The smell of pine needles and lavender fills the room. I keep my eyes closed and hide my smile as the giggles get closer.
“Mommy? Are you awake?” Maya’s little voice whispers loudly. I can feel her weight climbing onto the bed.
“Shhh, Maya, Mommy gets to sleep, because it's her birfday,” Andreas giggles at her while he climbs onto the bed as well.
I roll over and pretend to yawn witha big growl and stretch my arms out wide, grabbing them both and bringing them toward me. Their happy squeals fill my heart with joy.
“Hello, darlings,” I squeeze them tightly in my arms.
“Mommy, happy birfday!” Andreas says happily and gives me a wet kiss on the cheek.
“Mommy, Auntie Delilah said she’s made a cake for you,” Maya says with big gray eyes. She lays in my arms and plays with my white hair. She gives a sly little smile, “I think she made chocolate.”
the things they want to do with me today for my birthday until it’s time for cake. I listen intently as I wipe the
too!” Andreas says proudly. His light green eyes sparkle
muse, helping him brush his bangs to the side. I had specifically told him not to get me
even for chocolate chip cookies,” Andreas says solemnly. I laugh, “Okay, fine.
room with Uncle Marco,” they say almost in
deliver the twins, the entire pack rejoices. That's what I'm told, anyway. I am too weak to find out for myself. Bronx arranges for me to live in the suite next to his apartment. For the first four months, I cannot get out of bed without help from
He finally starts coming to the suite when I am awake, but
are on speaking terms. Delilah, Ashley, and Musu come on the day’s Diane has off and take turns helping him and showing him how to take care of them when I am too exhausted
We have actual conversations and discuss pack business. Not like we used to, but it’s a start. He also brings my meals up
evening. He takes me to the botanical garden where he has a chef flown in from Paris to make us dinner
together. There are even some
competition shows until I fall asleep. He puts me in the bedroom without waking me up and sleeps on the sofa. If the babies cry or
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