โฆ CHAPTER โ "Sunset Thief" โฆ
Jay's POV
The beach looked beautiful.
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Golden sunlight danced across the water.
The sky was painted orange and pink.
The waves rolled softly onto the shore.
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Everyone had gathered outside.
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The parents sat together talking.
The children ran around screaming happily.
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For once...
everything felt peaceful.
๐ฅบ๐ซถ๐ป
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Alina was running across the sand.
Tiny feet.
Tiny giggles.
Tiny chaos.
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"MAMA LOOK!"
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I laughed.
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"I'm looking, baby."
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She immediately bent down.
Picked up a shell.
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Then another.
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Then another.
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Apparently every shell on the beach was special.
๐ญ๐
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"Mama!"
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"Yes?"
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"LOOK!"
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It was a rock.
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A very ordinary rock.
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I still gasped dramatically.
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"Oh wow."
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Alina looked proud.
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Like she personally discovered treasure.
๐ฅบ๐
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Keifer walked beside me.
Hands in his pockets.
Watching us quietly.
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Every now and then I'd catch him smiling.
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The soft kind.
The kind he only got around family.
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Ahead of us Alina was still running.
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"MAMA!"
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She pointed at another shell.
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Then another.
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Then immediately forgot about both of them.
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Suddenly Keifer sped up.
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Before I could ask whyโ
he scooped Alina up.
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Our daughter squealed.
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"Papa!"
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Then he carried her toward Jare.
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Jare looked confused.
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Very confused.
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"Why are you handing me a child?"
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"Hold this."
Keifer replied.
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"THIS?"
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"Yes."
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"THIS IS YOUR DAUGHTER."
๐ญ๐
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Before Jare could protestโ
Keifer turned around.
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Grabbed my hand.
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And ran.
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Actually ran.
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"KEIFER!"
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I nearly tripped.
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He laughed.
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And kept going.
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Behind us I heard Jare shouting.
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"COME BACK!"
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And Alinaโ
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"MAMAAAAA!"
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The Escape
We didn't stop until we reached a quieter part of the beach.
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Far enough away from everyone.
Close enough to still hear them.
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Especially Alina.
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"MAmaaa!"
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"Mamma !"
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I burst out laughing.
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"She's looking for me."
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"Good."
Keifer replied.
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I stared.
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"Good?"
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"She has Jare."
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"That's not reassuring."
๐ญ๐
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He laughed again.
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Then slowed down.
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Still holding my hand.
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The sunset reflected in the water beside us.
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The world felt softer here.
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Quieter.
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Just us.
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I looked at him.
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"What was that?"
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He shrugged.
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"I missed you."
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My heart instantly melted.
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"Keifer."
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"It's true."
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He squeezed my hand gently.
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"Every time I try talking to you..."
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A sigh.
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"Alina appears."
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I laughed.
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"She's one."
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"I know."
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"She's your daughter."
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"I know."
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"Then stop competing with her."
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"I'm not competing."
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Pause.
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"She's winning."
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I laughed so hard I nearly fell over.
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A Quiet Moment
Eventually we slowed down.
Walking side by side.
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The ocean stretched endlessly beside us.
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The wind played with my hair.
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And for the first time in a while...
it felt like we could breathe.
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No worries.
No misunderstandings.
No tears.
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Just us.
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Keifer suddenly wrapped an arm around my shoulders.
Pulling me closer.
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I didn't resist.
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Not even a little.
๐ฅบ๐
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Then I rested my head against him.
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And together we watched the sunset.
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The sky growing darker.
The waves becoming softer.
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Behind usโ
very faintlyโ
we could still hear:
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"MAMAAAA!"
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"MAMAAAAAA!"
๐ญ๐๐ซถ๐ป
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I smiled.
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"We should probably go back."
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Keifer groaned dramatically.
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"Five more minutes."
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"Keifer."
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"Three."
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I laughed.
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"Fine."
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And for three precious minutes...
I let him have me all to himself.
๐ฅบ๐ซถ๐ป๐
โฆ CHAPTER โ "A Little Break" โฆ
Jay's POV
I woke up expecting the usual.
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Tiny footsteps.
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A tiny body launching itself at me.
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And a loud:
> "Mamaaaa!"
