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“Judge Remington recently caught his twenty-nine-year-old trophy wife in bed with her personal trainer. Sound familiar? Once you and Daisy get on the stand and explain what happened at The Meridian, and why, I think he’ll see the situation in a more personal light. He won’t be fooled by Amanda’s tears or whatever bullshit story she tries to spin,” Bennett answers with a smug smirk.

“Isn’t that unethical?”

My brother shrugs. “We’re not asking him to ignore the law. We’re simply requesting a judge who knows exactly what betrayal looks like. The evidence will do the rest.”

As soon as we enter Poppy’s grandparents’ house, Daisy rushes over to her son and gently scoops him into her arms.

Jonah lets out a happy little coo as she brushes a soft kiss on his forehead. When she looks down at him, Daisy’s whole face softens. The worry that has shadowed her for the past few weeks is gone. In its place is a quiet, unshakable peace.

She no longer has to hide; she’s finally able to move on with her life. Daisy’s now free to return to work; and she can go back to the caravan park and pursue the life she was trying to build. That should make me happy, and in a way it does, but there’s another feeling buried that I can’t ignore.

The thought of her leaving has my gut sinking. Now that her hands have healed and the threat of her ex is out of the way, she has no reason to need me anymore.

In the weeks we’ve been together, I’d be lying if I said I haven’t become attached to Daisy and Jonah. What I thought would be temporary has become something I can’t imagine walking away from. Somewhere along the way, Daisy stopped being someone I was simply helping and became someone I couldn’t imagine my life without.

Jonah has found his way into my heart too. The little moments I never expected have become the ones I cherish most. His tiny smiles, the way he settles in my arms, and how Daisy’s face lights up when she looks at him. Somehow, without even realising it, they’re part of my life, part of my routine, and a part of me. I’m not ready to let them go.

“How was mediation?” Mum asks, pulling me out of my own head.

“It went great,” Daisy answers before I get the chance. “Bennett was a rock star.”

“I’m so happy to hear that.”

“He even managed to get Daisy’s ex to agree to give up his parental rights to Jonah,” I add.

Mum places a hand over her heart. “That’s wonderful news. You two should go out and celebrate. Your father’s away on business until tomorrow, so I could watch Jonah, and you can pick him up later tonight on your way home.”

My eyes move to Daisy. “Do you want to go out and celebrate, darlin’?”

“You’ve already had Jonah for most of the day,” Daisy says to Mum.

“He’s no hardship,” she replies with a smile. “Jonah is a perfect Angel. You know how much I adore this little boy.”

“I don’t know if I feel up to going out,” Daisy says hesitantly.

“It’ll do you good. You’ve been cooped up in this house for weeks. I may not get the chance to look after Jonah again, since you can finally put this whole mess behind you,” Mum’s voice cracks as she speaks. I think she’s going to miss them as much as I will.

I clear my throat and rub my hand over the back of my neck. I need to figure out a way to keep these two in my life, but how? “Mum’s right,” I say. “It will do you good to get out.”

Daisy narrows her eyes at both of us. “Why do I get the feeling I’m being bulldozed right now?”

Mum laughs. “Because you know us too well.”

“Come on, Dais. I’ll see if Poppy and Bennett want to meet up for dinner.”

“That’s settled,” my Mum says, and I don’t think I’ve ever appreciated her bulldozing more than I do in this moment. The longer I can keep Daisy with me, the more time I have to think up a plan to make her a permanent part of my life.

Bennett and Poppy headed back to the office, which gave us a couple of hours to shower and change before meeting them for dinner. It also gave Daisy time to express more milk for Jonah before we dropped him off at Mum’s.

All afternoon, my mind has been racing, searching for a way to stay in their lives without overstepping.

The thought of Daisy taking Jonah back to the caravan park doesn’t sit right with me. It doesn’t feel safe for a young woman living on her own with a baby. But asking her to move into my place ...

Is that too much, too soon? Would she see it as me trying to rescue her? Or worse, trying to trap her?

I overheard her talking to her boss at The Meridian while I was shaving, requesting to be put back on the roster as soon as possible.

If she’s asking for shifts, then she plans on sticking around for a while. I could offer to look after Jonah. Mum would jump at the chance to help too. Between the two of us, we’d make it work. Leaving her son with Puff is an option I don’t think Daisy would consider.