Lorianne woke up soti later, not realizing her daddy and mommy were talking about her earlier. Nathaniel carried the little one to a nearby water tap to wash her drowsy face.
Without putting Lorianne down, Nathaniel clumsily yet gently scooped the water with one palm. The little one giggled when he rubbed her small face. Her cheery laughter resonated in the air.
"Still sleepy, huh?" asked Nathaniel while gently wiping Lorianne’s face with a tissue handed by Elsie. He returned sitting to the bench.
"Not sleepy."
Lorianne hurriedly shook her little head, causing her twin pigtails to sway. Her hair caught the sunrays, casting shimrs on her locks. Her action earned laughter from Nathaniel.
Elsie glanced at her wristwatch, a faint smile curling on her lips. Looking at Nathaniel and Lorianne, she said softly, "It’s ti to go."
Nathaniel froze, realizing the aning behind Elsie’s simple words. It was already ti for them to separate today, going back to their respective residences.
"...yeah."
Tearing his eyes away from Elsie, Nathaniel stared at Lorianne. The little one pouted as she also understood what Elsie ant. She unconsciously grasped the lapel of Nathaniel’s jacket.
"Daddy...."
Sulking, Lorianne tried not to cry. She knew she had to go back ho with her mommy, but she also didn’t want to leave her daddy today.
Before coming to et Nathaniel, Elsie had reminded Lorianne that they wouldn’t stay together until night. They had to return ho eventually. The little one simply nodded her head and said she understood.
But...
When the separation ti ca, Lorianne couldn’t help but feel sad. She still had so many things she wanted to tell her daddy, also to play various kinds of gas with him.
Nathaniel put on a cheerful smile, trying not to show how disheartened he was to Lorianne. He also actually wished to stay together longer with her and Elsie.
"Lorrie, Daddy has work tomorrow," Nathanial began, his voice soft yet cautious, "But, we can still talk to each other. Can I call you tonight before your bedti? How about before breakfast tomorrow too?"
Nathaniel’s suggestion lit Lorianne’s eyes, chasing away the dark clouds on her face. Nodding her small head repeatedly, she quickly agreed.
"Yes! Daddy, video call! Can we video call?"
Lorianne’s enthusiasm deepened the smile on Nathaniel’s lips. Lifting one hand, he gently caressed the back of her head.
"Okay. You can show your room, Lorrie. I will show you my room too. Also, the beautiful garden outside."
"Okay!"
Lorianne perked up, once again bobbing her head up and down. She threw her short arms around Nathaniel’s neck, trying to hug her father. The man instinctively lifted her higher.
Grabbing Nathaniel’s shoulders, Lorianne pulled away slightly to look at her daddy. She stuck out her right pinky finger before saying, "Daddy! Promise to et Mommy and I again, okay?"
Nathaniel’s eyes drifted from Lorianne’s beaming face to her small pinkie. Curling his lips, he raised his left hand while the right one still supported the little one.
"I promise. Your dad here promises to et you and your mom again."
Locking his pinky finger with Lorianne’s, which was significantly smaller than his, Nathaniel verbalized the vow. Sothing stirred in his heart as, once again, he realized how tiny and defenseless his little daughter was.
Elsie and Lorianne... Nathaniel never wished harm upon them again.
"Hehehe~ Yay! Daddy promise! Mommy! Daddy promised to et us again!"
Lorianne abruptly turned to Elsie, happily exclaiming to her mommy. Joy was reflected in her round brown eyes, mirroring the sheer happiness within her small body.
Elsie chuckled, pleased to see the bright change on Lorianne’s face after her brief disappointnt. She was initially worried that the little one would bawl her eyes out like in the restaurant hours ago.
"We’ll et your daddy again," Elsie reiterated Lorianne’s own words, hoping to put her little heart more at ease, "Tonight, you’ll get to video call your daddy, Lorrie. Aren’t you excited?"
"Yes!"
Lorianne’s cheerful countenance relieved Nathaniel. He made a ntal note to ask Elsie about their daughter’s usual bedti.
As much as Nathaniel was excited to interact more with Lorianne, he didn’t want to disturb the little one’s routine. He knew that young children needed more rest ti than adults.
"Co, Niel. I’ll drive you back to the restaurant."
"Okay."
Still carrying Lorianne in his arms, Nathaniel walked by Elsie’s side, heading to the parking lot. The little one cheekily asked if she was heavy, to which he answered she was as light as a plushie.
Once Elsie dropped Nathaniel at the restaurant, he moved all the gifts from his car to hers. Then, he once again hugged Lorianne. The little girl also clung to him like a koala bear.
"Daddy, don’t forget tonight. Call , okay?" said Lorianne in an attempt to be stern, her chubby cheeks puffing.
"Okay. Let’s talk tonight, Lorrie," Nathaniel laughed faintly, amused by Lorianne’s cute but threatening act, "I hope you’ll like all the gifts."
"Hehe~ I will open Daddy’s gifts at ho. Thank you, Daddy!"
Lorianne pecked Nathaniel’s right and left cheeks, slightly startling him. Smiling sheepishly, he returned the act by kissing her atop her small head.
"Drive safely, Elsie," said Nathaniel to Elsie after strapping Lorianne to her booster seat. He looked at the driver’s seat, "Thank you for today."
Elsie glanced behind her shoulder, smiling at Nathaniel, "Likewise, Niel. I’ll text you once I’m ho. Be careful on the road."
"I will."
After saying goodbye to the mother and daughter pair, Nathaniel stood unmoving as he watched Elsie drive away. He chuckled at the sight of Lorianne staring out of the back window.
The sedan eventually vanished from Nathaniel’s sight.
"Today was good."
Smiling to himself, Nathaniel tilted up his chin, throwing his gaze to the bright sumr sky. He couldn’t deny the overflowing happiness within him from eting Lorianne and Elsie.
Nathaniel was eternally grateful for how easily Lorianne accepted him as her father. He believed Elsie’s support played a role in this matter.
From then on, Nathaniel knew he would get even busier. His plan to renovate a room and make the villa suitable for a child like Lorianne would begin soon.
Also...
Should he find an empty unit in the apartnt where Elsie and Lorianne lived? Or, any other place nearby?
Narrowing his eyes, Nathaniel couldn’t help but ponder the possibility of moving closer to Elsie and Lorianne.
Wouldn’t this an he could et them easily? Right?
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