Wilderness Borne

by Mikayla Gabby-Green

  She got on the subway, feeling nervous as she didn’t have anything to focus on.

  You’re like a schoolgirl, going to confess to their first crush! Daphne chided herself. It didn’t have any effect anyway.

  She got off and quickly exited, checking her phone and map before she headed for Fifth Pubhouse.

  She got there and saw James’s large frame standing out in the snow, looking around for her.

  Seeing her, he smiled, but it dimmed, guarded now.

  Daphne hurt seeing that, but she had promised she wouldn’t run this time; she’d see how it went. She didn’t know, but she was willing to test it out. “Hey.” She smiled.

  “Hey to you too. Come on, let’s get out of the cold.” James opened the door.

  She walked through and entered the cozy pub. People were talking to one another, with arrays of beer taps, TVs showing the game that was going on, and people throwing darts.

  “Hey, James!” the bartender said.

  “Hi, Sally,” James said, waving his jacket and clearing it.

  “What you here for?” Sally poured a beer.

  “Heading up,” James said.

  “Well, have a good night!” Sally said with a grin as she finished her pour.

  James led Daphne through the pub and then through another set of doors. An elevator waited for them, as well as a man.

  “Hey, Phil,” James said.

  “Hi, James. Who is this lovely lady you’ve graced us with?” Phil asked with a warm smile.

  “Daphne.” Daphne shook Phil’s hand. She stepped aboard the old lift.

  He closed the gate manually and then hit the up button, the whole thing raising itself up. “It’s good to meet you, Daphne, though I think you might be luckier meeting this guy.” Phil laughed.

  Daphne smiled and looked over to an embarrassed James. “Maybe.” She smiled, feeling that same excitement from the summer.

  James looked at her with a curious gaze as they reached their destination.

  “Well, I hope you both have a great night,” Phil said.

  “Thank you,” Daphne said.

  “Cheers, Phil.” James led her in.

  “Do you need me to take your jackets?” a woman asked as they entered a restaurant.

  Daphne wouldn’t have known it was even there if not for James taking her.

  “Please.” James pulled his off and revealed his clean shirt and pressed pants.

  Daphne had held herself back before, but she could see the muscle under those clothes. She imagined and remembered his body when there hadn’t been clothes in the way.

  “Thanks, Sarah.” He passed her his jacket and then turned to Daphne, helping her out of hers.

  “Thanks,” Daphne said. She usually did these things herself, but with James, she liked being a bit vulnerable, the little things he did for her.

  They were quickly guided to a table and sat down.

  Daphne looked out of the big windows to the street below. It was already dark but she could see light snow coming down in the warm light of the streetlights. Constant cars and people made her thankful to be cozy inside the restaurant.

  Her gaze turned to James as she smiled.

  James seemed to notice her gaze and looked at her with a questioning look. “Do I have something on my face?” He rubbed at his beard.

  “No.” Daphne’s smile only widened as she felt excited and apprehensive of where this relationship might go, or whether it would even become a relationship.

  James smiled, not expecting any clear response. “So, you went and built a law firm in four months.”

  “Yeah,” Daphne said, letting out a breath.

  “It’s never easy starting something new but it seems you have the magic.”

  “Uh-huh. Been looking into me?” Daphne asked.

  “Well, a little bit. I looked over your cases and I saw your name but I didn’t know your last name. I was more focused on how you were on your cases than what you looked like,” James said awkwardly.

  “So how do I look on paper?” Daphne asked as a waiter came around.

  “Would you like a drink to start?”

  James waved for Daphne to go first.

  “Is there a wine that you would recommend?” Daphne asked.

  “If you’re looking for a red, I would say the Konzelmann Cabernet Sauvignon. For white, I would say the Giorgio & Gianni Pinot Grigio.”

  “The pinot grigio, please,” Daphne said.

  “Certainly. James?” The waiter smiled.

  “Can I get a Smoked Maple Old Fashioned?”

  “The regular, I see. Certainly.” The waiter smiled to them both before leaving.

  “You look really good on paper, at least to me. You are new into this game, but you’re a veteran in law. You’ve got the contacts. You get things done and you’ve worked with all kinds of groups, with a focus on law around the environment, which lines up with our values at Wilderness Outreach,” James said.

  “Seems like you really went into my background.”

  “Wouldn’t have hired you otherwise,” James said seriously.

  Daphne took a second before she nodded. “Thank you. There was a part of me that was wondering if you hired me just because of our past history.”

  “I wouldn’t do that. Those people need the best to fight for their case and you were it,” James said, making it clear.

  “That means a lot.”

  “Shall we order?” James opened his menu.

  “Sure. So, tell me about Julia.” Daphne looked at James, who slowed down opening the menu.

  “She’s eight, turning nine in August, grows up too fast, and she’s a little troublemaker.” James smiled softly.

  Daphne could feel the love he had for his daughter. “Does she have any interests?”

  “Makeup, at least for now. She’s all over new makeup products.” James rolled his eyes. “I try to keep it simple but she loves watching and looking through the different flyers on makeup. Thankfully she’s gotten much better at doing her own hair. Now that was a nightmare.”

