Two Years Later

*Summer*

While the laughter of children echoes from the back gardens, I walk down the

front steps to greet our latest visitors as the car comes to a halt. A servant opens the door and Angela scrambles out, followed by her mother.

“Auntie Sunny”. My daughter cries as she rushes forward and wraps her arms around my waist. Or tries to. I have been increasing for several months now.

I skim my hands over the child’s head, taking care not to mess the two braids that falls on either side of her head and are secured together with a ribbon at the back. “Hello, sweetheart. Are you...