An Old Friend

Chapter: 3

The morning sun peeked through the curtains, casting a warm glow on the room. Ethan was already up, making breakfast while Lyra played with some of his art supplies. He smiled as he watched her sketch, her tiny hands moving with surprising skill and grace.

"Papa, look!" Lyra exclaimed, holding up her drawing. It was a detailed sketch of Ethan, complete with his signature long black hair and ruby red eyes.

"That's amazing, Lyra," Ethan said, genuinely impressed. "You're getting better every day."

Lyra beamed, her mismatched eyes sparkling with pride. "Mama said I should practice a lot."

Ethan felt a pang of curiosity about Lyra's mysterious mother, but he didn't want to press her for details. Instead, he focused on getting ready for another day at the café.

"We need to leave soon, Lyra," Ethan said, handing her a piece of toast. "My friend Diana will be stopping by the café today. I think you'll like her."

Lyra took the toast and nodded, though she seemed a bit apprehensive. Ethan hoped Diana's visit would go smoothly. Diana was one of his closest friends, always a source of support and guidance. She was also strikingly beautiful, with an ethereal presence that often left people mesmerized.

As they walked to the café, Lyra held Ethan's hand tightly. "Papa, will Diana like me?"

"Of course she will," Ethan reassured her. "You're wonderful, Lyra. There's nothing not to like."

Lyra smiled, but her grip on his hand didn't loosen. When they arrived at the café, Maria greeted them with a warm smile.

"Good morning, Ethan. Hi, Lyra!" Maria said cheerfully.

"Good morning, Maria," Ethan replied. "Lyra, say hi to Maria."

"Hi," Lyra said shyly, peeking out from behind Ethan.

Maria chuckled. "She's adorable, Ethan. You two make quite the pair."

As Ethan and Lyra settled in, the café door opened, and Diana walked in. She was breathtaking as always, with long, flowing hair that seemed to shimmer in the light and eyes that held the depth of the night sky. Lyra immediately stiffened, clutching Ethan's hand even tighter.

"Diana!" Ethan called out, waving. "Over here!"

Diana smiled and made her way over to them. "Hey, Ethan! And this must be Lyra."

Lyra looked up at Diana with wide eyes, clearly sensing something about her that she couldn't quite understand. "Hi," she said softly.

Diana knelt down to Lyra's level, her smile gentle. "Hi, Lyra. It's so nice to meet you. I've heard a lot about you."

Lyra glanced at Ethan for reassurance before looking back at Diana. "Nice to meet you too."

Ethan watched the interaction with interest. Lyra was usually quite outgoing with new people, but something about Diana seemed to make her more reserved.

"Diana, would you like to join us for breakfast?" Ethan offered.

"I'd love to," Diana replied, taking a seat. "So, Lyra, do you like helping out at the café?"

Lyra nodded, her shyness beginning to fade a little. "I like drawing here. Papa lets me use his pencils."

"That's wonderful," Diana said, her eyes twinkling. "Maybe you can show me some of your drawings later?"

Lyra hesitated but then nodded. "Okay."

Ethan felt a sense of relief. It seemed like Lyra was starting to warm up to Diana. He went back to his tasks, occasionally glancing over to see Lyra and Diana chatting quietly. It warmed his heart to see them getting along.

As the morning rush began, Ethan found himself in the usual rhythm of taking orders and making drinks. Diana helped out, chatting with customers and keeping an eye on Lyra, who had settled back into her drawing.

During a lull, Ethan and Diana took a moment to catch up. "Thanks for coming by today, Diana. It means a lot."

"Of course, Ethan," Diana replied. "You know I'm always here for you."

Ethan smiled. "Lyra seems to like you. She was a bit shy at first, though."

Diana glanced at Lyra, who was now engrossed in her drawing. "She's a sensitive child. I think she can sense things about people."

Ethan raised an eyebrow. "Like what?"

Diana shrugged, a mysterious smile playing on her lips. "Just a feeling I get. She's special, Ethan. Take good care of her."

"I will," Ethan said, feeling a strange sense of comfort in Diana's words.

As the day went on, Lyra became more comfortable around Diana. She showed her several drawings, each one more impressive than the last. Diana praised her work, and Lyra's confidence seemed to grow with each compliment.

When it was time to close up, Diana offered to walk back with them. "If you don't mind, I'd love to spend a bit more time with you both."

"Of course," Ethan said, grateful for the company. "Lyra, are you okay with that?"

Lyra nodded, her shyness mostly gone now. "Yes, Papa."

The walk home was pleasant. Diana and Ethan chatted about old times, while Lyra listened quietly, occasionally chiming in with a question or comment. As they neared Ethan's apartment, Diana's phone buzzed, and she glanced at it with a frown.

"I'm sorry, Ethan," she said, looking genuinely disappointed. "I have to go. Something urgent came up."

"That's okay, Diana," Ethan replied. "Thanks for spending the day with us. It meant a lot."

"Anytime," Diana said, giving him a quick hug. She knelt down to Lyra's level once more. "It was wonderful meeting you, Lyra. I hope we can spend more time together soon."

"Me too," Lyra said, a shy smile on her face.

Diana waved goodbye and walked away, leaving Ethan and Lyra standing outside their apartment building. Lyra watched her go, a thoughtful expression on her face.

"Papa, why does Diana feel... different?" Lyra asked as they went inside.

Ethan considered how to answer. "What do you mean, sweetie?"

Lyra scrunched up her face, trying to find the right words. "She feels like the moon. Like she's connected to it somehow."

Ethan blinked, surprised by Lyra's insight. "That's an interesting way to put it. Diana is definitely special. Maybe you'll understand more as you get older."

Lyra nodded, seemingly accepting this explanation. "Okay, Papa."

They settled into their evening routine, with Ethan preparing dinner and Lyra helping as much as she could. As they sat down to eat, Ethan couldn't help but feel a deep sense of contentment. Despite the unexpected changes in his life, things were starting to fall into place.

After dinner, they spent some time drawing together. Lyra's skill continued to amaze Ethan, and he enjoyed the quiet bonding time. As bedtime approached, Ethan read Lyra a story, her favorite part of their nightly routine.

"Goodnight, Lyra," Ethan said softly, tucking her into bed. "Sleep well."

"Goodnight, Papa," Lyra replied, her eyes already drifting shut.

Ethan watched her for a moment, a smile on his face. He then went to his own room, feeling a sense of peace he hadn't known in a long time. As he lay in bed, he thought about Diana's visit and Lyra's unique sensitivity to people.

Whatever mysteries lay ahead, Ethan knew he would face them with Lyra by his side. And with friends like Diana, he felt more prepared than ever to protect and nurture the special bond he shared with his new daughter.

Chapter 3: End