Chapter 47

Now that she thought about it, Diana really did look just like Dion. So, even when holding Diana and doting on her, Lisbeth would often be reminded of Dion.

Whenever she thought of Dion, her hands would move absentmindedly. When she thought of him, Lisbeth often found herself unable to do anything. And if her mood sank while thinking about him, Diana would always notice and ask, “Mommy, why are you sad?” When Diana asked that, Lisbeth could only smile gently in response.

When Lisbeth had finished about half of the flower crown, Diana finally returned after quite a while. She was carrying another armful of flowers, just like before. Her face was even more flushed than earlier, and sweat had formed on her forehead and under her nose. Seeing the flower crown Lisbeth was making, Diana cheered.

“It’s so pretty!”

“Is it? Then I’d better hurry and finish it so I can put it on you, Diana.”

“Mommy, after you make the flower crown, let’s play house.”

“Shall we? I would love that.”

Lisbeth moved her hands a little faster. As she focused on the flower crown, Diana chattered away.

“But earlier, there was a man standing outside the fence.”

“A man? Wasn’t it Mr. Ollie? I don’t think he’s brought the vegetables yet today.”

“No, it wasn’t. Mr. Ollie has a beard and a big belly like this. But that man didn’t have a beard, and he didn’t have a belly either.”

Diana knew the faces of all the people who came to this house. Lisbeth’s expression grew serious as she set aside the flower crown and asked again.

“Was it someone you didn’t know?”

“Yes I’d never seen him before.”

“Did the man talk to you, Diana?”

“Um… No. But he stared at me for a long time and then left.”

Lisbeth jumped up from her seat. She ushered Diana into the house and called out loudly for Becky.

“Becky, could you watch Diana for a bit? She’s been sweating, so please wash her face and help her change her clothes.”

“Yes, Madam!”

Becky’s voice came from inside the house. Lisbeth gave Diana a gentle smile.

“Go wash up and change your clothes, just for a moment, okay?”

“What about the flower crown?”

“Mommy will finish it. Go on inside and wash up with Becky.”

Diana pouted, dissatisfied with something, but she still obediently listened to her mother. After Diana went inside, Lisbeth closed the door and stood with her back to it, as if guarding it. She took a deep breath, then walked toward the garden where Diana had gone to pick flowers. The hot late-summer sun was blinding. She shaded her eyes with her hand as she walked along the fence.

In a house where only women lived, the presence of an unfamiliar man was threatening, even if he appeared only briefly. She walked on, tense. She didn’t know who that person was, but she hoped he was just a passerby, and that he was already gone.

She walked all the way around the fence, but couldn’t find even a shadow of a stranger. Lisbeth’s shoulders slumped in relief and exhaustion.

“That’s a relief…”

Sweat had gathered on her forehead. Fanning herself with her hand, Lisbeth returned to where she had been making the flower crown. She convinced herself it must have just been a passerby who glanced at Diana. Her hands busily resumed making the flower crown.

That night, Lisbeth lay in bed with Diana. Young Diana refused to sleep unless she was next to Lisbeth. She loved to fall asleep while stroking the soft skin inside Lisbeth’s elbow.

The two of them lay facing each other, chatting softly. Thanks to the moonlight streaming in through the window, Lisbeth could faintly see Diana’s face.

“Mommy, but…”

“Yes?”

“About that man from earlier…”

The man. She must have meant the one who had been standing outside the fence.

“Were you scared because he was a stranger?”

“No, I wasn’t scared! I am brave!”

“Really? Then why?”

“That man… Who is he?”

“I don’t know either, sweetheart.”

Why was she so curious about the stranger? 

As Lisbeth wondered, Diana burrowed into her arms.

“Mommy.”

“Yes, what is it?”

“…Never mind.”

Seeming a bit shy, Diana rubbed her forehead against Lisbeth’s chest. Lisbeth gazed at her daughter for a moment, then hugged her tightly.

“Are you curious about that man?”

“Mm…”

From the way Diana trailed off, it seemed she was interested in the unfamiliar man. Diana, who usually only cared about children like herself, was now curious about an adult—especially a man—which felt strange to Lisbeth.

Lisbeth couldn’t think of anything else to say, so she just patted Diana gently. It wasn’t long before her daughter fell asleep, but Lisbeth herself couldn’t sleep easily.

The next day, Lisbeth didn’t let Diana go outside. The appearance of a strange man had left her on edge. In this house of just three women, a stranger was a threat. She sat by the window, continuing the lacework she had started the day before. She told herself that if anyone suspicious loitered nearby, she would chase them away or call for help.

But as noon passed and afternoon wore on, the stranger Diana had seen didn’t appear. Perhaps he really had just been passing by. Lisbeth smiled in relief.

Just then, Diana approached Lisbeth and clung to her knees.

“Mommy! Let’s play together now!”

“All right, what do you want to play?”

“Let’s play hide-and-seek!”

After thinking for a moment, Lisbeth nodded. The two of them went out to the yard, hand in hand. Diana, delighted, ran ahead and shouted,

“Mommy, you’re it!”

“You can only hide inside the fence!”

“Okay!”

The thought of Diana hiding under the bushes made Lisbeth smile. She closed her eyes lightly and began to count. After counting to about thirty, she called out,

“Are you hidden?”

“I’m hidden!”

Lisbeth barely managed to stifle her laughter. Even though it was hide-and-seek, young Diana always answered when asked, giving away her position. Sometimes it was harder to pretend not to find her.

Lisbeth looked around, pretending to search for her daughter. Is she here? Or maybe here? Every time she called out near where Diana’s voice had come from, a bush would rustle and shake. She must be in there. Sure enough, the hem of the child’s yellow dress peeked out from under the bush.

“Let’s see, where could my little one be?”

Rustle, rustle. Lisbeth’s voice was laced with laughter.

“When I catch you, I’m going to hug you tight and tickle you so much.”

Then, sneaking over quietly, she grabbed her daughter hiding in the bush.

“Found you!”

“Kyaa!”

Diana squealed with laughter and threw herself into Lisbeth’s arms, her cheeks flushed with excitement.