Manley said with a casual grin, "Looks like I'm your shadow today!"
Estelle replied with a blank stare.
Her phone suddenly buzzed in her purse. It was a text from Emily and Amiee. They had arrived and were asking where she was.
Heading downstairs, Estelle muttered, "I'm off to meet my friends. You can hang around somewhere else."
"I'm here to stick with you today. Wherever you go, I go!" Manley followed her with hands tucked in his jean pockets and a roguish twinkle in his hazel eyes, every inch the charming rascal.
Estelle ignored him, continuing her stride down the stairs.
Behind them, Lance cracked open his eyes, shooting a malevolent glare at Manley's retreating figure.
Estelle reached the garden, where Emily had already whisked Kya away to the second floor for a costume change, and Amiee was chatting with Magdalen.
Magdalen's smile widened when she saw Manley. "Couldn't resist the call of the wild, huh?"
Manley chuckled. "Why waste a single moment when I've finally got my chance?"
"Jonathan's not here. Seize the day!" Magdalen encouraged with a laugh.
Manley shot back a dazzling smile. "His presence, or lack thereof, doesn't change how I feel about our Estelle."
Magdalen sighed dramatically. "I bow down to no one, but you, you've got game!"
Manley winked. "Can't help it. When you're head over heels, it shows!"
Estelle couldn't take it anymore. Turning to Magdalen, she said, "Aren't you supposed to be busy today? Forgot you're here for a reason or think you're just here to chitchat?"
Magdalen grinned smugly. "Today, I'm the queen bee. I do what I want!"
Magdalen squeezed her hand. "No rush. Let's check on Kya first."
Reaching the second floor, they found Kya looking like a little princess, with Charlie standing by, beaming with pride.
"Magdalen!" Kya ran towards Magdalen, eyes wide with delight. "Is it true? Are you marrying a prince in a castle?"
Magdalen lifted her into a hug. "Yes, darling, I'm marrying my prince, and you're here to witness it!"
"That's amazing!" Kya clapped her hands, her little tiara shimmering, her smile infectious.
Charlie scooped Kya into his arms and said to Emily, "The Carsons have arrived. I'll go check on them. You and Estelle keep Ms. Sampson company."
"It's not an intrusion," Emily reassured, as Charlie pecked her cheek. "Call me if you need anything."

Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: Find me in your labyrinth (Stella and Jonathan)
I love it, I love it! Thank you for the updates....
Dear author Lucy, may we please have updates. Thank you....
There's a song currently playing via YouTube and TikToc by LowDii "Touch Me Softly" that makes me think of Norah and Xavier (Gonzalez). Please, I'm looking forward to updates. Thank you for your writing....
May we please have updates. Thank you....
As the plot thicken. Adrian is done for and he can't try to control Norah, so he'd probably tattle to Janice who's gone for two weeks. Thank you soooo much for the updates....
These updates were too funny. Thank you so much for the updates....
I forgot to add Amy to the group of pregnant women,since she was the first. Emily and Sylvia better be careful since pregnancy is in the air....
Wow! This is great, both Estelle and Magdalen are pregnant at the same time and I hope that Xavier is Norah neighbor. Thank you for the updates....
Author Lucy you're a blessing. Thank you so my for the updates. I hope that Norah's neighbor is Xavier she gets her memory back....
May we please have updates. Thank you....