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“First up, friendship bracelet making,” I announced, gathering colorful strings and beads. Lucy and Logan enthusiastically joined me at the table, their small hands swiftly picking up the weaving technique. Their smiles grew wider with each vibrant knot they created.
“Next, we have a little science experiment,” I said, producing baking soda, vinegar, and a plastic bottle. “Now, remember to stand back when I mix these together.” The kids nodded, eyes wide with anticipation as I poured the vinegar into the bottle.
“Ready?” I asked, and they both shouted, “Yes!” With a flourish, I added the baking soda, and within seconds, a frothy eruption overflowed from the bottle. Giggles erupted from the kids, and Logan dubbed me “the mad scientist nanny.”
“Alright, time for some crafts,” I declared, herding them towards Max’s study. We spread out our supplies on his desk, glitter and glue sticks overtaking the once pristine surface.
“Whoa, what’s going on in here?” Max’s voice startled us all as he entered the study, his eyes darting between the mess on his desk and the guilty faces of his children.
“Uh... surprise craft session?” I offered, my cheeks flushing with embarrassment. Max bit back laughter, his frustration clear but tempered by the delight in his children’s eyes.
“Next time, let’s avoid using my study for crafting, okay?” Max suggested, clasping his hands behind his back to hide the glitter now adorning them.
“Absolutely, lesson learned,” I agreed, as Lucy and Logan chimed in with apologies. Max shook his head, chuckling quietly, and left the room.
Despite the minor mishap, the day continued with even more laughter, creativity, and a growing sense of camaraderie between us all. As the sun set, I couldn’t help but feel overwhelmingly grateful for the chaos, connection, and love that filled the Thornton home.
After cleaning up the last of our crafting supplies, Max found a quiet moment to sit me down and politely remind me of boundaries and the house rules that we’d discussed by email prior to my arrival. “Got it,” I murmured playfully, flipping through my notepad with a dramatic flourish. “No glitter in the study.”
Max raised an eyebrow but couldn’t suppress a smile. “Exactly.”
I was lost in a world of cookbooks, the pages filled with mouthwatering images of dishes from around the globe. The tantalizing descriptions of Mediterranean salads, Asian stir-fries, and classic American comfort foods made it hard to decide what to prepare for dinner. So engrossed was I that I hadn’t noticed the time slipping by.
“Lost in culinary dreams, I see,” came Max’s voice, pulling me back to the present. He leaned against the kitchen doorway, a playful smirk on his face. “The kids might start a rebellion if their stomachs have to wait much longer.”
I glanced at the clock, eyes widening in surprise. “Oh! I didn’t realize how late it’s gotten. I was just... there are so many choices.”
He chuckled, stepping into the kitchen. “Well, how about we narrow it down together? I can lend a hand and make it a joint effort. Speed things up a bit.”
Gratefully, I nodded. “Sounds perfect.”
We soon found ourselves immersed in the delightful chaos of cooking. The warm aroma of garlic and onions wafted through the air as we playfully debated the merits of adding an extra dash of oregano or a sprinkle of red chili flakes. Our movements around the kitchen became a playful dance; I’d reach for the salt only to find he had already handed it to me.
“Teamwork makes the dream work,” Max quipped, winking as he expertly flipped a pan full of sautéing vegetables.
As I went to grab the olive oil, our fingers brushed against each other. The brief touch sent a small jolt through both of us, causing us to pause and share an unexpected, lingering glance. Shaking off the moment, I began to plate up, focusing on arranging the food.
“First day conquered,” I sighed happily, watching the children eagerly dig into their plates.
“Indeed,” Max agreed, locking eyes with me for a moment before joining them at the table. “You’re doing an amazing job, Mia. Thank you.”
Post-dinner, I sat on the living room floor, surrounded by two wide-eyed children. Lucy and Logan had requested a special story–one about a brave knight who rescued a princess from an evil dragon. I obliged their request, bringing the tale to life with vivid narration and dramatic gestures.
As I described the knight’s thrilling battle against the dragon, I noticed Max standing in the doorway, watching us quietly. His face was illuminated by the warm glow of twilight streaming through the window, and a soft smile tugged at his lips. I found my heart stirring at the sight of him observing our intimate moment together.
“Alright, time to get ready for bed, you two. Mia will do this from now on when I’m at work, so be good!” Max announced after the story ended. Lucy and Logan groaned but reluctantly obliged, scampering off towards their rooms.
“Max, before I forget,” I said, pulling out a folded piece of paper from my pocket and handing it to him. “Here’s a list of supplies we might need for the kids’ activities.”
“Let’s see...” Max mused, unfolding the paper and scanning it with his steady brown eyes. A chuckle escaped his lips as he read one particular item aloud, “Emergency glitter cleanup kit?”
“Very necessary,” I confirmed, grinning playfully. “You never know when a glitter explosion might strike again!”
“True,” he chuckled, nodding in approval. “I’ll make sure to grab these tomorrow. Thanks, Mia. Goodnight.”
“Goodnight, Max,” I replied, heading to my room, feeling the warmth of the day’s events settle comfortably in my heart.
Chapter 4
