Chapter 8: The Little Girl Who Talked Too Much
620 Words
Emma's heart didn't stop racing until they were safely inside the car.
She fastened Ethan's seatbelt with trembling hands.
"Mommy?"
She forced a smile.
"Yes?"
"Did I do something wrong?"
Emma gently cupped his cheek.
"No, sweetheart."
"Then... why did you sound scared?"
Emma looked away.
"Sometimes..."
"There are people Mommy isn't ready to meet."
Ethan nodded quietly.
He didn't fully understand.
But he trusted her.
Always.
Meanwhile...
Inside the bookstore...
Adrian remained standing in the science section.
His eyes drifted to the dinosaur encyclopedia Ethan had been holding.
A strange warmth lingered in his chest.
Daniel's voice echoed from his phone.
"Sir, the afternoon meeting starts in thirty minutes."
"I'm leaving now."
Even after hanging up...
Adrian couldn't stop thinking about the little boy.
"I'm going to be a paleontologist."
A smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
"Interesting kid..."
The next day...
Emma was assigned to deliver financial reports to the CEO's office.
She took a deep breath before knocking.
"Come in."
Adrian signed several documents without looking up.
"Leave them there."
Emma quickly placed the files on his desk.
"I'll excuse myself."
"Wait."
She froze.
"I have a question."
Emma slowly turned around.
"Yes, Mr. Blackwood?"
Adrian leaned back in his chair.
"The little boy yesterday..."
Emma's fingers tightened around the folder.
"...My son?"
"How old is he?"
Emma's heartbeat thundered.
"He'll be four soon."
Adrian stared at her for a long second.
"...I see."
Emma left almost immediately.
The moment the door closed...
She leaned against the wall.
Her breathing became uneven.
"He's asking..."
"Why is he asking?"
Saturday afternoon.
Emma took the twins to the city park.
The weather was perfect.
Children laughed everywhere.
Ethan sat quietly on a bench reading his dinosaur book.
Ella, however...
Had already made three new friends.
Emma laughed softly.
"That's my girl."
Not far away...
A familiar black SUV entered the parking lot.
Adrian stepped out wearing jeans and a simple navy polo shirt.
No suit.
No tie.
He looked... surprisingly approachable.
He had come to clear his mind after another exhausting week.
He never expected to see...
Emma.
Or the twins.
Before Emma noticed him...
Ella had already run toward the ice cream cart.
"Slow down!" Emma called.
"I'm watching her!"
A nearby voice answered.
Emma froze.
Adrian had reached the cart first.
He smiled politely at Ella.
"What flavor?"
Ella looked up.
"...Bookstore Mister!"
Adrian chuckled.
"So you remember me."
"Of course!"
"You caught Ethan's dinosaur book."
Emma hurried over.
"Ella..."
"It's okay."
Adrian smiled.
"I was just helping."
The ice cream vendor asked,
"One vanilla?"
Ella looked at Adrian with sparkling eyes.
"Can Mommy have strawberry too?"
Emma closed her eyes.
"Ella..."
The vendor laughed.
"You have a sweet daughter."
Adrian nodded absentmindedly.
"...She is."
Emma blinked.
For a split second...
None of them corrected him.
Ella happily accepted her ice cream.
Then she looked up at Adrian.
"Mister..."
"Yes?"
"My brother says you look lonely."
Emma nearly dropped her wallet.
"Ella!"
The little girl tilted her head innocently.
"What?"
"I wasn't supposed to say that?"
Adrian couldn't help laughing.
A real laugh.
The first one in years.
"It's okay."
He crouched until he was eye level with Ella.
"Your brother sounds very observant."
Ella nodded proudly.
"He's super smart!"
Then...
She smiled.
"So are you someone's daddy?"
Silence.
Emma stopped breathing.
Adrian's smile slowly faded.
"...No."
Ella pouted.
"Oh."
"I think..."
"You'd be a good one."
Adrian watched the twins walk away with Emma.
The wind gently ruffled his hair.
For reasons he couldn't explain...
The little girl's words echoed inside his heart.
"I think you'd be a good daddy."
He stood there for a long time.
Long after they had disappeared from sight.
- Writer
