The Game Of Redemption (#2)

Chapter-2 A meeting in the park (Contd)

"See? I told you," Lisa said, skimping around the gondola sky ride. "I mean look at the view, it's so f*****g beautiful," Damien stared out of the box at far and wide stretching mountains and greenery and the memories that he tries so hard to hold back came flooding back in his mind again. 

Hazel would have been fascinated. She was a mountain person while he was a beach person. They had a big debate about it that ended up in making out on the couch followed by what always followed. Damien took a deep breath and tried to drive some peace from the beauty of nature around. Stowe indeed was a beautiful place. She would have liked it here. 

"Okay, we have a big itinerary to cover," Lisa announced. "But I think we can spare the hiking for tomorrow, after the meeting. How about ziplining? Oooh...the heights are crazy s**t!" 

"I sure like that," Richard agreed, high-fiving her before turning to him, expectantly. 

"I think I will spare my heart, thank you," Damien answered. "You guys go ahead. I will pass. I don't fancy going around hanging from some flimsy cables thousand feet above the ground," 

"Oh, so what are you going to do?" Richard asked and Damien shrugged. 

"Walk around, the shops and streets are beautiful, get some pictures," He answered and glanced at Lisa who was clearly disappointed. "You guys go have your weird fun, I will meet you for dinner," 

"Okay, cool," Richard nodded his head and Lisa followed. 

Damien gave them a wave before heading his way. He felt no enthusiasm towards things that he used to love before. For the most part, he felt the need to be left alone. But he knew his life can't go on like that. How much longer will he keep looking for her? Six years was long enough to forget someone but he was nowhere even close. He walked around the street with it's pretty shops reminding him of Christmas Carol for some reason, it's quaint but classy restaurants and coffee shops. He found what seemed like a park to him and flopped down on one of the benches under the shade of some huge tree with orange flowers blowing around in the soft cool breeze. There were kids playing around, and people lounging about and he just sat and watch, letting his mind drift away. 

'You have got until we get back from the trip to let the memories of her fade and for your to start a new chapter," 

They have got like two days until they go back. So does that mean he have just two days before he really have to let Hazel go? Was he even ready to? Or was he even ready to let someone else in? He liked Lisa for sure but just as a good friend. Was it even a good idea to get involved with her when he literally have nothing to give to her at all? What kind of relationship will they have? He couldn't even kiss her, what else could he expect from himself  then? But she was right too. He need something or someone to move on from her and he has tried practically everything that he could. Maybe Lisa can love him enough to make up for what she gave him? Damien sighed, it was like Hazel has left, taking his soul with her. He was not ready to let her go but he was exhausted from feeling this way. 

"Excuse me?" A sweet, voice said and Damien dragged his eyes around. He didn't see anyone at first and then he spotted the small creature staring up at him. Oh. She was so sweet, big dark eyes gazing up at him, long dark wavy hairs tied in a ponytail, a glittery pink bag on her back. She was adorable and even though Damien wasn't much of a kids person, he found himself smiling at her. 

"Yeah?" He asked as she appraised him curiously. 

"Do you mind if I sit here?" She asked and he shook his head. 

"Go right ahead," He answered, shifting a little even though he was pretty sure there was plenty of room for her small frame anyway. "Do you need some help, kid?" 

"My name is not kid," She answered, distractedly, surprising him as she placed her bag down and then climbed up on the bench. Not without a struggle though. 

"Oh, so what's your name then?" He asked, stifling his smile. 

"Summer and you shouldn't talk to me," She replied, pulling her bag on her lap as if there were million dollars stacked inside. 

"Why not?" Damien inquired and she turned her big dark eyes that reminded him of his to his face. They appraised him in a way that made him a bit uncomfortable. 

"Mommy told me that I shouldn't talk to strangers," She replied, very serious and Damien nodded his head. 

"Well, in that case you shouldn't be the one talking to me," He answered. She stared at him for a moment and eventually chose to ignore him as she pulled out a big sketch book and some crayons.

 Wow. That was insulting. They both fell silent but Damien watched from the corner of his eyes as she started drawing something, that looked like a woman to him. And he will admit it given her age, she was pretty good. He was soon lost in watching what the little girl was doing and was incessantly tempted to run his hand through her long hairs. She smelt like fruits and milk combined, it was a weird mix but she smelt sweet. For no reason, he was suddenly reminded of Hazel again. Maybe it was her brunette hair, or the fixated look that she gave him. 

"Why are you staring at my drawing?" Summer asked, puckering her small pink lips as she  him. turned her eyes to his face.

"It's my eyes, I can look at whatever I like," He retorted and she scowled at him before turning back to her work. He was surprised. He had no idea kids scowl too. He never thought they could think that deep to muster a scowl on their faces. 

"No offence, but why does your daddy doesn't have a face? I mean eyes and stuff," He asked, curious after watching her draw what looked like a family portrait to him for the last thirty minutes. 

"Not stuff..." She shook her head in a disapproving manner. "Eyes and nose and lips. You cannot have eyes and stuff," Damien was impressed and a little baffled. This tiny person was continuously scolding him. 

"Okay, fine...why don't your daddy have eyes and nose and lips?" He asked. To Damien's bewilderment, her face fell and she stared down at her tiny hands. Oh no, what did he say wrong? Oh God, please don't start crying, he begged inwardly. He had literally no idea how to calm a child down. He has never ever dealt with kids. 

