OUR LITTLE SECRET

Part 47

A few hours earlier, at Cillian's house, Mara was sitting in her highchair, making a mess while she played with her food. She was on solids now, at least some of them, and she was as excited about her mushy peas as she was about her mashed potatoes.

Cillian couldn't help but smile as he watched her from the kitchen table. He had been a bit nervous about taking care of her on his own for the first time over night, but she was so calm and content that it seemed like she was truly enjoying her time at his place.

"Dada," Mara called out to him, lifting her tiny hands towards him.

Cillian's heart swelled with love at the sight of her. He got up from his chair and walked over to her, carefully lifting her up out of her highchair. He held her close to his chest as he kissed her on the forehead, breathing in the sweet smell of her hair.

"What is it sweetheart?" he asked, but of course, she wouldn't answer so he took it upon himself to figure out the mystery.

"Dada," she repeated, reaching out a small hand to grab his stubble. Cillian raised an eyebrow as he marveled at how fast she was learning.

He walked her over to the living room and sat down on the sofa with her on his lap. She continued to look up at him, clearly demanding his full attention.

"What is it, sweetie?" he asked her, running his fingers through her soft, curly hair.

Mara shook her head and, before he knew it, she leaned in and touched his nose.

"Dada," she exclaimed again, laughing at the silly little game they were playing, and Cillian smiled and played along, letting her poke his nose over and over again.

"Dada," she grinned, and Cillian kissed her on the cheek before lifting her up and spinning her around in a slow, gentle circle while she giggled along.

The love he felt for Mara was overwhelming. He had never known he could feel so much towards a person. It scared him sometimes, the depth of his affection for her but he wished that he could share this kind of familiarity and love with you as well. But it was too late for him now. He had humiliated and hurt you beyond words, and no matter how many times he apologized, it would never be enough. At least not for you, and that was a pain he would continue to bear for the rest of his life.

Just as Cillian continued to play with Mara, doting on her cuteness and sweetness, he received the text from you, checking in on him.

"Is Mara okay? Did she eat? She hasn't been very hungry lately," you asked Cillian, hoping for some reassurance knowing that Mara was okay when apart from you.

It was the first time you had left her overnight since her birth, and despite Cillian's arguments about how it was about time that you trusted him with her, you still felt guilty for leaving her with a man who no longer loved you.

"Yes, she is fine. She ate well," Cillian texted back to you , his fingers moving quickly over the keys as he kept one eye on Mara.

"Good. It makes me nervous, just do you know," you replied, then added a concerned emoji, causing Cillian to chuckle.

He knew how worried you were all the time when it came to Mara and, at least when it came to his daughter, you remained civil with him while, on the other hand, when he attempted to talk to you about anything else, including your failed relationship with him, you got angry.

Thus, Cillian sighed, tossing his phone onto the coffee table before picking Mara up from her highchair again. She was chattering away to herself, clutching onto the spoon as if it were her most prized possession.

"Come on, Princess. Time for your bath," he said, tickling her under the chin as she giggled and squealed in delight.

As he carried her upstairs, she wrapped her arms around his neck, leaving tiny wet kisses on his neck, trying to blow raspberries on his skin as he sang songs to her about pirate treasures and buried gold.