Chapter Twenty-eight: Life Happens

Rei’s Point of View

Rei: Mary had a great time teasing me until the floor became busy. I've never been more thankful for having a lot of patients. Fortunately, there were no significant issues for anyone who came in tonight.

Rei: Your texts meant a lot to me, though. Thank you for sending them.

Before continuing, I paused momentarily, unsure how my messages would be interpreted. Deciding to take a break, I tossed my phone onto my bed and went to shower before heading downstairs to cook dinner and assist the kids with their schoolwork. They usually took the school bus if I couldn't drop them off or pick them up. Thankfully, Shiloh was responsible enough to watch her younger siblings until I returned home. Walking into the living room, I saw her engrossed in a book while her brothers played on their tablets until my daughter noticed me standing there.

With a sweeping gesture towards the staircase and the railing that Onyx had attempted to jump over the day before, injuring himself in the process, Shiloh declared, "I must guard my brothers from the tempting allure of the bannister." I stifled a laugh while my daughter giggled knowingly. She was always trying to protect the boys from themselves and their adventurous antics on the stairs.

“Any requests for dinner?” I asked my chaotic crew.

The boys chimed in unison, "Spaghetti and meatballs, please!"

I raised an eyebrow and turned to Shiloh, who gave me a subtle nod. It looked like we were having spaghetti tonight. I mentally noted to steam some broccoli and make a smoothie to sneak in some extra nutrition.

As I made my way into the kitchen, I took a moment to remind my kids that homework needed to be completed after dinner, and I would be there to assist them. They nodded in agreement; it was our established routine, and it worked well for us. I believed it was fair - as an adult, I also needed time to unwind after work. And after being in school all day, my crew deserved some time just to be themselves. Without fail, they always finished their homework after dinner, leaving them with enough time to play at the park with their friends. Structure and routine were crucial for our household dynamics as a single working mom with three children.

While I cooked our dinner, I made a mental note to take my boys to the library again. They were lost in their electronic devices; I couldn’t blame them, but I also wanted them to discover the joy of reading. I didn't mind what genre or subject my children chose to read; I was happy as long as they were actively engaging with literature and getting lost in different worlds. Even if reading wasn't their favorite activity, it was important to me that they found enjoyment in the books they picked up. They could game, skateboard, ride their bikes, and hang out with their friends, but I still wanted them to cultivate that love for reading I treasured and knew would benefit them, too, throughout their lives.

The kids shared details of their days with me as we sat down to eat. After dinner, they went to retrieve their homework while I cleared the table. The dishes could wait until after I helped them. Even though we had a dishwasher, I often preferred to hand wash them. Something about it soothed my soul, giving me time to reflect on the day and maybe express gratitude to the universe that we’d made it through another sunrise and sunset relatively unscathed by life.

The boys had Math homework, and Shiloh was working on an essay for one of her classes. After an hour, they had completed all their assignments, packed their bags for school tomorrow, and then went out to hang out with their friends. They knew they needed to be back before sunset and to text me once they arrived at the park. I trusted them and knew where they were going, but it's always better to be safe than sorry in today's world. The text was just a precaution to ensure they had reached their destination safely.

After dinner, I took my time washing the dishes, enjoying the peacefulness of being alone. When I finished, I made some tea and headed upstairs to retrieve my phone and book from my room. First, I checked for any messages, but finding none, I settled down to read a few more chapters in peace before the kids returned home.

Before I knew it, an hour and a half had passed, and it was time for the kids to start their evening routines. Onyx and Salem made their lunches for the next day and stored them in their lunch bags in the fridge. During their picky eating phase, we couldn't afford to waste food, so I let them have autonomy over what they packed for lunch and snacks within specific guidelines. This approach was a game changer - they never wasted any food, weren't starving when they got home from school and could focus better in class. I didn't plan on doing it as a parent, but it became necessary and worked well for us. This summed up my parenting style, being a single mother with just a little help from my friends. I couldn't help but sigh and wonder what it would be like to have family involved who didn't just disappear and actually cared about us.

Aamon’s Point of View

My grandfather’s words echoed in my mind as I left his office. The office that would one day be mine.

Throughout the years, I had often pondered if my grandfather would ever approve of Rei being a part of our family. What would that entail, and how would it unfold? It was up to me to make that happen, for better or worse. I just needed to figure out the best approach, as revealing the truth about who she really was and her connection to our family would bring major changes to her life and her children. Was she prepared for such a drastic shift? Did she even want this? Would it do more harm than good? Or was it simply a selfish desire of my grandfather and myself, ultimately putting a target on her back like her late mother's?

Despite my doubts, I clung to a glimmer of hope that if we connected with Rei, I might also find a way to reconnect with the woman who still held my heart. But would Grace still see me the same way once she knew the truth about me?