This chapter mark a major milestone of this story , and I thank all those whose stuff with me till here and hope fully they will also enjoy the chapters that are yet to come 🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳
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The moment Lyra spotted them at the school gate, she came sprinting with her little backpack bouncing wildly behind her.
"Mommy! Daddy!"
Eliza knelt just in time to catch her in a tight hug, nearly toppling backward from the momentum. Will grinned, ruffling her hair.
"Someone's happy," he said, lifting her into the car.
"No—I'm super happy!" Lyra declared as soon as she was buckled in. "Guess what! Today we learned a song in class and I made a paper sun and Mika's juice exploded on the table because she forgot to close the lid and everyone laughed so loud! Even the teacher."
Will chuckled, adjusting the rearview mirror to look at her. "Sounds like a pretty exciting day."
"And Ms. Tara is soooo nice! She has shiny shoes and funny earrings, and she smells like strawberries!"
Eliza turned slightly in her seat to watch Lyra's face animated with wonder. "Do you like school?"
"I love school!" she said, arms flung up in dramatic joy.
At home, they barely finished lunch before Lyra's energy dipped. One moment she was chattering away about tomorrow's drawing project, and the next, she was curled up on the couch, breathing softly.
"She's out cold," Will said in a whisper, setting his fork down.
Eliza smiled, brushing a strand of hair off Lyra's forehead. "First full week caught up to her."
With practiced ease, she lifted Lyra into her arms, the child instinctively nestling her head into Eliza's shoulder. She carried her to her room, laying her gently on the bed and pulling the blanket up. Humming her favorite lullaby softly, she sat beside her for a while, fingers stroking through her hair.
At some point, Eliza leaned back, eyes closing, the soft melody lulling her too.
She didn't notice Will standing at the door until his voice teased gently, "Did the siren song claim you as well, Eliza Bennett?"
She cracked one eye open, frowning. "Don't mock me."
"I would never." He smirked. "But I may take photographic evidence for future blackmail purposes."
She grabbed a nearby cushion and hurled it at him—only for Lyra to suddenly sit up, sleepy-eyed and solemn, arms stretched out protectively in front of Will.
"No fighting," she said seriously. "We're a team."
That made them both burst into laughter.
Later, while Eliza stirred tea and Will looked over some foundation notes, Lyra sat at the kitchen table with her coloring book. She hummed to herself as she scribbled a surprisingly neat rainbow, announcing proudly that it was her homework.
The sun dipped lower as the day wound down, and before they knew it, Friday had arrived.
As soon as they stepped through the door that afternoon, Lyra pulled a rolled paper out of her bag like it was treasure.
"I made this for you," she beamed. "It's our family!"
Unfurling it, they saw three stick figures—Eliza, Will, and Lyra—standing beneath a giant sun and a crooked tree. All three held hands, grinning, with heart shapes drawn above them.
Will crouched beside her, touched. "That's the best painting I've ever seen."
"We're hanging it up," Eliza declared. "Right in the living room."
"And maybe someday," Will said, looking between them with a thoughtful smile, "you'll be painting more people into it."
Eliza met his gaze, her fingers brushing Lyra's hair as she leaned into her side.
Not yet, but maybe soon.