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Instead...
I opened my eyes and found an empty spot.
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I blinked.
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Then blinked again.
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Where was my child?
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For a second I panicked.
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Then I heard laughter outside.
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And a very familiar voice.
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"Good job, princess."
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Keifer.
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I walked toward the balcony.
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And immediately froze.
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Down belowโ
Keifer was carrying Alina.
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She was sitting on his shoulders.
Tiny hands holding his head.
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Like a queen.
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A very demanding queen.
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"Papa! There!"
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She pointed dramatically at a shell.
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Keifer immediately ran toward it.
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"That one?"
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"Yesss!"
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I couldn't stop smiling.
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Breakfast
A little laterโ
Keifer made breakfast for her.
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Tiny pancakes.
Fruit.
Juice.
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And somehow she looked prouder than the person who actually cooked it.
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Then came the hair.
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I expected disaster.
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Honestly?
A complete disaster.
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Instead...
the braid was beautiful.
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Not perfect.
Not salon-level.
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But neat.
Careful.
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Made with patience.
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Made with love.
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Alina kept touching it proudly.
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Then showed everyone.
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"Papa did."
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Keifer looked ridiculously pleased with himself.
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Finally Breathing
For the first time in forever...
I had nothing to do.
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Nobody was calling for me.
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Nobody was climbing on me.
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Nobody was stealing my tea.
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It felt strange.
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Very strange.
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So I ended up sitting with Freya near the beach.
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A warm cup of tea rested in my hands.
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The breeze played with my hair.
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And for the first time in a long time...
I relaxed.
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Freya noticed immediately.
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"You look confused."
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I laughed.
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"I am confused."
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"Why?"
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"My daughter abandoned me."
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Freya nearly choked laughing.
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I pointed toward the beach.
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Keifer was currently helping Alina build something that looked absolutely nothing like a sandcastle.
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Both seemed proud of it.
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"Look at them."
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Freya smiled.
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"They're cute."
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"They are."
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My eyes softened.
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"They really are."
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Talking About The Past
For a while we simply watched everyone.
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The children running.
The parents talking.
The waves rolling in.
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Then Freya nudged me.
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"Remember when Keifer couldn't go ten minutes without following you?"
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I immediately laughed.
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"Oh my God."
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"He was horrible."
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"He was obsessed."
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"He still is."
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We both looked toward the beach.
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Keifer was literally carrying Alina with one arm while looking around for me.
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Freya noticed too.
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"See?"
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I laughed.
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"Okay, fair."
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Then my smile softened.
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"I miss some of it though."
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Freya looked at me.
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"The old days?"
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I nodded.
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"Just sometimes."
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"The late-night talks."
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"The stupid arguments."
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"The way he'd text me every five minutes."
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Freya smiled.
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"You know..."
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"What?"
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"He still looks at you exactly the same."
๐ฅบ๐ซถ๐ป
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My heart skipped.
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I looked toward the beach.
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And found him already looking at me.
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Of course he was.
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The second our eyes metโ
he smiled.
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The soft smile.
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The one that always made my chest warm.
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Even after all these years.
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My Two Babies
A little later Alina started running again.
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"Papaaaa!"
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Keifer immediately chased after her.
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Laughing.
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Pretending he couldn't catch her.
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Even though he obviously could.
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And suddenly...
I just sat there.
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Tea in hand.
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Watching them.
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My husband.
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My daughter.
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My family.
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Happy.
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Safe.
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Together.
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And for the first time in a long while...
I wasn't worried about anything.
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I simply watched my two babies play in the sand.
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And smiled. ๐ฅบ๐ซถ๐ป๐๐โจ๏ธ
โฆ CHAPTER โ "Daddy-Daughter Day" โฆ
Jay's POV
I knew something was suspicious the moment I woke up.
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The villa was quiet.
Too quiet.
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No tiny feet running across the room.
No little hands pulling my blanket.
No:
ยซ"Mamaaaa!"ยป
at seven in the morning.
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I sat up immediately.
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"Where's Alina?"
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Keifer looked up from his phone.
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"With me."
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That wasn't an answer.
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A few minutes later I found them downstairs.
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Alina was sitting on the counter while Keifer prepared breakfast.
