Swapping a Broken Heart for a New Start novel Chapter 416

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The more Camila Davis thought about it, the guiltier she felt. She could only turn to Dennis Williams and say, “Until Lillian gets better, she… might keep calling you that. I hope you don’t take it personally, Mr. Williams.”

Dennis arched an eyebrow, studying her for a moment, clearly picking up on her awkwardness.

He let out a soft chuckle. “Come on, she’s just a little girl who’s not feeling well. What’s there to get upset about? Besides, if I’d done a better job as her doctor, she wouldn’t be dealing with this. So, really, I owe it to her—and to you—to help her get better. None of this is your fault.”

Camila shook her head, disagreeing immediately. “No, Mr. Williams, that’s not on you at all!”

If anyone deserved the blame, it was Jordan Smith. He’d neglected Lillian, always parading Sandra Taylor around town like he was some kind of local celebrity.

Just thinking about it made Camila’s chest tighten with anger. If Jordan had even a shred of decency, she hoped he’d steer clear if they crossed paths again. Every time he showed up, it was like a storm cloud hanging over Lillian—and he never brought anything but pain.

While she and Dennis spoke quietly on the balcony, Lillian was getting restless in the art room. Eventually, she couldn’t take it anymore and hurried out.

The moment she spotted them through the glass doors, her little face lit up, and all her anxiety seemed to melt away. She scampered over and poked her head out. “Are you and Mommy done talking?” she piped up.

Dennis didn’t seem the least bit bothered by her calling him “Daddy.” He just answered calmly, “Yeah, we’re done.”

He walked over to her, crouching down. “What are you doing out here, Lillian? Didn’t I tell you to wait for me in the art room?”

She replied in her sweet, tiny voice, “But Daddy, you were gone so long.”

The implication was clear: he was the one who’d snuck off to chat with Mommy, not her. She wrapped her little arms around his leg, giving him her best puppy-dog eyes. “Daddy, will you come draw with me?”

She was so cute and earnest that it was impossible to say no.

Dennis smiled indulgently. “Of course. What do you want to draw?”

She tugged at his hand. “Sunflowers! Like the ones on the wall.” She pointed to the bright canvas Camila had picked up at the farmer’s market that morning.

“Sunflowers it is.” Dennis agreed instantly, not missing a beat.

Camila watched them together, her cheeks flushing red despite herself. She knew Dennis was just being kind, but for a second, she could almost believe they really were father and daughter.

She pressed her forehead against the cold glass door, trying to shake off the silly thought. She must be losing her mind to imagine something so absurd—and honestly, it probably wasn’t fair to Dennis, either.