Chapter Eighty - Six

EVELYN'S POV

The kids were already asleep from the drive home. Leonard carried River, while I took Ryan, and Clara followed us with the things we brought along. We carefully laid them on their beds as we got upstairs and then headed back to my room.

While resting, Leonard and I discussed our plans—moving out, settling at his place, starting work, and other things—until exhaustion finally took over us.

I woke up to Leonard mumbling strange words, his forehead drenched in sweat. He was running a fever. I tried to wake him up, but it was challenging. I shook him hard until his eyes flickered open.

I rushed to the bathroom to get some water and a clean cloth, which I used to cool him down. He looked so scared as he came to, just like the last time. Once again, he couldn’t remember the nightmare.

“It’s okay. You’ll be fine,” I said gently, wrapping him in a tight hug.

“Thank you, Evelyn,” he whispered softly.

When I checked the time, it was past 4 a.m. I tried to go back to sleep, but I couldn’t. Leonard had already fallen back asleep, so I decided to get some work done.

I took my laptop and phone downstairs to the living room. Settling on the couch, I began catching up on the work I had missed over the past few weeks. As I opened my email, I was greeted by the documents for the company Leonard had recently bought for me. I smiled, remembering how thrilled my dad was when I told him about it.

“Babe, why are you up?” Leonard’s voice broke through the quiet as he walked downstairs.

“You shouldn’t overwork yourself, especially in your condition,” he said, his concern evident. I couldn’t help but smile at how much he cared.

When he reached me, he placed a gentle kiss on my forehead.

“I just wanted to check on a few things before we leave later to see your mom,” I explained.

“I think we should get you a personal assistant. You need to reduce your workload,” he suggested.

I was touched by his thoughtfulness. “Yes, sure, but let’s wait until everything is settled,” I replied.

He nodded, and we spent the next hour chatting and playing around the living room. Around 6:30 a.m., Leonard headed to the kitchen to make us some coffee. Once we had our coffee, we started making breakfast together.

Afterward, I went upstairs to wake the kids. “Good morning, sweeties,” I greeted as I entered their room.

They were already up, playing with their toys. Hearing my voice, they eagerly tried to climb out of bed to meet me.

“Mommy!” Their voices filled my heart with love.

“Come here,” I said, helping them down. We walked to the kitchen as they bombarded me with endless questions.

“Daddy!” River cried out when she saw Leonard. He quickly turned and scooped her up, his face lighting up with joy. The moment felt so perfect.

Soon, we were done with breakfast and began preparing for our visit to Leonard’s mom.

I called Clara to help get the kids ready. Once they were set, I went to check on my dad at his place. I expected to find him on the balcony, as usual, but he wasn’t there. Instead, I found him in his room, still lying in bed.

“That’s unusual,” I thought, but when I asked, he assured me he was fine. I told him about our plans to leave and bid him goodbye. He wished us well, and I returned to the house to find the kids and Leonard already dressed. Clara joined us shortly, and we set off.

As we pulled into his mom’s driveway, the guards rushed to open the car doors. Leonard carried one of the kids while I carried the other, and Clara handled the rest of our things.

The kids were still asleep from the drive, so we laid them on the couch in the living room while Leonard instructed the staff to prepare a room for us—the same room we had stayed in during our last visit. Once it was ready, we carried the kids upstairs and settled them in.

When we returned to the living room, Leonard’s mom wasn’t there yet. Just as my patience was wearing thin, she walked in.

“Evelyn, I’m so sorry about last time. Your father wouldn’t let me come to the hospital with you,” she explained quickly.

“It’s okay. By the way, he sends his regards,” I said, smiling as we embraced.

Leonard joined us, and his mom turned to him. “Mom, we have a lot to talk about, so let’s not waste time,” he said.

“Talk? I thought you’d come to stay for a while,” she replied.

“Not today,” Leonard said firmly.

With that, Leonard began explaining everything that had happened. At first, his mom was hesitant about the kids, but we managed to make her see reason and understand our decision.

Time flew by, and soon lunch was being prepared. As we relaxed in the living room, the kids’ cries echoed from upstairs. Leonard and I stood up simultaneously to check on them, but his mom stopped us.

“It’s okay. I’ll get them. Don’t let Evelyn do anything stressful,” she warned Leonard as she headed upstairs. Moments later, she returned with the kids.

When the kids saw us, they cried until she finally let them go. They ran straight into our arms, clinging tightly to us. Leonard’s mom watched us silently, her expression softening.

“I can’t wait to meet the baby,” she said, glancing at my belly with a smile.

“Soon,” I replied, smiling back.

“It’s so nice to see you both this way,” she added, making me blush.

“The table is served, ma’am,” a servant announced, interrupting the moment.

We made our way to the dining room for lunch, ready to enjoy the meal.

“This is a happy beginning.” Leonard’s mom said as she raised her glass of drink.

 “Of course.” I said as we all cheered.

While the kids looked at us happily.