Chapter 56 I Will Be There If You Need Me
During the night, Danielle finally cried herself to sleep. Jessica lay beside her, wide awake.
After what felt like ages, Danielle suddenly woke up. She climbed out of her bed and opened the door to the children's room, heading to the bathroom in the living room.
But Danielle didn't come back as she usually would after using the bathroom. When Jessica was about to go look for her, she suddenly heard a man's voice.
Gabriel was waiting in the living room when Danielle emerged from the bathroom.
Danielle's face still bore the fuzziness of sleep, but her eyes were red and swollen. Seeing Gabriel, her lips puckered in distress, and she wanted to rush to him. But remembering Mommy's words, she hesitated and just stood there awkwardly, her eyes brimming with tears.
"Come here," Gabriel gestured to her.
Sniffling, Danielle couldn't resist and hurried over. As Gabriel stooped down, she wrapped her arms around his, whispering, "Spencer, I doesn't want you to go."
Gabriel took the little girl by the hand and walked over to the couch, lifting her onto it. He bent down to look at her seriously, "Do you remember the promise I made to you?"
Danielle first shook her head, a bit confused, then remembered Gabriel's words and quickly nodded earnestly.
He gently stroked her soft hair. "If it indeed comes time for me to leave, I won't just disappear quietly. I'll make sure to say goodbye properly. Do you know what goodbye means? It means we will see each other again. We won't lose touch, and I won't just vanish into thin air. If you need me, I will be there, okay?"
Danielle puckered her little lips as she gazed at him, watching him for a while before she raised her tiny hand and carefully cupped Gabriel's face with her chubby fingers. Blinking, she softly asked, "If Mommy needs you, will you show up too?"
Gabriel looked at the little girl, who seemed to insist on sharing any good fortune with her Mommy. He chuckled gently and tenderly replied, "I will."
Danielle's eyes sparkled, and she flashed a grin. She leaned close to his face, tilting her head, and staring into his eyes with mischievous persistence, she asked again, "Spencer, do you really not like my Mommy?"
She desperately wanted to add. My Mommy is kind, beautiful, sweet, and cute, though sometimes a bit stern, but she's the best Mommy.
She is Mommy's treasure, and Mommy is Danielle's greatest treasure. She so hoped that Mommy wouldn't have to struggle alone anymore, so she wished for a hero like the ones in cartoons to protect Mommy, and she desired for Mommy to become the happiest princess in the world.
Gabriel gently pulled Danielle's hand from his face and held it in his own, looking into her eyes, pondering for a moment, and then nodded, "I like her."
Instant joy filled Danielle's eyes, almost bursting with excitement. Gabriel gave her a look, and the little girl quickly caught his drift, raising her hand to cover her mouth, though she couldn't hide the laughter in her big eyes.
Jessica stood at the doorway of the children's room, trying hard to eavesdrop on their conversation.
But she couldn't make out the words. Danielle had only been brought to tears by her the night before, and She didn't have a good attitude towards Gabriel either. Now, she didn't want to interrupt their tender moment, so she remained behind the door, listening in.
