For the last hour, Riker had gone for a run with his daughter strapped into her stroller - laughter leaving Lexie’s lips as it often did when they went on their little run together. Stopping for a second, Riker picked his little girl up, kissing her cheek with a smile.
“Aw she’s adorable, what’s this gorgeous girl’s name?”
Riker was distracted as a woman walked up to him, in workout gear of her own as she made faces towards his child to make her smile. “This little girl who can’t stop laughing is Lexie,” Riker responded, watching as the girl put her hands out to be held by the woman… maybe Lexie was missing her mother… a female figure that was older in her life, because the girl immediately latched on to the woman who begin playing with her. This wasn’t the first time something like this had happened - people approaching him to play with his little baby.
“Hi Lexie, you are adorable… just like your dad.” there was a flirty expression on her lips as she shot Riker a smile before handing the girl back into his arms. “You know, I’ve actually seen you run around here most afternoons with your daughter. It seems hard being a single father,”
“Oh… no I’m not…” could he even say that he wasn’t? He had no idea what was happening with Elodie but she just… left. “No… I’m married,” he finished and there was an instant look of disappointment on the girl’s features. “Well, she’s a lucky woman. Bye Lexie… and Mr. Married, I’ll see you around,” the girl smiled before running away.
A sad smile immediately fell onto his lips as he looked back down at his daughter. “Yes Lexie, you do have a mom… I know you haven’t seen her in a while though,” he whispered, before putting her back in her stroller. Though before he started running again, he found his phone ringing, indicating a notification.
Message
Immediately, his heart dropped. Elodie was back… his wife… was back.