Page 239 of His Sunshine Baby

“She left? Why? Where did she go?”

“She went to be with the Moon Goddess, Estelle. Grandma Reagan won’t be coming back, baby.”

I don’t know how much a four-year-old understands about death, but Estelle starts tearing up, biting her lip. She looks at me again, as if she was expecting me to say something, but when her mother and I both stay silent, she slowly starts crying.

“… She won’t come back?”

“No, baby star. But she is with the Moon Goddess, and with your puppy heart, okay? If you want to cry, you can cry, baby.”

“Okay...”

Estelle cries silently before her mom hugs her. Elena’s grief is obvious too. I barely knew Reagan, but it breaks my heart to see the two of them like this. I step away, I don’t know what to do. I know how tense things are right now, but the worst thing is, I’m just happy they are both here.

After a few minutes, Elena comes back, followed by Estelle.

“Can I have a coffee?” she asks, to my surprise.

“Of course. Baby, do you want a hot drink too?”

My daughter nods, wiping her tears clumsily.

“Can I get a hot chocolate, Daddy?”

“Sure, baby.”

I start preparing it while Estelle proudly goes to show her latest drawings and new drawing tools to her mom. Thank Moon Goddess Estelle and I went to buy some groceries this morning, as it appears taking care of a child requires a bit more things than I thought, including but not limited to hot chocolate powder, chocolate sprinkles, and hazelnut paste. Once the coffee and hot chocolate are ready for the two women in my life, I proudly hand them their drinks.

“Here you go, young lady!”

“Thanks, Daddy!”

“Estelle, baby, why don’t you make another drawing to show your auntie Nora later?”

“Okay! Wait here, Mommy, I’ll do one with the princess stamp!”

She runs off to grab her pencils, and I prepare another coffee for myself. However, while I’m pouring, I realize Elena’s eyes are on me.

“Nathaniel…”

“Yes?”

She puts her cup down, looking serious all of a sudden. Her amber eyes are a bit hesitant and shy, and she puts a strand of her hair behind her ear, her gesture when she's embarrassed.

“I… thought a bit about the situation. You’re right on some things. I think Estelle should live with you, with her dad. She hasn’t known you since the day she was born, and I want her to be able to.”

I almost drop my cup, completely taken by surprise. Really? I did hope Elena would give it some consideration, but to think she would change her mind so fast. Did Nora or Damian tell her something? I haven’t heard from them since Elena slept at their place last night.

She continues, looking down at her coffee, not showing too much of her emotions.

“I never wanted for her to live away from you, to begin with. It was just… too hard for me to come back.”

“I know I’m partially to blame for that, and–”

“Shut up, Nate, let me talk first. I was in the wrong too. No matter how much grief I had against you and my pack, it was my own selfishness that kept Estelle from meeting you two years earlier. I should have come back when Nora woke up. I’m… sorry I didn’t.”

I’m speechless. I expected many things from Elena, but not an apology. I don’t know how to react. I don’t feel like I deserve it, to begin with. I was the one that acted like a jerk and didn’t trust her. Why would she be the sorry one?

“I was given a lot to think about, after talking with Nora, and I realized it wouldn’t be fair that you’re the only one to apologize when we’re both in the wrong. I’m not saying I’m forgiving you, remember that. I’m just saying I don’t want us to lose any more time to fighting and bickering.”

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