Total pages in book: 123
Estimated words: 118965 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 595(@200wpm)___ 476(@250wpm)___ 397(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 118965 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 595(@200wpm)___ 476(@250wpm)___ 397(@300wpm)
I can’t help but laugh, but I quickly swallow it down when my ribs protest. “What did Angelo say?”
“He said he’d get him a hand-raised, vaccinated mouse from a proper breeder and a decent mouse cage with a shelter and toys.” She folds her hands on her lap. “Then Sophie reminded him she wanted a puppy, at which Johan said if Étienne can have a mouse and Sophie a puppy, he wants a boa constrictor.”
I suppress another laugh. “What about Guillaume? What does he want?”
She lifts her gaze to the ceiling. “He wants to learn to play the piano. Apparently, his music teacher is a huge inspiration.”
“At least that’s easily doable,” I say with a chuckle.
She stands. “As you can imagine, Angelo has his hands full, but we wouldn’t want it any other way.” Giving my empty bowl an approving look, she asks, “Would you like more soup?”
“No, thank you. I can’t eat another bite.”
“I’ll tell Angelo you finished dinner so that he can bring the kids up to say goodnight,” she says as she collects the tray before adding on her way to the door, “Call me if you need anything.”
“I appreciate that.”
The door closes on her warm smile.
The food and the long nap restored my strength. If I don’t move too much, I don’t feel pain. At least not physically. The hurt that comes from a deep sense of loss is far more devastating.
The stampede that sounds in the hallway pulls me from the dark thought. The big, sturdy old house trembles under the onslaught of the little feet.
Sophie’s voice reaches me through the closed door. “Me first.”
“No, me,” Guillaume cries out.
“Stop pushing me,” Sophie yells.
Angelo’s tone is stern. “Everyone behaves or no one sees Sabella. She’s hurt, remember? You can’t storm in there like a herd of cattle.”
“Sophie stepped on my foot,” Guillaume whines. “She did it on purpose.”
Sophie’s reply is heated. “You were in my way.”
“Why does she get to go in first?” Étienne asks.
“I loved Sabella first,” Sophie replies.
“One at a time,” Angelo says. “You can all go in if you calm down.”
“I’m calm,” Guillaume says.
I can’t stop a smile from curving my lips. Their bickering reminds me a lot of Ryan, Mattie, and me when we were young.
Angelo opens the door. His tall body fills the frame. Our gazes lock across the distance. Something I can’t name passes between us. All I know is that for once, it’s not animosity. On the contrary, the feeling is pleasant.
His smile is soft, but the ever-present strain shows in the lines of his eyes and mouth. “Can we come in?”
“Of course. You shouldn’t have let me sleep for so long.”
He enters. “The doctor said sleep is the best medicine for you.”
The kids file in behind him, all but tiptoeing to the bed.
Sophie stops next to me. “How are you feeling, Sabella?”
I caress her cheek. “Much better now that you’re here.”
She studies me with a tilted face. “Are you our stepmom, Sabella?”
The question takes me by surprise. I glance at Angelo, who crosses his arms and gives me an apologetic shrug.
“Technically, Angelo is your uncle, so that makes me your aunt.” I look at Angelo again. “I guess.”
“She’s our aunt by marriage, Sophie,” Johan says with an air of importance.
Sophie’s face scrunches up with a frown. “Does that make your mother our grandaunt, Sabella?”
“I suppose you could say so.”
“Then we’re your mother’s family by marriage too?” she asks.
Puzzled, I say, “Why are you asking?”
“I don’t want someone to take us away from you. Can you adopt us, Sabella? Then Angelo can be our guardian, and you can be our mommy. That will make your mommy our grandmother.”
Angelo places a hand on her shoulder. “No one is going to take you away from Sabella. Now, say goodnight and give her a kiss. It’s time for dinner and homework.”
Étienne pouts. “I don’t want to do homework. I don’t like letters.”
“We’re going to do a few exercises together, young man. If you don’t learn your letters, you won’t be able to read.”
“I can show him,” Sophie says. “Sabella taught me a rhyme that helps me to remember the alphabet.”
“I don’t want to,” Étienne says, stamping his foot.
“It’s one of those things you’re just going to have to do,” Angelo says. “How are you going to read the instructions to assemble the cage for your mouse or the food dosage on the box if you don’t learn the alphabet?”
Looking alarmed, Étienne stands taller. “Sabella, can you teach me the rhyme too?”
“It’s easy.” Guillaume rolls his eyes. “I learned it in one day.”
“Until Sabella is stronger, Heidi and I will help you,” Angelo says. “Go wash up for dinner. Heidi made lasagna, and we don’t want the food to get cold.”
Sophie climbs onto the bed and kisses my cheek before hopping down. “Angelo said your mommy is coming to visit. I’ll draw her a picture so that she doesn’t feel scared when she has to sleep in a strange bed.”