𝐒𝐇𝐎𝐖 𝐎𝐅𝐅, ᵐᵃˣ ᵛᵉʳˢᵗᵃᵖᵖᵉⁿ

FORTY-NINE

21st february 2024, monaco

"GIRLS, SHALL WE GET GOING?" Max shouted from the living room, an echo of the word 'Yes!' followed shortly after his question from Millie's room, Ella was just finishing tying the young girls hair up.

"Daddy! I'm happy today." Millie declared upon running into the living room, Max gave her a kiss on the cheek and stated he was glad. Ella gave Millie her backpack to put on, and the family made their way out their house to the car. "Are you excited for Bahrain?"

"Yeah. Hopefully everything goes smoothly, it would be ideal to start the season with a win." Max and Ella conversed as he drove to the zoo for their family day out. Millie played on her iPad silently in the car, colouring in pages of cartoon animals. "Are you excited to go to the zoo, Princess?"

"Yes, daddy. Do you think we'll see a giraffe?" Millie wondered aloud, Max and Ella shared a glance, she was adorable. Giraffes were her favourite animal, though it had been changing weekly. Last week it was elephants. The week before that? Zebras.

"We'll be there in twenty minutes, sweetheart." Ella informed her, Millie nodded and returned to her colouring activities. Ella finished replying to her text messages from family and friends for the remainder of the journey. When they arrived, the family made their way into the zoo. "Where first?"

"I think we should follow the map's suggest route, then we won't get lost." Ella suggested, smartly. Max nodded and did as he was told.

They spent an amazing day seeing all the animals, Millie loved watching the penguins. "Dad! It's a giraffe!" Millie shouted excitedly, pointing towards the hut with a cartoon giraffe on the side. "C'mon princess!" Max began skipping towards the building, Millie followed after him as Ella laughed from behind.

Ella thought Max was the greatest Dad in the world, She hoped he would be the father of her children, someday. She knew if she became so lucky as for that wish to come true, her children would be the most loved little kids in the world, and have the best big sister.

When she entered the giraffe hut, she almost melted at the sight in front of her. Max had lifted Millie onto his shoulders, so she was the 'same height' as the giraffes. Millie was giggling adorably, Ella smiled from ear to ear. "Having fun, sweetheart?"

"Yes! I'm the same height as the giraffe!" She gushed, Ella agreed with her. Max suddenly span around, making Millie squeal in shock, before she began laughing. "Be careful Max!" Ella ordered, Max laughed and promised her he was being careful. Ella didn't doubt him, Millie was everything to Max. He would never do anything to hurt her.

After Millie was finished seeing the giraffes, she spotted a play park next to it. "Please can we go, Dad?" Millie begged, Max thought for a minute and crouched down to speak to his daughter. "How about we play in the park for 15 minutes and then go get dinner?" Max suggested. "Ok!"

"Sweetie wait, let me take your bag and tie your lace first.." Ella gently took the bag off her and knelt down to tie her shoelace. "There you go sweetheart," Ella smiled, Millie hugged her tightly.

"Thanks Mum!"

Ella was stunned to silence as Millie ran away to the swings. Max's head had snapped towards her as soon as the words left Millie's mouth. Once she was out of earshot, the couple allowed themselves to react. "Max! She called me Mum!" Ella said in disbelief, Max kissed her cheek and lifted her up in celebration.

"Can you believe it? Oh my god I'm so happy, I can't stop smiling." Ella gushed after Max had put her down on the floor. Max cradled her face in his hands, and kissed her softly. "I love you, Ella."

"I love you more." Ella grinned before running away to push Millie on the swings. Max put their stuff down on the bench beside the swings to join his girls. Ella took the swing next to Millie, and Max took turns giving them each a push.

"Sorry to bother you," a man interrupted, Max turned to look at him. He had two young boys with him. "Would you mind giving me an autograph? I'm a huge fan."

"Of course," Max signed the man's nike hat he was wearing, and offered him a photograph. Ella jumped off the swing and took one photo of Max with the fan, and another with his kids in it too. "Thanks Max," the man grinned, and ushered his kids away. Max said a kind goodbye and continued pushing his daughter on the swing.

Ella said nothing as she admired the moment. Her life couldn't be more perfect. She had a loving boyfriend, an amazing little girl and they lived in a lovely flat. However, there was one thing that was weighing on Ella. She wanted to get a job. A real one. It felt unfair for her to continue being paid by Max when she was looking after Millie by choice.

"Max," she said suddenly, Max turned to look at her quickly as he continued pushing his daughter. "Yeah, gorgeous?"

"I think... I think I know what I want to spend my savings on. I wanna buy a bakery." She stated, sitting back down on the swing. Max's eyes widened. "Really? Ella that's an amazing idea, but I thought you wanted to be a chef not a baker?"

"Yeah I did but... That was a while ago now, and the hours would be ridiculous. I always wanted to own a restaurant or bakery someday, this just seems like the perfect time." She shrugged her shoulders, Max fave her a gentle push. "I agree. How about we discuss this properly tonight?" He smiled, Ella nodded.

The family enjoyed the rest of their time at the park, and then dinner. Soon enough it was time to go home, Millie had fallen asleep in the car and had been carried straight to bed by her father when they arrived home. Ella and Max got cosy in bed and discussed what they wanted their future to look like.

"I think you should base the bakery in Anghiari." Max yawned, Ella did a double take at his words. "Why would I do that? We live in Monaco, not Italy." She breathed, Max tightened his grip around her as they cuddled. "Well... What if I told you our house will be finished by the end of August?"

"What are you talking about?" Ella asked suspiciously, Max explained; "We're moving to Italy. But the rest I'll keep a surprise."

"You were really serious about moving there? Oh my god Max I'm so excited! I love you so much.."