Chapter 27 So Near Yet So Far (Part II)

            Emma awoke to the sound of giggling, and the quiet chuckles of a man. Lying on her side, she cracked an eye open, and through the partial opening of the heavy draperies of the canopy bed, she saw the father of her child holding Gladdy in his arms and do a ridiculous step dance – a series of side steps and forwards and backwards, while making faces, which made Gladdy giggle and coo. Niquel had a nursing cover draped over one shoulder, and would bring his face too close to hers just so her tiny hands could hit his cheeks as she toothlessly smiled up at him.

They could’ve been like that – a normal family – had he never left. She would’ve accepted him regardless of his nature, without any anger or doubt in her heart. Because as much as Emma tried to push him away, she knew within herself that she wanted Gladdy to grow up with a father figure.