Chapter 0614

In the bedroom, Nicholas and Charlotte helped Elva and I pack our bags for our weekend homecoming trip. I pick out many subtle outfits for Elva and me. Back home, people would notice if we dressed too expensive. It might even have painted targets on our backs.

Elva, however, didn't understand. When she saw I was packing her plain shorts and tees, she crossed her arms, stuck out her bottom lip, and pouted, "I want to be princess."

"You are a princess, honey," I told her. "You don't need fancy clothes for that."

Elva frowned deeper. "It's not the same."

"It is." Nicholas lowered himself down onto one knee so that he could look Elva in the eye.

Elva glanced up at him through her eyelashes. She seemed sadder than anything and it broke my heart. I wanted Elva to have the things she wanted, but it was just too dangerous. We weren't from the best part of town. If we wore fancy clothes around, we would be robbed at worst.

At best, we just wouldn't fit in.

"Elva," Nicholas said. He placed his hand on her little shoulder. She always looked at him like he hung the sun in the sky, and now was no different. "What makes you a princess is not what you wear. It's what's on the inside that counts."

Elva glanced down at herself. "But I'm just a girl..."

"You are a girl with a very special ability," Nicholas said.

"What?" Elva asked.

Nicholas smiled at her so kindly my chest ached. "You have a big heart. Carry that with you, feed it and protect it, and you never need the fancy dresses to show you are a princess."

Elva's mood shifted somewhat, lightening. She smiled.

started to stand, Elva added, "I will still get to wear

wished I could bottle it and listen to it again

you want," he said. He glanced at me. "If it's okay with your

me in a

"Of course," I said.

"Yay!" Elva cheered.

holding a few outfits. She smiled as she brought them to

this?" she asked. Even

mansions and estates. But those candidates weren't going to a two-bedroom apartment in a bad part of

sure," I told Charlotte. She nodded without further pressing and carefully folded the chosen clothes. As I went to help her,

come with

question was genuine, with hope

patted her head. "I wish I could, princess. But it's against

"Oh," Elva deflated.

the trip with you and your mom, and then be there when time is up to

"Great!" Elva said.

He glanced up at me. "How

It would help, knowing that

terms of my home. That very

it was difficult to imagine

when I was ultimately dismissed but I couldn't help it. Nicholas noticed my shift of mood. Leaving Elva to her toys, he walked closer to me. He gently traced his hand down the

"I will be there to bring you back.

didn't know how to properly convey that it wasn't this trip I was

so sweet to care so much. I didn't want to ruin the moment with my fears,

to offer to do it myself. Nicholas would

understood the sentiment. I didn't

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