Red knocked on the door and heard Monda asking him to come in. He stepped inside and froze. She was standing by her bed fixing the pillow and smiling at him genuinely. His breathing hitched at the look in her green eyes. She asked him, "What do you think? You like my room?"

He shook his head touched with her excitement, and walked to squat in front of her, "It's beautiful, my princess. You've made a nice job."

She chuckled and grabbed his hand pulling him up, "Come on, lie down and I'm going to introduce you to my friends."

He laughed and sat on her bed. She brought her toys and started naming them to him. He was watching her amused. It seemed she was having fun and enjoying talking to him. It seemed she liked him. He wanted eagerly to touch her, hold her against his chest and breath in her scent. He wanted to touch her brown tresses and fondle her little fingers. As he thought about her fingers, he was surprised by her little hand slapping his, and he startled. She laughed, "Are you still with me?"

He smiled and caressed her lace tresses, "I'll be always with you, my little princess."

She laughed again and jumped to sit on the bed facing him, "You know? I'm happy you are here."

His heart trembled and he tilted his head, "And why is that?"

She shrugged, "Because no one ever visits us. Mammy have no friends. She has her friends at work, but not very friends."

He held her hands with his and smiled, "You accept my friendship with your mum?"

She nodded fast, "Yes. I like you. And I like your eggs."

He laughed from the depth of his heart, and she laughed with him. Sarah stepped into the room and saw them laughing together. She stopped and smiled sadly. Red raised his eyes to her, "Sarah, Monda was just introducing me to her friends."

Monda jumped of the bed and collected her toys tossing them away, "No, Red. They are not my friends anymore."

Red looked at her amazed, and she came to stand by him hugging his arm, "I want you to be my friend."

He ceased breathing and met Sarah's furious eyes hearing Monda talking, "Mummy, can Red be my friend too. I like him so much."

Sarah clenched her teeth, and Red could read the question in her eyes. He shook his head slowly and patted Monda's hand, "Of course mummy won't mind, sweetheart. I know you're the only person she would accept sharing me with."

Monda was still looking at Sarah waiting for her answer. Sarah walked to them and nodded, "Of course, my baby. Red is our dear friend. And he likes you too."

Monda yelled in joy and jumped to hug Sarah tightly, "Thank you, mummy. I love you so much."

Sarah laughed, and held Monda gently, looking at smiling Red. Red shrugged at her, and was surprised by Monda crashing onto his chest hugging him too, "Thank you, Red. You are my first and best friend. I love you so much."

Red felt his breathing ragged, and he closed his eyes sensing the little body between his arms. He rubbed his cheek against her hair repeatedly, and Sarah couldn't hold her tears at the sight before her eyes.

The emotional moment was interrupted by the door bell ringing. Sarah startled, and Red raised his eyes nodding at her, "It must be Dembe. I called him after I took my shower."

They moved out of the room, and Monda asked as she walked holding his hand firmly, "Who's Dembe?"

He replied watching Sarah checking the door hole and opening it, "He's my dearest and most loyal friend. He's more like a young brother or even a son."

Dembe was now in hugging Sarah, "Sarah, my dear friend, how are you?"

Monda scanned the big black guy as her mum kissed his cheek smiling, "Dembe, you big guy, I missed you so much."

Sarah pulled back and looked at him blaming, "How could you let him be away for that long? How could you never check on me for all five years?!"

He gave her a guilty look, "I'm sorry, Sarah. It was his... "

He stopped as he raised his eyes to Red and saw the little girl holding Red's hand for the first time. He looked at Red amazed , then moved his eyes back to Sarah, who smiled and grabbed his hand pulling him in, "Come, meet my little princess, Raymonda Giles."

Dembe raised his eyes shocked, and and stared at the little girl, then at Sarah whispering, "Is she... is she your...?"

Red smiled and nodded confidently, "Yes, Dembe, she is."

Sarah pressed his hand in her grip, "It's a long story, we can talk later."

