Page 221 of His Sunshine Baby

“How? There’s no fucking way Elena will forgive me!”

“Nate, you’ll think of something later. For now, focus on your daughter.”

Estelle… Damn it. It’s a miracle she even knows I exist. I hang on to this tiny sliver of hope that maybe, just maybe, Elena told her about me because there’s still something, a little something left between us…

“Nathaniel? Estelle’s asking for you.”

Nora’s voice in my head makes me calm down. Damian helps me up, and we walk back inside. They’re right. One thing at a time.

“Daddy!”

From the other end of the corridor, my daughter lets go of Nora’s hand and runs to me. It’s one of the best feelings ever. Opening my arms to her, seeing her shy smile before she hugs me.

“Auntie Nora said we can come back tomorrow to see Mommy.”

“Yeah, let’s do that,” I whisper to her with a nod.

“The Lewis’ are with her now,” explains Nora, “but they will come over for dinner later. Let’s go home.”

We take the car back to their house, and for Estelle, it’s a whole new experience. She keeps staring outside, asking us a thousand questions like what is that building, how does the car work, why do the streets have names, and so on.

We drive back to Nora and Damian’s house. He bought it for them a few years ago, and they are properly settled in now. Even the room for the new baby is already prepared. They are careful with this pregnancy since James was a premature baby. Now that I think about it…

“Estelle, you’re four years old? When is your birthday?”

“May 1st!”

So she was born a bit early too? If I remember correctly, Sylviana said Elena got pregnant mid-September, so she should have given birth late June. Maybe it’s a Royal thing? The babies are more fragile?

We finally arrive at their house, and Estelle stays right next to me, a bit shy. I notice she doesn’t go near Boyan. The huge brown wolf seems to scare her a bit.

“Mama!”

James is already running to us when we enter. My nephew is an energy pill, and very, very stubborn. I wonder who he got that from…

“My baby!”

Nora gets on her knees to hug him with a big smile. Behind him, her cousin William comes to greet us.

“Welcome back.”

As usual, William and Damian are exchanging glares while he talks to Nora. He’s just like a picky father-in-law. He leaves to go home to his wife and daughter after a while, and Nora takes care of James, who’s being fussy as usual, while I give Estelle a tour of the house.

“This is Auntie Nora’s house?” she asks, impressed as we visit the living room and playroom on the first floor.

“And your Uncle Damian’s.”

“Uncle Damian?”

I think my brother is still a bit too frightening for her. I can’t blame her. Aside from his family, I haven’t met anyone who isn’t naturally scared of my brother. Nora comes back and decides we should order pizza for everyone to share, James following her every step as usual.

“Pizza?” repeats Estelle with a little frown.

Moon Goddess, she doesn’t know what pizza is? Well, with her mother’s cooking, I shouldn’t be too surprised, but I smile and kneel to face her, a bit amused.

“You’ve never had pizza? It was your mom’s favorite food.”

“Really?”

---