C9 Chapter 8: Quiet moments

Daisy opened the door to her room, the familiar coolness of the black tiles beneath her feet a quiet reminder of the house’s stillness. Daisy made her way down the hallway, her fingers lightly grazing the walls as she moved , her slippers soft against the floor. The only sound was the rhythmic beat of her own footsteps as she approached her mother’s room at the end of the corridor.

When she reached her mother’s room door, she softly knocked twice on the door but with enough force to be heard.Silence followed , stretching for a beat too long. Furrowing her brows, Daisy knocked again, this time louder, but still no response

Pushing the door open just a crack, Daisy peeked inside.

“Mom?” she called, her voice soft yet clear. She could hear the faint sound of water running in the bathroom, and then, through the hum of the fan, her mother’s voice rang out , muffled but clear.

“Daisy, can you watch your brother for a little while?” Lucy’s voice was warm but tired. “I’m just going to take a quick warm bath, okay?”

Daisy smiled, her voice filled with eagerness as she replied, “Okay, Mom!” she called back, stepping fully into the room and gently closing the door behind her with a soft click .

She turned toward the bed, her eyes immediately found Ken her baby brother, laying on the bed .His tiny hands were pressed together, and his curious little face was focused on them as he chewed at his folded fingers.He was fully engrossed in the task of sucking on his folded hands, completely oblivious to everything else. Daisy couldn’t help but smile at the sight of him. His big black eyes were wide, his face soft and innocent, as he explored the new sensation of his fingers in his mouth.

Daisy tiptoed closer, careful not to startle him, though she could barely contain her giggles. She climbed up onto the bed, kneeling next to her brother, her slippers brushing gently against the cool black tile. Her face was only a few inches away from his.The soft scent of baby lotion fill the room and Daisy felt a wave of tenderness wash over her. Ken looked up at her ,blinking his big black eyes,as if just realizing she was there.She studied his big, wide eyes for a moment. They were always so full of wonder, always taking in the world around him with pure joy.

Without warning, she gave her face a playful, exaggerated twist, turning her voice into something deep and silly. She leaned in close to him, her face only a few inches from his, her smile widening.

“My baby, who loves you the most?” she asked, her voice playful and dramatic, as she began to gently tickle his tiny belly with her fingers.

The little boy’s giggle was like music, bubbling up from deep inside him as his tiny hands swatted at her fingers in a half-hearted attempt to stop the tickling. His response was a joyful, “Bleh!” as his face lit up in laughter.

Daisy’s laughter joined his, her heart lifting with every giggle that spilled from his lips. She couldn’t help but keep going, her voice turning even more sing-song, as she tickled him and made funny faces, her own laughter a bright addition to the sound of his.

“Yes, yes! Big sis loves you the most,” she teased, her voice filled with exaggerated affection, her face twisting into goofy expressions, one after the other, just to make him laugh. Every time Ken giggled, Daisy’s heart seemed to grow just a little bit more.

As she continued, Ken squirmed beneath her fingers, his laughter bubbling uncontrollably, as if he couldn’t decide if he wanted to fight her playful tickling or give in and enjoy it. His small hands reached out and grabbed at her hair, his tiny fingers tangled in the strands, pulling them in all directions. Daisy gave a little mock yelp, trying to wiggle free, but he had her good.

“Who’s the best big sister?” she asked, raising an eyebrow with an exaggerated look of mock-seriousness. “It’s me, right? Big sis is the best!”

Oliver, his giggles still filling the room, gave his own answer, though it was more a delighted squeal than anything intelligible. “Errr!” he managed to say, as he wiggled in her arms.

Daisy laughed again, lifting him into the air and spinning him around for a quick hug before gently laying him back on the bed.

The sound of the bathroom door opening interrupted their game, but Daisy didn’t stop. She was lost in the moment, the sound of her brother’s laughter like music to her ears. She gave him one last tickle, pulling him close for a quick peck.

………

Daisy: give this book some love and vote.