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My heart flutters slightly, hearing him call me that. "I guess so. We're in a celebratory mood."
"Weneedice cream!" Zola pipes up, gesturing to her dolls. "They're under a spell that can only be broken with chocolate ice cream. They will die if they don't get ice cream."
"Ouch. Morbid," Rendal quips.
But Zola looks entirely serious. "Daddy, you're going to make Balinda the Berry Queendie."
"Alright, alright. Chocolate it is."
The girls erupt into triumphant squeals. I meet Rendal's gaze from across the dining room, amazed that this might be what the rest of our lives will look like. Penelope and Zola, lighting up our lives with their humor and joy.
This is even better than what I could have envisioned.
CHAPTER 26
Rendal
For the girls, I'm willing to do anything to make them happy. That's why I plan a weekend trip to the zoo, bringing along Zola, Chloe, and Penelope so that they can enjoy the animals that we come across.
Seeing Chloe in a sundress makes everything worth it, to be honest.
Once we're there, Chloe and the girls excitedly point out the different animals we pass. The zoo is bustling with families, but I only have eyes for our little group. Chloe looks radiant today, her hair catching the sunlight and her eyes sparkling with joy. I find myself stealing glances at her whenever I can, my heart swelling with affection.
"Daddy, look at the monkeys!" Zola tugs at my hand, pulling me towards the primate enclosure. I laugh and let her lead the way, Chloe and Penelope following close behind.
As we watch the monkeys swing and play, I feel Chloe's hand slip into mine. It's a small gesture, but it sends a strong surge of desire through my entire body. I give her hand a gentle squeeze, savoring the moment.
We make our way through the zoo, taking turns pointing out interesting animals to the girls. Their excitement is contagious, and I find myself getting caught up in their wonder. At the elephant exhibit, Penelope gasps in awe at the sheer size of the creatures.
"They're so big!" she exclaims, her eyes wide.
"They sure are, sweetheart," Chloe says, kneeling down next to her daughter. "Did you know elephants are some of the smartest animals in the world?"
As Chloe shares facts about elephants with Penelope, I feel a surge of pride and love. She's such an amazing mother, and seeing her with both girls only reaffirms the fact that I made the right decision.
Finally, we reach the lion enclosure. The majestic cats are lounging in the sun, their golden fur gleaming. I wrap an arm around Chloe's shoulders, pulling her close. The feel of her body against mine sends a thrill through me.
"Look at the way Penelope is so captivated," I say, my voice filled with warmth. "It's like she's seeing magic."
Chloe glances up at me, her eyes shining. Our gazes lock, and in that moment, I feel like I can see our entire future laid out before us. The love and longing in her eyes mirror my own, and I have to resist the urge to kiss her right there.
At the penguin exhibit, Penelope and Zola start imitating the waddling of the penguins. With their little arms tucked to their sides, they wobble back and forth, exaggerating the birds' movements. I can't help but laugh at their antics, my heart swelling with love for these two adorable girls.
"You know," I say, leaning closer to Chloe, "I think we might be the silliest family here."
Chloe chuckles, her eyes sparkling with mirth. "And I wouldn't have it any other way."
Her words warm me from the inside out. I wrap an arm around her waist, pulling her close. The feel of her body against mine sends a thrill through me, and I have to resist the urge to kiss her right there in front of everyone.
"Daddy, look!" Zola calls out, pointing at a particularly large penguin. "That one looks like Uncle Grak!"
I burst out laughing, the image of my burly orc friend waddling like a penguin filling my mind. Chloe joins in, her laughter like music to my ears.
"Oh my," she says between giggles, "I can't unsee that now!"
Penelope, not wanting to be left out, chimes in, "Can we get ice cream after this? I want to waddle like a penguin with a cone!"
"Honey, we have to get dinner first," Chloe reminds. "But afterwards, we can get some ice cream."
