The little girl looked up, revealing a delicate, angelic face, and timidly whispered, “Hello, Auntie.””
Her voice was soft and sweet like cotton candy.
Elara’s heart instantly melted.
She knelt to be at Lily’s eye level. “Hello, Lily. What kind of book are you looking for? Shall I help you pick one?”
Lily blinked her big eyes, then suddenly reached out a small hand and gently touched Elara’s cheek.
“Auntie is so pretty, just like my mommy,” she whispered.
The air instantly froze.
Julian’s face changed slightly. He knelt and hugged Lily tighter. “I’m sorry, her mommy… passed away a few years ago due to illness.”
Elara’s chest tightened. She looked at the little girl who had lost her mother and suddenly thought of
Leo and Mia-
They had Cassandra, but this child had nothing.
“It’s okay,” she said softly, reaching out to gently ruffle Lily’s hair. “Does Lily like fairy tales? I have many beautiful picture books here.”
Lily nodded, her eyes brightening.
For the next half hour, Elara patiently introduced various picture books to Lily.
The little girl gradually relaxed, even taking Elara’s hand and asking her to tell a story.
Julian stood by, watching the scene with a gentle gaze.
When Elara read from The Little Prince*, Lily was already nestled in her arms, utterly absorbed.
“You have a very special way of telling stories,” Julian said softly at checkout. “Lily is usually very
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shy, but she’s so close to you.”
Elara smiled, handing the wrapped picture book to Lily. “I feel a connection with Lily too. If only Lily were my daughter.”
The words were out before she could stop them. But Julian merely nodded thoughtfully, not asking further questions.
“Can we come often?” Lily suddenly tugged at Elara’s sleeve, looking up. “When we leave?”
Elara knelt, gently pinching her small nose. “Of course, Auntie welcomes you anytime.”
Julian held his umbrella, carrying Lily into the rain. Lily, perched on his shoulder, waved at the bookstore until they disappeared around the corner.
Elara stood at the doorway, watching their figures vanish into the rain, a long-lost warmth blooming
n her heart.
After that, Julian and Lily became regular customers at the bookstore.
Almost every weekend, they would come and stay for an hour or two.
Lily would always sit quietly on the small sofa in the corner, engrossed in a picture book;
Julian would choose a medical textbook, sitting beside her, reading in silence.
