emily's eyes snapped to the man, his face mostly concealed under the brim of a black hat. His entire posture made her uneasy.
"Excuse me, can you give me my daughter?" Her voice was sharp, accusing.
The man immediately stood, clearing his throat as if nervous. He was tall—intimidatingly so.
"I'm sorry, I didn't know she was your daughter," he said in a deep voice. Emily's breath hitched. His voice—it sounded familiar.
"Well, she is my daughter. Now, Ayla, come to Mommy," she said firmly.
"No!" Ayla pouted. "I wanna stay with Angel!"
Emily's blood ran cold.
"Angel?" she echoed, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Yes, Mommy," Ayla answered innocently.
Emily's gaze snapped back to the man. "Take off your hat."
"Sorry, I can't," he replied.
"Take it off," she demanded, her fear turning to fury.
"I really can't—"
He didn't get to finish. Emily lunged at him, tackling him to the ground.
"I knew you were a pedophile!" she yelled, punching him in the face.
"Mommy, stop!" Ayla cried, tugging at her arm.
"Leave my uncle alone!" a boy shouted.
Emily froze. She knew that voice.
Her eyes darted to the little boy standing beside them—Raymond.
That meant…
Oh my God.
The man shoved her off, sending her stumbling backward. He stood up, dusting himself off, his hat now missing.
"I'm not a damn pedophile," he snapped. "I'm Lala's friend."
Emily's breath caught. Lala? He has a nickname for my daughter?
She lifted her gaze—and gasped.
It was Kelly.
And he looked pissed.
"I'm sowie, Angel," Ayla said, pouting.
Kelly immediately crouched to her level. "It's okay, Lala. Your mommy just thought I was trying to hurt you." His voice was gentle, his frustration disappearing when he spoke to Ayla.
Kelly turned to Raymond. "You okay, Ray?"
"Yeah, Uncle K."
"And you, Cody?" Kelly asked, ruffling the dog's fur. Cody barked and licked his face, making Kelly chuckle.
Emily stood frozen, still processing what just happened.
A voice suddenly cut through the air.
"Wait… is that Chef K?"
Kelly's entire body stiffened. "Shit."
Panic flashed across his face before he suddenly scooped up both Ayla and Raymond.
"Run!" he shouted.
Cody barked and bolted after him.
Emily stood there, stunned. "What—?"
Kelly shot her a look. "Run!"
Finally snapping out of it, she grabbed her bag and sprinted after them.
***
Kelly and Emily sat awkwardly in a flower shop owned by Kelly's friend, Zoe. The kids and the dog were with Zoe at the back of the shop, leaving them alone with nothing but tension between them. Kelly sipped his coffee, wincing slightly as he pressed the ice pack against his swollen left eye.
"Aren't you gonna say anything?" he finally asked, his voice low but edged with irritation. He recognized her now—the stunning blonde Treon had been with at the café, and later, at his party.
Emily shifted uncomfortably in her seat. "Right. I'm sorry for attacking you."
Kelly snorted. "Apology not accepted."
Emily frowned. "Look, I thought you were a pedophile or a child trafficker."
Kelly's jaw clenched. "And why exactly would you think that?"
"All week, Ayla's been talking about 'Angel' like he was some god. I asked Mary, and she said it was her boss—a man."
Kelly exhaled sharply, shaking his head. "And you assumed a man owning a daycare had to have ulterior motives?"
Emily hesitated. "It just seemed odd. You have to admit, it's not common."
Kelly leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "The daycare belongs to my family, and I manage it because I care about kids, Mrs. Decker. That's all there is to it."
Emily swallowed hard. "I realize now that it was wrong of me to assume the worst. I was just trying to protect my daughter."
"Yeah? Well, you failed. Because instead of looking out for her, you attacked a man she trusts." His words were sharp, and Emily winced.
"I should've done my research instead of jumping to conclusions," she admitted. "I just… I didn't want to take any chances."
Kelly exhaled, running a hand through his hair. "And did you even bother Googling the daycare before assuming I was some kind of monster?"
"The internet lies sometimes."
"Then why bring your daughter there at all if you have trust issues?"
She had no response.
Kelly sighed, standing up. "Well, whatever."
Emily frowned. "Where are you going?"
"To get my nephew and dog. I've had enough of this conversation."
"I'm really sorry," she tried again.
Kelly barely glanced at her. "Still not accepted. You literally punched my face. Do you know how much money my face alone makes me?"
Emily's eyes widened as she got a closer look at the damage. "I didn't mean to hit you that hard."
Kelly scoffed. "Oh, so a little tap would've been okay?" He rubbed his swollen eye and muttered under his breath, "You're weirdly strong for such a small woman."
"I'm 5'7," Emily blurted out defensively.
Kelly raised an eyebrow. "Did I ask?"
