Chapter 172: Deal
The soft, rhythmic sound of water reaches my ears, pulling me from the haze of sleep. My eyes flutter open, the dim light of dawn filtering into the room. For a moment, I don’t move, taking in the quiet stillness around me.
I glance down and see Mimi nestled against me, her tiny form rising and falling with each gentle breath. She’s still sound asleep, her little hands clutching at my shirt as though she never intends to let go. I allow myself a moment to simply watch her, overwhelmed again by the realization that she’s mine. My daughter.
I shift carefully, stretching a little in the chair. My back protests, the stiffness reminding me that sleeping here wasn’t my best decision, but I don’t mind. Not when it meant keeping Mimi close. Her warmth, her trust—it’s worth every ache.
As I sit up straighter, I glance toward the bed. It’s empty. Noelle isn’t there. For a fleeting moment, unease ripples through me, but then I hear it again—the sound of water. The adjoining bathroom.
I exhale softly, relieved. He must be taking a bath. Glancing down at Mimi again, her tiny face peaceful in sleep, and I feel a warmth I can’t quite put into words.
Carefully, I rise from the chair, cradling Mimi in my arms. She stirs slightly, a soft murmur escaping her lips, but she doesn’t wake. She’s exhausted, poor thing. I hold her closer, her little head resting against my chest, and I can’t help but smile at how small and fragile she feels in my arms.
The thought comes unbidden: Where’s Mona?
***
Mona stood in the garden, her small hands brushing over the delicate petals of the flowers as she hummed softly to herself, having spent so much time with Noelle she seemed to have inherited this aspect of his nature.Still, as pretty as these flowers were, she preferred Noelle’s garden back at the house on the hill.
That garden had fruits, tasty vegetables, the largest strawberries she had ever seen, let’s not talk about the grapes. Flowers were lovely to look at, sure, but you couldn’t eat them. And to Mona, snacks always won over beauty.
She sighed, glancing around. Things had finally settled down. Big Brother Ben was recovering, so she couldn’t pester him too much. Noelle, Thorne, and Mimi were holed up in their room, likely having a family moment she had no intention of interrupting.