Sarah rubbed the arm of the little girl gently, and smiled at her assuring, "It's okay, sweetheart. Red is an old friend. He's a nice guy, I'm sure you will like him."
The girl looked at him unsure, and he swallowed hard trying to be friendly, "Hello, my little lady. I'm sorry I scared you."
She smiled and gave him her hand, "It's okay. How do you do, Mr. Red?"
He approached her slowly and kneeled to hold her hand and pressed a kiss on its back, "You don't have to Mr. me. You can call me Red."
Sarah sighed and stepped back watching the girl laughing, "Your name is Red? Why did your parents called you after a colour."
He smiled and raised his eyes to Sarah, "It's a nick name actually."
The girl stepped closer to him, "So what's your real name?"
He opened his mouth to answer her, but Sarah cut them off firmly, "Red, why don't you go put on your clothes and I'll make us breakfast?"
He nodded and got up, "I've already made breakfast for two. I'm not hungry though. I'll only have coffee and Monda can get mine."
She pushed him gently out of the kitchen, "No, Monda will have her cereal and milk. Now go."
He walked to her room and Monda asked innocently, "Mom, he's going to your room. Will he use it?"
Sarah carried her and put her on the chair by the small table, "He definitely won't use the room of the little princess. Chocolate cereal?"
Monda was drifted easily and shook her head,"Nooo , rice crisps, please, mammy."
Sarah nodded and brought her plate, filled it with the crisps then poured the hot milk over it. When she put her and Red's plates on the table, Red was joining them in his suit pants and shirt with his sleeves up and three buttons left undone. Sarah couldn't help gazing at his bare chest, while Monda smiled at him, "Come on, Red. Your breakfast will get cold."
He smiled at her and sat down, "Okay, little princess, here I'm."
Sarah pulled a third chair and sat down with them gazing them cautiously. Red started eating his scrambled eggs, and Monda watched him curios, so he half filled his spoon and offered her, "You want some? I assure you it will taste much better than that Sarah makes."
The girl chuckled, and he smiled as she moved her mouth closer and tasted the eggs. Sarah furrowed her brows when the girl hummed, "Hmmm. It's delicious. I never loved eggs, but these are very good."
He smild and gave a side look to Sarah, "I told you, my little Miss, my eggs will taste different, don't you agree with that, Sarah?"
She pushed her plate and got up nervously, "I'm full. I'll make some coffee."
He tilted his head amused, and the girl chuckled before going back to eating her cereal. Sarah poured her coffee and stood by the marble island sipping slowly. While Red ate small bites of his bread watching Monda carefully, she was definitely Sarah's daughter. She had her straight nose, those small bulky lips. And her cheek dimples, that brought him to his knees from the first moment. Even her hair, same color and smoothness like Sarah, except a little longer. And her smile, he saw a little Sarah each time that cute girl smiled at him.
He felt the steel grip around his stomach, when he heard the girl calling her mum. Sarah was right, he didn't know what Sarah had been through all those years, if she really was faithful to him, if she had another relationship that brought this little creature to our world, or even if she was rapped and got pregnant. He closed his eyes in pain at this horrible idea.
Sarah was watching them silently, the gears in her head running fast, what will she say to her little girl about him? How will she let him come and go like he had always done? What will she tell Red? Will he still want her with a daughter? She was getting insane and felt she's loosing him again a few hours after she had him back.
She didn't hear Monda, but Red opened his eyes when the little hand held his and Monda asked with worry in her voice, "Red, do you feel okay?"
Red snapped his eyes open and met her eyes, his heart skipped a beat when he looked into her green eyes. He swallowed and held her hand, trying to smile, "I'm okay, my dear. I think I just didn't have enough sleep tonight."
She asked him innocently, "You want to use my room? My bed is big enough for you. Mammy sometimes joins me when she has nightmare."
Red didn't reply, he couldn't help locking his eyes to those of the little angel in front of him, she had his eyes, same color, same shape, even same deep and caring look. The tears pooled in his eyes and he felt the lump in his throat. He turned his eyes to Sarah and asked huskily, "Is she...?"
Sarah nodded silently, before putting her coffee down and moving out to her room. Red froze in his place for moments before he could collect himself. He patted Monda's hand gently and tried to smile, "I'll go, talk to mum to see if I can use your bed. You eat your breakfast and I'll join you back soon."
She nodded, "Okay, I'll be waiting for you in my room. I need to make my bed first so you sleep restful."
He got up and nodded, "That sounds like a great plan."
He followed Sarah to her room, and stood by the door hesitated. He knocked on the door and then got in when she answered. He closed it and looked at her as she sat in her bed hugging her bent knees, and burying her face between them sobbing. He walked to her bed and sat down next to her, "Sarah."
Her sobbs got higher and she was gasping, so he rubbed her back gently, "Sarah, please, look at me, baby."
She raised her head and faced him with reddened eyes and tears soaked face. He was taken by how she looked and pulled her to his chest, "Come here, my girl. Let me take care of you."
She held his arm and was still fighting for air, so he whispered, "Breath, Sarah, take a deep breath in, my dear. I'm here with you."
She did as he said and her breathing settled after a few moments. She pulled back and wiped her cheeks talking with choked voice, "I'm sorry, Raymond. That was... too much for me."
He caressed her cheek with his thumb, "I know, Sarah, I understand you've been through much in those years... alone."
She swallowed and nodded silently looking at him. He moved his hand on her hair slowly and asked, "How old is she?"
She swallowed again and looked aside, avoiding his eyes, "Four years and six months."
Red closed his eyes in pain for moments, then had a deep breath as he opened his eyes and asked with hoarsy voice, "Why didn't you tell me?"
Her tears began to flow again, "I didn't know. I knew a few weeks after you've gone."
He had another deep breath trying to collect himself, "And last night?"
She yelled at him, "Last night? I was shocked you were here last night. I never thought I would see you again. I never thought I would be in such position. I didn't know what to do. I didn't know what to tell you... what to tell HER. I couldn't think of a way to tell you that I was pregnant when you left me. That you left part of you growing inside me. That I was carrying your..."
She was now choking again with her sobs, and he pulled her to his chest again holding her tightly. He kissed her head over and over between his words trying to relieve her, "I'm so sorry, Sarah. I never meant to hurt you. I never wanted to leave. But I promise you, my love, I'll make it to you, to both of you, my precious girls. I love you, Sarah."
His words could relief her and she rested her cheek on his chest, "What am I going to tell her?"
He caressed her chest, "We can think about it later, together. Now, you go have a shower and change this hot robe, and I'll go to our lovely girl. She's making up her bed so I can sleep in it."
She chuckled between her tears, and moved off the bed, "Yeah, I know my daughter is very cooperating and elegant... much like her father."
He followed her and captured her lips, "Hmmm. I noticed she's very pretty and has an attractive personality like her mother."
She kissed him back, "And her father."
She moved to the bathroom, but he held her arm abruptly, "Why did you call her Monda?"
Sarah shrugged, "I couldn't let her carry your last name, so I thought your first name will be convenient. Raymonda Giles, no one will ever thought she's the daughter of the concierge of crime."