Chapter 85: A Day Together
When Freya arrived at Ethan’s villa, she was practically glowing with joy. The bond between a father and daughter is universally special. Most fathers would go to any length to fulfil their daughter’s wishes... even to the extent of plucking the stars from the sky. Ethan was exactly that kind of father. He didn’t just want to give Freya what she wanted; he needed to, as if making up for the lost time they had spent apart. The years he missed, not being by her side, drove him to go the extra mile.
On the way to the villa, Ethan had practically bought every snack Freya pointed at. From sweet popcorn to sour candies, spicy chips to chocolate-dipped marshmallows... he got it all. And true to her promise, Freya began munching on them the moment they entered the villa.
Sitting comfortably on a sofa, with a colourful fantasy animation playing on the big screen, Freya was completely in her zone. She leaned against a cushion, her tiny feet dangling off the edge, her hands busy popping snacks into her mouth.
Ethan sat beside her, quietly watching her with a soft smile. Every few bites, Freya would offer him something from her treasure trove of treats. "Try this one, Daddy. It’s my favorite!" she chirped.
So, there they sat... one big and one small, bonding over snacks and animated animals. Freya was so caught up in the happiness of being at her daddy’s house that she forgot all the snack restrictions her mommy usually imposed. By the end of the movie, her belly was full and her eyelids heavy. She dozed off on the couch, hugging a half-eaten cookie.
Ethan smiled fondly, then gently lifted her in his arms and carried her to his bedroom. He laid her down on the soft mattress and pulled the comforter... one he had bought especially for Freya... over her small frame. She curled up like a kitten and drifted into a peaceful sleep.
The next morning, Ethan dropped Freya off at school with a promise: "I’ll pick you up after school and take you somewhere special."
"Where?" she asked, eyes sparkling.
"You’ll see," he said with a wink.
And he kept his promise.
After school, Ethan took Freya to one of Manchester’s largest indoor amusement parks, Play Factore.