Emily sighed, sinking back into her chair as he walked to the back of the shop. She was frustrated with herself. She had not only made an enemy out of Kelly Woods, but Ayla was also upset with her for attacking her so-called 'Angel.'
A few moments later, Kelly returned, holding Raymond's and Ayla's hands, with Zoe trailing behind them. Ayla looked up at Kelly, her lower lip trembling slightly.
"Angel, are you still my friend?" she asked in a small voice.
Kelly's expression softened as he knelt beside her. "Yes, Lala. I'll always be your friend."
"Are you sure?" she whispered.
Kelly smiled. "Yes."
Ayla's face lit up, and she threw her arms around his neck. Emily watched the interaction with a lump forming in her throat.
"Uncle, me too?" Raymond asked.
Kelly ruffled his nephew's hair. "Of course, Ray. You too."
"Alright, let's go home," he said, straightening up.
"Can I come with you?" Ayla asked hopefully, glancing at Emily.
Kelly hesitated, then gently shook his head. "No, Lala. You'll go home with your mommy."
Ayla pouted. "But she hurt you."
Kelly crouched beside her again, whispering something in her ear. Ayla's expression changed, and she nodded.
"Okay."
"Pinky promise?" Kelly asked, holding out his pinky.
"Pwomise," Ayla said, linking her tiny finger with his.
"Alright, I'll see you on Monday." He stood up and smiled at her.
"Bye, Angel. Bye, Rayman," Ayla said cheerily.
"Bye, Lala. Bye, Zoe," Kelly and Raymond said in unison.
"Bye, Kelly," Zoe called after him.
"Let's go, boys." Kelly gestured for Raymond and Cody to follow, and the three of them walked out of the shop.
Emily let out a long breath before standing. "Come on, Ayla, let's go home."
Ayla walked to her mother and slipped her hand into hers, making Emily smile despite herself.
"Thanks, Zoe. See you next time."
"Bye, girls," Zoe replied.
Emily and Ayla left the shop, stepping into the evening air. She hailed a taxi, her mind still swirling with everything that had just happened. She had a long way to go in making things right with Kelly Woods.
***
"Kelly told me everything," Dani said as she sat in Emily's house. "In his words, 'The woman from Treon's party you spoke to in the bathroom did this to me. You know, the stunning blonde with blue eyes.'" Dani recounted.
"I'm sorry, Dani," Emily apologized sincerely but couldn't help feeling a little happy that Kelly thought she was stunning.
"It's a'ight, like for real. You did a good job, Em."
"Dani, I'm serious."
"I'm serious too. I would've acted the same if my child kept talking about this 'Angel' and then ran to a suspicious-looking man in the park. You acted like a caring and loving mother who'd do anything to protect her child, so I don't think you did anything wrong."
"What if he sues me?" Emily asked, making Dani laugh.
"Kelly can't sue you. And besides, even if he did, you're rich enough."
"He's richer than me, Dani. He's a freaking celebrity."
"You don't have to be scared. You have me."
"Thanks."
"And Kelly's not suing you."
"I damaged his face."
"It's not totally damaged. His left eye is just swollen."
"You're saying it like it's not a big deal."
"Because it's not."
"Dani—"
"Relax, Em. Chill. Kelly's not suing you, so don't be scared."
Emily sighed. "Okay."
"Good. Is Ayla talking to you?" Dani asked, changing the subject.
"Yeah, she is, which totally surprised me because yesterday, she called me evil. But later, when Kelly told her something, she became close to me again."
"She called you evil?" Dani asked, laughing.
"Yes, because I attacked her 'Angel'."
"God, Ayla's so funny," Dani laughed.
"But I'm glad she's not being weird around me."
"Yeah. So, where is she?"
"She's with Cara."
"Oh, okay. So, how's teaching college like?"
"It's stressful and fun at the same time. My students are really nice, but some of the boys keep trying to flirt with me."
"Why wouldn't they? You're hot," Dani said, making Emily laugh.
"Thank you for the compliment, but it just disgusts me, you know. I'm their teacher and—"
"You're young and beautiful, Em, so expect to get flirted with. What about your colleagues?"
"My colleagues are kinda nice. The men are nice, but the women… well, not all are nice, though."
"Tell me who you hate."
Emily laughed. "How did you know I hate someone?"
"We've been besties since we were babies, Em. I know you like I know myself," Dani said, and Emily immediately felt guilty for leaving without saying anything nine years ago.
"Dani—"
"Don't apologize. Just answer the question, Em. Who do you hate?" Dani asked, but Emily suddenly became emotional.
"Are you crying?" Dani asked.
"I'm sorry, it's just that you still know me so well, and you never forgot me," Emily sniffled, wiping her eyes.
"I can't forget you, Em. You're my sister."
At that, Emily broke down in tears.
"God, motherhood made you soft," Dani teased before pulling her into a hug.
Emily chuckled through her tears.
"It's okay, Em," Dani soothed.