Chapter 327
Amid their laughter, Nathan came out holding a bowl. “What are you two talking about?”
Fiona laughed, “We were just talking about whether Zinnia’s been getting more love letters at school. Back when she was in the small town, she got so many they nearly filled half the storage room.”
“Did she?” Nathan’s brows furrowed slightly at the mention. Having been away for half a year, he realized with a pang that he’d missed out on part of her growing up.
Quincey also walked out, chiming in, “Right. Zinnia is so pretty. She stands out wherever she goes. She must have gotten plenty these past six months, huh?”
Zinnia rolled her eyes helplessly. “No,” she replied.
It dawned on Nathan that Zinnia had almost grown up, becoming more beautiful by the day. Even when she had a bit of baby fat, boys in the small town fought over her.
The kids in the small town would argue over who Zinnia liked best. Sometimes, when one of them lost and burst into tears, Nathan would come over with candy to cheer them up.
Nathan frowned, concern evident on his face. “Really? Zinnia, you’re still young. There are things you might not know how to handle yet. If you ever have something you can’t manage, promise you’ll come to me.”
Zinnia stamped her foot in exasperation at Nathan’s solemn and earnest tone.
She said, “Oh, Náthan. Why would I lie to you? There really isn’t a letter! When I first got to school, my reputation was already ruined. Plus, I’m lazy, dumb, and always craving snacks. Who would ever like someone like me?”
Zinnia had a pretty clear self-assessment. She thought she was lazy, dumb, and gluttonous, so no one would like her.
Hearing Zinnia’s self-deprecating words, Nathan felt a sharp pang in his chest. He walked over to her and said, “Who says no one would ever like you, Zinnia? You deserve all the love in the world.”
At the thought of his own negligence and the suffering she endured during his six-month absence, Nathan lowered his gaze.
During those two months with the Shaw family, Zinnia endured the worst malice she’d ever known in her first sixteen years. The blows from her so-called family left wounds that couldn’t be ignored.
Though she claimed not to care now, there was a time when Zinnia endured relentless emotional abuse from the Shaw family. It was from Yannis, her brother, and from Maelis, her mother, and from the disgusted stares of everyone else around her.
She was once cradled and protected so tenderly by Nathan. He left her side just for once, and she was utterly shattered.
Nathan had sheltered Zinnia so well since childhood, and the townspeople were kind-hearted, so when the overwhelming malice from the Shaw family came crashing down, it left a mark on Zinnia’s heart that she would never forget.
But truthfully, if it had just been the Shaw family’s abuse, Zinnia wouldn’t have been so affected. What truly wounded her was that Nathan happened to leave her.
Zinnia suddenly turned sensitive, and pain flickered in Nathan’s eyes. Deep down, he knew he was the one who had let her hurt.
Seeing the guilt in Nathan’s eyes, Zinnia pursed her lips for a moment and then broke into a bright smile. “I know. Someone’s bound to like a girl as wonderful as me!”
“Alright, time for breakfast! The little ones over there are waiting for you to play with them,” Fiona said as she and the others set the freshly cooked breakfast on the table.
The kids sat at one square table, and the adults sat at another small round table. As several of them took their seats, a bowl of exquisitely crafted colorful puddings was placed in front of Zinnia.
There were ones shaped like persimmons, little pandas, rabbits, piglets, yellow chicks, and even ones that looked just like pearls. Each one was utterly adorable in its chubby way. Nathan had woken up early that morning to make them fresh.
Zinnia adored beautiful things. Even her food had to be aesthetically pleasing, and Nathan indulged her every whim.
After breakfast, the kids swarmed around Zinnia, chattering away.
“Zinnia, come play with us. We found a new stream. It’s so clear that you can see tiny fish and shrimp swimming in it. The banks are covered with wildflowers, and it’s so pretty that you’ll love it!” a kid said.
While Nathan, Fiona, and Quincey were clearing the table, they noticed Zinnia being swarmed by the kids. The three of them exchanged knowing smiles.
Every Christmas, a crowd of kids would swarm to the house, all vying for Zinnia to play with them.
Zinnia also loved playing with the little ones. Among them, she was the undisputed queen bee. If she gave an order, no one would dare say no. She absolutely relished every bit of her leadership.
After all, in the small town, everyone, including Nathan, still saw Zinnia as just a kid. But among the little ones, she was the queen bee, calling the shots.
In years past, Zinnia would have happily joined them to play. But this year, she just didn’t feel the same.
Zinnia pursed her lips slightly and glanced toward Nathan. She was worried about him.
Seeing the worry in Zinnia’s eyes, Nathan walked over and gently ruffled the top of her head. In a gentle voice, he said, “Go on. Play with the kids for a while. I’ll make you something tasty for lunch when you come back.”
“But-” Zinnia started, wanting to say more.
Nathan looked down at her gently. “Didn’t you promise me you’d enjoy yourself these two days?
“You kept saying you wanted to come back to the small town, but now that we’re back, you haven’t really had any fun yet. Go on. Have some fun. Don’t worry about me.”
Now that Christmas had finally arrived, Nathan hoped Zinnia could take this chance to unwind and soak up the festive spirit.
Looking into Nathan’s eyes, Zinnia lowered her head again and murmured, “Okay.”
“Take some candy and your favorite pistachios,” Nathan said with a gentle smile. He picked up the treats from the table and tucked them into her pocket.
“Here are some sparklers. Remember to share them with others. Don’t go near the water. It might not be that cold today, but still, stay out of the stream. If your socks get wet, call me immediately. No walking home barefoot,” Nathan reminded her.
Zinnia puffed out her cheeks. “I’m not a little kid anymore. Why do you still treat me like one?” she complained, listening to Nathan go through his usual litany of reminders, just like he always did whenever she went out.
“In my eyes, you’ll always be a little kid,” Nathan said, his eyes soft with a gentle smile.
Fiona and the others stood behind, watching Zinnia and Nathan with fond smiles. “Alright, go on and have fun,” Fiona said gently.
After packing everything Zinnia might need and giving her all the usual reminders, Nathan pinched her cheek affectionately. He never joined her when she went out to play. He couldn’t be the boss among the kids.
“Zinnia!” Simon and the other kids called from outside the yard.
Zinnia gave Nathan a worried look. “I’m going out to play for a while. If anything comes up, promise you’ll call me, okay?”
Nathan nodded gently and said with a soft smile, “Go ahead. Take your time.”
Zinnia stepped out of the yard, with Sunny trotting right behind her. Whenever Zinnia was home, Sunny would stick to her side, following her every move.
As Zinnia walked away, the gentle smile on Nathan’s face slowly faded. His gaze lingered on her until she disappeared beyond the courtyard. “You’re already reluctant to let Zee go out and play,” Fiona teased. “Just wait until she falls for someone, You’ll be bawling your eyes out.”
“Zinnia’s still so young.” At the mere thought of that possibility, Nathan’s brow furrowed deeply.
“Zee will come of age in just five months. Once she starts college, she’ll have no shortage of admirers. You’d better prepare yourself for that, Nathan,” Fiona reminded.
‘Time really flies. Eighteen years have passed in the blink of an eye, and before I know it, Zinnia will be all grown up,’ Nathan thought.
His eyes trembled slightly. ‘What a pity. It seems I wouldn’t live to see that day,’ he pondered.
Fiona waved a deck of cards in her hand. “Now that Zee’s gone, how about a round of Go Fish?”
In previous years, whenever Zinnia went out to play with the kids, the rest of them would just stay home and play Go Fish.