Dahlia PoV
[Present]
I smiled as I thought about my late husband. My eyes shifted to my daughter. We had made her during that time. Thinking about it, if Xandy hadn't died, Anis probably would've had an auntie or uncle basically the same age as her.
I sighed, feeling a bittersweet pang in my heart. But the warmth of the family around me helped ease the pain. Anis was giggling as Rose fed her little bits of lasagna, her face already smeared with sauce.
Saffron turned back to her and reached out to clean his daughter's face.
Anis smiled and leaned toward her pa's napkin, giggling as it tickled her. "Da, tickles!"
Saffron chuckled. "Sorry, little one. Just trying to clean you up. Look, you got sauce all over your face."
Sil giggled. "Ma, did pa use to clean me up like that too?"
I chuckled.
----
[Some years ago]
Xandy chuckled as he kept feeding Sil his puree.
"Ya a hungry little runt like ya pa, huh?"
"Me hun!" Sil exclaimed, giggling, kicking his little legs.
