THE BOYS

The next morning, Leah woke up early, the excitement of seeing her boys making it impossible to sleep in. She stretched in bed and glanced over at Richie, who was still asleep beside her. His arm was draped casually across her waist, his breathing steady and calm. For a moment, she simply watched him, feeling grateful for the life they had built together. Despite all the ups and downs, here they were happy, together, and loved.

Carefully, Leah slipped out of bed, not wanting to wake Richie just yet. She knew he needed a bit more rest before the chaos of the day began. As she padded down the stairs, the house felt quiet, but she knew it wouldn’t be for long. The boys would be home soon, and with them would come the energy, laughter, and occasional mischief that filled their lives.

Leah headed to the kitchen to see what the maids had made for breakfast, her mind buzzing with thoughts of the family gathering they were planning. She couldn’t help but smile at the idea of everyone coming t