Page 88 of Bastian

Looking around the peculiar beach, I set my things down on the sand, grab my phone and start a video call. Greece is 7 hours ahead of Washington.

Walking towards the crystalline waters, I soak up the warm sun rays as I wait for the call to connect. A sweet, excited, beautiful face takes over my entire phone screen. “Mommy! Hi!” Ellaiza’s excited squeals make the smile on my face widen.

“Hi, my love. Good morning.” It’s early for her there.

Her phone starts to shake as she bounces up and down. “Shaw! Shaw look at mom. She looks like a mermaid. Your hair looks so pretty, mom. You look like a mermaid.” The jerk just nods at her but carries on doing whatever the hell he gets paid to when Ella is not on the move.

“Ella, come back to me,” I tell her gently, not caring to see her bodyguard. At all.

“I’m back. Hi!”

“Hi!” I exclaim happily.

“Huh. You’re wearing pink.” Her blue eyes, so much like her father’s, narrow suspiciously.

Looking down at my pink sundress, I look back at her, grinning. “I am.”

“But you hate pink.”

I do hate it, but she doesn’t, and I guess, in some way, the color doesn’t make me sad. Instead, it reminds me that she loved the color, and I love her. Now, don’t get me wrong, I despise it, but for her, if it makes her smile like she is doing now, then I’ll endure.

Same with her father.

Oh, the irony.

Then it comes to mind that the tyrant must’ve told her about my likes and dislikes in hopes that she felt closer to me. “It’s not my favorite…” I grin at her offended expression. Before she goes on a rant as to why pink is the best color, I distract her, “Look where I am.” Flipping the camera, the shot is of the beach now.

“Oh my Gosh!” She yells adorably while her palms go to her cheeks. “You’re in mermaid land, mom!”

Mermaids.

I learned from Benjamin that she’s been into mermaids lately.

That’s why I bought her mermaid barbie dolls and a mermaid costume she could wear for the pool. Laughing, I squat down and show her the sand. “Not quite, baby, but it does look like another planet, doesn’t it?” Flipping the phone camera so she can see me. I rise to my full height.

“It does. Oh, I want to go there. Please, mom.” Her face falls, and I hate it.

“We can come back. Would you like that?” I ask nervously. I don’t ever want to overstep, and sometimes I need to remind myself that as much as she feels like mine, legally, she’s not.

“With daddy, too?” Ella asks.

Oh, fuck.

This will be my life now, won’t it?

It’s no longer just me.

Or just me and Ellaiza.

He won’t be far behind.

Grinding my teeth, I give her my best smile. “Your father can come, too.”

“Yay!” She screams, and the joy in that scream makes my reservations fade away because, God knows, I would do anything for this little girl. I see her bodyguard coming up behind her and giving her backpack and matching pink lunchbox. Ella scrunches her face and pouts when he tells her it’s time for school. Knowing she’ll give him a hard time, I tell her. “I’m taking lots of pictures, babe, and I’ll be back in the States tomorrow. We’ll see each other soon, yes?”

Her grumpy face is instantly replaced by a brilliant smile. “Okay! I can’t wait!” I smile when she presses the phone to her mouth, giving it a big wet kiss. So silly, my girl.

“I love your kisses!” I do. I miss them. I miss her.

---