Chapter 4
1614 Words
POV: Tristan
I pushed the front door open and stepped inside the house.
The drive home had been a blur. All I had on my mind was to get home and spend the rest of the day with Sophie.
I had totally forgotten that today was her birthday.
How could I have forgotten such an important date?
But the moment I walked into the house, my eyes immediately landed on the two figures in the living room.
Sophie stood near the center of the room with her hands tucked behind her back, her small head lowered. Her long red hair fell around her face, hiding her expression.
And standing a few feet away from her was the woman from the amusement park.
Naomi.
She was facing the door and the moment my eyes landed on her I became angry.
Instantly.
I watched as she raised her hand in a surrender position. “I can explain,” she said quickly. “She called me over because she wasn't feeling well. I came to make sure she was fine and I was just leaving.”
I felt the anger immediately dissolve and got replaced with concern as I looked past her to Sophie who was still standing there.
My entire focus was now on my daughter.
I walked past Naomi and stopped in front of Sophie and bent slightly so I could see her face.
“Are you okay, baby?” I asked gently. “What’s wrong? Why didn’t you tell me you were sick?”
Before Sophie could answer, I heard Naomi’s voice behind me.
“Okay… I’ll leave now,” she said quietly. “I’ll allow the both of you to enjoy your little time together.”
I didn’t turn around.
I just stood there and listened to her footsteps move across the wooden floor.
Calm. Steady. Not rushed.
Then the front door opened and a second later, it closed.
The house fell silent.
I crouched down so I was at Sophie’s level, looking straight into her small face.
“Why didn’t you call me, sweetheart?” I asked softly.
Sophie shifted her feet.
“I didn’t want to bother you in the office,” she said in a small voice. “So I called Naomi over instead.”
Naomi.
Even hearing her name from Sophie’s mouth made something in my chest tighten.
I slowly stood up.
My voice turned stern.
“Sophie,” I said firmly, “don’t you know it’s dangerous to allow strangers into the house?”
She looked up at me immediately.
“She could have done something to you,” I continued. “Or even stolen something from the house.”
Sophie’s eyebrows pulled together in a frown.
“Naomi is not like that, Daddy.”
Her voice was quiet but stubborn.
“She took care of me all afternoon. She even spent the day with me.”
My lips pressed together.
“She made my birthday special,” Sophie added softly.
Then she turned around and walked toward the small purple chair in the corner of the room.
The chair had been her favorite since she was two.
She climbed onto it and sat down quietly.
“This is the happiest birthday I’ve ever had,” she murmured.
Something in my chest shifted.
I let out a slow sigh and walked toward her.
“Just don’t let strangers into the house, Sophie,” I said, trying to keep my tone calm now. “It’s for your own good. I don’t want anything bad to happen to you, baby.”
But Sophie didn’t turn to look at me.
Instead, she stared down at her hands resting on her lap.
“I know you’re very busy, Daddy,” she said softly.
Her small voice barely filled the large living room.
“But it gets so lonely at home.”
My heart skipped.
“And today you didn’t even remember it was my birthday,” she continued.
Her words hit harder than anything else.
“And Grandma says it’s my fault Mom is gone.”
My breath caught.
Why would Mom say that to her?
“She said if I don’t behave… you’ll also leave me too.”
Silence filled the room.
“I already miss you so much when I’m alone at home.”
My mind went completely blank.
Wow.
I had never heard my daughter speak like this before.
In fact… I didn’t even know she could talk like this.
She always acted cheerful in front of me. Always smiling. Always pretending everything was fine.
But right now…
Her voice sounded older than four years.
And for the first time in a long time, guilt washed over me.
Sophie reminded me so much of my wife.
The same eyes.
The same smile.
The same soft voice.
And because of that… I had unconsciously started pulling away from her.
I thought I was protecting myself from the pain.
But in doing so…
I had hurt my daughter also.
Deeply.
“Look at me, Sophie,” I said quietly.
She shook her head. “No.”
I crouched down again.
Then in one swift motion, I turned her small chair so it faced me.
She blinked in surprise.
I looked straight into her green eyes.
“I’m sorry, baby,” I said gently.
Her lips parted slightly.
“I didn’t mean to hurt you like this.”
My voice softened even more.
“And don’t mind what Grandma said. I can never leave you.”
Sophie stared at me.
“And If your mom was here,” I continued, “she would never leave you too.”
Sophie slowly raised her head.
“Really?” she asked softly. “You think so?”
A small smile appeared on my face.
“I know so, sweetheart.”
Her eyes filled with hope.
“And I promise you,” I said, brushing a strand of hair away from her face, “I’ll try to spend more time with you from now on.”
Her entire face lit up instantly.
Before I could say anything more, she threw her arms around my neck.
“I love you, Daddy!”
I laughed softly, hugging her back.
“I love you too, baby.”
After a moment she pulled away and looked at me seriously.
“So… can I ask for my birthday gift now?”
I chuckled.
“Sure. Ask for anything and I’ll give it to you.”
Sophie’s eyes sparkled.
“I want Naomi to be my new nanny.”
I blinked.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
Of all the things she could have asked for…
A toy.
A puppy.
A new dress.
A trip somewhere.
Or even a new phone.
But no.
She asked for Naomi.
Why was this child like this?
I stood up slowly.
“I can give you every other thing, sweetheart,” I said carefully. “But not that.”
Sophie’s expression changed immediately.
“But you promised, Daddy.”
“Come on, Sophie,” I said, rubbing my forehead. “Make another wish or ask for another gift.”
She folded her arms stubbornly.
“No.”
Her voice was firm.
“I want Naomi.”
I let out a loud sigh.
This girl… was going to be the death of me.
And I meant that literally.
And judging by the request she just made, it was going to happen sooner than I thought.
After a long silence, I gave in.
“Fine,” I muttered. “I’ll talk with her and see if she agrees to be your nanny.”
Sophie jumped up from her chair immediately.
Her face lit up with excitement.
“Thank you, Daddy!”
She hugged me again quickly before running toward the door.
“And make sure you convince her so she says yes!” she shouted over her shoulder.
Then she disappeared down the hallway like she hadn’t just asked for the most impossible birthday gift in the world.
I ran a hand through my hair and scoffed.
“How exactly am I supposed to convince that woman?”
I could still remember the look Naomi had given me the other day at the amusement park.
Cold.
Sharp.
Disgusted.
She probably wouldn’t even look at my face twice after the way I spoke to her.
But Sophie had asked for her.
And when Sophie wanted something…
Sophie got it.
I pulled my phone out of my pocket and dialed a number.
The call rang once.
Twice.
Then he picked up.
“Hello, boss.”
“Conner,” I said. “I need you to find someone’s address for me.”
“Sure. Who?”
I leaned back against the wall.
“Her name is Naomi.”
There was a pause.
“I don’t know her surname,” I added. “I’ll send you a picture of her.”
“Okay, boss,” Conner replied. “I’ll get you her information first thing tomorrow morning.”
“Good,” I said. “I’ll be waiting.”
I ended the call.
For a moment I just stood there staring at my phone.
Tomorrow.
Tomorrow I would go to her house and try to convince her to become Sophie’s nanny.
But something told me…
Naomi wasn’t the type of woman who could be easily persuaded.
Still, I had no choice.
Because Sophie wanted her.
And I always kept my promises.
I slipped my phone back into my pocket and began walking toward my bedroom.
Tomorrow morning…
I would meet Naomi again.
But little did I know—
That this woman named Naomi was running from a past that was about to collide with mine.
- Writer