Dembe nodded and approached the little girl who watched him cautiously. He kneeled and smiled at her, "Hello, little miss Giles."

Red swallowed at the name and gave Sarah a side gaze that she avoided. Monda smiled and gave Dembe her other hand, not leaving Red's grip, "Hello, Dembe. Can I call you Dembe. I like your name."

He chuckled and caressed her nose, "Sure, my friend. I like to hear you say my name. And I would call you Freckles, do you mind?"

Monda chuckled and touched the frickles on her nose, "I like that name. Mummy, are you okay with Dembe calling me Freckles?"

Sarah smiled, "Dembe can call you whatever he likes, my girl. Dembe is a dear friend."

The girl nodded and raised her eyes to Red, "What about you, Red? What will you call me?"

He carried her and she encircled his neck immediately and looked at him playfully and he gave her a loving look, "Sweetheart, your mum gave you the perfect name, I wouldn't find a better name. But if you want me to call you a particular name, I'll be glad to say it."

She kissed his cheek, "Well, I never thought it would be available to choose a nickname for myself, so let me think about it."

He chuckled and nodded, "Okay, Raymonda. But till you figure it out, I'll call you my little princess, if you don't mind of course."

She hugged him, "I'm okay with that, my dearest friend."

He had a deep breath and pressed her gently against his chest, before he puts her down again, "Okay, princess. I'll have to go for now. Dembe and I have a business meeting which we shouldn't be late to."

Monda objected weakly, "Noo, I thought you would spend the day with us. It's Sunday, you don't have to go to work on Sunday."

Red looked at Sarah confused, and Sarah talked to the girl, "Red has a different job than mine, sweetie, he's got to go. I'll take you to the park as I promised."

The girl started whining, and held Red's hand tightly, "No, mummy please. I don't want him to go."

Red kneeled beside the girl and held her shoulders, "It's okay princess. I'll be back soon enough. You go enjoy your time with Sarah in the park, and I'll try to be back by dinner."

Monda raised her tearful eyes to Sarah and begged, "Mummy, pleeeease."

Sarah looked at Red and her daughter confused, till she heard Dembe's calm voice, "We can call Nicolas and postpone that meeting to Tuesday, brother."

Red sighed, "Okay, Dembe. Do it, please. I won't deny my little princess anything she wants."

Dembe nodded and moved to the kitchen to make the call, while Monda hugged Red tightly, "Thank you so much, Red."

He rubbed her back and pressed a soft kiss to her forehead, "You're very welcome, my baby."

Sarah cleared her throat and asked hoarsly, "So, do we need to change our plan for today?"

Red moved Monda a little back, and scanned her happy face, "Of course not. If Raymonda wants to go to the park, then it's the park."

The little girl chuckled and pressed a fast kiss to his cheek, before she looks at Sarah, "Mummy, what shall I wear?"

Sarah smiled, "Get into the bathroom and I'll come to give you a shower and change."

The girl ran to the bathroom, and Sarah looked at Red, "Thank you."

He shrugged, "That's what daddies should do."

She stared at him for a moment, then moved to the small room, "I need to bring her clothes."

Red nodded and followed her with his eyes as she disappeared inside. Dembe came out of the kitchen with a cup of coffee, "I called him. He will be waiting for you Tuesday at noon."

Red sat on the couch and tilted his head gazing Dembe silently. Dembe caught his friend's unspoken words and smiled, "I'm happy for you, Raymond. For both of you. Congratulations, my friend."

Red smiled back, "Thank you, Dembe. Your approval means much for me."

Dembe looked towards the bathroom, "She looks much like Sarah, but her eyes... they are very you. She's a cute girl."

Red nodded, "Yes, she is a smart girl too." He then got up and walked into the kitchen to get himself coffee.

Before they finish it, Monda and Sarah were joining them, and Monda rushed to Red, "I'm ready."

He smiled and got up catching his jacket and fedora, "Then, let's not waste a minute."

