Emily spun around and around. A few people began pointing and laughing at her.
“Maybe we should stop her because of the…”
He grabbed Natalie’s hand, obviously sensing she was going to stop Emily from further embarrassment.
“Nope, it’s the people who want to mock her for having Down’s who are the ones in the wrong, not Emily.”
He was right. Emily hadn’t done anything wrong. She was just being herself.
“How come you know so much about all this? I mean having a child with special needs.”
“Don’t think I’m an expert. When she was young I had no idea what I was doing, but then I went along to a support group right here in Missoula and met other parents of children with Down’s and they taught me so much.”
She so admired this man. Taking on Emily all by himself.
Emily turned around and waved at them, beckoning them over.
“We’d better join her or she’ll be upset,” said Flynn.
Flynn got hold of Natalie’s hand and led her over to where Emily was still swaying to the music.
She took hold of their hands and made them dance with her.
Normally shy and self-conscious, especially in a crowd, today Natalie lost every inhibition as she swung around with Flynn and Emily, the three of them laughing, probably being watched and having snide remarks uttered about their behavior, but she didn’t care.
Her daughter giggled and she could see a little of herself and a little of Jon. If only he could see them, even be here swinging around with them too. Flynn squeezed her hand and she realized a tear had rolled down her cheek.
The band switched to a slower tune and without warning, Flynn took Natalie in his arms and pressed his body to hers as they twirled around. Even through their coats she could feel the warmth of his body, smell his cologne, and yes, his erection too.
“Thank you,” he said.
“For what?”
“For being kind to my daughter when lots of other women I’ve known haven’t been.”
Dating couldn’t be easy for him. Not only as a single dad but one dealing with a child with certain needs.
“You didn’t mind acting silly just now and I don’t know anyone else who would have done that,” he continued.
“Sometimes it’s fun letting your hair down.”
Shit, she wanted him to kiss her again.
“Smile,” shouted Emily.
They both looked toward her and she snapped a photo of them with her cell phone.
The music stopped and Emily rushed over to them. “Look, pretty photo. I’m going to keep it forever and ever.”
Flynn let Natalie’s hand slip through his. “Okay Ms. Malone, let’s go and buy that knitting wool and then I think we should eat because I’m starving.”
****
Flynn stood on the sidelines as Natalie helped Emily pick out a knitting pattern. It seemed she was going to help Emily make a hat and matching booties for Shane and Lacey’s baby.
Natalie was heaven sent. She had to be. Beautiful, intelligent, patient with Emily, and yes, he hated to admit it, but she turned him on big time. His libido hadn’t been in overdrive like this since he couldn’t remember when. During their dance when they’d held one another, he’d wanted to whisk her off to the hotel room and make love to her.
“And what color yarn do you want?” Natalie asking Emily that question jarred him out of his thought about taking off Natalie’s clothes and kissing every inch of her body. Shit, if he didn’t stop this fantasy playing out in his head he was going to come right this second.
“Blue because it’s a boy,” said Emily.
Flynn shook his head. She was adamant about it just like she’d been with the calf.
“They have lots of blues so you pick which one you like best,” said Natalie
Emily walked back and forth several times looking at the skeins on the shelf. While Natalie was being nice and not hurrying her, he knew his daughter too well. If Natalie didn’t insist she narrow down the choices she could pick, it could turn into hours in the store for all of them. He walked over to her.
“I think Lacey would like to see the baby in his color,” he said pointing to a light blue yarn on the middle shelf.
Emily crossed her arms, shook her head and stomped her foot on the floor
Honey please, don’t have an outburst and make Natalie think she’s making a huge mistake hanging out with your dad.
“You have to pick one soon, honey because Daddy’s getting hungry,” he said.
“I want all the colors.” She stomped her foot again.
“Honey you can’t, you know that.”
“How about we pick two blues,” said Natalie. “This light one, and then the darker shade here and blend them together.”