A heartfelt apology

The world around her transformed. It appeared as if Lia landed on a brand new planet and is meeting a bunch of diverse society. Her vision changed over a conversation, for the little girl began to take notice of the outside world with care and keen attention.

Up until yesterday, Lia only saw the outside world as the happiest place with pleasant people. The chat with her father enlightened the young bud, and she began to see through the faces.

Her short trip to the restaurant, to eat lunch, filled with passing many strangers, with a medley of emotions.

Some displayed happiness while a few sulked.

A random homeless person who is sitting by the walls, giving empty looks to his sight, and the dressed-up dolls with their handsome escorts as they march high and energetic.

A bunch of families, with or without parents, single mothers, fathers, maybe step-fathers, etc

Friends, girlfriends, guy-friends, teenagers, and so.

Out of the broad perspective showcased, Lia was only able to spot same-sex couples very rarely. Upon witnessing them in the restaurant, Lia did manage to read the air surrounding the pair. Despite the supporting smiles and rough glimpses, the two women showed no care to their bystanders. They only looked at each other and lived in their private world.

Lia watched and observed how the two smiled against such assorted acknowledgments. Their brightest smiles proved their love, and the caring eyes only paid attention to what's needed.

To Lia's sight, they became the most beautiful people from the picture.

The hard watch reminded the little one of her mother.

Giselle's solemn face when she is alone and her best behavior while spending time with her loved ones were complete contrasts.

For a second, Lia wondered if her mother could become as such if she were to be with Ms. Lillian Grey. The child dreamed that if being with true love could help Giselle smile the brightest and be the happiest in the world.

Such wild imagination ceased Lia from diving deep. She could no longer do her solo quest and hoped to get assistance.

"Papa?" she called.

Ethan, anticipating her reaction already, responded to her call.

"Now, what is going to happen with mama and Ms. Lillian?" she asked.

Lia's face no longer displayed any fear of talking about her mother and her dear friend. It helped Ethan to speak with much ease.

However, the question puzzled him as well, for he took the time to reply.

"I don't know, dear," he said.

"But don't you think that it is your mother's choice to make?" he added.

Being with Lillian, whether she wishes to pursue her true love again or not depends solely on Giselle, and no one has the right to decide for her interest.

Lia found it to be a valid argument.

"Nonetheless, we should be there to support and love her!" Ethan said earnestly.

Lia agreed.

"Didn't I say that you could relax now? Did you not like your waffles and chicken?" the father worriedly asked.

Lia shook her head and took a big bite to prove to him that she savored her food.

The two soon reached the end of their waffle adventures, and Ethan had to wait till Lia finished her vanilla milkshake. He paid the bill and left the place. The father and daughter combo strolled the city for more sightseeing, and Ethan suggested he could cook dinner for Lia instead of eating outside once again. Having tasted only her father's breakfast, Lia yearned to eat his food one more time. She agreed to his idea, and the two hunted for a nearby market to purchase ingredients for their dinner.

During the return trip, Ethan did not let Lia wander alone to herself and kept engaging the child in random conversations. With her help and hard work, they picked out items to make fresh chicken tikka masala along with steamed rice.

The rest of the day passed with them watching an animated feature film on the television, Lia's return to her adventures with the Lucky Treats group, a full-scale inspection of Lia's school activities where Ethan checked her notes and helped her with few tips. Around the time for dinner, Ethan called Lia to help him in the kitchen as he made hot curry.

Living alone made Ethan learn to cook and perfect the art. He could manage his meals by studying recipes. One of his habits includes collecting or writing down food methods in separate folders. He arranges them based on their need for the next day's venture.

Even now, Ethan accessed the internet to get a five-star recipe online from a site and followed its procedure to prepare the meal.

Lia followed him closely and worked to his sharp instructions with diligence and love. She enjoyed the process with her father and helped to keep her occupied from spacing out.

**

Ethan sat anxiously, facing Lia as he served her first and waited for the report.

Lia looked at the plate and studied.

