Chapter 28 - Five Years Old Lily turned five.
Grant transformed the old reception hall into something unrecognizable.
The marble floor remained.
But there were toys everywhere.
Colorful balloons.
Crayon drawings.
A table covered with cupcakes.
No investors.
No speeches.
No foundation executives.
Just family and friends.
Lily wore a paper crown.
She ran through the hall.
Then stopped.
A plastic cup tipped over.
Water spread across the floor.
Silence.
For half a second, Lily froze.
Grant saw it.
He walked toward her.
She whispered:
“I spilled.”
“I see.”
She looked frightened.
Grant picked up a towel.
Then handed it to her.
“Want to help?”
Lily looked at him.
“Do I have to?”
“No.”
She smiled.
“I can.”
They cleaned the spill together.
No punishment.
No humiliation.
No one pretending not to see.
When they finished, Lily stood first.
Grant stayed crouched.
She put both hands on his shoulders.
“Daddy.”
“Yeah?”
“You're still on the floor.”
He looked up at her.
May you like
And smiled.
“Not for long.”
