Page 80 of Saving Little Lina: Part One

"I love it," I corrected him, my eyes never leaving the beautiful miniature ship.

He gave me a pleased smile. "This ship, it's a replica of the famous HMS Victory, launched in 1765. It is known for its resilience and strength. It's been around for more than 258 years and is still in service. When I was crafting this model, I was thinking of you. You're strong and resilient, just like this ship. Crafting these models requires a lot of patience. Each detail is important. I spend hours, sometimes days, getting a single piece right. And you know what? It's the same with us, our dynamic. I want to dedicate the same attention to detail, the same care to our relationship."

I looked at the ship in a new light now. It wasn't just a toy; it was a symbol of our journey, of me, of us. I felt a lump in my throat, tears threatening to spill from my eyes. No one had ever shown me such dedication, such thoughtfulness.

"This means a lot to me," I stammered, fighting back the tears.

He looked at me with a gentle smile, reaching out to tuck a loose strand of hair behind my ear. "I'm glad you like it, sweetheart. And I want you to know that you're worth all this effort, all this time."

His words, his care, his dedication - it all overwhelmed me. I felt a deep connection to Hank, and for the first time, I felt the urge to call him something more.

"Daddy?" I asked, looking up at him with hopeful eyes. "Can I... Can I call you Daddy?"

I watched as his expression softened, his eyes sparkling with joy and surprise. He seemed to take a moment, savouring the sweetness of the moment, before nodding. "I'd love that, princess."

His approval sent my heart fluttering. Calling him 'Daddy' felt right, as though a missing piece of the puzzle had finally fallen into place.

"Daddy," I said, hugging him tightly, the warmth in the word echoing in my heart. "Daddy... Daddy... Daddy..." I repeated, each utterance making me feel more connected to him.

"Princess," he replied each time, his voice gentle and soothing. As we started packing our things, the sun was setting. A sense of contentment filled me.

"Daddy?" I started, the word still feeling new on my tongue.

"Yes?" he asked, packing the last of our picnic items into the bag.

"Do we get to have more days like this?"

"Absolutely. Today was so wonderful," he said, giving me a warm smile.

The smile spread to my face as I felt a surge of joy. "Can I get a piggyback ride? Please?" I asked, looking up at him.

"You're not too tired for that, are you?" he asked teasingly.

"I've got enough energy to hold on tight!" I countered.

With a laugh, he bent down, allowing me to climb onto his back.

“Up, Daddy! Up!”

He stood up with me clinging to him. "Hold on tight," he said, starting to walk towards his car.

The world looked different from Daddy's back, safer, more secure. I didn't want this day to end. I began to pout, my words turning into baby talk. "No go home, Daddy!" I protested, my words slurring together.

He chuckled, "But don't you want to have dinner?"

"Dinner?" I asked, my protest forgotten.

Daddy just hummed, patting my leg as he continued walking. When we reached the car, he gently put me down, opening the door for me. As I climbed in, I felt a pang of sadness. Our special day was ending.

"Daddy," I said, a tremble in my voice, "I'm sad."

"Why, sweetheart?" he asked, his voice gentle.

"Because... because today was the most fun I’ve had in forever... and now it's ending," I admitted, tears welling up in my eyes.

"Oh, darling," he said, reaching out to wipe away a stray tear and giving me a warm hug. "Our playdate might be ending, but our time together isn't.”

As we drove home, we talked about our day.

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