The golden chickpeas swimming in the ocean of curry sauce with aromatic meat alongside captured the child's heart and tummy. Lia gulped the drool that was about to drip if it went unnoticed. She also ignored the steady growls sounding since the first sight of the dinner.

The pipping hot rice formed a perfect background to highlight the bright red gravy.

"Eat up!" Ethan urged today's judge.

"Don't force me, father!" the strict judge returned her comment.

Ethan crashed back to his seat and waited impatiently.

Lia took a spoon full of rice with the curry and blew the heat once or twice, finally letting her tongue palette to taste the food.

A few rounds of the chewing process went on, and it tested Ethan's patience heavily.

At last, the crushed food traveled down to her tummy, and Lia remained still, without reacting.

"What?"

"How is it?" Ethan forced himself to ask.

Lia played a bit to keep toying with her father until finally, she burst out a peal of loud laughter to praise his cooking and expose her act. Ethan felt like his heart might explode from the awaiting. Soon, he joined with Lia as they ate the delicious homemade chicken tikka masala with steamed rice.

Ethan made a considerable portion to let Giselle have a taste as well, which he planned to store it in the fridge later.

As time kept passing slowly, Lia started to beg for her mother. She had an opportunity to speak with Giselle once during the evening before she joins the party. However, they could hardly brush upon general details. Lia promised to wait for her mother and only then would go to sleep.

As said, she waited with her father in the living room as Ethan kept the kid's channel on the television to let Lia have company.

The long separation slowly began to eat the child, and Lia's cheerful mood dropped lower as she began to frown. The little one kept calling for her mother, and Ethan, understanding her age, gently comforted Lia, assuring her with the live updates he received from the mother.

Soon, Lia began to doze on and off, here and there. Ethan tried to persuade the little one to sleep and save the talk for tomorrow, but Lia refused him outright.

When things started to go out of hands with Lia, Giselle entered the home in a rush.

"I'm home-" she announced while catching her racing breath.

Ethan heard and met her while Lia rested on his broad shoulders.

"She is waiting for you, Giselle. First, put her to sleep, will you?" Ethan whispered even before greeting her.

Giselle heard him well and received the child from Ethan and took Lia to her room. Ethan relaxed finally and fell on the couch.

Giselle put Lia in her bed and tucked her nice and warm underneath the blanket. Lia stirred from the switch and blinked her little doe eyes to see her mother lastly.

"Mama-" she moaned under the sleeping spell.

Giselle shushed the child and told her to go to sleep.

"No-" Lia groaned now.

"I have to say something-" she added.

Giselle waited patiently without interrupting Lia.

"You wouldn't abandon us, right, mama? Papa and I are your families and, you won't leave us, right?" Lia said.

Giselle never expected to hear such harsh yet sorrow-filled words. She rushed to respond, not wanting to trouble her child for no reason. The mother also wondered what led Lia to speak like this.

"Never, baby. Why would you think like that? I would never leave you or papa, ever!" the worried mother replied hastily.

Her sincere reply allowed Lia to rest easy as she continued to speak more.

"Then, I will also promise to support you always, mother."

Giselle, not having a clue of what is going on, went along with it.

"Of course, Lia."

Listening to her mother's soothing voice, let Lia relax, and she dived deep into dozing off very soon. But before giving up, Lia uttered her last few words that are the sole reason for her waiting the long night.

"I- If you wish to be-"

Lia paused and faltered that Giselle found it hard to follow.

"-want to be with Ms. Lillian, you can- mama-"

Giselle flinched after catching these phrases.

"I'm sorry for ignoring you the past week, mama,"

"A-And," Lia stammered poorly.

"It's fine, baby. Mama isn't angry or anything. You are my sweetheart, right?" Giselle consoled after hearing out her apology, which made the mother get emotional.

"hmm-" Lia agreed, finally ready to completely shut down her system for the night, yet she gathered whatever ounce of strength left in her body to express her feelings, honest and open.

"I- I love you very much, mama,"

With those words coming out of her mouth, Lia finally drifted out to sleep, for no longer, she held senses.

Giselle saw Lia resting and leaned forwards to give her a goodnight kiss and stayed with the child for a long time.