Chapter 1863

I glanced down at Maeve. She was nestled in my arms and hadn't quite caught on yet. She was just staring at me with those clear, sparkling eyes. Maybe… maybe it wasn't so bad after all. … That day, I was sitting alone by the bay window, reading a book. Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Maeve had climbed out of her cradle and was now staring directly at me. "Are you hungry?" I asked. Maeve seemed to be trying to say something, but her baby babble was still incoherent. After setting my book aside, I got up to grab the formula the maid had prepared earlier. Just as I was about to mix it, a soft, tentative voice stopped me in my tracks. "Lewi!" Maeve said it with great effort. I froze mid-motion and stared at Maeve with my eyes full of certainty. "Mavy, what did you just say?" "Lewi!" This time, her tiny voice was firmer, and her eyes shone with a seriousness far beyond her years. "Levi?" I asked. "Lewi!" She repeated, and the syllables came out clearer than before. At