"Let’s go in."
Nathaniel gestured at the main entrance while steadily carrying Lorianne. Elsie nodded once, her lips tugging into a smile. He only moved toward the door once she stepped closer to him.
"Your slippers," Nathaniel pointed to the lilac ho slippers, then the child’s pink ones next to them, "Also Lorrie’s."
Elsie and Lorianne slipped into the ho slippers before they resud walking. The little one returned to Nathaniel’s arm.
Walking quietly by Nathaniel’s side, Elsie took in the surroundings. She slled the familiar scent of lavender as soon as she stepped inside the villa.
The golden afternoon sunlight spilled through the expansive windows, casting dappled patterns across the sleek wooden doors.
Tilting her chin up slightly, Elsie looked at the high ceilings before staring at the elegantly designed interiors. They reflected Nathaniel’s sophisticated taste while carrying the warmth of this place.
"Tristan is here," Nathaniel glanced at Elsie, his voice calr than earlier, "He’s happy to et you again. He has been helping to prepare for Lorrie and your arrival today."
The ntion of the familiar na perked Elsie up. She knew that Tristan lived with Nathaniel. She couldn’t help but picture the younger image of Tristan despite knowing he was already a young adult.
"Where is he? Is he hiding sowhere?" asked Elsie teasingly. She gazed around the hallway but still did not see Tristan.
"He was with right before you arrived. Maybe he’s back in the kitchen," Nathaniel said, simply guessing.
As Elsie and Nathaniel chatted, Lorianne still darted her wide brown eyes everywhere, "Daddy! Your house is like a castle! Like Grandpa and Grandma’s house!"
A small chuckle escaped Nathaniel’s lips. He asked softly, "Do you like it, Lorrie?"
"Yes!"
Elsie smiled as she watched Nathaniel and Lorianne interact. The father and daughter had grown much closer just within a short ti, much to her delight.
Thinking back to the surprises Nathaniel had prepared for Lorianne, Elsie almost laughed. She couldn’t deny how much he spoiled the little one.
Lorianne knew about the bedroom she would have in this villa, but not the playroom. Certainly, the bubbly little one would be more excited once she knew.
Nathaniel showed Elsie and Lorianne the lounge first. It was spacious yet cozy with plush couches, including bookshelves lining up an entire wall.
"Daddy!" Lorianne gasped once they walked down another hallway, "Mommy and Daddy’s photos! Right?"
Elsie’s eyes were already drawn to the photos ntioned by Lorianne. Frad photographs hung neatly on one part of the wall, showing a much younger her, including Nathaniel.
One, only showed her standing in front of a vast lavender field. The other, showed them together with an autumn foliage backdrop. Another, showed them before a waterfall.
Everything. Everything was a piece of their shared mories.
Blinking, Elsie’s eyelashes fluttered. She glanced at Nathaniel, her voice trembling slightly, "You... keep our photos... here?"
Nathaniel let his eyes lock onto Elsie’s. He nodded, before answering hesitantly, "I couldn’t forget you... no matter how many years have passed. I also want traces of you... even though you’ve never been here."
Elsie’s breath hitched slightly. Lowering her gaze, she nodded twice, unable to find an appropriate response.
Nathaniel exhaled softly, unsure of his own feelings. He wanted to talk to Elsie about themselves, but the right timing hadn’t arrived. They were more preoccupied with settling Lorianne in this new aspect of her life.
"Daddy, Daddy, what’s in there?"
Lorianne’s voice, and the gentle tug on Nathaniel’s collar returned his focus back to the little one. She pointed toward the end of the hallway.
"That," Nathaniel said, shifting her weight on his right arm, "...is where the ho library is. Let’s take a look. Elsie, co."
"...yes."
Once again, Elsie followed Nathaniel, being so quiet. He smiled bitterly, thinking of the delicate ground where they stood. Nevertheless, he never intended to give up easily.
Once they reached the ho library, Nathaniel pushed the door with a slight force, revealing the interior.
Towering bookshelves filled with various kinds of books welcod them, followed by an inviting reading book by the window. The sunlight stread through the glass, basking its rays on the pieces of furniture inside.
"Whoa!" Lorianne exclaid, wriggling excitedly in Nathaniel’s hold, "So many books!"
Nathaniel smiled in helplessness. He lowered Lorianne gently. She quickly ran toward the shelves, her little fingers brushing the spines of the neatly arranged books.
"Lorrie, your storybooks are over there," Nathaniel pointed to a white bookshelf in the shape of a tree, a dissonance among the wooden oak ones, "I got you so new books."
"Oh? Wow!"
Lorianne rushed toward the tree-shaped bookshelf. Her brown eyes sparkled with delight as she saw the colorful illustrated books filling the racks.
A soft smile was drawn on Elsie’s lips. She looked at Nathaniel, "You thought of everything, didn’t you?"
Nathaniel t Elsie’s gaze. He returned her smile, "I hope Lorrie feels at ho. That’s the least I can do. I hope she won’t feel troubled by our situation. I an... because she has to move from your place to mine."
Sothing flickered in Elsie’s eyes, but she said nothing. She knew the truth in Nathaniel’s words. Fortunately, it was evident they could co-parent their child well.
After spending a few minutes in the ho library, Nathaniel led Elsie and Lorianne to the second floor. Walking down the brightly lit hallway, they walked past the old photos from back when they were still together.
Elsie quietly glanced at the frad photos as she trailed behind Nathaniel. Without her realizing it, her presence was a constant in this place.
Looking away from the photos, Elsie’s gaze settled on Nathaniel’s back. He always gave her a sense of security, no matter when he was still a teenager or a man.
Unfortunately, what happened over five years ago left scars in her heart. Despite them being healed already, there was sothing that made her hesitant.
’No. You can’t be pathetic, Elsie. You’ve co this far.’
Shaking her head, Elsie reminded herself of what she had gone through in the past few years. She refused to succumb to the ghost of her past, thus hindering herself from reaching for her happiness.
No matter what, she could overco everything.
Soon, Nathaniel stopped at a door painted in white with Lorianne’s na carved on top in a cursive font. He chuckled as he heard the little one gasping in wonder.
"My little princess, this is one of the surprises I want to show you."
Lorriane hurriedly looked at Nathaniel, her eyes sparkling with excitent, "What is it, Daddy?"
With a tiny smile on his lips, Nathaniel opened the door, revealing the newly renovated bedroom to both Lorianne and Elsie.
The walls were painted in soft pastel tones, adorned with delicate floral motifs and little stars. The hut-style bedfra Lorianne chose from their previous ho shopping trip, including the other pieces of furniture, decorated the bedroom[01].
Plush animals and more storybooks lined the shelves of the bedfra, including the bookshelves next to the study desk. In a corner of the room was a small reading nook, perfect for a small child.
"This room... for ?"
Lorianne stared blankly at the bedroom. She recognized the furniture from their shopping trip before, but they looked much cuter in this bedroom.
"Yes, this is for you," Nathaniel smiled. Gently patting Lorianne’s back, he said, "Whenever you stay here, this is your room."
The sight of Lorianne’s eyes widened in delight flooded Nathaniel’s heart with relief.
----------
Reference:
1 - 187
Reviews
All reviews (0)