dr
my gaze lingered on her back
ut today, she was unusually calm. She didn't
stirred an unfamiliar
d softly beside me, gen
innocent, but there was a flicker of wo
ked, her voice soft. "Adeline won't. she won't think there's som
I could see the faint shimmer
to respond, but
pouting. "She's always angry, mean, an
out and gently patted Elizabet
like you mor
r expression faltered slightly
tone. "What have I told you about saying
inished with a bright, toothy grin.
nd pinched her cheek. "What a cl
en pointed towar
eth. Zora wants ic
laugh before glancing at
answer im
again, lingering for a moment longer
said, lead
aying attention to A
one of her attempts to get my attenti
o need to i
uld be over by the time I got home.
othing to w
☆
the day pass
turned home, we were both
a looked around the l
Mommy?" s
't sitting on the couch where she usually waited. The fami
own formed
!" I cal
espo
!" I cal
turned-only for the part-t
Carter," she said
deepened
Adeline?"
d, then gestured toward the table. "Dinner has
the covered dishe
e had never missed a single day o
d
n't eve
her tantrums
ra asked, yawning softly. "Is
nd dismissed Lucia before adjusting
said as we made our way to her
tly on the bed a
ommy's porridge tom
'm sure she'll prepare it befor
enly sat up, pressin
fore placing another kiss on my ch
nder the covers, h
night,
of the room. When I returned to my bedroom, I
out the room
dwell on it,
ome unacknowledged part of me
o call me
t her. It wa
ntment stirred in my ches
," I
me through softly. "Did you
loosened my tie and shrugged off my suit, tossing it
gently. "I'm home safe as w
ef pause before
Ade
er name. "She's just being childish. I'
t a quiet sigh. "I still have some documents to go t
ght, Eli
all e
nto the bed and hea
sn't going to interfere with my rest. By to
s no reason
wered, changed into my p
☆
familiar sound of Adeline moving arou
heard it. Adeline always woke
y was di
pty space beside me
woken up wit
red for the day, a th
she come bac
I tried to recall,
was used to her helping me k
ma of food drifted through the a
cou
prepare breakfast as a way to ma
pi
the stairs, I called
certain she was there, I walked over
ed, and a plate of pancakes and ba
ng my head, only for the
eline, but i
my face. "Where's
isn't here,"
ened. "She's
me off guard. "Mrs. Carter ha
ze sl
ha
yesterday? Was she really tak
ad
stairs. I looked up to se
day. Why aren't you d
g her eyes sleepily. Then she looked aro
said. "Did Mommy
uld answer,
he's not back yet. But I can
mmediately and
did Mommy go
dn't
kly. did I car
o
a cup of coffee, and make a
s,
e Zora walked over and
, then scoffed, crossing her arms
. "Daddy, hurry up
r words had n
the door, as if expec
of coffee in front of me and a bowl of porrid
ld want some, so I prepare
ef nod and w
ffee and took a sip. The next second,
!" I c
ed over i
coffee, not
"Mrs. Carter is usually the one who
d finish, Zora'
s is dis
ack into the bowl and p
ge," she demanded. "I
y at a loss, and opened her mo
nd take t
d rushed back to the
was gone, Zor
s just another way of being a
her eyes bright
Mommy doesn't want to come home and cook for u
rd and tugged ea
ld have refused. But if Adeline w
ly fair I taug
gh
e, found Elizabeth's
nected on th
sitation, "how would you
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