Adelyn couldn't move or push the girl away when she felt her clinging to her like that.
She had clearly heard her call her Mama … again. But this time, she didn't have the heart to correct her.
How could she, when she could tell why the girl had done it?
She had done it to support her … to stand by her in front of her uncle.
It had been a long time since someone had tried to stand so firmly on her side.
So long … that she had almost forgotten what it felt like to have someone beside her.
But today, that feeling returned. And she couldn't stop herself from liking it.
Her hand moved instinctively, gently caressing the girl's hair as her lips curled into a faint smile.
When Eira tilted her head up to look at her, Adelyn met her gaze and said softly, "Thank you, baby. You're very precious too"
Eira blinked ... as if she couldn't quite believe what she had just heard.
"Eira is also precious to Mama?" she asked, her voice small but hopeful.
