The day had passed in a comfortable rhythm, filled with the usual activities of life in the forest. As the sun dipped lower in the sky, casting long shadows through the trees, Clara found herself in the garden, tending to the herbs she had planted earlier in the season. The earthy scent of the soil mingled with the sweet fragrance of the wildflowers, creating a peaceful atmosphere that calmed her mind.
Lily was nearby, playing with a few of her favorite wooden toys in the grass. Every so often, she would look up from her play and give her mother a bright smile, her eyes sparkling with an awareness that seemed far beyond her years. Clara couldn't help but smile back, her heart swelling with love for her daughter.
As Clara knelt by the garden bed, pulling a few stubborn weeds from around the herbs, Lily suddenly stood up and walked over to her. Clara noticed the serious expression on her daughter's face, and she wiped her hands on her apron before turning her full attention to Lily.
"What's on your mind, sweetheart?" Clara asked gently, brushing a strand of hair out of Lily's eyes.
Lily hesitated for a moment, her small hands fidgeting with the hem of her dress. Finally, she looked up at Clara with a gaze that was both innocent and knowing. "Mama," she began softly, "when will I be a big sister?"
The question hung in the air, and Clara felt her breath catch in her throat. She stared at her daughter, searching Lily's eyes for any sign that she might have overheard something or seen something that had given her the idea. But there was nothing—just the clear, unwavering gaze of a child who seemed to know more than she should.
"Why do you ask that, Lily?" Clara replied carefully, trying to keep her voice steady.
Lily shrugged, as if the answer was obvious. "I just know, Mama. I can feel it. There's a baby in your tummy, isn't there?"
Clara's heart skipped a beat, and she instinctively placed a hand on her abdomen, where a new life might be growing. How could Lily possibly know? It was too early to tell, even for Clara, and yet here was her daughter, speaking with the certainty of someone who had already seen the future.
Unsure of how to respond, Clara pulled Lily into her lap, wrapping her arms around her. "Lily," she began, her voice soft, "sometimes we can feel things before we really know they're true. But it's very early, and we're not sure yet if there's a baby. How did you know?"
Lily leaned her head against Clara's chest, her small hand resting on her mother's stomach. "I can just feel it, Mama. It's like a little light inside you. I'm going to be a big sister, and I'm going to take care of the baby, just like you and Papa take care of me."
Clara felt a lump form in her throat, and she blinked back the tears that welled up in her eyes. She had always known that Lily was special, that her daughter had a deep connection to the world around her. But this—this was something beyond what Clara had expected. It was as if Lily's intuition was growing stronger, guiding her in ways that even Clara couldn't fully understand.
She pressed a kiss to the top of Lily's head, her heart overflowing with love and pride. "You're going to be an amazing big sister, Lily," Clara whispered, her voice thick with emotion. "And if there is a baby, they're going to be so lucky to have you."
Lily looked up at her mother with a smile that could have lit up the entire forest. "I'll be the best big sister ever, Mama. You'll see."
Clara hugged her daughter tightly, feeling the warmth of Lily's little body against hers. In that moment, all her worries and uncertainties melted away, replaced by the simple, profound truth that had been revealed to her: no matter what challenges lay ahead, they would face them together, as a family.
As the sun set and the first stars began to twinkle in the night sky, Clara and Lily walked back to the cabin hand in hand. The forest around them was alive with the sounds of the evening—the rustling of leaves, the chirping of crickets, the distant call of an owl. It was a familiar, comforting symphony that reminded Clara of the life they had built here, of the love that filled every corner of their home.
When they reached the cabin, Aldric was waiting for them on the porch, his eyes lighting up as he saw them approach. "There are my girls," he said with a smile, opening his arms to embrace them both.
Lily ran to her father, wrapping her arms around his legs. "Papa, guess what? I'm going to be a big sister!"
Aldric looked at Clara with a mixture of surprise and understanding, his eyebrows raised in question. Clara nodded slightly, and Aldric's face broke into a wide grin. He scooped Lily up into his arms, spinning her around as she giggled with delight.
"That's wonderful news, Lily," Aldric said, his voice full of warmth. "You're going to be the best big sister in the world."
Clara joined them, wrapping her arms around Aldric and Lily, feeling the love and joy that radiated from both of them. In that moment, Clara knew that whatever the future held—whether it was one child or more—they would embrace it with open hearts. Together, they would face the challenges and the joys of growing their family, just as they had faced everything else in their lives.
As they stood there on the porch, bathed in the soft glow of the evening, Clara felt a deep sense of peace. The journey ahead was still uncertain, but with Aldric and Lily by her side, she knew they would be able to handle anything that came their way. And if there was indeed another life growing inside her, that child would be welcomed with all the love they had to give.