That statent about Marigold not having seen the man she had drawn imdiately caught Seraphine’s full attention.
Her eyes drifted toward Marigold. The little girl was still sleeping peacefully on the bed, a small hand tucked beneath her cheek while soft breaths escaped her lips. The sight made Seraphine’s heart ache with pure love.
Then she looked down at the drawing. The second her eyes landed on it, her entire body froze. Goosebumps erupted across her skin, and a cold sensation raced down her spine.
"She drew this?" The question ca out barely above a whisper, so many thoughts running through her mind as she found it hard to settle on any of them.
Jasmine nodded right away, pride shining clearly in her voice. "She did. She’s good at everything she tries." Her gaze softened with affection as she looked over at the sleeping child. "Honestly, sotis it feels like the Moon Goddess herself personally blessed her."
Seraphine could barely even hear the words. Her eyes stayed glued to the drawing, heart hamring hard in her chest. The man holding the child looked exactly like Corvine.
Not kinda similar. Not close enough. It was him, down to the smallest details. A wild rush of adrenaline shot through her as she grabbed another drawing, then another, and another. Each new image made her breathing faster and shakier, like the ground was shifting under her feet.
One picture showed a woman lying in a hospital bed looking exhausted. Another revealed two n holding newborns. One of those n was unmistakably Ravyn. The other was Corvine.
These drawings were way too detailed, too specific, and way too impossible for a five-year-old to have created. Marigold’s visions or dreams or whatever she called them, seed stronger than Seraphine perceived.
She stared at the drawings in her hand in total disbelief as a huge realization crashed over her like a massive tidal wave, leaving her dizzy and breathless.
Bryan. One of those babies had to be Bryan. She knew it deep in her bones, with a certainty that hit her like electricity.
The papers trembled in her hands while her mind spun wildly through a thousand frantic possibilities, half-buried mories, and confusing fragnts she couldn’t quite piece together yet. Her pulse raced so fast she felt lightheaded.
Jasmine watched her carefully, noticing every change in Seraphine’s expressions and wondering if she should draw Voren’s attention.
The sa burning questions that had driven Jasmine to sneak into Marigold’s room in the early hours of the morning were now hitting Seraphine like a freight train.
Seeing the little girl draw a man she had never t in real life made Jasmine realize these drawings carried real weight. No wonder Marigold always hid them so carefully. If Jasmine hadn’t accidentally seen one, she never would’ve known.
Then a sleepy little voice cut through the heavy silence. "Mommy..."
Seraphine’s heart nearly stopped cold. She turned slowly toward the bed. Marigold was awake now. The little girl rubbed her eyes before staring curiously at the drawing in Seraphine’s hands. "Mommy, is that you?"
Seraphine turned to her daughter, her face instantly softening with pure love. goddess, she had dread of this mont, and it ca way sooner than she expected, and in the most accidental place.
That’s why she couldn’t find anything bad to say about Jasmine. The woman had taken care of Marigold with all her heart. Even if she was getting paid, it was clear she genuinely loved that little girl.
A warm, tender smile spread across her face as she sat on the edge of the bed. "How are you this morning, princess?"
Marigold stretched lazily under the blankets before flashing a bright, sleepy smile. "I’m fine." Her voice was still thick with sleep, making her sound even cuter and younger than usual. Then her sharp eyes landed on the drawings scattered across Seraphine’s lap, and she sat up straighter, suddenly wide awake and alert.
Seraphine noticed the instant change and got it right away. These drawings weren’t sothing Marigold shared lightly. Turning to Jasmine, she gave an apologetic smile. "Could you give us a few minutes?"
Jasmine understood completely. "Of course." She stood up and smoothed her clothes. "I’ll let the chef know breakfast is needed." She glanced at Marigold. "Do either of you have any special requests?"
Before answering, Seraphine looked down at her daughter. "Marigold, what would you like for breakfast?"
Pure excitent exploded across the little girl’s face, her eyes sparkling like stars.
Marigold bounced excitedly on the mattress. "Call Espe. Or Pera. Or Anza." She counted on her tiny fingers one by one. "Any of those are fine. They’re short forms of Esperanza." Then she leaned in closer with a super serious look. "It’ll help grow faster."
Seraphine blinked, almost bursting out laughing at how dead serious Marigold was. She pressed her lips together to hold it in. "Will it really?"
Marigold nodded with total confidence. "Definitely."
The certainty in her voice was so adorable it was impossible not to smile big. "Well then, Espe, what would you like for breakfast?"
"Pancakes!" The answer shot out instantly. "Can you make them, Mommy?"
A rush of warm, tender emotion filled Seraphine’s chest, reminding her so much of Bryan and how much he loved her pancakes too.
It was such a simple little request, but it felt like the most precious gift in the world. "Of course," she said gently, brushing a strand of hair from Marigold’s face. "I’d love to make pancakes for you, sweetheart."
Marigold bead with pure joy, her whole face lighting up. Jasmine watched the sweet mother-daughter mont with a soft, almost longing expression. There was sothing truly beautiful and heartwarming about seeing them like this, sothing that just felt perfectly right.
"I’ll wait outside the room and show you where the kitchen is," Jasmine said before quietly slipping out, the door clicking shut behind her.
The second they were alone, Seraphine lifted one of the drawings, her voice gentle but urgent. "Can you explain these to ?"
Author’s Note: From now on, we’ll refer to Marigold Ashkael as Esperanza Ashkael when appropriate, as it fits the story’s progression and future plot developnts. Thanks for your understanding!
User Comments
0 comments from readers