She looked at him as he wore his fedora and said, "Wow, I like your hat. Can I wear it?"

Red took it off and put it on her head chuckling, "sure, although I think it might be a little smaller than your size."

She laughed and touched the fedora on her head and asked her mum as they walked out, "Mum, can I get one in my next birthday?"

Red tilted his head thoughtfully and heard Sarah, "Sure, baby. I'll get you one on your birthday."

Monda thanked her and walked hand in hand with Red, till they reached the black Mercedes-Benz and Dembe opened the door for them. Monda gasped astonished and asked, "This is your car?"

Red smiled and pushed her in, "It's yours too, now."

He helped Sarah get in, and closed the door to turn around the car and have his seat beside Raymonda. The little girl smiled and held his hand excited watching as Dembe drove them to the park.

When the car stopped at their destination, Red turned and smiled, "Now, may I have my fedora?"

She nodded and took it off to put it on his head. He chuckled and got out pulling her with him.

Monda walked joyfully between her parents holding their hands in hers. Sarah gave Red a side gaze and found he was watching them amused. She gave him a genuine smile and her heart flattered, they looked like a happy family. Dembe himself was walking behind them having the same idea in his mind. When they reached the kids area he offered, "Dear Monda, why don't you let me take you to the swing, and let mum go have some coffee with Red?"

She looked at him hesitated, then turn her eyes to her mum asking her permission. Sarah smiled and nodded, "It's okay, sweetheart. Dembe will take good care of you. I'll be there with Red."

Monda smiled and held Dembe's hand waving to Red by the other. Red walked with Sarah to a nearby coffee shop and sat down with her. While Dembe took Monda to the kids area. There, he watched her playing with the other kids. He smiled happily to see his best friend's, and technically his brother's daughter, his niece. She was pretty and cute girl. He bought her an ice cream cone from the stall near the slides and walked to her,"Hey, Freckles, I brought you ice cream."

She looked at him hesitated, "Mom always tells me I shouldn't eat anything from street stalls, especially ice cream."

He smiled, "It's okay, I'll tell mum I bought it to you. And next time I'll talk to mum first."

She smiled and took it, licking it playfully, before looking at him, "It's delicious. Mumy never buys it to me."

He nodded, "Mummy is too worried about you. She's just taking care of you her own way."

Monda nodded, "Yeah, she loves me so much, and so I take care of her too."

He smiled and watched her serious face, "Yes, you are a big little girl."

She laughed and ate her ice cream, then asked him curious, "So, how long have you known Red?"

He shrugged, "It's been so long time. Since I was a young boy. I lost my family in a tragic accident, and Red found me. He rescued me, raised me and taught me everything I know now."

She looked at the swing in front of them, "He looks like a kind man. I liked him... I like you too. Mummy told me not to talk to strangers, but I don't feel you are strangers to me."

He held her hand and walked to the swing, "We are your friends, Freckles."

She chuckled and jumped onto the swing and he pushed her high. She asked him to push her higher and she was laughing enjoying her time with him. A few minutes later, she was down walking with him to the carousel and she rode a unicorn and he stood by her as it moved. She was chuckling at his jokes and they were teasing each other, till her face crumbled and she held onto his arm, "Dembe, I don't feel good. "

He looked at her worried, "What's wrong, Freckles?"

She put her hand on her mouth and closed her eyes tightly, "My stomach, it hurts."

He carried her and jumped off the carousel before it stops. He put her down and leaned to her, "It's okay, sweetie, you're going to feel better soon. Maybe it's just the game..."

She cut him off by running to the nearest trash can and throwing up in it. He followed her immediately and asked her with extreme worry, "Monda, are you okay?"

She cried and bent forward, "Mummy, I want my mummy."

He got the phone of his pocket as he carried her and ran back to their car. The girl was sobbing when he heard Red's voice in the phone, so he spoke, "Raymond, to the car, now. It's Monda."