A Love So Absolutely Clear {Crowen} ✔️

10: mended, but broken again

"are you sure you don't want to play with me some more?" cristina asked one more time while she was drying novella up in the locker room. she was in tears, her sobs almost silent but cristina could hear her whimpering anyway. she couldn't respond.

cristina sighed, the worried look on her face plastered on there and unable to come off. "do you want ice cream? we can pass on the healthy kind and you can just get the normal kind, this time." she offered, unsure of what to do. but she continued to cry and cristina continued to feel sorry for her.

she took novella's bathing suit off for her and dried her up some more before putting on her normal clothes. during this time, novella could still not stop crying and people crossing the locker rooms would glance at her daughter like she was inhuman.

"come on, have you guys never seen a six year old kid crying in public? quit staring, it's disruptive." novella cried even louder, but at least the people walked away quicker.

"i-is daddy home yet?" she sniffled once she was all dressed and her shoes were put back on her feet. cristina checked her phone and tilted her head to the side.

"i'm sorry, nov, here's not at home yet, but he will be soon." she stood and picked novella up with her, as she wrapped her legs around her like a monkey. "but you know what? we can watch a movie at home, we can play with your toys, we can do whatever you want to do. just the two of us." she felt novella hug her tighter and closer once the words came out of her mouth and cristina did the same back. she didn't know why people could be so cruel to such a sweet little girl.

they started walking back to the car with novella still in her arms, and cristina carrying their bag on her shoulder.

"you know you are the best mom in the world. even though you work a lot." novella said, almost in a whispering tone. cristina stopped walking and took a moment to look at her daughter.

a smile was perched on top of her little face, and so her lips curved into a smile as well.

"and i want you to know that you are the best daughter in the world."

...

"yes. i took her to the pool and we played in there for a bit, is there a problem with that?" she shouted, as owen's mouth was wide open and cristina was not not able to read his face.

he moved over slowly to her, and she grimaced. "what are you doing?" she tried to back up, but he beat her to it. but he only smiled, and she tried to back up even more.

he held onto her hand, rubbing his thumb in circles on her smooth skin. "thank you. i just wanted you to take care of her and spend time with her is all. because, i know i've said this before, but she deserves to have a mother."

he was right, and she had to admit that one day. novella was six battling with something she couldn't get through alone. she needed both her parents. all children do.

"fine. i was hiding a little bit. i don't know, maybe i still am. but owen, i will always spend time with our daughter and you don't need to thank me for it. these past few months were just insane for me." she found herself grabbing onto his other hand, and moving closer instead of backing away. "you and i both know that this isn't a cancer that is easy to beat. it's aggressive and it's hard and it's scary...so i ran. i guess my career has to stay on hold while all of this is happening and i wasn't ready to commit to that, yet. but i'm ready now. and you or novella don't have to worry anymore."

he planted a kiss on her lips—soft and delicate to the touch. it really meant a lot to him, and she knew it all along. he let one of her hands go and moved his long fingers through her voluminous curls, as her head leaned against the palm of his hand. she closed her eyes, inhaling deeply and exhaling slow.