Free In Love with a Stranger by Rose Von Barnsley

a quick peck on my cheek, before he disappeared out the door.
    Ophelia belly flopped on the bed. "Holy shit, Hannah, is it really him?"
    I nodded my head yes. "I'm positive, it's him, and he's so adorable. I love him so much. I can't believe it. It's so weird and scary, but just…gah!"
    She fell into a fit of giggles. "So, tell me about him."
    "It was crazy then, just like it feels crazy now. I only knew him for three hours before he asked me to come to New York with him, Ophelia, and I said yes! It was so intense. It is so intense." I looked over at the door, willing him to come back in. "He's just…we'd only known each other for three weeks, when he'd had to go back to England for work. We were waiting on my passport. We were looking at flats to live together in London. We talked about backyards for kids. He was just it . He still is, and it's scary how badly I need him."
    William walked in holding a coffee cup and handed it to me carefully.
    "She doesn't take it black," Ophelia informed him.
    "I know," he smiled proudly.
    It clicked in my head. "You remembered how I take my coffee. You still remember. That's how you got it right at the coffee shop," I accused, and he blushed but nodded yes.
    "My goodness, he's so cute, Hannah, you have to keep him," she ordered, while stealing a sip from my cup.
    "I'm sorry, how rude of me not to offer you a cup. Would you like one?" he asked Ophelia.
    "Only if you're getting one for yourself."
    "I don't like coffee."
    "YOU DRINK TEA!" I shouted at him. "I have tea."
    "You hate tea," they both said in unison.
    "I know, but when I pass the Earl Grey, I have to buy some. I never knew why. It's you. I was buying tea for you, and I didn't even know it." I was so proud of myself for tackling another memory. I remembered all of the big stuff. It was the little details, like his favorite tea, that I wanted to work on now.
    "That's so sweet," Ophelia fussed, waving her hands in front of her eyes, trying to keep from messing up her makeup.
    "Aunty Ophelia?" we heard my daughter call.
    "Oh, my God, Penny, he's Penny's dad!" she hissed. "Does she know? Does he know?" she looked frantically between us.
    William nodded yes and smiled widely, when little Penelope appeared in my doorway. "Why's everybody in here? Hi, Mr. Greyson, do you have my candy?" she asked, holding her hand out.
    We all burst out laughing. She pouted, climbing up on the bed next to me. "Good morning, sweetheart," I said, trying to think up a way to tell her about her father.
     
    WILLIAM
    My daughter was a cheeky little thing.
    "Penny, why don't we get you ready for school," Ophelia said, ushering her out of the bedroom.
    Hannah had a pout on her face, so I leaned in and kissed her to cheer her up. She gave me a weak smile. "I don't know how to tell her."
    I pulled her into my arms, afraid she wouldn’t want to tell Penelope she was my daughter. I took a deep breath, trying to hold myself together. "We'll figure it out together," I said to comfort her and myself as well.
    She turned around in my lap and wrapped her arms around my neck. She kissed my lips softly and pulled back smiling. "Yeah, together."
    Those two words gave me so much hope. I kissed her again lightly, knowing we both had to get up and get dressed. When we pulled apart, we saw little Penelope standing in the doorway, looking at us curiously. I think Hannah and I both had deep red faces after that. "Aunt Ophelia is going to burn the bacon," she said plainly.
    I gave Hannah one last kiss on the cheek. "I'll take care of that."
    My daughter surprised me by taking my hand and leading me into the little kitchen, where Ophelia was hopping around. "I got it," I said, taking the spatula from her and quickly plated the bacon. I saw she had a second pan out sitting next to some eggs. "I've got this, why don't you two go set the table."
    Ophelia looked at me like I was crazy, but my daughter hugged my leg, before she took off out of the kitchen. I cooked the eggs in the