The Way he loves

Karissa stared in awe at the tiny baby nestled in her arms. It was at that moment that she realised that she could never truly hate Lucas, she could never hate anyone who shared half of their genes with the perfect little thing that she had birthed. Thinking about Lucas still filled her heart with sadness, especially because he hadn't even bothered to meet his daughter yet. He was busy roaming Europe, romancing with that w***e. He had promised that he would be back before their daughter arrived, he had promised that he'd be there for them. But if Karissa had learnt one thing from their marriage, then it was that promises meant nothing. Suddenly she felt exhausted and lonely and scared. Scared that she wouldn't be able to give her daughter everything that she deserved. Scared that her daughter will grow up with a father who would always put her second. Scared that her daughter wouldn't be loved as she should. Tears ran down her cheek as the worries kicked in and she found herself sobbing and kissing her baby. The door slowly creaked open and Karissa stared at the intruder with teary eyes. A little boy slowly walked in, hesitant, unsure if he was welcome in her room. He looked so much like that woman, the same dark eyes, the same jet black hair. But little Adrian had something his mother lacked, innocence. Karissa watched as he came close to her, his eyes wide as he glanced between her and the baby in her arms. “Are you hurt ma'am?" , asked the little boy, frowning. Adrian had impeccable manners for a six year old. “No, I'm fine " He looked at her, still unsure. “Why are you crying?", he asked. Karissa didn't know how to explain to the boy that she was crying because his mom had stolen her husband from her and left her newborn daughter with a broken home. Adrian looked at her expectantly, waiting for her reply. “I'm just tired boy. The baby and I need to rest now" He glanced at the baby and a look of amazement spread across his face “She looks like a doll" , he said carefully stroking the baby's cheek with his finger. Karissa agreed with him wholeheartedly. Her daughter looked like a baby doll with her large blue eyes, and rose lips. She also had been born with a full head of thick, dark brown hair. She was so perfect that it was hard for Karissa to believe she was real. “What is her name?", asked Adrian, interrupting Karissa from fawning over her daughter. Karissa frowned. She had been trying to find a name for months, but was having a hard time finalizing on anything. And Lucas wasn't of much help , he'd suggested naming their daughter “Elizabeth" after his mother, but Karissa didn't think it suited her daughter. The boy continued talking, ignoring her silence. “You should name her Angel, because she looks like an angel". The little boy was sweet and earnest and something about his enthusiasm made Karissa want to cry again. But instead, she smiled to the boy and asked him if he'd like to hold her. Adrian's eyes widened again, but she motioned him to come sit beside her on the bed and when he did, she carefully placed the baby on his lap and showed him how to support her head. He held the baby with an intense look of concentration on his face and gently bent over to plant a kiss on her head. Karissa realised that she liked Adrian, and she prayed to the gods that he would continue to be sweet and loving towards her daughter, so that she would have at least someone on her side other than her mother. “Angelina, we'll name her Angelina. Lina for short", said Karissa without even a hint of hesitation in her voice. “Can I call her Angel?", said Adrian with a grin on his face as Karissa laughed and nodded. ‘Children are so pure, so innocent' Karissa thought to herself. In the past, Karissa had taken out her hatred towards his mother by being rude to the little boy. But now she realised that all that anger, that hate she was harbouring in was pointless. As Karissa stared at Adrian who was now making funny faces in front of her baby girl, trying to make her laugh, she felt strangely content and happy.