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    The man reached us and gave me a polite nod. “Sorry my daughter’s bothering you.”


    “Tata’s not a bother. Tata’s cute,” Tessa shot back, puffing up her cheeks like she was about to start


    a protest.


    Iughed,pletely charmed. “Tessa’s very cute. I like her a lot.”


    “Tata likes her too,” she added, still a little garbled but proud.


    I patted her head gently, then turned to her dad. “I thought her parents were, like, both foreign?”


    His expression darkened for a split second–so fast, I almost missed it.


    Realizing I’d probably overstepped, I quickly apologized. “I’m sorry…”


    He just nodded, then held out his hand to Tessa. “Come on, sweetheart, we have to board the


    ne.”


    “But she shoulde with us!” Tessa pleaded, clutching my hand like we were already BFFs.


    I was about to exin that we weren’t on the same flight when Wayne showed up, holding our


    boarding passes.


    He nced around, taking in the scene, and extended a hand to Tessa’s dad. “Hey there.”


    The dad shook his hand, smiling politely, while Tessa, totally uninterested in the adult stuff, tugged


    on my hand again. “Let’s go!”


    “Tessa,” her dad said softly, “this miss isn’t on the same flight as us.”


    “She can change it!” Tessa insisted, like she was some kind of expert on flight rebooking. I couldn’t


    help but smile–this kid was already a pro traveler.


    With her golden curls and fair skin, she looked like a little doll, but her deep, dark eyes hinted at her


    mixed heritage.


    “Tessa, don’t be naughty,” her dad said gently, though you could tell he wasn’t really mad. She just


    gave him a look and turned her hopeful eyes back to me.


    “Miss, Tata wants to sit on the ne with you, Tessa said, her big eyes full of hope. How was I


    supposed to say no to that?


    I nced at her dad, who gave me an apologetic smile. “Sorry, she’s a bit headstrong.”


    He picked Tessa up, giving me a quick nod before turning to leave.


    As they walked away, Tessa craned her neck to keep looking at me, her little voice carrying over,


    “Tata. will miss you…


    I waved, smiling. I’ll miss you too,‘ I thought.


    I kept watching them until they disappeared into the crowd.


    People always say every encounter is a blessing, and for some reason, meeting Tessa felt like


    something more–a weird, unexpected connection.


    “You like kids, don’t you?” Wayne’s voice snapped me out of my thoughts.


    “Not really,” I said, sitting back down.


    “You were all smiles talking to that little girl,” he pointed out, catching me off guard.


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    He was right. Talking to Tessa had made me forget about everything else, even if just for a


    moment.


    I shrugged, not answering. Wayne sat beside me. “So, when you get married, would you want a son


    or a daughter?”


    I hadn’t really thought about it, but Tessa’s adorable face popped into my mind. “I think I’d want a


    kid like her.”


    Then it hit me. “Preferably mixed, too.”


    Wayne paused, then chuckled. “So, you’re gonna marry a foreigner, huh?”


    I yfully pouted. “If things with Hayden don’t work out, maybe I’ll just stay single. Or, yeah, maybe


    I’ll find myself a foreign husband.”


    Wayne went quiet for a beat. Once I started, though, I couldn’t seem to stop. “Tall, handsome. Our


    kids would be gorgeous.”


    “Rea,” Wayne interrupted, his tone serious now, “are you just saying this to be spiteful?”


    I looked at him, still smiling. “Nope. I’m dead serious.”


    His normally chill expression tightened as he pressed his lips together. Then he said quietly. “If you


    can


    make things work with someone from your own culture, it won’t be any easier with a foreign guy.


    Was he trying to discourage me?


    But the more he pushed, the more stubborn I got. “You never know until you try, right?”