His Love and Protector (COMPLETE)

PROLOGUE

PROLOGUE

Twenty years earlier

[ALENA'S POV]

Content on entertaining herself, the result of being an only child, eight years old Alena Harris sat contentedly on the window seat in their living room reading the newest Nancy Drew notebook her father had given her last night. She was about to turn the page when her attention was caught by something outside the window which faced the street in front of their home.

"Moooom! I think someone's moving in Mrs. Ramsey's house today," she shouted to her mother who was in the kitchen, she was referring to the big house across the street that has been vacant since Mrs. Ramsey passed away six months ago.

It was a fine Sunday morning and as any other Sundays, serves as a family day for the three of them. Her father was home and in his study going over the details of his current case as a detective, while her mother was preparing a big lunch for all of them.

Still looking outside, Alena didn't notice that her mother came in the room to take a look at what had gotten her daughter's attention.

"Oh, yes sweetie. I do think you're right. I hope whoever's moving there has children. You're awfully alone most of the time for a child your age and it would be nice if you can be friends with someone in our neighborhood," her mother said hugging her from behind.

"But I'm okay with being alone mom. I'm not in the least bit lonely," she reassured her mother. She was more interested in books than in playing games and having no close friends who live near them, suits her.

"Yes, I know, but having a friend who lives across the street wouldn't be such a bad thing, is it? So let's cross our fingers okay?" her mom told her while hugging her from the back.

They were in that position, her mother hugging her, when her father found them.

"Why was I left out of the family hug?" her father laughingly said.

"Mom and I are just watching the movers across the street," she smiled up at her father and jumped up to hug him too. Being used to her exuberant nature, her father easily caught her mid-jump and embraced her in a tight hug.

"My little Lena is getting a little heavier every day," her father teased her as he put her down again.

"No, I'm not," she pouted before sticking her tongue out to her dad.

Chuckling, her father told her, "But you're still very pretty Lena, so you have nothing to worry about." There's nothing he preferred more than seeing his daughter smile up at him, looking more like her lovely mother, except for the eyes which she got from him.

"Why don't we see if our neighbors are willing to join us for lunch? It's their first day in the neighbourhood and they might be too busy moving in their new home to prepare some food. Besides, we might as well be the first to welcome them in the community," her father asked her mother and her.

"I think that's a lovely idea," her mother beamed at her husband lovingly.

"Come on then. There's no better time than right now," her father ushered them outside, holding his wife and daughter's hand as they walked towards the house across the street.

******

[MATT'S POV]

He saw her even before she saw him. He was upstairs sulking; mad at his parents for moving their family in a place where he has no friends, a place where he doesn't know anyone. He was looking out the window, watching the happy family walking on the street. He noticed the little girl smiling up at her father and he smiled to himself. She was pretty, her hair was long and in a ponytail, her eyes a light
brown in color and full of laughter, and cute bow lips curled up in a smile. He heard Megan call his name from downstairs and he grudgingly stood up from his comfortable seat to check on his little sister.

He saw Megan downstairs trying to carry a box of her Nancy Drew books up the stairs. He took the box from her and asked her where she wanted him to take it.

"Where do you want it Megs?" he asked, adjusting his hold on the box and waited for his sister to answer.

"Can we leave it here for a moment?" she asked, a frown marring her forehead.

"Why? I thought you wanted it somewhere else," he asked, confused with her answer.

"Let's go outside first. I can hear mom and dad calling us," she said.

Seeing that his shy sister was a little apprehensive to go outside by herself, he took her hand and walked with her towards their parents. He was a little surprised when he saw that his parents were talking to the family he had been watching outside his window.

He was suddenly excited to meet the girl with the bright smile and hazel eyes. As they got nearer to the group, he felt his sister's hold on his hand tightened upon seeing strangers, so he tried to make her feel less tense about meeting new people.

"Don't worry Meg. See, there's also a little girl with them. Maybe she can be your best friend," he told her, squeezing her hand to reassure her.

"I hope she's nice," Megan quietly murmured.

"I think she is Meg. Look at her smile and she has nice eyes, see?" he murmured back at her.

"Hi! I'm Lena," he heard the girl introduce herself to them.

"She's Megan and I'm Matt," he said to the girl.

"You'll be having lunch with us today. You'll have to sit beside me Megan, but my dad says I can show you my collections first. Your mom told me you also collect Nancy Drew notebooks. Maybe you can show me yours next time," the brown-eyed girl took her sister's hand, but before pulling Megan away with her, the girl smiled at him and said, "You can come too if you like."

He smiled back at her and walked with his sister and the girl, Lena, towards her house. Maybe moving here was not such a bad idea after all, he thought to himself suddenly looking forward to knowing more about the bubbly girl.