  “Don’t tell me you did her hair?” Daphne’s smile was filled with mirth as she looked at James’s pained expression.

  “You bet. Thankfully the internet has plenty of videos to teach me how to do it in a passable manner. Though I will say there are some photos that she will not let anyone see with some of my earlier attempts.”

  Daphne laughed behind her hand, thinking about it.

  “She’s into painting and drawing. She’s good at it too.” James pulled out his phone and quickly pulled up a picture. It showed a gap-toothed Julia hanging off James’s neck with a ridiculous smile.

  “She looks like you, with the eyes and hair,” Daphne said.

  “Thanks, I think. I’ll have to ask her about that.” James smiled, looking at the photo before putting it away.

  “So, her mother?” Daphne asked.

  James’s smile dulled. Thankfully the waiter returned with their drinks, giving Daphne a taste before pouring it out.

  James sipped on his drink before the waiter left. He took another long sip, bracing himself. “She died five years ago.”

  “Oh, I’m sorry.” Daphne’s heart twisted as she put out a hand and put it on his.

  James smiled at her, telling her it wasn’t her fault. “Cancer,” James said, answering the next unasked question. “She got it. You think that it just hits other people, that it won’t get you. Then it happens, then it’ll be healed—there’s another way, there’s always another way. You spend so much time looking for a solution, you’re not there with them when it matters the most. Then it comes from the doctor that it’s time to say good-bye.” James looked up from his drink, his lips pressed together and his eyes wet.

  Daphne squeezed his hand, her own emotions making her eyes mist over.

  James sniffed and looked away, not really seeing anything. “Sorry.” James sighed, clearing his throat and blinking to clear the tears.

  “Don’t be,” Daphne
said, wanting to understand but unable to.

  James gave her a weak smile and shifted his hand to hold hers and squeeze slightly. “The fish is really good.” He looked at the menu.

  “I could give that a try,” Daphne said with a smile, hoping to lift the mood and make it clear it was okay. “So, Wilderness Outreach, huh? One of the premier incubators in the city—that’s no small achievement.”

  “You know how it is with starting something new—it ain’t easy. I’m honestly stunned with the success that you’ve had in the few months you’ve been operating. Do you have time to sleep?” James laughed.

  “Some days,” Daphne joked. “Once I left the other firm, I didn’t know what I wanted to do. At the camp, I got my inspiration and I threw myself into it,” Daphne said.

  “No boyfriends or husbands?” James asked.

  “Nope.” Daphne shook her head sadly. “There were a few who came close but I put too much into the work I was doing and not the life I was living. I guess I’m still kind of doing that.” Daphne shrugged.

  The waiter came around. “Are you two ready to order?”

  Daphne and James looked at each other, with him waving to Daphne.

  “I’ll go for the fish, please.” She closed the menu.

  “I’ll go for the pork belly, please.” James handed over the menu.

  “Good choices.” The waiter retrieved the menus and then headed off.

  Daphne and James talked about their pasts—their successes, their failures, funny stories that they’d accumulated through the years—as the night went on, going through the meal and dessert.

  Time seemed to just vanish, the two of them enclosed in their own world as they got to know each other even deeper than before.

  Daphne couldn’t keep her eyes off him and she was shocked and pleased with how much of her history he remembered from the campgrounds.

  It had been a long time since she had a night out.

  They flirted, but as they talked about business and work, it seemed as if they were on the same wavelength.

  It came to an end too quickly as they split the bill and they gathered their coats.

  Daphne locked her arm with James as they took the elevator down and went out into the street. Cars were going past and people crowded the sidewalks, walking and talking to one another.

  “Want to go for a coffee?” James asked.

  “I’d like nothing more. Got a place?”

  “Timmys down the road?” James asked.

  “You know how to sweet-talk a girl.” Daphne laughed.

  James smiled and pulled his head in against the cold as they walked into the Tims and found a quiet corner to talk.

  It seemed that in no time, one of the staff was walking around. “Sorry, we’re closing soon,” they said awkwardly.

  “Thanks,” James said. Daphne and he grabbed their jackets once again as they headed back out into the street.

  “Thanks for this,” Daphne said as they were facing each other.

  “It doesn’t have to end,” James said. “You could come back to mine. Just stay the night, nothing physical.”

  Daphne thought about it for a minute before she shook her head. “I want to meet Julia, and I don’t want the first time to be right after I’ve slept with her dad.”

  James nodded. “Fair enough.”

  “But I do want to see you for a second date.” Daphne moved closer and looked up at him.

  He put his arms around her and kissed her quickly. “All right, well, Julia and I have movie Saturday tomorrow night. If you want, you could join us.” James quickly sped up before Daphne could say anything. “If that’s too soon, don’t worry. We can go out on Tuesday if you’re free?”

  Daphne saw his hopes and his vulnerability, talking to him, learning about his wife. It had brought out something more in her. “What movie?”

  “Something with cartoons.” James beamed.

  “Sounds good.” Daphne smiled and gave him a quick kiss before pulling away.

  “My car’s that way.” James pointed down the street.

  “And I’m headed that way.” Daphne pointed down another road.

