Page 110 of Fractured Empire

“Would you like to go downstairs with your brother and Daddy now?” I ask, dropping a kiss on top of his head. “I think it will be dinner time soon. I wonder if we’re going to have something tasty. I think it’s your dad’s turn to cook tonight and he always surprises us, doesn’t he?”

“Yeah,” Bastian replies, sounding lighter as he leans away from me to stand up from the bench. “Can we play again tomorrow, though? Before you go on your date?”

“Of course, we can.” I smile widely. “We can play whenever you want. It’s one of my favorite things, you know? I love sharing the piano with you. And you know, I think I’ll talk to Daddy about going on a family date sometime soon. Maybe we can take a trip together? Or just do something fun with all four of us out of the house. How does that sound?”

“Good,” Bastian replies bluntly, looking pleased at the idea. “Daddy has a cabin, and we’ve only been once because Mama didn’t like the cold…but maybe we could take you.”

“I think a cabin trip sounds dreamy,” I tell him, taking his hand in mine as we walk out of the room. “I would love to go with you guys. Winter is one of my favorite seasons, you know? I adore the snow, and I haven’t seen it in a very long time.”

Cleo probably didn’t like the cold because it aggravated her symptoms, the sad thought crosses the back of my mind. I wonder if she would have enjoyed the winter otherwise.

“We made snowmen,” Bastian reports, sounding shy about it. “And Daddy made cocoa.”

“I think we’ll have to ask about this trip soon,” I tell him enthusiastically. “It sounds like so much fun. I can help you two make snow angels and we can throw snow balls at your dad when he isn’t looking.”

He lets out a little giggle and my lips twitch.

Today is officially my favorite day, and I have to remember to mark it down in my phone calendar.

Today’s the day Leo called me Mommy for the first time, and Bastian implied he might do it in the future too. I’m a mom to them, not just in practice but in reality. I have to call my mom to tell her, but first, I have to tell Leon. Part of me hopes he overheard it happening, but even if he didn’t, it happened.

It happened, and it was so beautiful I could cry just thinking about it.

“Mommy, we’re having lasagna,” Leo bellows as Bastian and I enter the kitchen. He’s standing on a tall chair, Leon hovering next to him in case he gets too excited and tips over.

The island counter is covered in ingredients and pans, everything being prepped to be put together for dinner, but all I can focus on is the grin my husband shoots at me, lips turning up on both sides of his mouth to tell me all I need to know. He’s pleased that Leo has decided out of nowhere that I’m his mommy, and now I don’t have to tell him myself. Of course, I’m still going to gush about it when the kids are out of earshot. I’ll probably jump up and down and squeal like a freaking kid.

“I see that,” I reply, trying to remain casual. “Are you our chef for the evening?”

“Yep,” he agrees giddily. “I’m make all by myself but with Daddy.”

All by himself but with Daddy.

God, could he get any cuter?

“I’m sure it’s going to be amazing then. Would you like any help from me and Bastian?”

“No thank you, Mommy,” he replies politely before humming and changing his mind. “Bastian can set table.”

It sounds like he’s assigning his brother an unfavorable chore, but Bastian actually enjoys picking out the plates, silverware and cups for setting the table. He likes to make everything match, and make sure everyone has a clean place to eat when the food is ready.

“Well, we’re going to have a lovely meal at a lovely table then, aren’t we?”

“Sounds like we are,” Leon agrees, giving me a look that could have me throwing myself at him during a more appropriate time. “Your songs sounded beautiful today, tesoro.”

“I can’t take credit for that all on my own,” I tell him, blushing. “Our little Bastian is a prodigy. He’s brilliant, honestly.”

“That he is.”

Bastian only smiles shyly, going to set the table.

I hope this day is as happy for him as it is for me.

Chapter Forty-Four

Leon

“You know, it was very cute of you to use Leo as a way of asking me out on this date,” my wife tells me with a hum, twirling her straw around her half-empty drink. “He was so excited to have Rayna come over that I couldn’t possibly turn you down and disappoint him.”