Page 223 of His Sunshine Baby

“Nathaniel, don’t think too much, for now,” says Sylviana. “Even if she looks fine, Estelle is in a new environment, without her mother, and with people she didn’t know until today. She probably trusts you more than any of us because of her wolf’s instincts too.”

I hadn’t thought of that. But indeed, her wolf is already awake. She probably felt our bond before I did.

“Estelle?”

She turns her head and walks up to me, curious.

“You called me, Daddy?”

I can’t help but smile. I caress her blonde hair, and she puts her little hands on my knees.

“Are you tired?”

“Mhmm. A little. But I’m really hungry.”

“The pizza is on its way,” says Nora from across the room.

“Pizza? You ordered pizza?” asks Liam, suddenly very interested.

“Pizza!” yells James, excited.

“Liam, take the kids to wash their hands first,” says Nora.

Two hours later, we are done eating the pizza. It’s the best evening I’ve had in a long time. Watching the kids play with Boyan, Daniel, and Liam, chatting with my brother and Isaac about company matters, and leaving Sylviana and Nora to talk about the garden.

When Nora decides it’s time for everyone to go to bed, I realize she already prepared the rooms for us all. Estelle’s isright next to mine, but I insist on tucking her into bed. I lay next to my daughter, while she’s still glancing around the room, a bit uneasy.

“You don’t like the room?” I ask.

“No, it’s pretty.”

She’s probably just not used to the new environment. She’s snuggling against me, unable to close her eyes despite the late hour.

“How was your bedroom? In Mom’s house?”

“Hmm... smaller. And I draw bunnies on the wall too.”

“You like bunnies?”

“Yes! I draw lots and lots. And Mom got me a bunny plushie. But I left it there.”

“It’s okay, we can go and buy you new plushies tomorrow, okay?”

“Really?” she asks with her big eyes opened wide.

“Yeah. We can buy whatever you want. And new clothes and pajamas, too.”

For now, she’s sleeping in one of Nora’s shirts that falls to her knees.

“Daddy?”

“Yes?”

“We are not going back to our house?”

“I don’t think so.”

“Oh.”

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