Chapter 55
(Gustave's POV)
Chrissy gulped down the glass of milk that Erin had given her. Her tears were gone, but her cheeks were still pink and eyes still puffy from crying. I softly stroked her back as she reached up to set down the empty glass. Erin offered her a cookie, and she took it only to quietly nibble on the edge of it. She turned herself around in her seat and crawled over into my lap. I softly wrapped my arms around her and kissed her head as I started to rock her back and forth.
"Daddy?" she asked quietly.
"Yes, Chrissy?"
"Who is that lady in that picture?"
Both Erin and I turned to look. "That was your mother," I said quietly as I stared at it for a moment.
Chrissy reached out towards it. Erin took it off of the shelf and placed the frame in Chrissy's hands. Elaina's soft eyes looked back at her. Chrissy gazed at the photo for a while before wrapping her arms around the frame and clutching it tightly to her chest. Chrissy concealed her face in my shoulder, and I slowly rocked her in my arms as she clung to the picture of her mother.
"I'll give you two a moment alone," Erin said softly patting my shoulder before she scampered off to check on Alex.
Chrissy only shifted slightly in my lap as I held her close. "Your mother was very beautiful," I whispered, "and she was kind. She was the kindest person I ever met. She wanted so much to meet you. You're all she talked about."
"Then why didn't she stay?" Chrissy asked softly as she curled closer to me.
I felt a tear prick my eye as I shook my head. "It was just her time to leave the world, my darling, but you'll see her again one day if you play your cards right. I'm sure she's waiting for you."
Much to my joy, everyone seemed to disappear for the day. I suppose everyone knew that Chrissy and I needed some time alone. I spent the day holding her, telling her about myself and her mother, showering her with the fatherly love that she so richly deserved. Later that night, she fell asleep with her head on my shoulder as I was telling her a story. I took her and placed her in my bed. I knew I would have to find her a new bed and clothes. Her room hadn't changed since Elaina and I had made it into a nursery for a baby. Sad to say that Chrissy was not a baby anymore, but her room would still be fit for a princess – my little princess.
In the meantime, I put her to bed in one of my old shirts and softly took the picture frame that Chrissy was still clutching to and placed it on the nightstand facing her sleeping face. I kissed her head before timidly heading downstairs, my head still peeking through the doorframe as I shut the door quietly.
When I returned downstairs, I found Erin lying half asleep in the arm chair next to the sofa in the living room. I touched her shoulder, and she jumped up.
"I didn't mean to startle you," I said softly as she rubbed her eyes.
"It's quite alright," she mumbled tiredly. "Did you need something?"
"No," I said gently with a shrug. "I was just kind of wondering where you've been all day." I sat on the arm of the chair as she slowly woke herself up.
"I've just been spending time with Alex. I thought you would want some time to clear things up with your daughter."
"I did, and thank you for that."
"It's nothing," she yawned.
I softly kissed her forehead and brushed a stray hair out of her face. Her eyes were barely staying open. It was almost as if she had weights on her eyelids. I smiled and gently picked her up in my arms. I carried her and placed her in her bed.
As I was about to leave her be, she grabbed my shirt pulling me back around. "Yes?" I whispered as I looked over her sleepy face.
"I just wanted you to know," she said softly, "that if you ever want to get married, I would marry you."
I smiled. I wasn't sure if she was saying that because she was half-dreaming or if she really meant it. I softly pecked her lips and pulled her covers up to her chin. "I'll take you up on that offer some time. Just get some sleep right now."
I shut her door and stepped out to the living area. The house was oddly quiet with everyone asleep. I sighed in time with the clock ticking as I folded up the blanket that someone had left strewn across the couch. Something hit me in that moment as I looked around my house. I had a family that I had to take care of. Sure, it still wasn't totally complete. I would marry Erin when the time was right. I would have a wife, my child, and my Alex who I was so terribly fond of. Things wouldn't be perfect. Nothing ever is, but I loved them. I would do anything in my power to ensure their happiness until I couldn't provide for them anymore.
