Chapter 6 - The Garden Tea PartyThe afternoon sun cast long, golden rays across the green lawn of my Lincoln Park home in Seattle.
A small wooden children's table sat near a blooming hydrangea bush, decorated with tiny plastic teacups, paper napkins, and a plate of blueberry muffins.
Lily and Grace sat in small wooden chairs, wearing matching yellow sun dresses, giggling happily as Daniel sat cross-legged on the grass beside them, carefully holding a tiny pink plastic teacup between his broad thumb and forefinger.
"More tea, Mr. Daniel?" Lily asked politely, holding up a small plastic teapot.
"Yes, please, Lady Lily," Daniel replied softly, offering a serious, respectful bow that made both girls erupt into high-pitched, silver giggles.
"And a muffin!" Grace added, placing a piece of blueberry muffin onto a small plastic plate, sliding it toward him. "You eat!"
"Thank you, Lady Grace," Daniel smiled, taking a small, dramatic bite, making a face of sheer, exaggerated delight. "Mmm! This is the finest muffin in all of Seattle!"
I stood near the kitchen porch doors, wearing a comfortable cashmere sweater, holding a warm cup of coffee, watching them with a deep, weightless peace settling into every corner of my soul.
Ethan walked out onto the porch, resting his hand comfortably against the wooden railing.
"He's doing good, Claire," Ethan noted softly, watching Daniel patiently help Lily wipe a crumb from her chin. "He’s earned his place."
"He worked hard for it, Ethan," I agreed, taking a slow sip of coffee. "He gave up an empire to sit on a plastic chair in my garden."
"That's not giving up an empire, Claire," Ethan smiled gently, looking at me with deep, quiet respect. "That's finding the only empire that ever mattered."
Ethan clapped me gently on the shoulder, walking inside to let us have our privacy.
I stepped off the porch, walking slowly across the green grass toward the tea party.
When Daniel saw me approach, he stood up smoothly, wiping the grass from his trousers, his dark eyes shining with an absolute, unshakeable devotion as he looked at me.
"Are you enjoying the tea, Daniel?" I asked softly.
"It's the best tea I've ever had, Claire," Daniel answered, his baritone low and warm. "Thank you for letting me be here."
Lily ran up, grabbing Daniel’s hand with her small fingers, pulling him toward the swing set. "Swing, Daddy! Push swing!"
Daniel froze. The word Daddy hung in the warm afternoon air like a golden bell.
He looked down at Lily, then looked up at me, his eyes wide with a profound, breathless wonder.
May you like
I offered a soft, radiant nod. "Go on, Daniel. Push your daughters."
Tears spilled over Daniel’s lashes as he leaned down, picking Lily up into his broad arms, holding her close against his chest before carrying her toward the swings, his heart overflowing with a love that no amount of money could ever buy.