  “See you tomorrow then?” James asked.

  “Wouldn’t miss it. Tell me what time and where your place is, and I’ll be over.”

  “I will. Night,” James said.

  She waved and headed off down the street. She looked back and saw him looking at her. She smiled, blushing, as she tucked her head back into her jacket and kept walking.

  She didn’t make it to the subway when her phone vibrated.

  Thank you for tonight I really enjoyed myself.

  She felt giddy as she replied. I did too, looking forward to tomorrow :)

  James didn’t reply, so Daphne assumed he was driving. She went home, anxious about tomorrow but also excited.

  Her feelings for James were deeper than she’d experienced before. She was scared of where it might lead, but she was equally excited it would work out.

  Chapter Julia

  James leaned on the breakfast bar as Julia, who still had bed head and was wearing her Christmas pajamas, ate her cereal.

  “Today Daddy’s friend is going to be coming over to have dinner and watch a movie with us,” James said.

  “Okay.” Julia yawned, her eyes half closed.

  James knew that some of it had got across to her. He smiled and moved beside her, patting her shoulder and kissing her head.

  “What are you doing today, Miss Sleepyhead?”

  “Not sleepy.” Julia scowled and looked up at her dad severely. “I’ve got paintings to do!”

  “Not sketches?” James asked.

  “I’ll do those later.” Julia waved her hand, imitating an adult’s air of authority.

  James smiled. Creases appeared beside his eyes as he moved for the fridge to get water. “What will you paint today?”

  “Santa!” Julia said excitedly.

  “You already sent Santa your gift list,” James said.

  “I know, but when he comes for treats, I want to give him a picture!”

  “He only comes when you’re asleep, though,” James coaxed, drinking his water.

  “I can leave it with his treats!” Julia bounced happily, coming awake.

  “Oh, and how do you know what Santa looks like?” James asked.

  “I know,” Julia said in a low voice, leaning forward as she glowered at her father.

  James nodded. “Right.”

  “Right!” Julia said, taking on the aura of an expert as she continued to eat her cereal with her princess spoon.

  James smiled behind his water as he shook his head internally. His smile widened as his cell phone vibrated in his pocket.

  ***

  Daphne looked around the street and saw the simple house that overlooked Lake Ontario. She checked her GPS before she turned onto the driveway. It turned behind trees, revealing the full house and giving the owners greater privacy.

  Daphne parked her car and turned off the engine. She stared at the steering wheel. It was a big step, meeting the child of the man she was dating.

  Before the emotions could get to her, she stepped out of the car and headed for the front door. She rang the doorbell, hearing running feet.

  “I’ve got it!” A little girl’s voice sounded out.

  The door unlocked as Daphne was greeted by an earnest-looking Julia.

  “Da-ad!” Julia yelled.

  “Julia, say hello to Daphne and invite her inside.” James entered the entrance hall behind Julia.

  “I’m Julia, come in!” Julia bounced, her eyes shining as she looked at Daphne.

  “Thank you. I’m Daphne. It’s nice to meet you.” Daphne entered as Julia closed the door behind her. Daphne took off her knee-high boots.

  Julia was still hanging around, looking over Daphne. “You’re pretty.”

  “Thank you,” Daphne said, a little shocked by Julia’s sudden outburst. “You’re really pretty too.”

  �
�I wish I had makeup like you, but my dad won’t let me get any,” Julia said, her hands behind her back as she turned side to side.

  “Nice try, rug rat.” James mussed up her hair.

  “Dad!” Julia said in alarm, working to fix her hair.

  “Need help?” James asked with an evil-looking expression as he wiggled his fingers, moving them toward Julia’s head.

  “Nooo!” Julia screeched, running away to escape her dad.

  She ran off through the house as Daphne stood back up.

  “Jacket?” James asked.

  “Thanks,” Daphne said as James took her jacket and put it up on a hanger. “What smells good?”

  “Lasagna. I hope you brought your appetite!” James indicated for her to follow him. They walked deeper into the house, coming into an open-plan kitchen with an attached dining room and living room. A big pane window spread across the back of the house, giving a view of the entire lake.

  A Christmas tree stood in the living room. Julia peeked in the room. She was like a deer in the headlights as she saw Daphne looking over at her. Her eyes went big as she ran off again.

  Daphne couldn’t help but laugh at the kid’s antics.

  “Dinner in thirty minutes, Julia!” James said. It seemed he noticed her too. “Want a drink?” he asked Daphne.

  “No, I’m good. This is a really nice house you have here.”

  “Thanks. It’s a good place to get away from everything. It’s better in the summer.” James smiled as Daphne took a seat at the breakfast bar. “I think Julia is interested in you.”

  “Oh?” Daphne was confused. She didn’t know what gave James that impression.

  “Just call it a father’s intuition.” James grinned, moving closer to her for a kiss.

  ***

  James was surprised that when he called Julia, she appeared without needing a second reminder.

  She started to show Daphne her different sketches and paintings before talking about makeup.

  He didn’t even try to understand what they were talking about with eyeliner, contouring, pencils, and blush. In fact, a cold sweat broke out at the way both Daphne and Julia’s eyes lit up.