Chapter 62
Alessia’s POV
Caden parks the car outside the shopping mall and Lucy bursts out of her seat and onto the pavement. “Let’s go! Let’s go! Let’s go!”
Caden chuckles as he gets down from the car and locks it, going around the car to take hold of Lucy’s hand. A very wise choice because it wouldn’t be a surprise if she decides that she’s tired of waiting for us and bolts for the doors.
“Slow down, Lucy. You’re going to get yourself hurt. His words are stern but he smiles down at her as he says them.
There it is again. That jolt that goes through me whenever he graces us with that smile. Along with those jolts is a fluttering feeling in my stomach that I can’t get rid of no matter how hard I try to.
“Sorry.” She pouts but then it’s gone in a second as that big smile makes its way back onto her face. “Let’s go in.” She grabs hold of my wrist with her free hand, startling me.
Pulling on both Caden’s and my wrist, she directs us into the building. I’m stuck on what sort of picture we paint to anyone who takes a look at us. Will they assume that we’re a family taking our daughter on a day out? A perfect cute little family.
My stomach does that dam n fluttering thing again at that thought. Am I having a dam n heart attack? Can werewolves even have a heart attack? Aren’t we supposed to be immune to any health issues? The only other possible option for having it is unthinkable so heart attack it is.
“Where do they keep the kids’ clothes?” I ask, my wrist still enclosed in Lucy’s tiny fingers. It warms my heart to know that she wants to spend her special day with me. I can’t for the life of me figure out why, but I’m not about to look a gift horse in the mouth.
“It’s on the top floor,” Caden answers directing us towards the stairs.
When we get to the top, an attendant leads us to a row of clothes. “What are you looking to get today?”
“Princess dresses. I want a Cinderella and a frozen dress.” She lets go of our hands and walks over to one of the racks of clothes, brushing the tip of her fingers over the dresses. “And I want it in yellow.”
My brows furrow at her words. Yellow? Is Cinderella or frozen dress yellow?
“It’s her favorite color,” Caden supplies, probably seeing the confusion on my face.
I nod, looking at Lucy as she picks out a beautiful dress that isn’t exactly a princess dress but is equally as
beautiful.
“Do you want to try it on, dear?” The attendant asks as Lucy pulls out the dress from the rack and holds it
in front of her.
Chapter 62
“Yes.” She nods. Then looks over at me. “Can you help me put it on?” Her wide eyes looked at me hopefully and would it be humane to refuse her?
“Of course,” I say, taking hold of the hand not holding onto the dress. I take her into an empty changing room and help her out of the dress she’s currently in and into the new one,
I smile as she twirls in front of the mirror in her new dress. “You look so beautiful. Like a princess.”
She gives one last twirl, her checks turning pink.
“Let’s go show your brother,” I say, opening the door for her to pass through..
She shyly walks out of the room, her head downcast.
Caden face breaks out into a smile as she approaches him. He stands up from where he’s sitting and walks over to her, crunching to get to her height. “My princess is looking so beautiful,” he says, cupping her face. You look just like Mom.”
Her head lifts and I don’t have to see her face to know that those eyes hold tears. “Really?”
“Exactly like her,” he solidifies.
I blink. Is that a tear I can see glittering in Caden’s eyes? It’s gone by the time I blink again and I wonder if I imagined it.
“Do you want to get it?” He asks, wiping her cheeks with his thumb.
She nods frantically.
“Go get out of it and then you can try on another one.” He pats her on the head, standing up to his full height again.
She turns around and walks back to me, her face still wet. Then she reaches for my hand, holding onto it with her fingers.
I wordlessly follow her into the changing room again. It occurs to me that we should have probably picked. out another outfit before coming in here. Oh well, I guess we’ll just have to dress up, go out and find. another dress then undress again. No biggie.
“Are you going to marry my brother?”
My head whips up from where I’m squatting to pick up the discarded dress. I know kids say the weirdest. things but this is one that I didn’t see coming. How do I go about this? She’s talking again before I can piece together a sentence for her.
“You don’t have to marry him if you don’t want to. It’s just that ever since she left, he looked very sad but then you came and he now looks happy again.” She looked at me with sad eyes. “He really missed her.”
There it is again. That sinking feeling at the mention of her. I push the feeling away and try to focus on her other words. She said Caden seemed happier since I showed up. Is that really the truth or is she reading it
– J & M MM BBG BBB M
Chapter 62
all wrong?
“You brother and I… Hopeful eyes hold mine and I sigh. “It’s complicated.”
She nods like she understands and in a way, I think she actually might.
We get two more outfits before Lucy’s constant yawning puts an end to the trip.
We load the bags into the trunk and start making the distance back hom- to the pack house.
81% 11:35
When we get there, Lucy is spread out on the back seat, fast asleep. I take the bags and Caden takes her. Walking behind him, I observe as he carries her to the front door with her head cuddled on his shoulder. They paint a very lovely picture and my g o d d a m n heart starts malfunctioning again. I think I’m definitely. having a heart attack.
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