Chapter 6 - THE TRUST OF A CHILD
Maisie looked up from her cup of hot cocoa,
her face covered in white marshmallow fluff.
“Mommy,
why are you shouting at the Birthday Man?” Maisie asked innocently.
Emma flushed with embarrassment,
sitting back down on the velvet sofa.
“We aren't shouting,
sweetie,
” Emma muttered,
smoothing down her thrift-store dress.
“We are just having an adult discussion.
”
Nathaniel smiled faintly,
walking over to sit on the edge of the coffee table across from Maisie.
“Your mother is right,
little bird,
” Nathaniel said gently,
wiping a stray smudge of cocoa from Maisie's cheek with a linen napkin.
“We were just discussing the rules of the house.
”
“Does this house have a dog?” Maisie asked eagerly.
“No,
” Nathaniel replied.
“Does it have a swimming pool?”
“Yes,
but it’s covered for the winter.
”
“Can I have a pony?”
Nathaniel laughed out loud,
a rich,
genuine sound that seemed to echo through the cavernous room.
“If you want a pony,
Maisie,
I will personally import the finest pony in Europe by tomorrow morning.
”
Emma’s jaw dropped.
“You are not importing a pony,
Mr.
Caldwell,
” Emma intervened quickly.
“She is just testing your boundaries.
”
“I like testing boundaries,
” Maisie announced proudly,
crossing her small arms.
“It’s fun.
”
Nathaniel looked at Emma with a look of profound amusement.
“She takes after her mother,
” Nathaniel noted.
“Stubborn,
fearless,
and entirely unimpressed by my reputation.
”
“Most people run away when they hear the name Caldwell,
” Emma said quietly.
“Most people are smart,
” Nathaniel replied,
his eyes turning dark for a fraction of a second.
“You and Maisie walked right up to the lion’s cage and offered him your sandwich.
”
“It wasn't a sandwich,
” Emma corrected,
a faint smile breaking through her stress,
“it was an invitation to a birthday cake.
”
“And it was the best birthday gift I have ever received,
May you like
” Nathaniel said softly,
his voice dropping an octave as he held her gaze.
