Passing the lonely night was a struggle for Giselle as she kept thinking about Lillian's message.
Lost in deep thought, she hardly noticed as the dark sky faded and the soft light of dawn crept in, welcoming the morning of a new day.
Giselle, having overcome the weariness with a clean shower, tasted the morning tea and helped it to relax and calm her spirit. Having finished the brew, she checked on Lia's room to find the little girl still sleeping soundly without worry. Kissing her softly so that she doesn't wake up the little princess, Giselle enjoyed staring at her creation with much admiration and affection.
Coming out, she exited the house and went downstairs to go to the nearby shop to own a copy of the morning news. She returned, made another cup of sweet tea, and sheltered in the living room, reading the current happening around the world as she sipped into her drink.
There is always magic to the serene morning stillness. The calming breeze tells anyone that it is going to be another new day.
It clears the mind.
It brings strength.
Entertaining herself with the worldly affairs, Giselle noticed another tiny shadow approach from the sides. She glanced to see little Lia, rubbing her eyes gently.
"Good morning… Mom," Lia muttered softly.
Giselle's face lit up as she pulled Lia close, showering her with sweet kisses. Lia giggled and squirmed under her mother's playful attack of smooches and tickles.
"M-Mom, stop it! P-please! I c-can't breathe!" Lia cried between bursts of laughter.
Relenting, Giselle stopped tickling but continued to cuddle her. Lia nestled into her mother's embrace, feeling safe and warm.
"Hmm, did everyone leave happy last night?" Lia asked, her curiosity piqued about what happened after she went to bed.
Giselle smiled and nodded. "They did. The guests enjoyed the party, but they all missed you."
Lia beamed at the comment and snuggled her nose into her mother's neck—her favorite safe place.
Giselle melted at Lia's shy display and gave her a gentle squeeze. "Lia, did you enjoy the party?" she asked, eager to hear her daughter's thoughts on the evening.
Lia nodded enthusiastically. "I liked Uncle Jake a lot. He played with me and even gave me a present!" she said, her face lighting up with excitement.
Giselle blinked in surprise at the term. "Uncle Jake?" she repeated, puzzled.
"Yeah, Uncle Jake," Lia said, looking at her mother with bright, innocent eyes.
Noticing her mother's confusion, Lia decided to explain. "Aunty Anna is your friend, right?"
Giselle nodded, curious about where this conversation was going.
"Last night, Aunty Anna asked me to call her 'Aunt' and Jake 'Uncle.' They also invited me to visit them. We should go someday, Mom! I promised Uncle Jake I'd visit and play with him," Lia explained, her voice sincere and pleading.
Giselle, touched by the gesture, felt grateful to both Anna and Jake. Smiling warmly, she agreed. "Alright, we'll plan a visit soon," she assured Lia.
As she listened to Lia's excitement about her new bond with Anna and Jake, Giselle couldn't help but think that Lia simply idolized the pair. But she decided to tease her daughter a little.
"So, that's it? Aren't you forgetting someone important?" Giselle asked, giving her a playful wink.
Lia froze for a moment, her face scrunching up in thought. Then, realization dawned. She hopped off the couch and stood in front of Giselle.
"Of course, I remember! How could I forget Grandma and Grandpa? I've always wanted to meet them!" Lia exclaimed, bouncing with joy. Her excitement was palpable as she expressed her feelings about finally meeting her grandparents.
Without pausing, Lia continued, "I liked Grandpa so much! Grandma was really quiet, but I still love her."
Giselle patiently listened as Lia enthusiastically recounted her experience of meeting her grandparents for the first time.
When Lia finally ran out of energy, Giselle chuckled and shared a piece of news. "Grandma Melanie absolutely adored you. She kept saying how cute and beautiful you are—she thought you were an angel."
Giselle added with a smile, "And it's not just Grandma. Almost everyone at the party wanted to meet you again."
Lia's cheeks turned rosy as her shyness returned. She buried her face in her mother's arms, trying to hide her blush.
It made perfect sense for Giselle's family to want to see her and Lia. After all, Giselle had left the country without notice, and now she was suddenly back with her daughter.
"So, when are we going to see Grandma and Grandpa again?" Lia asked, her wide eyes sparkling with excitement.
Giselle sighed and shook her head, but she didn't want to dampen Lia's enthusiasm. "Don't worry, sweetheart. I'll take you to see them soon. But first, we have a few things to take care of—like you starting school," Giselle explained gently.
"Oh…" Lia looked away, avoiding her mother's gaze.
"Don't 'oh' me, and stop looking away," Giselle said, raising a playful eyebrow. "You can't stay home all day. You need to start school soon so you don't fall behind other kids. That's why I've made plans for us today."
Lia tilted her head, curious. "Plans? What plans?"
"We're going to visit my old school," Giselle revealed with a small smile.
"What?" Lia's jaw dropped in surprise.
"Yes. I called one of my old teachers, and she said admissions are still open. We'll take a look around, and if you like it, we can start the enrollment process," Giselle explained.
Lia listened intently, then gave a teasing smirk. "Your old school? Hmm… I'm not sure if I'll like it."
Giselle chuckled, noticing the hesitation in Lia's voice. "You'll see when we get there. Now go get ready. We're leaving after breakfast."
Reluctantly, Lia stopped pouting and trudged back to her room.
With a clear plan in mind, Giselle headed to the kitchen to prepare breakfast while Lia grumpily got ready.
Not long after, the little girl returned, wearing her new white skirt and a pink rose-printed top. The outfit was simple yet perfect for her, giving her a mature and confident look. Lia twirled playfully, showing off for her mother.
Giselle gave her a warm smile. "You look lovely, Lia."
The two quickly sat down for breakfast, fueling up for their busy day ahead.