Imdiately, a mory surfaced.
The day of my first ultrasound.
I rembered sitting in the car afterward and ntioning that I wanted cake.
I rember him getting one, and then an extra.
White chocolate cake....
"Alicia, do you want anything else?"
Anna’s voice pulled from my thoughts.
I shook my head.
"No."
A few minutes later, we left with a paper bag filled with warm pastries.
By the ti we returned to the mansion, the sll had attracted Aimy before we even reached the door.
The mont she spotted the bag in Anna’s hand, her big blue eyes lit up.
"Aunt Anna!"
Anna grinned triumphantly.
"My favorite custor."
The peaceful sounds of laughter quickly filled the mansion.
And for a little while, life felt wonderfully simple.
We went upstairs and freshened up before returning for breakfast.
During breakfast, Aimy suddenly spoke up.
"Mummy, you said we would go to the park."
I looked down at her and smiled.
"I said if you behaved."
"But Mum, I did. I’ve been eating my food."
"That’s right, Alicia. She’s been a very good girl," Aunt Margaret added.
My smile widened.
"Alright, baby. After breakfast, we’ll go to the park together."
"Yayyyy!"
Her excited voice echoed through the dining room.
"Hey, don’t speak while eating."
She imdiately pressed her lips together before turning to Anna.
"Aunt Anna, will you co with us?"
Anna smiled apologetically.
"I wish I could, but I have sowhere else to be today."
Aimy pouted.
"But when I’m free, I’ll definitely take you another day."
Her smile returned instantly.
Once again, I felt the tension inside lessen.
After breakfast, Aimy and I left the mansion and drove to the town’s park.
The park wasn’t very crowded.
Being a weekend, a few families had brought their children out while so elderly residents sat beneath the large trees chatting with one another.
The mont we arrived, Aimy’s eyes lit up.
"Mummy! Swing!"
She imdiately pointed toward the playground.
I laughed.
"Alright, alright. Slow down."
The mont I let go of her hand, she ran ahead with her tiny legs.
"Aimy, don’t run too fast!"
"I won’t!"
She absolutely would.
I followed behind her while shaking my head.
Soon she climbed onto one of the swings and looked at expectantly.
"Mummy."
"Yes?"
"Push."
I moved behind her and gently pushed the swing.
Aimy squealed happily.
"Higher!"
"No."
"A little higher?"
"A little."
That seed to satisfy her.
Her laughter echoed through the park as the swing moved back and forth.
My gaze wandered around the park.
I noticed the other children playing nearby. So of the mothers were seated on benches chatting with one another, while most of the children were accompanied by their fathers.
So were pushing swings.
So were helping their children build sandcastles.
Others were chasing after toddlers who kept trying to run off.
Suddenly, mories of my dad resurfaced.
The way he would leave everything behind just to take to the park.
The way he always made ti for no matter how busy he was.
The way he took such good care of .
My eyes returned to Aimy.
For a while, I simply stood there watching her.
Watching the way her dark hair danced in the wind.
Watching the bright smile on her face.
Watching how carefree she looked.
Children really were amazing.
They could find happiness in the simplest things.
A dull ache settled in my chest.
She couldn’t experience monts like these with her dad.
Yet she didn’t seem to notice that anything was missing.
After a while, she grew bored of the swings and rushed toward the slide.
Then the seesaw.
Then back to the swings again.
By the ti she finally slowed down, I was convinced she had endless energy.
"Mummy."
She suddenly ran over and climbed onto the bench beside .
I handed her a bottle of water.
"Drink first."
She obediently took a few sips.
Then her attention shifted to a little girl nearby holding a pink balloon.
Aimy stared at it for several seconds.
"Do you want one too?"
She thought about it.
Then shook her head.
"No."
I raised a brow.
"No?"
She nodded seriously.
"I have flowers."
I blinked.
Then laughed.
Of course.
Earlier that morning she had insisted on bringing two lilies from Aunt Margaret’s garden.
The poor flowers were slightly bent now from all her playing.
Yet she still held them carefully in her tiny hands.
"My baby likes flowers that much?"
She nodded.
"Grandma Margaret likes flowers."
A warm feeling spread through my chest.
"Then Grandma Margaret will be very happy."
Aimy smiled proudly.
A few monts later, she scooted closer until she was practically sitting on my lap.
Then she rested her head against my shoulder.
Tired at last.
I wrapped an arm around her instinctively.
For a while neither of us spoke.
We simply sat there watching the people around us.
The breeze was gentle.
The sunlight warm.
The atmosphere peaceful.
"Mummy?"
"Mm?"
"I had fun today."
I smiled.
"I’m glad."
Aimy lifted her head and looked at with her big blue eyes.
"Can we co again?"
"Of course."
"Tomorrow?"
I laughed.
"Not tomorrow."
She pouted imdiately.
"Next weekend?"
"Maybe."
That answer seed good enough.
She leaned against again.
And as I held my daughter in my arms, surrounded by the quiet charm of Rosewood Town, I allowed myself to enjoy the mont.
We stayed like that for a while before standing up to leave after Aimy had rested.
On our way to the car, we passed several stalls selling candy and ice cream.
But unlike most children, Aimy didn’t ask to buy anything.
So far, I had realized that she didn’t really like sweets.
She would occasionally eat a little chocolate or cake, but only once in a while.
Even if I didn’t buy any for her, it never seed to bother her.
As we approached the car, I noticed a group of children playing nearby.
Then my eyes landed on one little boy crouching beside the front tire.
A bad feeling imdiately rose inside .
I quickened my pace, but with Aimy in my arms it was impossible to move much faster.
"Hey!"
"No! No!"
The children froze.
The mont they heard my voice, they scattered and ran away.
But what I had feared had already happened.
When I reached the car, both front tires had been punctured.
I quickly walked around to check the other side.
The second front tire had been punctured too...
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