Daylight

12 | Rumors

Madonna stared at the reflections in the water, her mind wondering how she ended up there. In this bathroom. In this house. In the countryside. A week has passed since that night happened, since the storm happened, since the incident, since...

She sighed, dipping her head under the water, asking when did Caroline become a part of her life, when did she start caring for someone else other than her and her daughters, when did she start feeling a certain attraction towards Caroline.

She was no fool, she knew it was there. Her heartbeat leaps whenever Caroline touches her, she blushes whenever Caroline compliments her, and she's been having ridiculous and inappropriate fantasies of them together.

The only problem was never in her entire life she expected to be feeling those things, especially not to a woman. Not to Caroline.

But here she was.

Although, she doesn't entirely understand them.

"How do I look, Mother?"

Anastasia spun around, showing her pink dress, curling her red hair with one finger all while grinning and batting her eyelashes.

Madonna sat on her usual spot on the gray sofa with Lucifer sitting on her lap, currently asleep and purring. She ran her fingers through his thick and gray fur before nodding approvingly at her daughter, flashing a small smile.

"Always beautiful, sweetling."

The red-haired girl squealed, happy to once again please her mother before she turned towards Caroline who sat beside Madonna, almost mimicking her position with her own orange cat sprawled out on her lap and stomach.

It became a habit of them to have Caroline around the house, not just to Madonna's advantage but also to the girls. She's been a huge help to their lives.

Besides, the girls were starting to grow fond of her and Madonna liked having her around. Caroline was more than happy to spend more time with them, where she was wanted.

And Madonna wanted to keep an eye on Caroline, it was ridiculous really but after that night, she found herself looking after Caroline a lot more. Whenever they would go to town, she would be the one to hold Caroline's hand, she would be the one to remind her to rest once in a while when they are together in the bakery or when Caroline visits her after her teaching in the orphanage, and she found herself always by Caroline's side.

That was the problem; always.

"Do you think I am beautiful, Lady Howard?"

Madonna glanced at Caroline who nodded, the bright and warm smile that never seemed to leave her lips wide "Of course, Anastasia. You and your sister are beautiful."

Anastasia stared at her, humming "I do not like being compared to Drizella but I will take your compliment because mother likes you." she released the curled strand of her hair from her finger before sitting on the other sofa, grabbing a small biscuit from the table.

Madonna sighed, rolling her eyes to herself. That girl's mouth really didn't know how and when to stop. From the corner of her eyes, she glanced at Caroline who only bit her lower lip, biting back a smile as her cheeks flushed a bit red, her eyes now on Daisy who looked up to her, staring at her in awe.

It was a sight Madonna could stare at all day long and she understood why Daisy chose to lay on Caroline and stare at her because who wouldn't want to? Caroline was a really beautiful woman.

She shook her head, getting rid of her thoughts before they turned into ridiculous fantasies again. It was what occupied her mind at night, many ridiculous and inappropriate fantasies of her and Caroline. Ones a woman like her shouldn't have but ends up either thinking or dreaming of them.