Serena
"I had so much fun," Bea said, as she held my hand.
The party was over and it was time to head home, only Bea wanted me to come with Liam and her first. Since there were quite a few things to carry, I thought I could help out.
"I'm glad you did, Bumblebee," I smiled back at her.
She then kissed my hand. "Thank you, Serena."
I gave her little hand a squeeze. "Anytime, love."
Whilst we had our little conversation, Liam trailed behind us, carrying most of the things. He really insisted on doing so and I didn't have the heart - or the energy - to deny.
Plus, I couldn't be asked to do the heavy lifting anyway.
"The prince agreed to marry me," Bea revealed, with a wide smile on her face.
She was really infatuated with this Prince Charming. When the party ended and it was time for him to leave, Bea wouldn't even let go of his hand. Instead, he said something to her, which made her smile and she let him go.
Liam looked like he was ready to kill the poor man.
I'm assuming it now had something to do with him agreeing to marry her.
"He did?" I asked her, with the same level of excitement she had.
"Yeah," Bea nodded. "He just said I just have to be as tall as him," she told me, raising her hand as far as it could go, to show me how tall she needed to be, even if she was off by a lot of inches.
I smiled back at her. "That's sweet."
Bea grinned and nodded. "I just have to wait," she said.
I chuckled at her words. She seemed so determine and I was a little worried that I had caused a problem for her in later life.
"I'm sure you'll grow big in no time," I reassured her.
She seemed to like my words and smiled in return. "Daddy said I have to grow up too," Bea then added.
"Oh, he did?" I asked.
I turned back to look at Liam, knowing that he had said more to her, than just to grow up.
The look on his face was confirmation that he'd overheard our conversation.
"What did you say to her?" I asked, raising a brow. At this point, Bea wasn't really paying us much attention, she just hummed a tune as we continued to walk.
Liam shrugged, whilst carrying all the presents. "I told her she had to wait until she was eighty-five years old to marry him or anyone," he said, looking incredibly pleased with himself.
"She can't even count to eighty-five," I pointed out to Liam.
"Exactly," he replied, giving me a nod.
The expression he held on his face, he looked as if he were some kind of evil genius, who had just executed some big plan. He bested a little girl, I don't exactly think that is the highest of feats. That's barely a win.
***
After we all reached Liam and Bea's place, she immediately ran towards her room as soon as the door opened, most likely to tell her toy turtle all about her day.
I turned away from him, looking ahead, only to hear something fall behind me.
When I looked back at him, I could see Liam struggling with some of the present boxes. This is what happens when you insist doing most of the carrying.
"Be careful," I hissed and leaned down to pick up one of the boxes he'd dropped.
"I am being careful," Liam argued, with an annoyed expression.
I shook my head at him and places the box on top of the ones he was already carrying. My smiling face was the last thing he saw, before the box covered his line of sight.
"You're going to drop the presents," I told him in a smug voice and then heard him mutter something. I didn't need to see his face to know that it was probably scrunched up in annoyance.
"Do you want to carry it then?" he growled.
I smirked in response, crossing my arms. "You're the one who said 'I can do it', so do it."
He seemed to mutter something again and then walked away, probably to put the gifts in Bea's room.
I laughed at his annoyance. It amused me. I reached into my bag, to grab my phone. Only then did I realise, I had left my present for Bea in my bag.
I called for her and she came running back into the living room, still with the excitement and energy that she had the entire day. I didn't quite understand how she was still so active. I felt shattered and I knew that as soon as my head would hit the pillow, I was definitely going to fall asleep straight away.
"I almost forgot to give you your present, Bea," I told her and she looked at me wide eyed, which had me a little confused.
"You got me a present?" She asked slowly, as if trying to come to terms with my words.
I chuckled at her behaviour. "Of course, I did. It's your birthday."
Bea looked down shyly and began to draw circles on the floor with her foot. "You didn't have to," she mumbled.
It warmed my heart at how sweet this girl was.
I took a step back and knelt down in front of Bea. I placed my hand against her cheek and I smiled at her.
Taking the present out of my bag, I placed it in Bea's hands. "I hope you like it."
Bea smiled and then hurriedly opened the box. As soon as she did, she let out a loud gasp.
"What is it?" Liam asked, worriedly.
"Tights! Black and yellow striped. Like a Bumblebee!" She squealed.
Bea leaped towards me, circling her little arms around my neck. I nearly stumbled back a little, just managing to stable myself, before wrapping my arms around her and holding her tightly.
"I love it. Thank you, Serena," she mumbled into my hair.
I closed my eyes tightly, hugging her. "You're welcome, darling."
"I can be a real Bee now. I have to show Clover," she quickly said and ran out the room at lightning speed, causing me to laugh.
"You didn't have to do that," Liam said, as I stood up. "You already planned the party," he added.
I shrugged. "I know, but I wanted to. I saw them in a store and couldn't help myself."
In the midst of planning the party, I was lost on what I could get Bea, but then I was walking past a clothing store and a mannequin was dressed in those tights, and I just couldn't resist.
Before Liam could say anything more, Bea came back into the room. "Clover loves it too," she said happily and I smiled.
I was curious about how exactly Clover gave his approval, but chose not to question that right now. I'll save that for later.
Bea turned towards Liam. "What did you get me, Daddy?"
