Fluke of Fate

9: What almost happened..

Nestle slammed his fist on the steering wheel of his truck, closed his eyes and let his head fall back on the back rest. He should have been with her at that moment, he wanted her more than he thought was possible, he couldn't stop thinking about the way her grey eyes bore into his soul, he couldn't put a finger on what she was searching for in them.. He wanted to take her in his arms, run his fingers through her unruly hair, he wanted to kiss those luscious lips and taste her. He could still smell of zesty lemon from her hair, probably from the conditioner she uses. He had noticed how tiny and fragile she looked at that moment when in reality she was far from the vulnerable woman he had just witness. He wasn't sure about how he felt, he wasn't looking for love, yet he wanted to be with her. He didn't speak to Ginny or Paulina about Zella, he wasn't sure how would Ginny react to him sharing his time with Zella. He wasn't sure if Zella felt the same way as he did, he wasn't sure about anything, all he was sure about was that he couldn't be just friends with Zella when he wanted so much more..

He couldn't sit in his truck any longer when all he could think was to drive back to the diner so he rushed into the house and went to check on Ginny, she was snuggling her favourite little bunny, he kissed her and headed towards his room, he sat on the table and flicked on the study lamp, there was a picture of himself and Ginny, it was their first picture together. He smiled to the memory of how tiny she was, how scared he was holding her, of screwing up, he didn't even know he had it in him to be responsible enough to take care of himself let alone a tiny soul. He remember Ginny's first milestones, how unaffected Ginny was when Rebecca died.

More than anything he had think about Ginny, he couldn't let her go through what he went through seeing his mother bring different men into their home and carelessly flaunting around herself, coming late into the night, too drunk to get to bed. Ginny was far away from all the demons he had to fight when he was little and he was sure he would protect Ginny till his last breath.

Despite of having all these thoughts about Ginny, he couldn't help himself smile to what almost happened. somehow his thought again drifted to the red head girl he left behind, he wondered if she was feeling as restless as he was suddenly he got up, he wanted to go back to her, he wanted her in his arms and never let go and if he would, he knew he would loose control if he sees her tonight so instead of rushing outside he went straight to the bathroom and took a very long cold shower.

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Next day was a Sunday and Nestle wanted to take Ginny out to see Zella, he wanted to see how Ginny would be in front of Zella and vice versa. He pulled over at Mae and asked Ginny to take a seat where she liked while he had to make a phone call.

Zella noticed a little girl as she sat all by herself reading a book. Zella was transported back to her childhood when she would sit reading while her mother worked. Zella went towards her, her hair was pulled back into a pony tail and she was reading a book by Enid Blyton. One of her favourite writers. Zella smiled, for this child had brought back memories of herself.

"Good morning sweetie. Are you all by yourself?" Zella bend down to her level and asked with a smile.

Ginny looked up and smiled. "No, my daddy's outside finishing a call. He asked me to wait inside."

"Would you like to have something while you wait for him?" Zella asked, Nestle had come in at that moment, but Zella hadn't noticed him, she was too intrigued by this young girl, but what Nestle noticed was that Zella was smiling at Ginny, and it wasn't the fake one she plastered on her face for her customers, it was genuinely a real smile.

"Today's Sunday so breakfast can be anything with eggs but I should probably wait for daddy."

"Not a problem missy." Zella said straightening up, Nestle was right behind her and held her arms from behind preventing her from turning around. He couldn't help but pull her to his chest and whispering in her ears "I love the way you smiled right now at Ginny, how come you don't smile like that always?" it was an innocent act a simple comment but the way his breath tingled in her ears, send shivers down her spine and she had closed her eyes, how perfect she felt being held by him. And as the moment passed, just like that she realised what he had said she stepped out of his hold and looked at the girl and then at Nestle,

"Is this your daddy?" Zella looked at Ginny to answer as though she didn't trust Nestle to tell the truth.

"Yes, I AM her dad." Nestle said feeling offended.

Nesltle kept a hand on Ginny's head and said "Honey, this is Zella, she's the owns this place, she and daddy are.."

"Friends?" Ginny asked with a frown and Nestle nodded.

"I'll be back when you guys are ready to order." Zella said carefully avoiding Nestle's stares.

Somehow Zella was angry and upset, she had opened up a page of her life to him, she had said about her mom and she was angry that she did not know anything about him, where was Ginny's mom? If Nestle is a divorcee, or a widower? Or if he was just trying to get into her pants, all she knew was that just about yesterday he was about to kiss her, the thought had her tingling with anticipation and now it made her want to puke. She couldn't believe she was so gullible around him.. One step forward and three step backward.. she hadn't expected him to tell her everything, but how did someone miss out that they had a daughter? Zella was deep in thoughts and she had to completed an order for calzone, she had plated at and placed it in front of the man immersed in his tablet. She looked at Nestle and his daughter, his daughter was speaking something animating things with her tiny hand. Zella couldn't help smiling at her as she walked in front of them.

"Are you guys ready to order?" Zella asked bending towards Ginny.

"Zella.." Nestle said but Zella's glare spoke volumes, it said, not to say anything other than the order, this wasn't the place or time to scream and yell. She wanted break something, anything and she wasn't even a violent person!

"So what are you guys having?" Zella asked again folding her hands and breaking her knuckles.

"I will having the pancakes and Ginny will have the boiled egg sandwich."

"Anything to drink for the lady?" Zella asked smiling at Zella.

"Am I allowed to have the chocolate milk shake?" Nestle nodded, Zella turned and headed to the kitchen to prepare their food. She mixed the mayo, a special herb mixture and boiled shredded chicken pieces and poured the mixture over the boiled eggs placed on the bread and placed them on the toaster. When it was done she placed them on a plate with ketchup on the side. Then cooked the pancakes and poured Nestle's favourite syrup into another bowl and kept on the side, just the way he likes it. She poured his tea into his mug and her milkshake into a glass, topped it up with whip-cream and crushed Oreo and Choco-chips. When she was satisfied she placed it on their table. She smiled at Ginny and nodded at nestle, she was still confused as to why he had never mentioned about his daughter.

"I am takin' five, call me if there's an order. " Zella said to Stella, Stella straightened her apron and sat at the counter. When Nestle saw Stella up front at the counter, he smiled. He wanted Zella to see Ginny, clearly he didn't think it through, he wasn't sure what to do next, he couldn't leave Ginny alone to go after Zella to explain things about Ginny. Today was all about being with Ginny and he would clear things out once Ginny was done for the day. Nestle noticed Ginny enjoying the milkshake. Ginny had always been a fussy eater but she ate the sandwich without uttering a single word.

"Did you enjoy the food?" Nestle asked playing with her hair.

"I did! Thank you very much daddy!"

"You're welcome Ginny bee. So what you say we hit the road!! Are you ready to go to the museum?"

"Yes daddy yes!!" Nestle never understood her fascination with museum. Just as she wiped her face with a napkin, she took the sanitizer out of fanny pack and pour some on her little hands and rubbed them together. Ginny got up and kept the sanitizer back and zipped her fanny pack, then she looked around as though looking for someone.

"You want something honey?"

"Zelda. I'm looking for your friend, I want to thank her for the food and say good bye." Ginny said still looking around anxiously.

"Zella." Nestle corrected her.

"I think she's on a break, why don't I give her your message when I come to see her later. We don't want to get late for the museum right?" Ginny nodded.

"I think she's pissed with you daddy!" Ginny said, walking toward their truck, leaving a bewildered Nestle..

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