“Maybe you would be better hopping on one leg, rather than spinning around?”
“Why?” she breathed, squealing in mock fear as Axel came tottering towards her, trying to smack her on the head again.
I watched as she took my advice and hopped to the other end of the room, sticking her tongue out at her brother as he tried to chase her. He dropped to a crawl and flew across the floor, making Mama laugh out loud as he chased after her lightning quick.
My neck almost snapped with the speed I looked at her, just about dying with shock to hear the laughter on her lips.
I looked back at my children and felt a feeling I hadn’t felt in a long time slip over me.
I was content.
I washappy.
I had my children together. They were laughing. Bee was talking. Axel was in his element. Kitty was laughing.
It was perfect.
I couldn’t help but feel that a large portion of this was thanks to the whirlwind that was my son. He was healing hearts he hadn’t even broken.
Mine was healed the day I held him in my arms, and I was privileged to watch him heal the hearts of each person here, one by one.
“All my favourite people in one room,” I heard Dante murmur from behind me. I twisted my head and watched as he crossed the room and crouched down behind me, leaning over the back of the sofa to place a kiss on my temple.
“Good day?” I asked.
“It is now.” he shifted slightly and massaged my shoulders.
“Mm, that’s nice,” I breathed, leaning into his touch. He continued for a few minutes before kissing the top of my head and coming to sit on the arm of the sofa.
“Did you get it sorted?” He asked, taking my hand in his.
“I think so,” I replied, linking my fingers with his. “Did you?”
“I think so,” he smiled. “Have you eaten?”
“I was going to order a Chinese. Are you eating with us or do you have club business?”
“Nothing that can’t wait,” his eyes locked with mine, and a million unspoken words passed between us. I had so much I wanted to say, and yet nothing came. I both loved and hated where we were at right now. We were so peaceful and calm with each other, but I knew if I said the wrong thing, the illusion would be shattered. And I hated not being able to be honest with him, of having to watch every word I spoke, just in case.
“Dad…dy,” came the voice of Axel, sounding absolutely deranged as his words broke up into syllables, breathed out between puffs of his insane little laughter.
“Hey, little man,” Dante grinned, holding his arms out to him as Axel slowly walked towards him. Dante leant forward and scooped him up into his arms and Bee came running at us, throwing herself between me and Kitty on the sofa.
“Moana!” she beamed, making Dante groan out loud.
“Not again, Bee, please,” he begged, rolling his eyes.
“Moana! Moana! Moana!” she chanted, banging her fists on her knees. Axel joined in with a garbled “Anna!” accompanied by small punches to Dante’s chin.
“Your children have spoken, Dante,” Kitty said softly, her eyes brimming with tears for reasons I couldn’t quite understand.
I wanted to get to the bottom of what was going on with her, but I was also too selfish to get into it tonight. I didn’t want to ruin the lovely evening this was promising to be. So instead, I grabbed the blanket from the back of the sofa, picked Axel out of Dante’s arms, and covered the four of us.
“Looks like you’re outvoted, Daddy,” I winked at him. “You go and order that Chinese. We’re watching Moana.”
Chapter 52
Rachel
