章 326: 'Who do you love more?'
Lillian Grey, rummaged through her pantry to find anything favorable serving a little girl. Much to her relief, an unopened box of chocolate chip cookies lay next to a stack of potato chips.
'I wonder what she likes!' - Lillian weighed to choose.
Meanwhile, Lia waited in the living room, alone. Things have escalated beyond her power, and she remains no longer enthralled about this whole experience. However, deep down, an unfamiliar harmony sang to comfort her frustration. It was none other than confessing the truth to her mother. There could be no escape from Giselle's reaction, but the secret would be out to everyone's notice. Lia hoped that all ends well as she noticed Lillian return.
The solitary mood only gets weirder now that the two are alone.
"Usually, I prefer my dad's cookies, but if I had to buy one, then it's this. Go on," Lillian said to serve a tray full of chocolate chips cookies.
"These are locally baked, and they are delicious-"
She pauses to inquire Lia if she needs a glass of milk to accompany her snack, which the child politely denies to grab a cookie. Exercising her spot on the couch, Lillian takes another detailed glance at the invitation, finally letting it sit on her lap.
"So- your school is holding a Christmas party!"
Lia looks up to her notice and found her handmade invitation sitting on Lillian's lap. She confirms the news once again.
"Why do you want me to go?" Lillian asked.
Lia takes time in chewing down the cookies before she admits that Lillian's appearance would make her mother happy.
"So, you don't want me there?"
The little girl flushes to Lillian's tease and admits to her initial desire of including Lillian Grey. Ever since knowing her mother's story, Lia had kept to herself that if there appears any chance to bring them together, then she would try her best. Lillian softly chuckles from the thoughtful work of a wingman she never expected.
"Who else did you invite- other than Uncle Jake?"
Lia looked away to acknowledge Jake's missing absence. She paused from eating cookies to began listing the number of people she chose to invite to this event.
"My grandparents-"
"Oh! Giselle's mom and dad!"
Lia nodded.
"Aunt Gigi-"
The name struck thunder to her eardrum as a familiar ice-cold sensation returned. Several years passed, and still, Lillian slightly shudders upon hearing Gigi's name. Their relationship had torn on the day Giselle chose to leave the country. Lillian wondered if Gigi heard about their reunion, followed by several encounters she had with her sister, Giselle.
"Alright! Who else then?" Lillian rushed that little Lia almost forgot one of the most significant people she included in her list.
"You- invited your father?" Lillian stammers after hearing the rest of Lia's guest list.
"Yes."
The child went on to share that despite her notice, her father's presence is still uncertain.
"Why?" Lillian inquired to her concern.
Ethan initially planned to join his family on Christmas eve, but hearing Lia announce her school event, his dates got mixed up, and now he has to change everything by appealing to his superiors. Until he receives an affirmation, there will be no word from his side.
Lillian heard Lia sadly report about her father's undecided holiday trip. To cheer her up, she manages to shift the subject to another direction.
"So, who do you love more, Lia?" she called to the little one's attention.
"Giselle- your mother or your father?"
'I never knew this guy's name!' Lillian thought to her consciousness.
Hit with such a sensitive question, Lia makes a face of displeasure and refuses to answer. However, Lillian insists playfully to watch little Lia struggle. It was evident that the child loves both equally, but Lillian got slightly curious.
"If- I had to pick," Lia tried, but she discontinued almost immediately from feeling condemned. A little more push made to declare her undying love for both, but one last force surprised Lillian.
"I love them both so much, but- I can't live without my mother, and I know my father would be there for me always."
Lia panted aloud from shouting her response. Stunned from her sharp reply, Lillian went speechless while hearing the child admit she can't live without her mother. She withdrew momentarily from prying for more.
"What about you, Ms. Lillian?"
The sweet little voice returned vehemently to question.
"What about me?"
"Who do you like more? Your mother or your father?" Lia returned the favor and waited for the reply.
Startled from her dare, Lillian admired the child's spunk. She thought about it for a while before choosing to answer.
"It's obvious in my case!" Lillian began.
She went on to admit the loss of her mother when she was probably around Lia's age. It was Edwin, her father, who raised Lillian alone. Despite the tough times when they used to miss Lillian's mother terribly, the father and daughter made it through somehow.
"I was very young when I lost my mother, so as I grew old, I eventually forgot the time we spent together. You see, they were all when I was very childlike. I hardly remember anything we did together now, but certain images are still afresh in my memory. Like how beautiful my mother was," Lillian paused to brag, "My father used to tell me that I am most like my mother before their marriage," she smiled from the remembrance, living those few seconds in the blurry past.
"What was your mother like?"
Lillian saw Lia amused to listen and gave her a taste.
"She- my mother is an unpredictable woman, according to my father when they met. She liked to be independent. No one can make any decision for her. She loves being outside a lot; I remember that we had gone out every summer. Since my father cooks well, she gave up learning to cook, but she does help around."
"I help my mother too!" Lia remarked to follow.
"I'm sure you do. But you have to learn to cook, Lia,"
The guilt of making such a suggestion when Lillian herself isn't great at it cost a light repercussion.
'Who am I to advise her?' Lillian, to her shame, reflected.
Meantime, Lia's eyes remained bright to hear for more, but sadly Lillian had no more fascinating chronicles to share. There were only a couple of images she has in her mind regarding her beloved mother, along with the related stories Edwin keeps repeating over the years. With no more to deliver, she put an immediate end to her chatter.
"So, I will say that I am close to my father! Does that answer your question?"
Lia pouts to pick another cookie to munch out the frustration. She had hoped for more charming details but received a blank page returned.
"So- are you coming to the event?" she finally summons the courage to get a confirmation.
Lillian saw the resolution in those eyes. She asked if Lia is taking part in any event and heard the kid's role in the stage play. Impressed, Lillian agreed to return the kind gesture, thanking Lia for taking such risks into inviting her.
"I will be there to cheer for you!" she declared.
Lia finally rejoiced to her victory.
クリエイターの想い 
ljack_ace
ljack_ace I had written several drafts for this chapter and for the forthcoming ones. It's stressful because I was not able to feel pleased from every version until a satisfactory one appears.
So, here it is.
Yes, there is upload tomorrow and the day after too! I hope the streak continues.
As always, you guys are very supportive and understanding to me. I'm very blessed for this love.
Sorry for the delayed uploads. I'm facing a slump state right now, so it is hard to feel confident at my writing on the first try itself. Once again, no worries, I am not abandoning the story or so. If at all, I'm am constantly thinking about it!
Stay safe.
I hope you are all doing good.
I still haven't installed discord on my new laptop, so once I do, I plan to send audio messages or so. Until then, be creative, be happy, and smile!
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