celestialbody
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Esme Mensah
C
atching Maisel in her arms, Esme couldnโt help but let a small, genuine smile form on her face. The excitable greeting made her heart swell with affection for her daughter, and the warmth of the embrace melted away the lingering nerves she had carried with her.Esmeโs gaze lifted, meeting Graysonโs. She could see the conflict in his expression, the unsaid words that hung between them, but there was no anger, no resentment in his eyes. She extended her soft smile to him as well, feeling the pull between themโan unspoken understanding. Complicated, but comforting in its own way.
She nodded along to Maiselโs chatter, letting herself be gently dragged further into the living room by her daughterโs surprisingly strong little hand.
"Of course we can watch Encanto, Maisy,"
Esme said, smiling as she followed her toward the couch. "Just let me set these things down first."
Maisel giggled, jumping onto the soft cushions and pulling a blanket around her as she settled in, ready to start their movie, now with both of her parents.
Esme started toward the kitchen, the scent of hot chocolate pulling her in as Grayson followed behind her. She set her bags on the counter but didnโt start unpacking, knowing that Maisel would begin her usual gentleโand sometimes not-so-gentleโreminders to hurry up if she took too long.
She looked over as Grayson spoke softly, taking in the steam rising from the kettle and the rich scent of the cocoa mix already dissolving in the mugs he had prepared before she arrived. Her eyes flicked back to him just as he invited her to join them. The smile on his face was small but real, something she hadnโt seen from him in a while. It warmed her chest in a familiar wayโa comforting reminder of the man sheโd known before everything had changed. She smiled back, her own grin spreading naturally across her face.
Esme moved to make herself a cup of cocoa to match theirs.
She wasnโt sure what more there was to sayโsometimes words felt so small in moments like this. But Graysonโs invitation, simple as it was, made her feel like she didnโt have to try to put everything into words. But she tried to anyway.
"Iโd love to,"
she said, the words coming a beat later, her tone light and affectionate. She wanted to say more, to express everything she feltโhow much she wanted to do for him, how much she wished she could take backโbut for now, just sitting down and being together felt like the best thing she could do for him.She stepped closer, her hand reaching out, pausing briefly as doubt flickered in her eyes. Taking a small breath, she extended her hand fully, gently resting it over his for a momentโjust long enough to offer support, or at least, she hoped it would be seen that way, rather than feeling awkward or out of place. Quickly, she pulled her hand away and turned her gaze elsewhere.
"C'mon, before she really get's going"
With the cocoa cups ready, she made her way back to the living room, ushering in the mugs on a tray to set on the coffee table. Maisel was waiting for them, already half-lying on the couch, fully settled into her blanket cocoon. As Esme sat beside her, she gave Grayson one last smile, grateful for the simplicity of this eveningโa family, a movie, and the quiet comfort of being together.
For now, it was all she needed.
And she was thankful that he seemed willing to let her share that with them.
tags:
Grayson
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