Veronica's arm shot out instinctively, catching Sabrina before she could tumble to the floor.
As the girl fell against her chest, a familiar scent wafted to Veronica's nostrils—Niall's perfume, unmistakable and persistent.
Setting Sabrina's backpack on the nearby couch, Veronica watched as her daughter made a beeline for the bed. She reached out, gently catching Sabrina's arm. "Have you showered today?"
"Yes, I did," Sabrina replied.
The fact that Niall's fragrance still clung to her daughter's clothes after a shower could only mean one thing: either Niall was living with Cullen, or they'd both just dropped Sabrina off but hadn't bothered to come inside to greet her.
"You're sweaty," Veronica observed neutrally. "Go change into something fresh."
Sabrina paused, recalling how she'd been running around after her shower. With a compliant nod, she disappeared into the bathroom to change her clothes.
Meanwhile, Veronica returned to organizing her research materials, her mind only half-focused on the task.
When Sabrina emerged from the bathroom, she excitedly pulled something from her backpack. "Mom, look what I got!" She held up a bunny-shaped light wand, her eyes sparkling with childish delight.
Veronica glanced up from her work, her hands freezing momentarily. "This is..."
"Dad bought it for me!" Sabrina beamed. "Isn't it adorable?"
Veronica managed a short nod.
Without warning, Sabrina darted across the room and flipped off the lights, then switched on the wand. The soft glow illuminated her excited features in the darkness. "See how pretty it is when the lights are off?"
"Yes, it's beautiful," Veronica agreed. "You must really like it."
"I love it!" Sabrina declared. Then, reaching back into her backpack, she produced a second light wand. "Dad got me two—this one's for you! Can we go for a walk downstairs with them, Mom?"
"I've already showered, Sa," Veronica declined gently. "And you've just changed. Let's not risk getting dirty again. Maybe tomorrow?"
The enthusiasm drained from Sabrina's face, her shoulders slumping slightly. "Oh..."
A flicker of recognition passed through her eyes—it had been over a month since she'd last seen her mother.
Noticing that Veronica wasn't particularly enthusiastic about the light wand, Sabrina tucked it away. Then, without warning, she rushed over and embraced Veronica tightly. "Mom..."
Setting her book aside, Veronica met her daughter's gaze. "What is it?"
Instead of answering, Sabrina kicked off her shoes and burrowed deeper into Veronica's embrace.
"I missed you so much, Mom," she whispered, wrapping her small arms around Veronica's neck and peppering her cheek with kisses. "Mom, you smell so good," she added with childish delight.
Veronica tightened her hold on Sabrina, savoring the moment. After a few seconds, she gently traced the contours of her daughter's face.
She noticed subtle changes—a hint of maturity emerging in Sabrina's features. The resemblance to Cullen seemed more pronounced than before.
Lowering her gaze, Veronica spotted Sabrina's bare feet. She carefully placed her daughter on the bed and tucked the blanket around her feet. "How long will you be staying this time?"
Sabrina shrugged. "I don't know. Dad didn't say anything. He just told me to wait for him here."
Veronica nodded silently, processing this information.
Suddenly, Sabrina's eyes lit up with remembrance. She scrambled off the bed and dug through her backpack. "Mom, I got you something when I was abroad!"
She triumphantly produced a crystal ball, holding it out to Veronica with hopeful eyes.
Veronica realized it had been quite some time since Sabrina had given her any gifts—not since she'd grown close to Niall.
Taking the crystal ball with measured composure, Veronica offered a small smile. "Thank you, Sa. I like it very much."