Roxanne was about to bring the two boys up upon arriving back at the hotel when she felt a pair of resentful eyes on her back. Frowning, Roxanne glanced behind her and saw Estella hesitantly shuffling after her three paces behind
The child stopped in her tracks when she noticed her quarry had turned her head. Her little face was alight with anticipation. Not far away, Lucian pretended not to see them as he busied himself with pouring a glass of water from the bar.
Roxanne walked toward the child. “Do you want to sleep with me, Essie?”
The child nodded vigorously before asking cautiously, “Is that okay?”
Roxanne‘s heart softened at the child‘s tentativeness. “Go ask your Daddy,” she said softly as she gazed at the man in the vicinity. “If he says yes, I‘ll take you upstairs.”
The child‘s eyes brightened. She strode to Lucian‘s side with her stubby legs, but the man ignored the child‘s approach.
Knowing that her father would agree, Estella tugged the hem of his shirt fearlessly. “Can I sleep with Ms. Jarvis, Daddy?”
It was only then that Lucian lowered his gaze to look at his daughter before looking at Roxanne, who was standing nearby. “Okay,” he said with a slight frown, “but don‘t give Ms. Jarvis any trouble.”
The child nodded obediently before sprinting back to Roxanne with a wide grin. “Daddy said yes!”
Roxanne returned the smile as she caressed the child‘s head, then said to Lucian, “I‘ll take Essie upstairs, then.”
The man nodded casually. “If she‘s beginning to feel like a handful, Ms. Jarvis, you can send her back to me any time.”
Roxanne was taken aback. She wondered why the man was acting so distant all of a sudden.
Upon regaining her composure, she said, “Don‘t worry, Mr. Farwell. Essie will be in good hands.”
Lucian did not respond further. Instead, he turned to open a bottle of wine and
poured himself a glass. Roxanne gazed at the man‘s back, confused. “We‘ll be heading up, then. Good night. Mr. Farwell.”
Lucian grunted in response.
Roxanne said nothing as she took the children upstairs.
After an entire day‘s worth of excitement and running on the beach for hours, the children were so sweaty that Roxanne bathed them all.
“Ms. Jarvis, will you still be picking the boys up in the future?” asked Estella suddenly during her bath.
Roxanne‘s hands froze. She could almost guess the child‘s intentions and was, at the moment, at a loss for words.
After a long silence, Roxanne answered evasively, “I will go if work permits.”
Estella pursed her lips and gave Roxanne a piercing gaze as though she could see through the deception. The corners of her eyes drooped sadly.
Roxanne‘s heart ached when she took in the child‘s disappointed look, but she was determined to stand by her word.
Fortunately, Estella said no more throughout the rest of her bath, and Roxanne heaved a sigh of relief.
Roxanne was tucking the children in after their baths when Estella spoke. “I want to hear a bedtime story, Ms. Jarvis.”
Roxanne agreed without hesitation, as she felt guilty. “All right, I‘ll tell you one.”
“I want to hear the story of Sleeping Beauty.”
