Blake walks off the plane, more than ready to get to his little girl. This is the longest he had been away from her since his wife died. As soon as his feet hit the tarmac he hears "daddy!" and looks up to see this beautiful little girl running to him. He drops what bags he was carrying and bends down to catch her as she jumps into his arms. The feeling of holding her is something he missed more than he knew.
"I missed you daddy! I missed you a whole lot!"
"Oh yeah? How much is a whole lot?"
"Like this much!" Lilly said as she stretched her arms as far as they would go
"You missed me that much?" Blake asked acting surprised while Lilly just smiles and shakes her head yes. "Well you know what?" He asked and she shook her head no. "Daddy missed you even more than that. I love you so much Lilly, I hope you know that!"
"I love you too daddy! Can you never go away again like that? I cried a lot and grandma cried."
"Princess I wish I could say yes but remember we talked about this. Daddy is going to have to go away for work sometimes now, but that doesn't mean I don't love you or love spending time with you."
"I know I just want you to stay with me forever."
"I know princess, but hey! Guess what? Next week when I go away again, you get to come with me! Does that sound like fun?"
"I get to go with you on your trip?!"
"Absolutely princess! You get to go to California for a whole week!"
"I'm so excited daddy!"
"I'm glad. Now how about we go home and get some hot chocolate while we watch your favorite movie?"
"Sound of music?"
"Of course princess."
.......................................
Lilly was clinging to Blake all night. Anywhere he went she had to go. Blake knew this would be hard on her at first but he didn't realize it was going to be this hard. That night Blake lay in bed with Lilly curled up into him. She had cried when he tried to put her to sleep in her bed. He hadn't seen her in a week and seeing her cry was breaking his heart so he gave in. He knew he was asking for trouble and in the morning he was gonna get it from his mom but he couldn't help it. She didn't have a mom and here he is leaving her for days at a time. If he could spoil her a little bit while he had her you bet he was going to. Blake's mind wondered back to worrying whether or not he had made the right decision in coming back to singing. Was it worth him living his dream if it meant his little girl suffered? This lead his mind to Gwen and the moment they almost shared before he left. She was so beautiful! He had never seen a woman so beautiful and that day they spent together, Wow! He doesn't remember a time when he actually let go and was himself with anyone else like he did with her. He doesn't know what it is about her but he just felt comfortable with her, like he could tell her all of his secrets and know with confidence she wouldn't share them. He had wanted to break his phone that day. He wanted to stay in the moment with her. He wanted to feel her lips on his but there is one girl that will always come first to him, his daughter. His mom had called and he knew it was his little girl, so reluctantly he had pulled away and excused himself outside to call her. Lilly had been crying and Dot couldn't get her to stop this time. She had needed to hear her daddy's voice. When he got to the car he sang her their song until she fell asleep.
.................................................................
The next day Blake wakes to an excited 4 year old.
"Daddy! Daddy! It's thanksgiving! That means we get to go to grandmas and eat turkey!"
Blake chuckles "Yeah it does princess."
