Chapter 3 I missed you

“Eventually, everything connects.”- Unknown

Dexter POV

“Daddy, can you help me to text Elsie?” She walked into my room and pulled the hem of my shirt, begging for my attention.

I just came back from work and that was her first request. Great, the woman successfully won first place in her heart. She turned me into a jealous uncle.

I lifted her up and held her in my arms. She placed one of her hands around my shoulder.

“Give me my kiss first," I said as I brought my cheek closer to her face. She kissed me like I told her to and smiled.

“Let’s text my friend.” I sighed, couldn't figure out how she was able to capture her heart.

“I walked to the bed and placed her down slowly before taking the phone out of my pocket.

“What do you want to say to her?” I sat beside her on the bed.

“I miss you." She smiled while waiting for me to type the text.

“Andrea told me she misses you." I read the words as I typed the text.

“No, daddy. Just write I miss you.” She protested with my sentence. My eyebrows furrowed.

“No, if I just type those three words, it sounds like I'm the one who said I missed her.” The expression on her face changed. She pouted and folded her arms across her chest; my sulky sweet pie. I almost laughed at her action but I suppressed it. She looked adorable with that look of protest.

“Please, daddy. Just write I miss you.” She pleaded which made me shook my head instantly. Like daughter like mother, just like my late sister.

“Well, you wouldn't know either if I didn't write those three words,” and my words led her to look at me with her bitter face.

“Lying to a kid is a no-no.” She shook her index finger in front of me like an adult teaching a kid. I burst off laughing with her smart mouth.

“Look, sweet pie, this is my phone. If I send her those three words, she might think I miss her, not you. She will think that I have a feeling for her,” I tried to knock some sense to a four years old girl. She was clever, I knew she would understand.

“It’s a good thing, daddy.” She giggles and covered her mouth with her small palm.

“I want to call her mommy.” Her words made my mouth parted and my eyes widened, outraged by her sudden confession, which I never expect. I knew what she's up to, she is playing Cupid.

“No, you cannot do this. I don't like her,” I rebuked for getting rid of her imagination to call that lady mommy. Oh my God, I can't think of that happening.

“You're going to love her one day.” She said with confidence. “Faster, send her the message.” She urged, tapping on my hand. I sighed, I'll never be able to say anything to that little girl.

“I miss you.” Sent.

An instant later, I heard the tone of my phone. I open it up and read it silently.

‘I missed you too’

It felt weird as if she was returning those words to me. It would be nice if somebody told me that sort of thing. Maybe I feel lonely being alone too long, my second voice whispered.

“Is that Elsie?” Her words snapped me back to reality.

“Oh, yes. She said she missed you too," I showed her the text.

“She didn’t put the name, daddy. I think she was referring to the two of us.” She laughed. I knitted my brows. What was in her naughty mind?

“What are you trying to do now, sweet pie?” I tickle her, purposely making her giggle.

“I like her, daddy. She's pretty and sweet. I like talking to her. I want her to stay here with us.” She missed her mother, and that's all I can draw from her remarks. I turned around and watched her face obscured by sadness.

“Can you make that happen for real, daddy?” Her question made me speechless.

Elsie POV

‘I miss you.' 

I got a short text from the number that I recorded under the name of “Princess Andrea”, which was actually her uncle's number. Perhaps she's asking her uncle to send me the message. I was mumbling alone. It can’t be the rude guy who's saying he missed me. The sky will fall if that really happens.

Well, it's never going to happen and it's going to be the last thing in the world that I wish for. 

“I missed you too,” I replied shortly with a smiley face.

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