This was my favorite kind of day. Nothing big. Nothing scary. Just small tasks and quiet moments and the comforting knowledge that Daddy would be home later.
I wondered if he’d notice the plants. If he’d smile that pleased little smile and tell me I’d done a good job.
The thought made me giddy.
I hugged a throw pillow to myself and closed my eyes, listening to the peaceful quiet, thinking about soil and soap and the way life here felt so…gentle.
I hoped it could stay like this for a long time.
Then the doorbell rang, and I startled so hard that it felt like my heart had jumped up into my throat.
I sat there for a second, hugging the pillow tighter, listening. No knock followed. All I could hear was the low hum of the house and faint sounds from outside.
My first thought was that Daddy must’ve forgotten his keys, but he always texted when he was on his way home. And he never rang the bell.
Slowly, I pushed myself up from the couch, my socked feet cautiously moving towards the entryway. I didn’t like answering the door alone.
Always check who it is through the peephole first,he’d told me.No exceptions.
I stopped in front of the door and leaned up on my toes, peeking through like he’d shown me.
Relief washed over me so fast my shoulders sagged.
Patel stood on the porch, dressed in jeans and a dark blue plaid flannel, one hand holding his phone, the other tucked casually into his pocket.
I unlocked the door and opened it a careful amount. “Hi, Mr. Patel.”
He looked up and smiled, warm and easy. “Hey, Elior,” he chuckled. “You know you don’t need to be so formal with me. Aarev is fine. We’re friends.”
My stomach twisted just a little. Daddy didn’t like when I’d used his first name. He’d never said Icouldn’t, exactly, but his mouth always went flat when he heard it.
Still… it felt rude not to.
“O-okay,” I said, my voice small but sincere. “Hi, Aarev.”
His smile widened, deep brown eyes softening like I’d made the right choice. “Much better.”
I shifted my weight, fingers curling into the edge of the door. “Um… so, what are you doing here?”
“Fair question,” he said lightly. “I was just in the neighborhood and thought I’d stop by to check in on you.”
“Oh. Daddy’s—I-I meanJace—Jace’s not here right now.”
“That’s okay,” Aarev said quickly, ignoring my mistake. “I figured he’d be at the field office. Would it be all right if I came in for a minute?”
I hesitated, chewing at the inside of my cheek.
I wasn’t sure what the rule was about that. Daddy hadn’t said Icouldn’thave people over… And Aarev worked with him. Daddy trusted him enough to bring him up in conversation. I knew his face, his voice. He’d been so nice to me in the hospital.
That had to count for something.
“I think… that’s okay,” I said, stepping back to let him inside.
“Thank you,” he replied, slipping past me.
He paused just inside the doorway, glancing around. “Wow. This place is lovely. You’ve got great light back here.”
My chest warmed at the compliment. “Thank you.”