"I have never seen him...so I don't know how he looks," She whispered and Damien's heart sank. Poor girl. She was too young to have lost her father. 

"Mommy says, daddy is too busy to come and see us," She continued and Damien relaxed. Okay, not dead then. He still felt bad for her. He could feel her because he too knew how it felt. He hasn't seen his mother either. But unlike this little girl, he has seen her pictures. 

"I am sure mommy is saying the truth. Mommy never lies," Damien answered softly, tempted to pat her head. She gazed up at him as if looking for her answers on his face. 

"Mommy says daddy loves me. Why doesn't he come home if he loves me?" She asked. Oh crap, now how the f**k was he supposed to answer that? He had no idea where her father was, hell...he just met her thirty minutes ago. How would he know why her father doesn't come home? And honestly, how can someone not come to see such a sweet, adorable little daughter? He was not a fatherly type but even he felt a weird pull to her inside him, a feeling of calmness as she stared at him with those dark almond eyes. 

"Oh, well...daddy's have to work, you know? To make money. I am sure your daddy is working really really hard to earn lots of money for you. With that he can buy you chocolates and toys and...I don't know gifts," He answered, hoping it made some sense to her. Summer stared at him and shook her head, her long ponytail bobbing to and fro. 

"I don't want gifts. I want daddy," She answered. "Mommy buys me gifts and chocolates. Mommy misses daddy too. Can you ask him to come back if you see him?" 

"Oh...well, of course. If I see him, I will scold him and tell him that Summer misses him so he should get back to her as soon as possible," He replied with a smile. 

"No, you can't scold my daddy..." She shook her head and looked at him in a way that he presumed to be a glare. Damien stifled his smile and nodded his head. 

"Okay, well...I won't. I will just tell him to get back to you as fast as he can," He answered. 

"Can you ask him to come and see me before my birthday? It's next next day..." She answered and Damien frowned. Next next day? Oh, she means day after tomorrow. 

"Of course," Damien gave her a thumbs up and he really felt bad for lying to her. "I will tell Daddy to try and see you on your birthday," Summer smiled at him, a smile so bright, revealing two dimples on both her cheeks that Damien's heart swell with an unknown happiness that he hadn't felt in years. The way he used to feel when she would smile at him. Before he could say anything, there was a buzzing nose and he was literally amused to see a phone on her. How old was she? He didn't even know what a phone was when he was her age. But then again, he was born a thousand years ago. 

"Yes, mommy," She muttered, looking very serious. Damien watched her and couldn't help but marvel at how adorable she was. He looked away immediately as she was done talking and felt dismayed as she started to pack her stuff. 

"Mommy wants to take me shopping for birthday," She said before he could ask. "Bye..." 

"Are you sure you can go alone? Where's your mommy?" Damien asked looking around. 

"Mommy works at a...," She trailed off and frowned, instead she fidget in her bag and pulled out a card. "She works here," Damien stared at the card and realized she worked at a nearby restaurant. He saw it on his way here. So she was unable to pronounce restaurant. He wasn't surprised, it was an intimidating word to him too in his younger years.

"Oh. Can you go alone?" He asked and Summer nodded her head, climbing down. 

"Don't forget to tell daddy to come home, please, sir," She said, doe like eyes looking at him with utmost hope. "And please tell him that Summer loves daddy too," 

"I will," He smiled, his heart getting heavy for no reason. "Bye, Summer..." 

"Bye!" She waved her tiny hand and scampered off towards the gate. But then she paused and walked back to him. He stared at her as she shuffled in her bag and pulled something out. To his surprise, she took his hand in hers and he was amused to see how tiny it was compared to him. Fascinating. She placed a chocolate in his hand and smiled. 

"What is that for?" He asked. 

"Mommy says eating chocolate helps to shoo away sadness," She replied. "Mommy eats chocolate when she misses daddy and cries," 

"You think I am sad?" He asked, thrown and she nodded her tiny head. 

"A little," She answered and ushered him to lean down with her tiny hand. Damien frowned and did as she asked and to his amusement, she placed a kiss on his cheek. He was so thrown that for a moment he was frozen. He felt so weird inside him, an insane pull and a weird ache that it knocked the wind out of him. 

"Bye bye..." She smiled at him before turning on her heels and running away. Damien stared after her, his heart feeling so heavy like someone close to him, like a part of him just left. He stared down at the chocolate in his hand and he knew he needed to see her again. Why? He had no idea. He stared at the seat beside him and wondered....

Where was her father?

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A/N: Hello dear readers! Good morning to you all and good night to those who are at the good night area if that makes sense. Here's the next update. I don't know why this chapter made me cry because it was supposed to be sweet but nevertheless, I hope you like it. Summer and Damien meets finally. It will be a revelation when he finds out that she was his daughter. Also a new character introduced. Let's see what problem she brings here.

 Thank you so much for all your support guys! Lol the group is flooded with recommendations for TGOL. Given, I have never had my works recommended before I am so happy that I might end up getting diabetes. Also for my new readers here, I update daily. So you will get update everyday. I can't tell you the time because I have no idea who lives where. But you will get update everyday. If I don't update I will let you guys know here that I will be missing out a day. I hope you enjoy this update. 

Thank you so much...