Bound By His Daughter

Jules approached him with a smile plastered on her face as she looked from Ceaser to Ivy to see her reaction of a new face.

"This is Ivy." Jules said.

Ceaser’s thinned lips curved into a smile and soon it grew wider into a grin. He loved the name Jules had given her.

"Ivy." He said “That’s a beautiful name.”

Ivy snapped her gaze from Jules to Ceaser when he said her name. Then she beamed up at him before she reached out to him.

"Dada."

Jules froze and her gaze met Ceaser’s surprised ones. Ceaser was surprised at Ivy’s outburst but he almost couldn’t contain the joy that exploded in his heart. Just that word made his day...his life.

“Ivy, no. Not Dada.” Jules tried to tell Ivy "I'm sorry. She’s never called anyone that before. She must have picked it up from the kids at the day-care or at the park." Jules said to Ceaser.

"It’s alright. May I?” He asked Jules for permission to carry her.

Jules was surprised that a man like him would want to carry a child.

“Of course.”

“Hey beautiful." Ceaser said as he picked Ivy from Jules’ arms. Ivy went willingly. "How are you?" Ceaser asked hoping she could understand him.

"Dada." She said again poking his face then giggling lightly which made him smile a full toothy smile.

just stared into his eyes like she was accessing him piece by piece. Then she launched up at him going for his hair but didn’t make it. He watched in fascination as she pulled at his tie trying to reach for his hair. When she finally made it, her

hair. It was fascinating how Ivy could make him seem relaxed and happy. She expected Ceaser to run the other direction when

it about this man?

thought.

and strong-will, yet he seemed to have none of those

had made her food before she got started on hers, she just had to heat it up a bit before she fed her. Somehow, she felt it was safe to keep Ivy with Ceaser.

Intentionally.

who might have been hurt by

stays with you for a while? I need to quickly heat up her food." Jules asked and Ceaser looked up at her.

too happy about being left alone with his daughter.

at Jules who was still watching him closely. He knew she was contemplating leaving Ivy with him –

“She’ll be fine.” He

her head before she left for the kitchen.

walked back into the living room minutes later with a bowl of whole grain cereal in her hand. She sat on the same sofa Ceaser sat with Ivy, keeping some distance between them. The distance

"C’mon Ivy." Jules said to Ivy who crawled out of Ceaser’s lap and into

of the cereal and brought it near Ivy's mouth. Ivy opened up and once the cereal was

Jules would sometime have to say 'Ahh' before Ivy opened up her mouth. Ceaser was too caught up at the

spoons." Jules told Ivy as she placed the spoon near Ivy's mouth.

and a smile spread across her face. Ceaser smiled back at her before she looked away and focused her

She called.

that. As much as he hated and wanted to deny it, Ivy saw Jules as her mother and there was nothing, he could do about it for

face then she pointed at Ceaser.

"Dada."

surprise she had before was non-existent. He knew she didn't approve of it but how could she explain a two years-old that the person she calls 'Dada'

knew the truth behind