Chapte


    Chapter 0427


    I wanted to say no with every fiber of my being. But when I look at Elva, I noticed she was watching me


    with doe eyes, taking in my every expression Did she actually want to call Bridget Auntie? Was she


    simply reading my negative energy, and that was what had been making her ufortable?


    I tried to remember Elva’s face as she had interacted with Bridget and Nichs. She had been having


    fun. Was it genuine? It could have been.


    Maybe I was the stick in the mud here. My distrust of Bridget was


    hindering my daughter and dictating the people she could grow closer to.


    Bridget had given me no real reasons to distrust her. A handful of


    confusing things mixed with more feelings than facts. Maybe I was simply being jealous.


    If Elva likes Bridget, and Bridget has shown only kindness to Elva, maybe I was the asshole here.


    Nichs began to walk closer. He was in earshot now.


    He trusted Bridget with his life with Elva’s life. Since I trusted him, that should make her trustworthy by


    proxy.


    At the end of the day, this was just a title. A nickname. It wasn’t christening Bridget as Elva’s actual


    aunt. It wasn’t even saying they had to spend all that much more time together.


    Again, I looked down to Elva. “Elva, you should do whatever you arefortable with, okay? If you


    want to call Bridget Auntie, it’s up to you.”


    I loved my daughter with an undying ferocity, but even I did not know the innermost workings of her


    heart. If she liked Bridget enough to want her to be Auntie, I wouldn’t stand in the way of that. Though I


    would be watching


    hawk–like from a near distance.


    1/5


    As a mother, I couldn’t help but be protective. Especially with all the dangers we’ve faced, and with all


    the dangers still out there, haunting us


    Elva listened to my words closely. She continued to watch me long after I’d finished speaking. I worked


    hard to keep my face a nk te, so as not to Influence her decision.


    “What would you like, sweetie?” Bridget asked, voice like cotton candy.” Wouldn’t you like to call me


    Auntie?”


    Elva shifted her gaze to Bridget instead. Then she frowned.


    “I want to think about it,” Elva said.


    Her words surprised all of us. I nearlyughed. Susie did, though she hid it behind her hand. She


    wasn’t really a part of the conversation, so she easily passed it off as something else.


    Bridget, meanwhile, had the smile startled straight off of her face. She clearly hadn’t been expecting


    that. As a celebrity, she was likely used to being admired and adored. Who knew thest time someone


    had actually turned down one of her requests?


    Yet, here Elva was, entranced by Bridget but not so much that she would throw away her entire


    character. I loved this little girl with the entirety of my heart, but every day I was surprised when there


    seemed to somehow, impossibly, be even more love inside of me for her.


    “Oh, Elva. You don’t want to make Auntie Bridget sad, do you?” Bridget said. She wore an over–


    exaggerated frown that rankled all of my nerves at once. Was she trying to manipte my daughter? “It


    would make me so happy if you would call me Auntie. Do you know how many kids wish they had that


    chance?”


    I reached out and, cing my hand on Elva’s shoulder, tugged her a little closer to me to support her.


    “Elva’s made her decision,” I said..


    215


    “You said it was up to her, Piper,” Bridget said, cutting me as


    “It is,” I said. “And she said she needs time to think about it. She should have that, without outside


    influence.”


    Bridget’s face went through a serious of different expressions, like she couldn’t quite decide which to


    land on.


    I wondered what her own feelings were underneath. She was a good actress, there was no denying


    that. But maybe she lost herself somewhere on the way. Did she even recognize her own true feelings


    anymore?


    Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org.


    Bridget eventuallynded on her usual bright smile, just in time for Nichs to join us.


    “What’s going on?” he asked, likely noticing the tension.


    Elva turned into me, half–hiding in the skirts of my costume.


    “I’m trying to convince Elva to call me Auntie,” Bridget said to him. “I almost have her!”


    “Elva said she wanted to think about it,” I said, filling in that key detail that Bridget was leaving out.


    Nichs looked between us. Then, to Bridget, he said, “Elva isn’t obligated to you, or to anyone,


    Bridget, except her mother. If she’s notfortable with it, you need to let it go.”


    The wattage of Bridget’s smile dimmed for a moment, but she quickly cranked it right back up to how


    high it was before. Higher even, somehow. “Of course, you are right, Nichs,” she said. “I suppose I


    did get carried away there.” Sheughed as she looked to me. “I’m sorry for my overstep, Piper.” And


    then to Elva. “I’m sorry to have pressured you, Elva. You can call me Bridget. It’s okay.”


    Elva nodded but didn’t say anything.


    Bridget nced back at the room. “Oh, I see Nathan waving for me. producer’s work is never done!”


    Sheughed again as she walked away.


    Producer? Was that official? Although whether official or not, the term seemed to fit. Bridget had more


    or less taken over the entire production. It was kind of her to let Nathan keep his title as director.


    Bridget’s departure left Nichs alone with Elva and me, with Susie not so subtly eavesdropping


    nearby.


    I wasn’t ready to talk to Nichs yet. I could understand the practicality of him not wanting to have


    prative sex with me, but it still hurt. Whether it was warranted or not, my wolf and I felt the keen


    sting of rejection.


    Someday I’d get over it. I’d ept the inevitability of our situation enough that I’d be able to ept


    what we had as enough.


    But right now, it hurt too much to even think about it.


    “Piper,” he said, stepping closer to me.


    “Prince Nichs,” I said. “How are you today?”


    It was a question borne in politeness, not at all reflective of the intimacy we’ve cultivated since our


    reunion.


    He seemed startled by it, but his own curtesy forced his reply. “I’m well. And you?”


    “Fine,” I said, and didn’t say anything else.


    His face twisted in a sh of confusion, but he recovered quickly. “Well, I should return to the tailor.”


    “Yes,” I said. “Busy day, today.”


    “Yes,” he replied. “If you’ll excuse me.”


    I bowed my head a little, gesturing my consent. He gave me onest worried look, before turning and


    returning to his original spot.


    HIS SONUS


    At my skirts, Elva had taken to ying with her ribbons again. One was starting toe loose, falling


    down in her hair.


    Susie inched closer to us. She worried her hands together. With her gaze darting between Nichs


    and me, she clearly had questions. I tried to brace myself.


    “What happened between you and Prince Nichs?” she asked.


    God, I didn’t even know where to begin.