My Princess~Malachi Barton

☆Ice-cream ☆

Malachi's POV:

As we walked towards the ice-cream parlor, I couldn't help but feel a sense of relief seeing Amelia's excitement return. She had nestled herself comfortably in my arms, her tears drying up awhile ago. As we approached the brightly lit parlor Amelia jumped out of my arms and started running towards the door.

The moment we stepped inside the bell of the door rang, i could get a wisp of the aroma of freshly made waffle cones filled the air, mingling with the sweet scent of various ice cream flavors. Amelia's eyes widened with wonder as she stood on her tiptoes, trying to catch a glimpse of the colorful mixtures swirling in the tubs.

I smiled down at her, feeling grateful for this chance to bring back her joy. Laura and I exchanged a knowing glance; we both wanted nothing more than to see Amelia happy again after the earlier incident with Brittany.

Amelia's curly hair bounced as she continued to scan the selection with fervor. Sensing her struggle, Laura gently lifted Amelia into her arms, brushing a few unruly curls away from her face. Amelia looked up at Laura with big, curious eyes as Laura pointed towards the various ice creams.

"Which one would you like, sweetheart?" Laura asked, her voice soft and reassuring.

Amelia's face lit up as she examined the options. After a moment of careful consideration, she pointed at a tub filled with rainbow-colored swirls. "That one! It looks like magic!" she exclaimed, her smile returning in full force.

Laura chuckled warmly, nodding in agreement. "Good choice! Magic is always a good flavor." She turned to the attendant behind the counter and placed an order for two scoops of the rainbow swirl ice cream in a waffle cone ordering herself a double chocolate and fuge cone.

She then turned to me her beautiful brown hazel eyes staring back at my dark ones."What would you like Mal" "Just a vanilla cone" I shrugged "Boringgggggģ" Ameila whined "Take it back.Vanilla isn't boring tickled her "Nah ah boring" she continued to giggle waving her finger in my face. I continued to tickle her "Okay okay Vanilla isn't boring" she pouted.

While we waited, Amelia leaned against Laura, gazing around the parlor with fascination. I stood behind them my arm around Laura's shoulder, feeling a deep sense of contentment watching Laura and Amelia interact so lovingly. Despite the earlier upset, Laura's patience and understanding was unwavering.

When the attendant handed over our ice cream cones, Amelia's eyes sparkled with delight. She eagerly took it from Laura, holding it carefully in both hands as if it were the most precious thing in the world.

"Thank you, Laura!" Amelia exclaimed, her gratitude overflowing."You're welcome, sweetheart," Laura replied, her voice tinged with affection. "Now, let's find a nice spot outside to enjoy our ice cream."

With that, we made our way back outside, finding a shaded area under a large oak tree where we could sit and savor our treats. As we settled down on a bench, Amelia took small, enthusiastic bites of her ice cream, occasionally offering me a taste.

"This is so good, Mr. Happy Man!" she exclaimed between bites, her cheeks smeared with colorful swirls.

I laughed softly, enjoying the sweetness of the moment. "I'm glad you like it, Amelia. Ice cream always tastes better with a smile on your face."

Laura smiled warmly at us both, her heart visibly lighter now that Amelia was happy again. She reached over and squeezed my hand gently, silently conveying her gratitude for how I had helped soothe Amelia earlier.

Watching the sunlight filter through the leaves above us, I felt a deep sense of contentment knowing that despite the challenges of the day, we had found our way back to joy together. As we finished our ice cream and talked about our plans for the rest of the afternoon, I couldn't help but marvel at the resilience and innocence of children like Amelia, who can find joy in the simplest of moments.