"Grandpa, can you hold Elena, please?" Elena looked back and forth between her mother and grandfather, then suddenly asked Daisy's father in a clear, soft voice.
"...Alright." Daisy's father seemed dazed and flattered, deeply touched. He was a rough and tough old man, while Elena was a tender, porcelain doll-like little princess. The fact that she had initiated a hug from him made him feel as though happiness was bubbling up around him, enveloping him completely.
He held Elena very carefully, cradling her as though she was a newborn baby. He was cautious and apprehensive, stiff with fear of dropping her or accidentally hurting her with his rough skin.
Daisy, observing her father's movements, knew that he was being overly cautious. "Dad, Elena isn't a baby anymore, so you don't have to be so nervous."
"I...I'm not nervous!" Her father was the kind of person who would immediately argue when caught off guard, not wanting to admit to anything.
