Lizzy flashed a gummy, toothless grin, as if she truly understood every word around her.
A faint white line glimmered along her bottom gums—her first teeth would break through any day now. She’d met so many people thanks to her dad that strangers didn’t faze her one bit; in fact, she loved all the attention.
Mr. Nettleton chuckled, “Your godmother is talking to you again, Lizzy. That make you happy, huh?”
Milka just blinked. When had she suddenly acquired a goddaughter?
Mars jumped in, “Conner, Milka’s godmother title is the real deal—she went straight from the airport to pick out gifts for Lizzy. No backing out now!”
Annie strolled in, laughing, “Mars already gave his present, and the godmother’s still shopping? Someone’s trying to win favorite!”
At Annie’s voice, Lizzy perked up, twisting her head this way and that, eagerly searching for her mom.
Most little girls hardly got to see their dads, but Lizzy saw hers every day—when it came to finding her mom, she counted on him.
“Ahhh—oooh—ha!” Lizzy hollered at the top of her lungs, calling for Annie.
Annie walked over, arms outstretched, and Lizzy immediately reached for her, wriggling with excitement to be scooped up.
Settled in her mom’s arms, Lizzy looked up with a triumphant smile, eyes fixed adoringly on Annie’s face.
Annie blushed under her daughter’s gaze. “You little rascal, do you even remember who Mommy is?”
Lizzy stuck out her tiny tongue and giggled, “Ah oo oo~”
Annie, still cuddling Lizzy, waved Milka over to the couch. She sat down beside her, ready for a chat. “You spend a lot of time in Havenbrook, right? Ever run into Mia?”
“You mean Henry’s mom?” Milka asked, having heard plenty about that family and its ‘legendary’ woman.
Annie laughed, “Exactly. So you’ve met little sweetie already? I haven’t seen that kid in ages. Back when I was at the Havenbrook PD, if I missed him, they’d just send him over to the station. Now that he’s started school, he’s even harder to catch. I wonder if he’s still as mischievous as ever.” Annie grinned, remembering her godson sneaking around for her stash of lollipops.
“He’s still a handful! But he’s adorable,” Milka said, smiling at the memory. “The first time I met him, he saved me from a rose I didn’t want to take home—I was wondering what to do with it, and he just plucked it away. I was so thankful! And there was that time Mars tried to scare me with a cicada…”
Annie laughed, “If Mia knows you’re back, she won’t sit still—she’ll drag you out to hang out for sure. Her, Molly, and Anya—those three together are always a riot.”
“You know Anya too? That sweet, sensible little girl?” Milka asked, and soon she and Annie were lost in conversation.

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