Little Angel

Chapter 9

The afternoon sun bathed the yard in golden light as laughter and shouts filled the air. Ella's giggles bubbled up, competing with the playful yells of Xander and Xavier as they darted back and forth in a competitive game of soccer. The soft pop of a bubble echoed, drawing Ella's attention back to the task at hand.

Armed with a bubble wand as big as her tiny hand, Ella dipped it into the colorful solution Noah had prepared earlier. With a determined puff of air, she sent a string of bubbles floating into the sky.

"Look, Xander!" she called excitedly, pointing at the bubbles drifting toward the trees.

"Cool, Ella!" Xander replied with a grin before redirecting his attention to the soccer ball speeding toward him.

From the porch, Noah half-watched the scene, his phone in hand. He occasionally glanced up, ensuring the kids were still within his view. It was a peaceful afternoon, and while Lucas had insisted on staying inside to prep dinner, Noah relished the chance to supervise.

Ella toddled after one particularly large bubble, her tiny legs pumping as she chased it across the lawn. Each step brought her closer to the curb, but the floating bubble mesmerized her so thoroughly that she didn't notice.

"Stay away from the street, Ella," Noah called without looking up.

"I got it!" Ella chirped, not slowing down.

The bubble floated higher and popped just as it reached the edge of the curb. Disappointed, Ella paused, but her gaze shifted to a bird perched on a nearby mailbox. She tilted her head, curious, as the bird hopped down and flitted toward the road. Without hesitation, she took another step forward, her focus entirely on the bird.

From the corner of his eye, Noah caught the movement and immediately shot up from the porch. "Ella, no!" he shouted, his phone clattering to the ground as he bolted toward her.

At the same moment, a car roared down the street, the driver oblivious to the little girl's presence. The honk was deafening, slicing through the calm afternoon air. Ella froze, her eyes wide, as her foot hovered over the edge of the curb.

Noah reached her just in time, yanking her back with enough force to lift her off her feet. The car sped past, its tires screeching faintly in the distance.

Heart racing, Noah set Ella down but kept a firm grip on her shoulders. "What were you thinking?" he shouted, his voice trembling. "You can't go near the road like that! You scared me half to death!"

Ella's lip quivered, and tears spilled over as she looked up at him, her small chest heaving with sobs. "I—I was just... I saw a bird," she hiccupped, her words barely audible through her crying.

Noah immediately regretted his tone. He crouched down, pulling her into a tight hug. "I'm sorry, sweetheart. I didn't mean to yell. I was just so scared." His voice softened as he rocked her gently. "You're too important to me, Ella. I don't want anything to happen to you."

Ella sniffled, her little fists clutching his shirt as she buried her face in his shoulder. "I'm sorry, Noah," she whispered, her words muffled but sincere.

Xander and Xavier stood a few feet away, the soccer ball forgotten. "Is she okay?" Xander asked hesitantly, his brows knit with worry.

"She's fine," Noah assured them, though his voice still wavered. He picked Ella up, holding her close as he walked back toward the porch. "Just a little shaken up, that's all."

Once inside, Noah sat on the couch with Ella still clinging to him like a koala. He rubbed her back in soothing circles, her small sniffles gradually subsiding. "Hey," he murmured, tipping her chin up so she could meet his eyes. "You're not in trouble, okay? I just got scared because I love you so much, and I don't want anything bad to happen to you."