Lena's POV
Saturday mornings were supposed to be calm. But Eliana had another art fair today so we were a little bit busy and extra noisy today.
Our Saturday started with Eliana pacing in the kitchen rushing her breakfast, dressed in her favourite yellow overalls, holding a roll of masking tape like her life depended on it.
"Mommy, hurry!" she urged. "The art fair starts at ten, and I have to help set up my lion!"
"Your painting," I corrected immediately with a smile, while sipping my coffee.
"My masterpiece," she said with mock seriousness. "And you have to see where I put it. You must see."
She was vibrating with excitement, and I couldn't help but smile and be happy for her.
"Ok, let's go," I finally said and we rushed out the door.
******
By the time we arrived at the school gym, it was already buzzing — rows of tables with displays, kids dashing between easels, parents snapping photos, smiling and laughing with friends. The air smelled faintly of paper, glue, and the baked goods from the fundraising table in the corner I was sure to look out for later.
I was diligently adjusting Eliana's display when her voice suddenly pitched higher.
"Uncle Dom!" she ran to him so excited.
I froze.
I turned slowly, and there he was — dressed casually in a navy sweater and jeans, holding a paper cup of coffee and some doughnuts like he'd been here forever patiently waiting for us to notice him.
"What are you doing here?" I asked, my voice lower than I meant it to be.
He smiled easily. "Got an invitation from the amazing artist herself."
Eliana grinned, utterly unapologetic. "I told him last week! I wanted him to see my lion."
I exhaled through my nose. "A little warning would've been nice. Don't you think?"
"She wanted it to be a surprise," Dominic said smoothly with a shy smile, crouching beside her. "And I have to say, cub, you didn't disappoint. This place is impressive. Did you pull this crowd?" he teased her softly causing her to giggle.
"It's over there! Come on!" She grabbed his hand and dragged him toward her easel before I could have any say in the matter.
I followed reluctantly, watching her beam as she presented her painting to him like it belonged in a museum.
Dominic crouched to her level, studying it seriously. "You weren't kidding. This lion could stare down anyone."
Eliana giggled. "It's fierce and strong. Like Mommy."
I blinked at that. Dominic's gaze flicked to mine briefly before returning to her. "Fierce is good. Fierce means you protect what matters. Strong is even better. Strong means having the strength to fight the bad."
A teacher wandered over, smiling warmly. "So, you must be Eliana's famous uncle Dom."
I opened my mouth to correct her, but Dominic beat me to it.
"Yes," he said without missing a beat. "Proud one at that," he added smiling uncontrollably.
I clenched my jaw in distaste.
The teacher chuckled. "She's a natural. We'll have to keep encouraging her. She's doing so well, it's the least we can do."
"Oh, I intend to," Dominic replied, ruffling Eliana's hair. Making her smile grow wider than humanly possible.
*******
We made our way through the other exhibits, Eliana bouncing between us like we were a team.
Every so often, Dominic would hand her his coffee cup so she could "pretend to be a grown-up," or lean in to hear her explain why one sculpture looked like "a weird potato."
At one point, she reached for his hand without looking — and he took it. Just like that. Making the whole thing look and feel natural.
*****
I had finally caught him alone briefly when Eliana ran off to grab a cookie from the refreshment table.
"You're very comfortable here," I murmured.
"Should I not be?" His tone was mild, but his eyes searched mine.
"This isn't your place," I said quietly. "You don't know these people. You—"
"I know her," he interrupted softly, glancing toward Eliana. "That's enough for me to be here."
I shook my head. "You make it sound simple."
"It is simple. Complicated is what we made of us."
Before I could reply, Eliana was back, holding two cookies and thrusting one into his hand. "Here, Uncle Dom. I picked the one with extra chocolate chips for you."
"Best cookie ever, then," he said, taking a bite. "You've got good taste, cub. I love it!"
******
By the end of the event, my daughter was walking between us, holding both our hands, swinging them and chattering about the next art project she wanted to start.
I didn't know whether to be relieved the fair was over… or uneasy about how natural this had all felt. This could have been the life of Elaina if things had worked out differently in the past.
And judging by the faint, knowing smile on Dominic's face as we left the gym, he knew exactly which one it was. And I was not happy about it.