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Both of them looked very serious.
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Very suspicious.
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"What's going on?"
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Alina immediately pointed at Keifer.
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"Papa."
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Then pointed outside.
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"Go."
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I blinked.
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"What?"
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"Papa go."
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Keifer started laughing.
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After ten minutes of baby explanations we finally understood.
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Our daughter wanted a day out.
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Just her and Papa.
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I looked at Keifer.
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He looked at me.
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Then at Alina.
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Then back at me.
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"She's kicking you out."
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"I'm aware."
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Keifer's POV
The second Jay agreed, Alina became very excited.
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Like she had been planning this for weeks.
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Which was concerning.
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Very concerning.
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I carried her outside.
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She waved dramatically at Jay.
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"Bye!"
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Jay laughed.
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"Have fun, baby."
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Alina immediately buried her face in my shoulder.
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Mission successful.
Apparently.
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Jay's POV
The second they left...
the villa felt strange.
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Empty.
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Quiet.
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Peaceful.
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And honestly?
I hated it.
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I made tea.
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Sat with Freya.
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And kept looking toward the road.
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Freya noticed immediately.
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"You miss them."
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"It's been twelve minutes."
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"Exactly."
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I groaned.
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Maybe I was clingy too.
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Keifer's POV
Alina was fascinated by everything.
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Everything.
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A flower?
Amazing.
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A bird?
Life-changing.
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A random dog walking by?
The greatest event in history.
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I spent most of the morning carrying her around.
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Not because she was tired.
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Because she wanted the best view.
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Princess behavior.
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Definitely got that from her mother.
๐ฅบ๐
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The Ice Cream Disaster
Big mistake.
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Huge mistake.
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I bought her ice cream.
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Five minutes laterโ
it was on her face.
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Her shirt.
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My shirt.
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My arm.
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My hair somehow.
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I genuinely didn't understand how.
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Alina thought it was hilarious.
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I thought it was expensive.
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The Bracelet
Later we walked past a small beach shop.
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I was planning to keep walking.
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Alina had other plans.
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She suddenly pointed.
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"Mama."
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I followed her finger.
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A bracelet.
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Small.
Pretty.
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Blue beads.
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Something Jay would like.
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My heart softened immediately.
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"Do you want this for Mama?"
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Alina nodded.
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Very seriously.
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"Mama."
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So we bought it.
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Then she found another.
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"Mama."
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And another.
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"Mama."
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I realized my daughter was shopping using my wallet.
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An expensive lesson.
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The Question
On the walk back I looked down at her.
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"Who's your favorite?"
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Dangerous question.
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Very dangerous.
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Alina thought about it.
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Really thought about it.
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Then pointed at herself.
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I nearly dropped her.
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Jay's POV
By afternoon I was sitting outside with Freya.
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Tea in hand.
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Trying not to stare at the road every five seconds.
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And failing.
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Completely.
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Then finallyโ
I saw them.
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Keifer.
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Holding bags.
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Looking exhausted.
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And Alina.
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The second she saw meโ
her entire face lit up.
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"MAmaaaa!"
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My heart instantly melted.
๐ญ๐ซถ๐ป
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She started wiggling wildly.
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"Down!"
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"Why?"
Keifer asked.
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"MAmaaaa!"
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I laughed through tears.
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Keifer finally put her down.
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And she ran.
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Tiny feet.
Tiny arms.
Big smile.
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Straight toward me.
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I opened my arms.
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And she crashed into me.
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Nearly knocking me over.
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I hugged her immediately.
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Buried my face in her hair.
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And kissed her cheek.
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"Did you have fun?"
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"Papa."
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"Good answer."
๐ญ๐
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Keifer's POV
I stood there holding five shopping bags.
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Three bracelets.
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Random shells.
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Melted ice cream napkins.
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And absolutely no dignity.
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Meanwhile my daughter had already forgotten I existed.
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Because she was back with her Mama.
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I watched them for a moment.
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Jay laughing.
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Alina talking excitedly.
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Both completely happy.
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And suddenly I realized something.
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Alina loves adventures with me.
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She loves spending time with Papa.
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But at the end of the day...
she still runs home to Mama.
๐ฅบ๐ซถ๐ป๐