(Lydia)“Hello!” I chirped into the phone as soon as I saw the caller ID.“Good morning, Miss Lombardi,” a female voice replied, “This is Gemma from the administration desk at Warren Parker Preschool—““Ah, yes,” I smiled, “I was wondering when you’d phone to call in the twins for an interview.”Warren Parker was one of the most prestigious preparatory preschools in Greater Colorado. I had been glad I had moved to Denver when I had learned about their teaching methods and the way they gave each child such individual attention to bring out the best in them. I had submitted the twins’ application forms last week.There was an awkward pause on the other end of the line.“Hello?” I said.“Miss Lombardi, we’re afraid we can’t accept your children’s applications.”My heart began to thump wildly and my eyes darted towards the twins. Miles was putting back a train set he’d deconstructed with perfect accuracy and Mabel was creating a multicolored bridge, complete with two towers, from her Lego
(Lydia)I rubbed my sweaty palms together, curled them into fists, and brought the fists up to my nose. Thomas had said, “I’m coming over” and then immediately hung up. I didn’t understand why he had to drive all the way over to the theater when we could have easily discussed this on the phone. But by the time I had even opened my mouth to speak, he had probably already been in his car. I paced around the lobby of the theater building and then stopped by a water dispenser. I poured myself a glass and then sat down on one of the squishy leather sofas by the entrance.Slowly, I sipped my water. I was still feeling a little jittery when my phone chimed.“I’m here,” Thomas had texted.And then he bolted through the entrance. He looked dashing in his charcoal gray suit and the receptionist immediately stood up to greet him. I did too, but he gave me a quick wave and gestured to me to sit back down. After a short word with the receptionist, he came over to the leather sofas to join me. “Tw
(Lydia)I gazed at him, dumbfounded in baffled amazement and completely unsure of how to respond.After all this time that we had spent apart, he was once again approaching me. All my previous feelings of conflict about his intentions subsided as I wordlessly blinked at him.I could not believe that this was actually happening, nor could I recall the last time that he had asked me out for a date.***In the hazy sunlight of the afternoon, I had been scribbling away in response to an essay question about the Kurt Lewin change model. I had picked up the management course for fun but Jack and Thomas, being business-minded people, had been required to take it.Not that they ever studied for it … or even participated in class except to crack jokes.But I had thoroughly enjoyed the subject and the instructor, Ms. Hayworth, had reciprocated my feelings of enthusiasm by always appreciating me in class.Despite the fact that this course was not a requirement for me, I was well-prepared for my
(Lydia)My heels clicked down the pavement outside the theater and I glanced up at the evening sky. It was a beautiful shade of purple. I had paid the cab driver two minutes ago after he had dropped me here.It was ridiculous, I thought, to get picked up for dinner outside my workplace. But Thomas had insisted. I had wondered about whether he was hiding from my sister or his children, all of whom were at the hotel.But Ruby already knew that I was going out with Thomas. She hadn’t exactly approved of it, but hadn’t reprimanded me either.I was wearing my navy long dress and a pair of silver heels. And, yes, I was a little nervous.Thomas pulled up two minutes later. He got out of the car and said, “I’m so sorry I’m late”. I shook my head, smiling slightly. Apparently, we’d color-coordinated.He returned my smile and my heart leapt a little. “You look so beautiful tonight,” he said.I blushed. “What was the point of picking me up here?” I asked.“Enh,” Thomas shrugged.I walked over to
(Lydia)I had passed the threshold into the store’s bright golden lights, taking in the rows upon rows of children’s paraphernalia. Ahead of me stood a large display of nursery wallpaper in shades of baby blue, pastel pink, sunlight yellow, and lilac. They were adorned with stars and moons and hot air balloons and silver rocking chairs and unicorns.I had wandered slowly through aisles, delighting in the shelves upon shelves of children’s feeding paraphernalia and the appropriate foods for up to 18-month-old babies.I passed through the clothing section, admiring the softness of cotton rompers and looking at multi-colored mittens and socks. My heart swelled up with charm at the idea of dressing up my own child in these someday.I had finally made it to the toys’ section and smiled wide in complete enchantment. Footsteps had approached behind me and a familiar pair of arms wrapped around my waist. “Like it?” Thomas had nuzzled into my neck.“I wouldn’t want to shop for our baby anywher
(Lydia)And, now, here we were in a car again together, driving to the hospital for our baby daughter. Thomas had immediately dashed outside and asked the valet to bring the car around.Tears welled up in my eyes as we sped across the road on the way to the hospital. My shoulders shook as I broke down. Thomas glanced quickly towards me, opened his mouth to say something, but then shifted his eyes back towards the road. He pressed down on the accelerator, blew up the horn, and began swerving the steering wheel left and right as he wreaked havoc and overtook cars.I looked back at the road. The street and car lights were blurry golden through my tear-soaked eyes.“It’s going to be okay,” Thomas whispered to me. I did not have it in me to respond at all.***When we arrived, Mabel was sitting on the bed. She was being looked at by the doctor. “Oh, my baby!” I cried as I ran up to her and swooped up her small, delicate body in my arms. “I’m okay, mommy,” my daughter replied. Her angelic f
