Chenford Story

42

Tim's POV

Finally, the day that for an entire year I have been equal parts longing to come and fearing.
Juniper's first birthday.

I woke up early like usual, all of our friends had booked the day off so Lucy and I were throwing a party fit for our princess of a daughter.

Maybe having a three tier cake for a one year olds party was excessive. Did I do it anyway?
The £200 charge on my card was well worth the joy I would hopefully see on my daughter's face.
Lucy had dressed Juniper this morning, something she had been doing more over the last few weeks. Even so,Lucy had been being distant with me, not outright cold or rude, just not engaging in social interactions with me and generally staying more in her room.

Her relationship with Juniper seemed to be fully recovered though so that was good. I knew even when Lucy first came back from the courtroom over a month ago, that she was terrified of things being different.
Luckily I managed to convince most people at work to not bring up the topic with Lucy more than necessary by doing some more paperwork. Even Smitty, the station gossip, was persuaded not to talk to Lucy about any of it in exchange for a week and a half's worth of paperwork. So worth it.

I knew Lucy had been so worried about people treating her differently after finding out about her childhood. Doing a few hundred more sheets of paperwork was more than worth it to see her faint smile when coming back home after her first day back, telling me how 'everyone was so nice' and that 'they don't care that much'.

I finished setting up for the party by stringing some lights around the outdoor pergola. Pink and yellow decorations were coving the garden from one end to the other, a large chocolate fountain stood in one corner and an array of food was displayed down one side. A makeshift dance floor had been outlined on the grass as tables were arranged towards the patio area. Of course toys were everywhere, everything for a one year old who was learning to walk around.

Lucy's POV

Ever since realising I was pregnant with Juniper I had been thinking about this day. Sometimes absolutely terrified of it. One entire year old. Time had gone so fast and yet at the same time it felt like I had been with Tim and my baby girl my entire life. Now there was no life I could invision without Juniper front and centre of it.

But my daughter was growing up, and I wanted to be a part of that. Not that I would be any good at it.

Angela and Wesley arrived first with Jack. Then it was Nyla and James with Lila and Leah. After that it was John and Bailey, Grey and Luna, then another knock.

I went to open it, assuming it was Tamara or that someone had ordered food. Why was Ashley at my doorstep?!
"Oh hello again Lucy. Is Tim here?"
"Yeah he's inside... Why are you here?"
"It's a Friday, you should know by now that it's date night"
"Oh, no Tim won't be available for a date until at least tonight. It's our daughter's first birthday today, we're having a party with our friends."
Tim appeared behind me, noticing his girlfriend in the doorway.
"Oh Timmy, it's time for our date. Remember we're going to that restaurant across town?"
"Sorry babe, it's Juni's first birthday and I wouldn't miss it for anyone."
"What do you mean you won't come?!"
"I mean I'm not coming with you."
"If you don't come... I-ill break up with you!"
"Then I guess it's over."
The look on Ashley's face was a mixture of shock and horrified.
"W-what do you mean?"
"We are over Ashley."

Ashely turned pale but stormed off.
Tim turned back to me,
"Sorry you had to miss a part of the party to deal with Ashley."
Honestly I didn't mind, watching them break up was satisfying even if it meant that the urge to kiss Tim was stronger than ever.

Tim's POV

And just like that I was single. Not that I cared that much for a relationship that lasted less than most relationships from high school. The nerve of Ashley to think I would leave my own daughter's first birthday party to go on a date with her. That I would leave a day that I would never get back, to spend time with a woman I hadn't known more than a few months.

Clearly I dodged a bullet. What if we had stayed together, and Ashley asked me to skip something else important for her, a wedding or birthday that I would never get to relive, I would never forgive myself foe that.

I could see the confliction in Lucy's eyes. God I loved her, her beautiful bark brown eyes, the way her hair hung over her shoulders. I had to stop thinking like that.
Lucy didn't love me anymore. I had to remind myself of that, of what was the most precious and best relationship of my life.

We rejoined the party after a minute outside.
"You guys ok? What happened out there, we heard shouting"
Of course it was Angela, the detective, asking questions.
"Fine, Tim just broke up with his girlfriend"
"Oh" If Angela was surprised, she didn't show it.

After that chaotic conversation, the party continues as normal, ending with Juniper awkwardly blowing out the candles with the help of Lucy and I.

I had a one year old. A child that was a whole year old. I had been Juniper's father for 11 entire months that seemed like they went by in about a day.

Lucy's POV

Juniper seemed so happy. Opening presents she didn't really have any idea about why she had so many new things, only that people had given her a load of new toys to play with.

It was adorable watching her little excited giggles as she ripped apart rapping paper of the various presents from our friends.
Tim got her an entire outdoor play set. I got her a massive playhouse for her bedroom.

A month later

Juniper had been speaking more since turning one. Now she was speaking in almost full sentences.
"Wove oo mama"
"I love you too Juniper baby"
She hadn't yet been able to pronounce all of the sounds, but it was so adorable watching her try and tell me she loved me. Even when I knew I didn't deserve it having left her a year ago. Some to think about it, it was a year today, exactly.

God that felt bad to think about.
That I had abandoned my daughter...
My own flesh and blood.
I was an absolutely terrible person...