Always, Lily

▫️Forty

LILITH

It was my first time holding a one month old baby girl. She was so tiny and light that I almost felt like I was holding a small teddy bear.

Reece and Clarissa's first child, Zoe. The color of her barely grown hair matched her father's, the color of her eyes being just like Reece's.

So far we couldn't determine whose character she took after but most of her physical traits were her dad's.

She was sleeping peacefully in my arms. Clarissa had just gone to the washroom when she came back to find her daughter dozing in my arms. She allowed me to hold her until she was fully asleep.

It was a little past noon, and this being a day off, I had offered to help Clarissa take care of her baby.

With the house help being away for an emergency, there were many things she couldn't handle alone so I volunteered to stay with her.

Her silent yawns grew more frequent and I could see the fatigue on her, so I politely asked, "You can take a nap Rissa, Zoe is already asleep."

She looked at her child in my arms and sighed, standing up.

"She cried the whole of last night. I didn't get any sleep." Clarissa moved as if to pick Zoe up but stopped herself.

"She'll probably start crying if I move her." She sighed again while rubbing her temple.

"Let me put her to bed?" I asked for her permission and she quickly gave in.

I took her to the small baby cot she always lay on, Clarissa tiptoing behind me to avoid making any noise.

"You have magic hands, she hasn't cried since you held her." She whispered after her daughter had relaxed on the bed.

I smiled, whispering that it was probably because I had handled a lot of children.

"What do I prepare for lunch?" I asked when we were a little further from the room.

Elle was supposed to be arriving soon with her daughter, Gina, Mayella and Dalton, a son of their friend Lora.

"You don't have to Lily, we can just order something. You've done so much for me since morning."

"It's nothing, I'll prepare something small then?" I asked for her confirmation.

It wasn't really much honestly. I was used to preparing Lucas' meals so I was sure I could manage with two more.

"Okay, but don't overexert yourself. There are still snacks for them to have." She politely offered.

"You can rest in the meantime, you need it." I watched her nod as she walked back to the room Zoe was sleeping in.

The cot was well secured for the baby to sleep safely without much monitoring so I hoped she'd sleep for a bit before the rest came.

Making my way to the kitchen, I decided to prepare rice and some stew, something the children could take easily.

I busied myself in cooking, not letting my thoughts wander for even for a second. If they did, I wouldn't be able to stop myself.

I managed to finish everything in a hour, just in time when Elle called and informed me that she would be arriving in ten minutes.

Out of lack of something to keep me preoccupied, my thoughts drifted to the one person I'd tried not to think of today.

Enzo.

How was he doing? Had he eaten today? How were things at work? I couldn't help but wonder.