“You’re not going to let it drive on its own, are you?” While it was amazing what the future of technology could do these days, she wasn’t too keen on living the Jetson life. She knew Oliver was trying to make amends, and it really wasn’t like her to play the ice queen for long. Dinah was a forgiving person, and cared immensely. Holding a grudge wouldn’t benefit her, or them. Most importantly, it wouldn’t benefit her daughter.
A daughter who would be pretty excited about riding in a car like Oliver’s. Could she continue withholding information from him? Not really. Because the moment she smiled and nodded her head at his offer, she had to say something before getting in the car. It just didn’t feel right to pick up their daughter and bring her out like it’s no big deal that since he left, she became a mother.
What if he jumps to conclusions? What if he puts two and two together? What if he did none of the above? Her mind was taking too long to make up its mind on how to come out with it, that she didn’t speak up until they were inside the car.
“Ollie.” She brought a hand to rest on his forearm, as a way to not start the car just yet. It was better to tell him when they were no longer outside, with a little privacy. Mainly, because she didn’t find it right to go there and come out with a child without a reasonable explanation.
She let out a strained chuckle, just a bit nervous to his reaction over some of the truth. “It has obviously been a long time since we last saw each other, and a lot has changed. I’m definitely not who I used to be.”
Carefree. Hopelessly in love. It felt like a decade ago, rather than half.
“I have a daughter.” Words that came out naturally, because she wasn’t ashamed of being a mother. “She’s everything to me, and the reason why I need to go to the academy.”
“Not if you don’t want me to,” he quipped, smirking over at her as he climbed into the car himself. At least she had agreed to get in the car with him. As far as he was concerned, that was definitely a step in the right direction. The hand on his arm made him pause. Despite the time that had passed, and the distance that had been between them, he could still read her. Still read the nervous expression on her face.
But he had never expected the words that left her mouth.
Immediately, his mind started spinning. A daughter? And, clearly, a daughter that was old enough to go somewhere else for an extended period of time. So, this wasn’t a recent thing. Did he know the father? Did he have a right to even feel the odd pang of jealousy that flared up in his stomach? After all, he’d been the one to leave her. What she did in her private life was up to her now. Not him.
“Oh,” was all he finally said, realizing that he should probably start talking so the silence didn’t become completely unbearable. “Um... that’s... that’s cool.” For a brief pause, Oliver started the car and started heading towards the school.
Now that Dinah actually had a kid, it seemed like all the things he’d rehearsed in his head didn’t matter. Having a kid he knew changed things. It made it infinitely more complicated. And suddenly, his appearance back in town and his attempt to make things right with her didn’t seem quite as important somehow. Dinah had clearly moved on with her life. Who was he to try and waltz back in now?
“So...” he started, trying to find a way to keep the conversation about this from completely ruining the small amount of time he had alone with her. To keep them from riding in utter silence. “How old is she?”
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