327 Visiting the unusual library (1/2)
The rest of the time went quiet as Lillian kept the television switched on for Lia to watch while trying to reach for Giselle again.
The sun began to set along the horizon to illuminate the city's holiday spirit. Bright lights followed the streets as the wind picked up its evening routine to play twister. Lillian waited in the kitchen to keep trying for Giselle when a loud screech came from the living room, sending her to immediate panic. Rushing to aid, she found Lia's head stretch to the high ceiling, gaping at the connecting library that spans across the hallway.
”What is it?” Lillian called to worry if something happened to Lia or her beloved library, gawking keenly at both.
Lia pointed to exclaim how grand the library appears and how broad it stretched across with the abundance of books filling the space.
Withdrawing with a heavy sigh, Lillian eased to catch herself a break.
”Jesus! Lia! I thought something happened to you- or there!” she took another short glimpse of her library.
Lia realized her clamorous expression and admitted that she did fell astounded from exploring the house to her boredom. Her eyes still took unrestricted peeks at her discovery.
”Do you want to take a look-” Lillian proposed to hear Lia's reply cut through her voice.
”I do!”
”Alright! Let's go,” she said to accompany the active little girl.
Excited as she got closer, Lia's pace increased to her enthusiasm, leaving Lillian on her tail. Upon reaching, she let out another loud shriek.
”Calm down! You are here!”
Finally catching up to the lively little human, Lillian joined to keep an eye and make sure Lia doesn't stumble upon anything irrelevant to her age. As they moved one after the other, the little one viewed the collection of books in comfort and often questioned the cover pages that caught her interest.
”Do you like to read?” Lillian asked randomly to pass the time.
Lia shared her own collection of books with pride when a specific book cover caught her attention.
A copy of E. B. White's Charlotte's Web- Lia froze on the spot to admit recognizing the book.
”Did you read it already, or haven't you?”
”Dad read it to me when I was little,” Lia said to reminisce those nights Ethan dotingly read to his daughter before going to sleep.
”So, I believe you already have it in your collection!” Lillian ensures to move on, but she found Lia left behind. It has come to the light that Lia doesn't own a copy because the book remained with her father. Later, she leaves the spot to escalate a few more steps and overtakes Lillian to return to sightseeing.
”Take it!”
Halting abruptly, Lia turned to see Lillian Grey pick the copy of Charlotte's Web and handed it to her.
”It's your first time in my house, and I want to applaud your brave attempt to come and seek me, though- I don't support the way you did behind your mother!”
Lia received the copy with a sad frown and asked if it was okay.
Lillian let her have it since it is a children's novel in the first place.
”I'm too grown for such stories! You can have it!” she says to lead again.
It was then Lillian heard her phone buzz to a stopping sound.
”Ah,”
It was a text message from Giselle, followed by an incoming call.
”Lia- I'll be over here if you need me anything,” she said to dart to her office.
**
”I just reached home to find your missed calls and text messages!”
Giselle broke the casual greetings, jumping to her fear.
”Hello, Giselle!” Lillian gestures gladly.
”Is it true?”
”I said, Hi!”
”Lillian? I'm asking if my daughter is at your place!”
Catching the panic in her cry, Lillian admits. She also called Lia to get her voice to reach her mother's ears. Giselle heard a distant tone of little Lia talking. A sigh of relief filled her anxiety, easing her down.
”Why is she there?” Giselle intruded immediately.