Holden, catching her hand, a hint of concern in his eyes, offered, “How about I take care of this?”
The statement lingered in the air, both momentarily quiet. Holden, summoning courage, added, “Or maybe we could order some takeout.”
“I’m good, really. No worries. It’s a chance to whip up some baby food,” Ariana said, redirecting him. She requested Holden to keep the kids entertained while she manned the kitchen.
Holden stationed himself in the living room, companioning the two kids. Ariana, amidst occasional laughter wafting in from the Living room, wore a gentle smile on her face.
The villa rarely basked in such warmth, especially for Holden. It was a flavor of happiness and contentment he had never sampled within the confines of his mansion.
Soon, Ariana wrapped up the meal preparations. Seated together, Melon and Adele, reveling in the moment, badgered Ariana and Holden for post-dinner games. The adults, surrendering to their whims, engaged in the evening festivities.
After playing, exhaustion led the four to recline on the outdoor terrace’s lounge chairs, looking at the stars.
Melon, clinging snugly to Holden, said, “I don’t want you and Adele to leave. Can’t you stick around? Living together would be awesome.”
The child’s innocence painted a picturesque scene.
However, Ariana, upon hearing Melon’s words, had a shadow of loneliness in her eyes.
Holden, chuckling, embraced Melon and said, “Sure thing!”
Then, he turned serious, fixed his gaze on Melon, and said, “But there’s something you need to know.”
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“What’s that?” Melon asked him, his curiosity piqued.
“It’s about your father,” Holden replied.
“About my father? You know him?” Melon inquired.
Just as Holden was about to divulge more, Ariana interjected, “Melon, Adele is sleepy. Can you tuck her into bed? She’s crashing at our place tonight.”
When Melon turned around, he could see that Adele was sleepy. He walked over right away, took her hand, and showed her the way upstairs to bed.
Observant as ever, Holden sensed a shift. Refraining from pressing, he waited until the kids had gone before gently grasping Ariana’s hand. “What’s up? Is there still a lingering concern? Why can’t I let Melon know that I’m his father?” he asked.
Ariana lowered her head, avoiding Holden’s gaze, and she gently withdrew her hand from his grasp. Turning away, her eyes focused on the floor, she said, “It’s a bit complicated. I reckon it’s best if Melon stays in the dark for now.”
Left with nothing but air in his grasp, Holden furrowed his brows unconsciously. Despite his sharp mind, Ariana’s words remained a riddle he couldn’t quite crack.