(Lydia)“Well, wouldn’t you look at these two adorable angels!” Margaret exclaimed. She sat down on the bed beside them and Ruby quivered slightly, shooting me a wide-eyed look. I was staring on with my jaw on the floor.Margaret looked over at Thomas, her eyes warm and expectant, completely oblivious to how she had unnerved both my sister and I.“Well?” she asked with a smile that shone all the way up to her eyes.I could not let out a single sound. My heart thumped in anticipation.“Mabel and Miles,” Thomas said to her, “Those are their names.”She turned back towards the children and her eyes sparkled with love and pride.“Aren’t you the spitting image of your father?” she said to Miles, gently stroking his little chin.She cupped Mabel’s cheek into a palm and said, “And you, my dear, are the most beautiful princess I’ve ever seen.”For the next few minutes, Margaret continued to shower her affection on to the twins. I was feeling dizzy with anxiety but checked myself because of th
(Lydia)Adam had been telling me on the drive here that bee sting allergies were incredibly rare. He had told me that it wasn’t serious, though, and that I shouldn’t worry about it. I had changed into a T-shirt and slacks, preparing myself for a long night at the hospital.When we had pulled up, my head had still been spinning from all that had happened today: Margaret showing up at the theater to threaten my children only to reappear a few hours later and give them so much maternal affection and then taunt me about some apparent hidden agenda, Thomas asking me out to dinner, my daughter ending up the hospital for the first time, and her father demonstrating genuine concern.I had ignored Thomas as I made my way to the hospital room on purpose. Not that I hadn’t caught him gazing at me but I had deliberately avoided making eye contact.“Here’s the overnight bag!” Adam exclaimed, dumping it down on the sofa and then crashing down beside it.“Adam and I will watch the children,” I told
(Thomas)The last time I saw Jack, he was deflecting my questions about what had happened to leave him injured and refusing any professional help. Typical Jack, always shielding others from his chaos, carrying the weight of his decisions like a stubborn mule. I knocked firmly on his apartment door, which was closed this time, knowing he’d hear the sound even through the thick, industrial-style door. After a moment, the door creaked open. Jack stood there, shirtless, a fresh bandage wrapped around his side. He looked tired but not beaten. That was my brother, gritty, relentless, and unyielding even when life knocked him down.“Thomas,” he greeted with a nod, stepping aside to let me in, “Didn’t expect you to drop by.”“Clearly,” I replied, gesturing to his appearance, “You could’ve at least put on a shirt for the occasion.”He smirked faintly, closing the door behind me. Jack’s apartment was neat but lived-in, a mix of modern decor and personal touches that reflected Jack’s no-nonsen
(Lydia)The morning passed quietly, but my mind was anything but still. Talking to Mama in the garden earlier had eased some of the heaviness pressing down on my chest, but it hadn’t erased it entirely. It felt like smoothing a wrinkle in fabric only to have another one pop up. There were so many reasons for my hesitance, and the biggest one gnawed at me: I hadn’t told Thomas. I could still see his face from last night, relaxed and content, the way his eyes crinkled when he smiled at me over dinner. It had been a perfect evening, something we hadn’t shared in a long time. I hadn’t wanted to taint it with this...complication. But now, the silence I’d kept about Clara weighed on me like a stone. I stirred my coffee absently at the kitchen counter, staring out at the bright day outside. Mabel and Miles were at preschool, their laughter and chatter missing from the house, leaving it quieter than usual. Thomas had kissed me on the forehead before leaving for work, his expression one of
(Thomas)The faint hum of my office phone was drowned out by the stack of emails I had been working through since the moment I arrived at work. The buzz of productivity was always welcome, a way to focus my mind, especially after the whirlwind of emotions from last night. The date with Lydia had been everything I hoped it would be, a moment of calm amid the chaos. I found myself smiling as I clicked through a report, her laughter from last night still echoing in my mind. It had been a while since I’d seen her truly happy, her guard down, and it reminded me of why I fought so hard to protect what we had built together. My cell phone vibrated on the desk, breaking my thoughts. I glanced at the screen: Aiden. That name always brought a mix of feelings. Reassurance, because he was a solid ally, and apprehension, because his calls often came with heavy news. I picked up, leaning back in my chair, "Aiden, what’s the update?" His voice was steady but carried an edge, like a surgeon
