“Pretty good. Your Aunt Cara has some great ideas, but putting them together can be challenging. Kelan and Mandra are just glad she’s not on their warships.”
Phoenix giggled as her dad talked about the ongoing amusement park renovations, sharing a hilarious story about Vox getting stuck in the Spider Blaster 5000’s webbing.
“Vox wasn’t thrilled when the web refused to come off, even after he shifted,” Creon said with a smirk. “He now has a bald spot on his?—”
Spring choked on her drink.
Phoenix burst out laughing. “Oh, no! Poor Uncle Vox. Did anyone take a picture?”
Creon’s grin turned downright smug. “Several. And I’ve already backed them up in multiple places in case he tries to delete them.”
Spring giggled, shaking her head. “Dad, that’s evil. Can I use that spider blaster stuff on Roam?”
“That’s blackmail and if Roam gives you a hard time, you bet your as—” Creon stopped and cleared his throat before he winked at his oldest daughter. “Just don’t tell your mom I gave you the idea.”
Phoenix grinned when Spring burst out laughing. It was wonderful hearing her sister laugh. They were still giggling when the vidcom next to their dad’s plate chimed. A second later, their mom appeared; her warm brown eyes crinkled with love as she smiled at them.
“Hey, Mom!” Spring and Phoenix chimed together.
Behind her, they could see the cozy, softly lit interior of their grandparents’ summer home. Their younger cousins were running around in the background, their giggles filling the air.
“Hey, girls! You sure you don’t want to come visit?” Carmen asked.
“Naw, it’s kinda cool just hanging out here with dad,” Phoenix assured her. “We want to hang out with Roam and Adaline while they’re still here.”
“Besides,” Spring added, grinning, “Dad needs supervision when he’s left to cook for himself.”
Carmen snorted. “Really? How many times has he set off the fire alarm?”
“Twice,” they answered in unison.
Creon placed a hand over his heart, feigning offense. “I am offended by this lack of faith in my culinary abilities.”
“You should be,” Carmen teased.
Phoenix and Spring laughed as their parents fell into their usual playful banter, their love for each other evident in every teasing remark.
Phoenix pushed her chair back. “Spring and I’ll clean the kitchen so you guys have your gooey time,” she teased.
“Yeah, we’re already damaged enough,” Spring laughed.
“Goodnight,” their mom called behind them.
“Hang on,” their dad muttered, rising from his seat.
Spring giggled and shook her head when her dad gave them a sheepish but appreciative glance before he disappeared through the balcony doors. They cringed when they heard a bit of their parents’ conversation.
“I don’t think they realize that we understand what they aren’t saying when they are saying the gross stuff,” Spring muttered with a shudder of distaste, pulling another round of giggles from them both.
From where they stood, they could hear the quiet, affectionate way their father murmured to their mother. The deep timbre of his voice softened, filled with warmth, his love for their mom so strong it was almost tangible.
Phoenix sighed, resting her chin in her palm. “Do you think we’ll ever find someone who loves us like that?”
Spring hummed and shrugged. “I hope so. That’s the kind of love that lasts.”
For a moment, they simply stood there, listening to their father whispering words of love to their mother under the silver glow of the twin moons.
Once the kitchen was clean, they retreated to their shared bedroom.
