The late afternoon sun stread through the windows of the apartnt, casting its lights inside. Three people—two adults and a child—gathered around a coffee table where colorful things were scattered on its surface.
Nathaniel eyed the items suspiciously. Near him, Elsie laughed out loud while Lorianne cried in excitent.
"Daddy! Look! This glasses is funny!"
Lorianne grabbed one of the glasses in ridiculous shapes, wearing them over her eyes. The one she picked was large, almost covering half of her small face and having googly eyes.
A laughing Elsie reached for a package. More giggles spilled from her mouth as she read what was written out loud.
"Glow-In-The-Dark Starry Onesies. Lorrie, this one is for you. Hehe, you’ll look so glamorous if you wear it to bed."
"From Uncle Rudy too?"
"Yes. Everything is from him and his wife," Elsie chuckled. She glanced at Nathaniel who was now laughing in helplessness.
Lorianne took the package from Elsie. She laughed when she saw the image of a onesie in the dark indigo color. Little moons and stars were printed on the fabric.
"Mommy! This is so cute! Can I wear it tonight?"
"Why don’t you wear the cute onesie tomorrow?" Elsie suggested. She gently pinched Lorianne’s left cheek, "Mommy will wash it first, okay?"
"Okay~"
Elsie tore open the package, bringing the onesie out. Lorianne giggled as she hugged it, claiming she would be like the space princess once she wore this adorable onesie.
Nathaniel watched how evidently excited Lorianna and Elsie were. Chuckling softly, his gaze drifted to the coffee table.
’This Rudy... How could he just surprise us like this?’
Laughing at himself, Nathaniel recalled what had happened half an hour ago. The family of three was relaxing in Elsie’s apartnt when he received a notification from the reception area stating he had a new parcel delivered.
Nathaniel wondered who had his new address at Elysian Heights. Turned out that Ruediger used the sa-day delivery service to have all these items sent to him.
Everything was from his trip to the the park yesterday!
Quirky oversized and fluffy hats, fairy-like hair accessories, animal onesies for two adults and one child, bubble guns, talking plushies in the shapes of a dragon and a pixie, and also the ridiculously funny glasses.
Exhaling a sigh, Nathaniel raked his fingers through his hair. Ruediger had already ssaged him this morning about how wonderful his the park trip was, including sharing so photos.
"We’ll have to thank Uncle Rudy and his wife later," Nathaniel looked at Lorianne. Chuckling, he tapped on her small nose, "They got all these for us because they had so much fun playing yesterday."
"Playing?" Lorianne tilted her head. She removed the glasses, staring at Nathaniel, "Where Uncle Rudy play, Daddy?"
"Here."
Nathaniel reached for his phone from the coffee table. After a few taps and swipes on the screen, he showed Lorianne a photo among the many he received from Ruediger.
Lorianne scooted closer to Nathaniel, excited to look at the picture. Elsie smiled seeing the little one’s eagerness. She began separating the items on the table properly while the father and daughter interacted.
"Oh! Daddy! That looks so fun!"
Nathaniel showed the particular photo of Ruediger and Lariette riding the boat at Storybook Hollow. The fantasy dioramas, luminous lanterns and glowing mushrooms made it look very magical.
Nathaniel’s gaze on Lorianne softened. Gently patting her small head, he asked a question that crossed his mind this morning, "Wanna go there together soday? With Mommy and Daddy?"
Lorianne abruptly looked up, her brown eyes enlarging as she stared gapingly at Nathaniel. Elsie paused from rearranging the items, her gaze also imdiately shifting to the man.
"Go play? Go to play here?"
Still surprised, Lorianne repeated what she had heard from Nathaniel. She pointed at the photo, her chest trembling from another wave of excitent that washed over her little heart.
Nathaniel nodded, his voice gentler as he reaffird, "Yes. Lorrie, Mommy and Daddy. All three of us will go and play at this the park. What do you think? Want to..."
"Want! I want! Yayyy! Thank you, Daddy!"
"Hahaha! Careful!"
Lorianne threw herself to Nathaniel before her father finished talking. The man laughed as he supported the little one, his eyes drifting to Elsie, who wore a big smile on her lips.
"Isn’t that a good idea, Elsie?"
Nathaniel’s question, spoken with much fondness in his voice, earned chuckles from Elsie. She nodded twice, the joyful gleam in her warm green eyes was unmistakable.
"Yes. We’ll have fun," Elsie quickly agreed, also thinking how good for their family to go on a the park trip together.
Nathaniel was too happy to let his smile falter. Patting Lorianne’s small back, he began teasing her about the scary rides, earning pouts from the little one.
"Are you sure you can ride those? They can be so scary!"
"I can! I’m not afraid! Daddy, can we wear matchy matchy clothes when we go?"
"Hehe, of course, we can."
Ruffling Lorianne’s soft blond locks, Nathaniel’s heart was only filled with gratitude and relief. He loved the current changes in his life, no matter if they were big or small ones, as long as two of his beloveds were with him.
Ever since he officially moved into Elysian Heights last week, Nathaniel had been adjusting to his new life here. He was glad with his choice of relocating.
Spending ti with Elsie and Lorianne beca much easier. Nathaniel tried to return to his villa in Seacastle during the weekends. Tristan still lived there.
As they had discussed previously, Nathaniel and Elsie were taking slow steps toward rebuilding their relationship[01]. For now, things were looking good.
Nathaniel turned to Elsie once Lorianne slipped away from him, wanting to play with the other items. Smiling, he asked, "I think of inviting Rudy and Lari to my apartnt for dinner. Maybe the week after the next. What do you think?"
Nathaniel initially planned to host the housewarming party next weekend, but he had an important business trip abroad. Unfortunately, he had to delay the party.
Elsie understood what Nathaniel ant. He asked if she and Lorianne could join, thus eting Ruediger and his newly married wife, Lariette.
To Nathaniel’s question, Elsie’s smile deepened.
"I’m in. Shall we think of which nu to serve them? We can take ti to think of it since you’ll be busier next week."
Nathaniel chuckled, the light in his brown eyes softening, "That’s a good idea."
This mont might seem mundane to so, but it ant the world to him.
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Reference:
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