(Adeline)The front garden was always my favorite place to sit, especially in the morning. The air carried a crisp freshness, and the soft rustle of leaves felt like nature’s whisper of reassurance. Today, I felt lighter, less weighed down by the fog of fatigue that had wrapped around me since the surgery. A week had passed, and though I knew there was still a long road ahead, scans, radiotherapy, and who knew what else, I was grateful for small mercies like this. Lydia sat beside me, her posture relaxed but her eyes distant. She should have been glowing after her date with Thomas last night; I’d seen her excitement all day leading up to it. Yet, there was something off about her today, a subtle undercurrent of worry she couldn’t quite hide. I reached over and patted her hand, drawing her out of her thoughts, “You seem troubled, my dear. What’s on your mind?” She blinked, then gave me a soft smile, though it didn’t quite reach her eyes, “Nothing to worry about, Mama. Just…think
(Margaret)The mansion was quiet, its grand halls and rooms bathed in moonlight, but I was still awake, as I often was these days. Sleep came sparingly. I’d taken to wandering the mansion late at night, a habit born of restlessness and regret. Tonight, I found myself seated in the parlor, nursing a lukewarm cup of tea, when I heard the faint creak of the front door. Ruby. Her steps were light but purposeful, and as she crossed into the hallway, I caught a glimpse of her face. She looked lost in thought, her brow furrowed, her lips pressed into a thin line. There was something about her expression that tugged at me, a pang I couldn’t quite place but that settled uncomfortably in my chest. “Ruby,” I called gently, my voice cutting through the stillness. She froze for a moment, her back to me, before turning slightly, her posture tense. Her eyes met mine briefly, a flicker of something unreadable passing through them, before she resumed her stride, heading toward the staircase.
(Jack)The room was bathed in the muted glow of the television, the credits of the movie rolling silently on the screen. Ruby lay beside me, her head resting lightly against my shoulder, her breathing slow and even as she slept. I didn’t dare move. Instead, I let my gaze linger on her, taking in the soft lines of her face, the way her lashes rested against her cheeks, the slight rise and fall of her chest. Her hair framed her face, catching the dim light in a way that made her look almost ethereal. I shouldn’t be doing this, shouldn’t let myself get caught up in the illusion. But in that moment, it felt impossible not to. For years, this apartment had been a space I’d tried to keep void of emotion, a place where I could compartmentalize my life, separate work from personal chaos. But Ruby had changed that. When she’d been here, this place had felt alive, warm. And now, with her asleep beside me, it felt like a dream I didn’t want to wake up from.My mind wandered back to the few
(Ruby)I stood outside Jack’s apartment door, my hand hesitating over the knocker. I shouldn’t be here. I’d already done more than enough, stitched him up, watching him avoid my questions like he always did. But despite every logical reason to stay away, I was here. Because this wasn’t just anyone, it was Jack. The Jack who had once made me laugh so hard I cried, who had shared countless quiet evenings with me in this very apartment. The Jack who, despite all the hurt and chaos, still managed to make my heart skip a beat when I thought of him. I pressed my lips together, pushing the memories aside. This wasn’t about rekindling anything; it was about making sure he was okay. He had shown up at my door injured and vulnerable, and no matter how much time had passed or how complicated things had gotten, I couldn’t ignore that. Taking a deep breath, I knocked. When Jack opened the door, his surprise was clear, though he quickly masked it with that practiced cool demeanor of his.
(Jack)I sat on the edge of my couch, staring at the bandage on my side, frustration boiling just beneath the surface. The room was quiet, save for the faint hum of the refrigerator in the kitchen. The family doctor had left about an hour ago after re-dressing my wound. He was efficient and professional, as always, and I appreciated the care. But damn it, why hadn’t I thought to call him in the first place? The moment I got injured, my instincts hadn’t pointed me toward practicality or logic. No, instead, I’d ended up at Ruby’s apartment, bloodied and in desperate need of stitches. I didn’t even remember the exact route I’d taken to get there, just that I had. Like my brain had been hardwired to seek her out, even when it made no sense. It embarrassed me now. Ruby had been nothing but calm and steady as she stitched me up, but I could tell how unsettled she was underneath that brave exterior. And I’d put her in that position, dragged her into something she had no business being
(Lydia)The drive back to the mansion felt electric, charged with an energy I couldn’t quite put into words. Thomas’s hand rested on my thigh as he navigated the quiet streets, his fingers brushing gently against my skin. Neither of us said much; the connection between us was palpable without needing words. By the time we reached the house and stepped through the door, it was as if the air around us crackled with anticipation. Ruby had left a note on the counter saying the kids were asleep and she’d see us tomorrow. I smiled, grateful for her support, but my focus was entirely on Thomas. As soon as the door to our bedroom clicked shut behind us, it was like a dam broke. His lips were on mine in an instant, hot and urgent, pulling me into him as if the space between us was unbearable. My hands found their way to his shoulders, then his hair, as I pressed closer, feeling the hard lines of his body against mine. “Lydia,” he murmured, his voice low and thick with desire. I didn’t