Chapter 6 - Teaching a Child to Be a Child
The following morning, sunlight poured through the floor-to-ceiling glass windows of the grand kitchen.
The room smelled of freshly brewed coffee, warm cinnamon rolls, and sizzled bacon.
Christopher sat at the large marble kitchen island wearing a simple charcoal sweater and jeans—a stark contrast to his usual rigid corporate suits. Beside him sat Lily in an adaptive chair, her hands wrapped in fresh, soft medical wraps, sipping orange juice through a crazy straw.
On the plush rug near the dining table, Jake, Lucas, and Noah were playing with a massive, high-end wooden train set, roaring happily as they crashed the toy engines into plastic trees.
Maya sat in a comfortable armchair by the window, wrapped in a cashmere blanket, a healthy color slowly returning to her cheeks as the hospital’s detox fluids flushed the lingering toxins from her system.
“Daddy?” Lily spoke up softly, setting her orange juice down.
“Yes, sweetie?” Christopher turned to her, his sharp features immediately softening.
Lily looked over at the kitchen stove, where Chef Pierre was whipping fresh eggs in a copper bowl. She swallowed nervously, clutching her locket.
“I... I used to get so scared when the oil popped,” she murmured, looking down at her wrapped hands. “When Mrs. Patterson made me fry the chicken, the hot grease would splash on my arms. If I cried, she turned off the lights in the pantry and locked me inside.”
Maya let out a soft, choked gasp from the armchair, covering her mouth with her hand as tears spilled over her cheeks.
Christopher felt an overwhelming surge of heartbreak and fury, but he kept his voice perfectly smooth, warm, and steady. He leaned over and gently wrapped his arms around Lily, bringing her small frame against his chest.
“No one is ever going to lock you in the dark again, Lily,” Christopher whispered into her hair. “And no hot grease is ever going to touch your skin again. Do you know what you’re going to do today instead?”
Lily looked up at him, her light-gray eyes wide. “What?”
“Today, we are going to the private toy store downtown,” Christopher smiled brightly. “I bought out the entire store for two hours. You and your brothers can pick out every single doll, every Lego set, every art kit, and every book you want.”
Lily’s eyes turned huge. “Every single one?”
“Every single one,” Christopher confirmed. “And then, we are going to the park, and I am going to teach you how to ride a bicycle with pink tassels on the handlebars.”
Lily stared at him for three long seconds. Then, slowly, she buried her face into Christopher’s neck, wrapping her small arms around his shoulders as tightly as her bandages allowed.
“I love you, Daddy,” she whispered softly.
Christopher closed his eyes, pressing a warm kiss to her forehead, holding his daughter as if she were the most precious treasure in the universe.
“I love you too, Lily,” he breathed. “More than life itself.”
Just then, Marcus stepped into the kitchen, holding a black encrypted tablet. He caught Christopher’s eye and gave a subtle, grave nod.
“It’s time, Mr. Hayes,” Marcus said quietly. “The court hearing is in one hour.”
May you like
Christopher gently set Lily down, kissed Maya on the cheek, and stood up. He walked over to his coat rack and pulled on his dark wool coat, his expression transforming back into the cold, unstoppable force that ruled Chicago’s financial skyline.
“Stay here with the children, Maya,” Christopher instructed gently. “I’m going to go end this.”
