Third person's POV
Tabitha's brow was furrowed. Her only concern was Helios.
Although Lucian was with him, she worried about what could have happened during their hasty escape in the heavy rain.
She knew her worries were futile. She couldn't reach Lucian if she arrived in Seattle.
"Alright, I'll stay here for a while," she agreed.
With Ayla by her side, Lucian would surely find a way to contact her. The most pressing matter was her health.
Ayla was a very well-behaved child. She endured hardships without complaint and was not picky about food, lacking the petulance and unreasonableness typical of her age.
Tabitha was happy spending time with her but felt heartache more than anything.
Such well-behaved children often had a history of hardships. Those who had weathered storms became more understanding.
The more trials they faced, the more well-behaved they became.
Tabitha didn't blame Lucian. He had saved her child, and it was no small feat for a man to raise two children alone. She was grateful to him.
She simply ached for the children's experiences, being separated from her parents at such a young age.
From now on, she would work even harder to take care of them.
"Mommy," Ayla said, noticing Tabitha's daze and waving her hand in front of her face.
Tabitha snapped out of her reverie, "Yes, I'm here."
She reached out and rubbed Ayla's head affectionately, a loving smile playing on her lips, "Are you hungry?"
Ayla first looked at her, as if to confirm whether she was hungry and not wanting to cause trouble for Tabitha.
"Sweetheart, if you want to eat, just eat. Don't worry about anything else. If you're hungry, thirsty, cold, or hot, just tell me. You're not alone anymore. You have me."
Ayla blinked her big eyes, seeming not to fully understand.
"I mean you can cry when you want to cry, and fuss when you want to fuss. It's the instinct given to children by God. I'm your mother, and no matter what you do, I will love and spoil you. You can express your needs freely."
"Okay," Ayla said.
Tabitha gently asked, "You can tell me what you like to eat."
"Egg tarts, sandwiches, and cake."
Ayla listed, the first time she had made specific requests to her in their days together. Surprised and delighted, Tabitha pinched Ayla's nose, "Good girl, how about I make them for you?"
"Yay!"
Ayla finally showed the innocence and liveliness typical of her age.
"Alright, go play with Wilmot for a bit, and I will have it ready soon."
"Okay."
Ayla had grown familiar with Wilmot over the past few days and seemed to like him for some reason.
"Wilmot!"
Ayla ran towards Wilmot with a bright smile, running fast.
Derek quickly squatted down and opened his arms, catching the child in a tight embrace.
"Slow down, don't fall," he admonished, his tone full of doting affection.
"Okay," Ayla agreed.
Tabitha prepared a simple meal and set it on the outdoor table. Looking up, she saw Ayla riding on Derek's shoulders, cheering, "Ride the big horse, giddy-up!"
Derek held Ayla's hands tightly, allowing her to play.
The distant azure sea and the sea breeze blowing in their faces made for a harmonious and beautiful scene.
Yet, it stirred a sense of sorrow deep within Tabitha.
If she and Derek had not gone through those events, she could have given her children a complete family.
Unfortunately, what was done could not be undone, and her child would grow up without a father by her side.