Book 4: Love in the Caribbean

Chapter 15: Aurora's Peanut Butter Battle

The Grand Canyon, at sunrise, Atlanta was standing near one of the hiking trails leading to Solaris's hidden cavern home. She had a large baby bag at her feet.

"Okay Solaris Lunaria made sure to give you everything you needed for today...Granted she went a bit overboard with all the supplies, but I'm sure you can handle it?"

Solaris was beaming in anticipation Aurora was starting to eat solid foods now, which meant it was time to help Lunaria raise her during the daytime. He was beaming in both joy and fearful anticipation, for he was new to this parenting thing. Only ever seeing his child from afar and during dawn or dusk was normal for him. Now that it was his turn to take charge and help with raising his little girl Solaris was more than a little scared.

He bit his lip and asked hesitantly towards his sister in-law. "Um Atlanta do you...do you think she'll like me?"

Atlanta paused as she was checking off the supplies from her sister. "Well of course she'll like you Solaris you're her father!"

Solaris grumbled over that false reality. He was no father, for all Atlanta knew Solaris was but a friendly stranger to Aurora, he spoke in distain.

"Yeah I'm a father. A father who's never there to tuck her into bed at night; a father for up until now she could never hug, never cry on when she was scared by thunderstorms, never---" He couldn't continue as he clenched his hands into shaking fists and turned his head away. He blinked back the tears from his eyes. "I just want her to understand Atlanta...I know she's only three and half, but I just...I---"

Atlanta frowned in empathy as she placed her hand upon his shoulder and smiled sweetly at him with a look of understanding in her turquoise eyes.

"Solaris, as soon as Lunaria told her that she would be spending the day with her daddy Aurora started squealing and giggling in joy saying, 'I get to see daddy and clouds, and the blue sky, and sunshine yay!' She's so eager to see you."

Solaris started smiling again as his confidence was restored.

Atlanta left to Mount Olympus in Greece to fetch Aurora for her play date with her daddy. Meanwhile Lunaria was busy brushing Aurora's curly mop of golden hair and humming to a little tune. Aurora always loved it when her mommy brushed her hair it was less painful than whenever she tried brushing it. Aurora was busy kicking her feet gently back and forth, as she sat upon her small stool, that Lunaria had pulled up in front of the armchair for her to sit on. Lunaria gently moved the brush down a strand of her daughter's curly hair when Aurora spoke with her adorable little voice.

"Mommy is you sad I go to see daddy?"

"Oh Aurora I'm not sad. It's about time you see your daddy..." Lunaria stopped brushing to say that as she placed both her hands upon the sides of her little girl's tummy and then leaned her head down with a joyful smile as she whispered into her daughter's ear, "and I know he can't want to see you!"

She then started tickling Aurora up and down her little ribs. Aurora went into a giggling fit of laughter as Lunaria stopped to kiss her daughter's cheek as she spoke.

"Give him a big kiss for me when you get there alright sweetheart."

"Okay Mommy I will!" Aurora grinned happily up at her and Lunaria smiled as she continued to brush her little girls beautiful golden hair.

She smiled and said with a sigh.
"Huh, that's my girl."

Atlanta knocked on the doorframe of the open bedroom door causing Lunaria to jump in shock. She looked up to see her sister Atlanta leaning against the doorframe. Atlanta spoke as Lunaria was brushing a strand of Aurora's hair.