Chapter 9
1319 Words
The sun peeked through the tall windows of the manor, casting a golden hue across Amara’s bedroom. Amara stretched her arms and let out a soft yawn, gently sitting up on the edge of her bed nestled in the small adjoining room. The house was unusually quiet for a morning, the kind of silence that made her feel cocooned in peace.
She wandered over to the desk in the corner, where a small calendar rested. The page for the current month had curled slightly at the edge. Amara reached for it and ran her fingers over the date.
Her lips curved into a soft smile.
Tomorrow.
She let out a quiet breath and shook her head, amused with herself. How could she have forgotten what tomorrow would be? Maybe it was the shift in her life, the change in pace, the unfamiliar comfort. Or maybe it was just the way time moved in this place, quietly and quickly all at once.
She didn’t dwell on it. She folded the thought away like an old letter and turned her attention to the day ahead.
Today was Seraphina's dentist appointment.
Breakfast passed with calm conversation. Seraphina picked at her toast, clearly distracted.
"You're quiet today," Amara said gently, brushing the child’s dark curls out of her eyes.
Seraphina pouted, then mumbled, "I don't want to go. The dentist is scary."
Amara crouched beside her chair. "I know it seems scary, Sera. But I’ll be with you the whole time. And remember what we talked about? Your teeth are growing, and we have to take care of them so your big-girl teeth come in nice and strong."
Seraphina made a face. "Will it hurt?"
"Not one bit. I promise. And afterwards, we can get a treat."
"Ice cream?"
Amara smiled. "Non-dairy, of course."
The girl giggled. "Okay. But only if I get vanilla."
"Deal."
Before they left, Damien appeared at the end of the staircase, already dressed sharply in a slate-gray suit. He looked at his watch, then to the two of them.
"Leaving now?"
"Yes, sir," Amara answered. Seraphina clung to her hand tightly.
Damien looked at his daughter, then crouched to her level. "You’re going to do great, sweetheart. Dentists aren't scary when you have someone brave like Amara with you."
Seraphina nodded slowly, still unsure.
Damien ruffled her hair and stood. "I'll see you both later. Be good."
Amara gave him a quick smile before guiding Seraphina out the door.
The dental clinic was calm and brightly lit, filled with friendly faces and colorful posters. Still, Seraphina clung to Amara like a barnacle.
Amara never let go of her hand.
She sat beside the little girl the entire time, whispering encouragements and helping her breathe deeply when she got nervous. The dentist was kind and quick, and when it was over, Seraphina was surprised at how little it had hurt.
Two of her front baby teeth, already loose, were gently removed.
Amara offered her a mirror, and Seraphina burst out laughing when she saw the gap in her smile.
"I look funny!"
"You look adorable," Amara said with a soft chuckle.
By the time they got home, Seraphina had her non-dairy vanilla ice cream in hand, happily licking it as she sat on the steps of the back patio.
Amara sat beside her, tired but content.
Seraphina looked up. "The dentist wasn't so bad. Because you were there."
Something in Amara's chest tightened at the words.
"I'm glad I was," she replied softly, brushing a sticky strand of hair away from Seraphina’s cheek. They watched the sunset paint the sky in streaks of orange and lavender.
Another quiet day. Another small victory.
---
Stacks of documents were neatly arranged on his desk, and his pen scratched lightly across the top page. Each signature he placed was automatic, his thoughts drifting despite his usual precision.
He leaned back after the fifth document, eyes drawn not to the contracts, but toward the window where the distant laughter of children from the garden could sometimes be heard.
He chuckled softly to himself.
I wonder what Sera’s up to now...
It wasn’t long ago that Seraphina wouldn't even let him out of her sight. Business meetings had been rescheduled, entire trips postponed because she refused to be without her father. But now...
The door opened, pulling him from his thoughts.
“Still buried in papers?” a familiar voice called out.
Damien looked up to see Lucien—his best friend and long-time business partner—stride in, loosening his tie and dropping into the seat opposite his desk without asking.
“Some things never change,” Damien smirked, setting his pen down.
“Well,” Lucien grinned, “good news—our shipment cleared customs early. Transaction went smooth.”
“Finally,” Damien sighed in relief. “That’s one less headache.”
Lucien tilted his head, eyes narrowing slightly. “You don’t look relieved. You look... distracted.”
Damien shrugged. “I was just thinking about Sera.”
Lucien raised an eyebrow. “She okay?”
“More than okay. That’s the thing,” Damien leaned back in his chair, fingers steepled in front of him. “I’m not used to this. To her not needing me every hour of the day.”
Lucien grinned knowingly. “Ah. Missing your full-time daddy duties?”
Damien laughed, rubbing the back of his neck. “Kinda, yeah. Before Amara arrived, Sera was attached to my hip. I didn’t realize how quickly things would change.”
“She must be something, that nanny,” Lucien said.
“She is,” Damien nodded. “She has this calm around her. Sera listens to her. Trusts her. And Amara doesn’t treat her like she’s just a job... I see it. She cares.”
Lucien smirked. “You sound... grateful.”
“I am,” Damien admitted, voice softening. “I don’t say it enough, but I’m really thankful she’s here.”
Later that afternoon, Damien made his way to the east wing, where Seraphina’s laughter echoed softly down the corridor. He slowed his steps near the playroom, quietly leaning against the doorway.
Inside, Seraphina sat on a pastel rug, a coloring book in her lap. Amara knelt beside her, gently brushing her hair back behind her ear as she spoke softly to her.
When Seraphina noticed her father, her face lit up.
“Daddy!” she cried, jumping up.
Damien stepped inside, arms wide. “Hey, sweetheart.”
“Look!” she said proudly, flashing him a toothy grin. “I look silly!”
He crouched to her level, smiling as he examined the adorable gap where her two front teeth used to be.
“You look perfect,” he said, brushing his hand through her hair.
Seraphina beamed and returned to Amara’s side.
Damien’s gaze met Amara’s. “Thank you,” he said sincerely. “She seems... genuinely happy.”
Amara’s lips curved into a small smile. “She’s a brave girl.”
“We got ice cream,” Seraphina announced proudly. “Non-dairy! And it was yummy. Can we go back tomorrow and get another one?”
Damien chuckled, standing up. “Maybe next time, sweetheart.”
“Why not tomorrow?” she asked, tilting her head.
“Because tomorrow is Amara’s birthday,” Damien said gently.
Amara blinked.
Seraphina gasped. “It is?!”
But Amara’s focus remained on Damien, a flicker of surprise, and something else, crossing her face.
She hadn’t expected him to know.
She hadn’t expected anyone to know.
Damien gave her a warm, knowing smile.
“You have a birthday leave,” he said casually. “Take the day off. Do something for yourself.”
Amara opened her mouth as if to protest, but nothing came out. Her hand, almost unconsciously, rose to her chest.
The flutter was back. And for once... she didn’t try to push it away.
- Writer
