Your Mistake is My Blessing

Chapter 4

Harry has been very good at following my rules; he's followed the schedule of visits and texts and calls when he is on his way to mine and when he's outside the house. He's coming over tonight for a hours when we're home from work at 6:30 p.m.

"Papa, Hawwy p'ay?" Salem cutely asks as I drive us home.

"Yes love, he's coming over to see you and play," I assure her with a smile.

"Yesh!" She fist bumps the air; I'm scared how attached she has become with him; especially if he decides this isn't what he wants or when he goes back on tour.

Upon arriving at home, I find Harry's car parked in my drive and him sitting in the driver's seat as I park my car next to his. Letting out a sigh of irritation, I climb out to get Salem from the back along with her backpack and diaper bag. Harry climbs from his car as we get out and are approaching the house.

"Hawwy, we p'ay?" she begs; hugging him around the legs and looks at him with round blue eyes.

"Of course!" he happily replies; following us into the house.

Placing Salem on her feet saying; "Go play in the living room, love."

"Otay!" she squeals; running off to the living room with a bright dimpley smile.

"Hey Lou, um, can I order for us tonight?" Harry asks cautiously.

"Um, I don't normally order take-in," I reply; thinking hard.

"Please Lou, just this once."

"Fine," I sigh giving in.

"Yeah, thank you! Is pizza okay?" he asks; smiling brightly to where his dimples pop out.

"Sure, that's fine," I agree filling the kettle for tea. "Go play with Salem, please."

He hesitates for a second before joining our daughter; leaving me to lean against the counter to think after turning a burner on to heat the kettle.

"Papa!" Salem hollers; so I join them until the kettle sounds.

"Yes, love," I ask sitting on the floor by her.

"Hawwy give me," she exclaims; holding up an all white teddy bear.

"That's very pretty, did you say thank you to, Harry?"

"Yesh," she nods; her face serious as she answers me.

"Good girl, baby," I praise; kissing her forehead as I push her wild curly hair from her face.

Glancing up to Harry to thank him but stop when I catch the expression on his face; it's a mixture of awe and sadness and I do feel a small amount of guilt that I kept them seperated for as long as they have been.

"Thank you for giving her a gift," I murmur; catching his attention.

He grins at us; "Anytime. I had a teddy bear when I was small, so I thought she should, too."

Humming at him as I move my gaze from him back to Salem before Harry asks me another question: "How did you come up with her first name?"

"Nana na'e me," Salame answers for me as she plays.

Smiling at her as I try not to cry, I answer Harry's silent question; "When I was pregnant with her, mum's leukemia was getting worse and she suggested the names Salem and Savannah. The day I gave birth to Salem was the first and last time mum ever held Salem. As I held Salem the day after mum died, I knew her name was Salem Anne."

By the time I've finished speaking, I'm ugly crying because her death might have happened just over two years ago - everyday I still miss her.

"Oh Lou, I'm so sorry," Harry whispers; as he and Salem hug me tightly.

"Not your fault," I whimper; pulling Salem tightly to me.

A minute later, Salem's wiggling from my hold to play again and I clean my face free of tears.

"Papa, I hun'gy," Salem whines a few minutes later.

"The food should be here in ten minutes," Harry tells me.

"The yummy food Harry ordered should be here soon, baby," I tell her; tucking a curly strand of hair behind her hear with a fond smile.

She pouts dramaticlly at me with her little arms crossed over her chest asking; "Yummies?"

"Sure princess," I agree; standing without another word and walking into the kitchen and before returning with a small snack package of yogurt pretzels.

"Here you go," I say handing her the opened package.

"Tanks!" she squeals; biting one in half.

Giggling at her as my eyes drift to Harry, who is starring at us and smiling fondly, so I ask; "What?"

"Nothing, I just wonder what I life would have been like if I hadn't cheated and stuff."

"I don't know but there's no point in wondering since we'll never know. The best we can do now is move forward and do what is best for her - co-parent to the best of our ablities."

"I know," he murmurs; the doorbell sounds then and I stand to answer it and pay for dinner but Harry is quicker, so I stay with Salem.