His Baby Girl {Waterloo Road}

03

Simon stood outside Grace's house. He was going to ask if he could take Lilly out for the day. Charley had put him up to him. She wanted him to make the effort with Lilly for the sake of their unborn baby.

Simon knocked the door. Max answered. "Simon? Can I help you?" He asked.

Simon smiled. "Is Grace in?"

"Yes. Come in."

***
Grace came downstairs with Lilly. Lilly toddled to her toy corner. Grace smiled at Max and then looked at Simon. "What's wrong?" She asked.

Simon sighed. "Would it be possible to take Lilly out for the day? Charley suggested the zoo. She thinks I need to wise up and be a father," he said.

Grace looked at Lilly. She walked over to her daughter. "Baby, do you wanna go to the zoo?" She asked.

Lilly looked at Grace. "Muma and Max?"

"No. With Simon and his girlfriend. They wanna take you to see the animals," Grace explained.

Lilly got scared. She looked at Grace. "Miss mummy," she mumbled.

"You'll be coming home baby. Don't worry."

***
Simon carried Lilly out to the car. Charley smiled. "Grace agreed then?"

Simon nodded. "She wants her back by 5pm for dinner, he told her.

"We can manage that."

***
Grace paced the living room. She looked at Max. "I've made a mistake haven't I? Letting him take her out," she mumbled.

Max shook his head. "I think you're being a very mature person. Anyone immature wouldn't have let the man who walked out on their unborn baby take said child out for the day," he told her.

Grace somehow found comfort in what Max had said. She sat down by him and laid her head on his shoulder. "It's quiet without her," she mumbled.

***
Simon wasn't having any luck with Lilly. She was scared of him. Charley however, flourished with the little girl. Charley took Lilly over to the tiger enclosure. A tiger jumped up the glass which scared Lilly and knocked her over.

Lilly stood up and toddled to Simon. Simon held her close. "It's okay. He won't hurt you," he said.

"Muma," Lilly sobbed.

Simon sighed and kissed her head. "Look, see, the tiger is in there. It can't hurt you and daddy won't let it hurt you either," he said.

"It stay in dere?" Lilly asked.

"Yeah. It can't get out of there," Simon told her.

***
Grace laid on the sofa with Max. She sighed. "They should have taken the pushchair. Lilly will be tired," she mumbled.

"She'll sleep tonight then won't she?"

"Yeah. True."

***
Lilly was being carried by Simon. He could tell she was getting tired. He looked at his watch. "Maybe we should head back? It's nearly 5 now."

~~~
Grace stood on the doorstep as Simon pulled up with Lilly. Charley carried her up to the door while Simon got the bag. "Hi my gorgeous baby girl."

"See tiger."

Grace grinned and kissed Lilly's head. She handed her to Max. Max took her inside. Simon smiled. "Thank you Grace. This means a lot to me."

"No worries."

Simon smiled. "Is there any chance we can make this a regular thing? Weekly access and maybe the odd night staying over at mine?"

Grace smiled in response. "Let's take it one day at a time."

Simon and Charley left. Grace went back inside. She knew Simon was stepping up. But what did that mean?