He crouched down in front of her, taking her little hands in his. "Well, sweetheart, I don't have it now, because I wanted to ask you first," he began to say and Bea's little face scrunched up on confusion.
"How would you like it, if we went to the pet store and got you a real turtle?" He asked her.
Her eyes widened. "Like Clover?"
Liam nodded. "Yes, but this one will move around."
Bea paused for a second and then launched herself at Liam, who caught her with ease.
I guess she liked it.
"Bedtime, Bea," Liam called out a little while after, whilst she sat on my lap, showing me one of her new toys.
Bea looked up at Liam. "Can Serena tuck me in?" She asked.
I froze, glancing at Liam, who seemed to share my look, as he stood there a little stunned.
"Oh, I don't-" I began to refuse, feeling like I'd be overstepping a line if I agreed to that.
"Please?" Bea asked, still looking at Liam, whilst her back was towards me. I was sure that she was probably giving him the best puppy look she could muster.
Then I saw him reluctantly nod towards Bea.
I didn't even get a chance to say anything, as Bea jumped off my lap, grabbed my hand and began to tug me forward.
"Let's go," she said and led me out the room, as I sent Liam a slightly apologetic look.
After completing her bedtime routine, Bea crawled under her covers and into bed.
I took a seat beside her, brushing the stray hairs away from her face, causing Bea to smile.
"Do you want me to read you a story?" I asked her, not really familiar with how this routine would usually work.
Bea shook her head. "No, I'm okay," she replied, hugging Clover close to her body.
"Did you have a good birthday, Bea?" I asked.
She grinned at me. "Yes. I'm so happy."
I couldn't help but smile back at her contagious grin. "Good, I'm glad."
Her smiled then seemed to falter a little and a frown developed in its place, leaving me so confused on what just happened to cause a sudden change in her mood.
"Do you think my mummy is sad that I'm happy?" Bea asked me, her voice so soft.
I looked at her completely confused, not quite understanding why she'd ask such a question.
"Of course not. Why would you think that?" I questioned.
She gave me a small shrug. "Because she's not here, but I'm still happy."
I frowned. My heart went out to her. I would never have thought she would think that her happiness would mean that her mother would feel bad.
"Your Mum would be over the moon to see you smiling and happy," I told her, placing a hand against her cheek. "Every time you smile, I bet she does as well."
As much as I knew Julie, she was probably looking down at Bea and grinning from ear to ear, watching the bundle of energy her daughter was.
"Really?" Bea asked.
I nodded in confirmation. "Really."
"Did you know my Mummy?" She questioned.
In all honesty, I was incredibly worried about how to approach any mention of Julie.
I didn't know what what Liam might have told her, since I've never really heard him mention Julie anymore. I didn't want to overstep either, so I tried to not say too much.
"A long time ago, yes," I smiled.
Bea tilted her head slightly. "What was she like?" She asked. "Daddy doesn't talk about her much," she frowned.
Her words didn't surprise me all that much, since anything to do with Julie was clearly a sore topic for Liam. He probably refrained from even saying her name, just from the pain it may cause him.
"Your Mum was an angel," I told Bea. "She was so nice, so pretty and so sweet. Just like you," I said, tapping her little nose with my finger, which caused her to adorably scrunch her face a little.
"Like me?" She asked.
I nodded. "Yup. She was the kindest soul that I ever met."
That was the thing about Julie, you couldn't not like her. Like Bea, her smile was also infectious, you just couldn't help it but smile too.
"Why did she leave me? Did she not like me?" Bea asked, her lip quivering slightly.
The sight of Bea's crestfallen face hurt my own heart. I couldn't help but wonder did she always feel this way or only recently?
"Oh, my love." I pulled her up and into a hug.
As if on instinct, she hugged me back, burying her face in my neck, whilst she sniffled slightly.
"No, don't ever think that, Bea" I said, moving back a little, but keeping a firm hold on her. "Your Mum loves you so much, so very much. She fought against everything to have you."
Her frown didn't leave her face. "But then why did she go?" She asked in the softest voice.
I didn't even know how to explain this to her and I was worried on what Liam would think of me even having this conversation with Bea. However, I couldn't let her carry on thinking that Julie left because of her.
"Your mother was amazing," I started and Bea looked at me intently, hanging on to my every word. "She wouldn't have left, if she wasn't super sure that you'd be okay with your Dad. She trusts him to take care of you and trusts you to take care of him," I told her truthfully.
There was a little silence between us, before Bea nodded at me.
"So, she won't be mad that I'm happy?" She asked slowly.
I shook my head. "No, Bea. She'll be happier knowing that you're happy."
"Then I'll smile and be happy all the time, for mummy," Bea replied and smiled once more.
I laughed at her determination. "I'm sure she'd like that. But Bea, it's okay to be sad sometimes as well," I told her.
It was important for her to know as well that she didn't have to always be happy, especially if she truly wasn't. That wasn't exactly healthy.
"Thank you, Serena," she smiled.
I tucked her in again and kissed her forehead gently.
"Anytime, Bumblebee," I said.
"I hope my Mummy was nice like you," Bea mumbled, turning onto her side as she hugged Clover.
As she said the words, I froze. All I could think was how much she must miss Julie without ever knowing her.
I just hoped I did a good enough job for Bea for her to know she was loved by both her parents.
***
Hope you liked the read :)