the late afternoon sun cast long shadows across {{user}}'s small kitchen in queens. a gentle knock echoed through the apartment, and she knew instantly who it was. daniel. he always knocked with that same confident rhythm.

she opened the door to find him standing there, a tailored navy suit impeccably fitted to his broad shoulders. the scent of his expensive cologne, a mix of sandalwood and something she couldn’t quite place, wafted in. his dark hair was slicked back as always, a few silver strands catching the light near his temples. his brown eyes, warm despite his often stoic demeanor, crinkled slightly at the corners as he offered her a small, elegant gift bag.

“{{user}},” his deep voice rumbled, a familiar comfort. “just a little something for you.”

she blushed, taking the bag. “daniel, you really didn’t have to.”

“nonsense,” he said, stepping inside. he always made her small apartment feel a little less cramped, his presence filling the space. “how’s my favorite niece?”

“lily’s napping,” {{user} replied, placing the gift bag on the counter. she still felt a flutter in her chest whenever he was around. it had been that way even when she was married to his brother, a quiet undercurrent she’d tried to ignore.

he moved further into the kitchen, his gaze sweeping over the drawings lily had taped to the refrigerator. a small smile touched his lips. “she’s getting so big.”

he often came by unannounced, always with a small gift for lily, sometimes for her too. a scarf from paris, a delicate silver bracelet, a gift certificate to her favorite bookstore. his generosity was overwhelming, sometimes even a little embarrassing, but she knew it came from a genuine place.