Page 46 of Shades of Loyalty
It doesn’t stop them from having lots of fun playing together, but they have different tastes when it comes to playing with toys.
They both love watching Bluey, however. I’ve been watching it with them a few times, it’s absolutely adorable how much they bond over something as silly as a family of dogs.
Daniel sticks with me. I don’t know why.
Maybe he wants to keep an eye on me, making sure I don’t run off with Mary.
Or he’s actually here for security reasons.
If all he wants to do is simply protect us? I can’t tell.
What I can notice, though, is how relaxed Daniel looks in this setting. Usually, his shoulders are always flexed. His arms usually have a certain position, always ready to protect and fight if anything happens.
But here? Here, he’s just Enzo’s uncle, and Mary’s… Well, I don’t really know about that.
As we walk down the aisle filled with all different kinds of stuffed animals, Mary begins to slow down as her eyes lock on a certain one. I notice her little hand tightening around mine before she completely lets go of me. I let her.
We’re in a safe environment, and although I pretend to look at some other toys, I do watch her out of the corner of my eye.
She takes a hesitant step forward, staring up at the shelves with wide eyes. She’s my daughter, and I absolutely love that. Just seeing her standing there, looking fully amazed by a stuffed animal?
I was never able to fulfill all her dreams. I didn’t make that much money, so all we could always agree on was a stuffed animal or a doll.
She’s always loved stuffed animals of all kinds. No wonder she’s amazed.
She’s small, so small that she has to tiptoe just to get a better look at it. But it’s not just any stuffed animal she’s staring at—it’s a white bunny, one that’s holding a soft pink rose between its tiny paws.
For some reason, I don’t call out to her. I don’t want to rush her. I usually never do. It’s important to me to let her decide things by herself. Of course, they’re not important things to an adult. But to her, it means the whole world.
And as long as she’s happy, I am.
I shudder as I hearhisvoice, pulling me out from my thoughts.
“You like that one a lot, don’t you?” he asks her. His voice is different from usual. It’s softer and comforting. And God…
I can’t help it. He looks so good when he’s treating my daughter well.
“The one with the rose?”, he clarifies.
Mary looks up at him with a shocked face at first, before she nods eagerly, her eyes glinting up with something I’ve never seen before on her.
His hand lifts the huge bunny from the shelf before he puts it down next to her. It’s almost as big as her which makes me giggle quietly.
I wonder how much it costs. It shouldn’t be an issue anymore, since Daniel pays well, but still. I’m sure I’ll always worry about not havingenough money.
Mary instantly hugs the bunny, blessing both Daniel and me with her sweet giggles. God, she’s enjoying this so much.
We all are, I think.
I mean, I’m pretty sure…
Daniel huffs a quiet breath, then reaches out to ruffle her hair. Mary giggles even louder now, leaning into the touch like it’s the most natural thing in the world.
And for a split second, I forget who he is. How I’m supposed to observe him.
For a split second, all I can think is, He’d be such a great father figure for her.
But then reality hits me like a freight train.
