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The twins still hadn’t spoken.
Frowning, she let Leo down while asking, “What’s wrong?”
Dio grabbed her hand, and his voice was serious and cautious when he asked, “Mama, will it make you sad if we go to him?”
Oh.
Pollyanna slowly knelt down. Looking at her twins in the eye, she said quietly, “I heard you two talking, you know.”
Ella and Dio paled.
“Papa and I had a fight. But we’re not getting a divorce.” Yet. But the children didn’t have to know that. “You know how it is, don’t you? You and I sometimes quarrel, too, and you two – you quarrel with each other a lot. But then after, we make up, and it’s okay.” She paused.
The twins stared at her, and she could see that it wasn’t enough.
So she stood up and told them, “Now, let’s make up with Papa.” With a grin, she swung Leo up in her arms and, shocking the twins, she turned around and ran.
It took several seconds for the twins to get over their surprise, but she knew the moment they did, hearing them laugh, and then they were coming after her, running excitedly.
“You’re so slow, Mama,” Dio yelled just as he ran past her, and the happiness in his face was so precious she wanted to cry at the sight of it.
When Kyr saw his family suddenly start running towards him, he didn’t pause to think. He just ran, not giving a damn about how uncool it looked, not giving a damn about what anyone thought.
All he could think was, My family.
His family was back.
“Papa!” The twins threw their arms around him as he swung his oldest children up in his arms. He showered kisses over their faces, making Ella giggle while Dio pretended to hate it even as his eyes shone with love.
Pollyanna slowed down, giving the twins their moment with their father. But soon enough, Kyr let Ella and Dio down, and their eyes met.
She didn’t hesitate.
With the twins watching her, Pollyanna went to Kyr, still carrying Leo, and her husband’s arms closed around the pair of them. The sensation was the most bittersweet feeling in the world. Her shoulders started to shake, and his arms tightened around her.
This, her family with her, Kyr embracing her, felt like home.
She was home.
But for how long?
ON THE RIDE HOME, IT almost felt normal, with so much noise and laughter. And, oh, the kisses – so many hugs and kisses – that Pollyanna had lost count. The twins kissing their Papa, Papa kissing all four children, and Papa kissing Mama’s hair, and Mama kissing Papa’s cheek.
When they got home, Kyr shocked the twins by inviting them to take a dip in the pool, and when the twins could only gape at him in shock, unused to this not-so-strict side of him, Kyr laughed and showed them what he meant by kicking off his shoes, removing his socks and tie, and then jumping into the pool.
The twins shrieked and, after taking off their shoes and socks, they jumped into the pool after him.
Kyr and the twins looked at Pollyanna.
“Oh no.” She began to back away, but it was too late.
The three splashed water at her, and she and Leo were soaking wet in seconds. Laughing, she allowed the twins to pull her into the pool with them, with Leo having already climbed down from her arms and jumping into Kyr’s waiting embrace.
The nanny changed Annalisa’s clothes, making the child wear a bathing suit before handing her to Pollyanna.
For almost two hours, they laughed and played in the pool, and it seemed like everyone’s energy was inexhaustible except hers. After swimming a few laps, she was tired, and she could only shake her head ruefully as Kyr was able to match the twins’ stamina, diving with them and even going down the slide with them repeatedly.
But as she stared at them playing, a thought came to her, and once it took shape, there was just no forgetting it.
She pressed trembling lips to Annalisa’s head and closed her eyes. Please, please, please God. Please don’t let me cry now.
When she opened her eyes, she wasn’t surprised to see her husband treading towards her, Leo in his arms. He silently sat beside her on the steps, a good three feet between them.
“Merci.”
She couldn’t make herself look at him as she asked in English, “Why?”
He continued in French, “Thank you for pretending. I know, all of this was for the children’s sake.”
She nodded jerkily even as she handed Annalisa to him. “Switch, please.” Kyr gave Leo to her, and when she had the chubby baby in her arms, she hugged him tightly. Leo squawked in protest. “Mama!” But she didn’t release him, only hugging him even tighter. Sorry, Leo, but Mama needs someone to hug right now. Mama needs to hug you or she’ll start crying.
