S I E N N A
The steam of the freshly brewed coffee hit my nostrils as I take out two ceramic mugs from the cabinet and placed them on the kitchen island. Turning off the stove, I used a dishware to grab onto the handle of the frying pan and removed the fried eggs with a spatula, placing it on the plate next to the French toast.
I slid it over to Camilla, seated by the counter, and handed her a fork. She flashed me a smile of gratitude and pushed back a stray of curly brown hair behind her ear, letting out an exhausted sigh, she returned back to typing on her laptop.
"You need a break from work, Cam. You've been on that laptop for the past three hours. Eat something or rather, just go outside and take a breath of fresh air," I suggested, cleaning up the slight mess from the breakfast I just prepared, "Don't work yourself to death. That's something that kills a lot of workaholic this days."
Camilla peered at me from her laptop screen and muttered with a huff, "I am not a workaholic, Sienna. I guess I just love my work too much to dedicate all my time to it," She shrugged noncommittally and added, "Being a well known lawyer comes with its perks. Just the thought of getting back to the courtroom for another case makes me feel alive and thrilled."
Letting out a sigh, I poured the coffee into the mugs and sat on the stool across from her, placing it next to her untouched breakfast. I took a sip from my mug and told her the facts, "But you're neglecting your kids and husband. That's a very bad sign, Cam. Things like this can create a very big gap in your marital home. It tends to ruin family's relationships."
I wasn't one to pry into someone else's marriage. I found it disrespectful. If a husband and his wife had issues, they are required to sort it out amongst themselves for the good of the family. Right now, I was doing the opposite. I loved Camilla as my sister and seeing her marriage fall apart left a twinge of pain in my chest.
"I hate to admit it, Sienna, but you're right." Camilla admitted, taking small sips of her coffee, "I let myself be consumed by work so I wouldn't let myself grieve. It has affected me to the point that I haven't been grateful for the present."
I clasped the warm mug between my hands and crossed my leg over the other, "It's okay to grieve, Cam. Your mom died two years ago. It takes more than that to embrace the pain of loosing her and never seeing her again. I completely understand you."
With teary eyes, she stared out the opened French doors, watching our children play by the pool. Their laughter and voices could be heard. It made the corner of her lips to tilt up just the slightest bit. I rolled my eyes at the sight of Leo and Nora arguing, yet again. Leo said something to her that made her frown and before she could retort, he jumped into the pool, splashing water on her in the process.
"I also felt that way when Chiara died. She meant a lot to me and loosing her was very painful to bear. Everyday, I wished that I was the one who died and not her," I whispered, swallowing hard to keep the dread away from my tone, "But I just learnt to accept it even if it was hard. When Layla died was the worst of it all. It felt my soul was ripped into shreds. I couldn't breathe, neither think nor function properly. It was the most horrible and depressing moment of my life."
"How did you cope with it?" Her soft voice slowly muttered.
"I just had to accept the fact that they weren't ever gonna come back and cherish their memories for as long as I live," I said with a small smile and sipped my coffee, "Blade was really supportive. He helped me get through it all. His presence was comforting and it made me feel alive again. The pain will never go away. It just shows how much you love them. Besides, Chiara wouldn't want me to cry over her for the rest of my life. If she was here with me right now, she would say, suck it up and be a proud bitch. Fuck your man, enjoy life. Don't let any woman take him away from you. Life's too short for meaningless shit."
Camilla let out a loud laugh and I found myself laughing along with her. "She sounds like a badass bitch," She marvelled with a slight chuckle, twirling a strand of her hair with her finger.
"Yeah she was," I hummed, letting out a deep sigh, "I still miss her though."
Camilla nodded, seeming to understand me. Shutting her laptop, she picked up the fork and began to eat the French toast even though it wasn't warm anymore, but she didn't seem to care.
I hopped off the counter stool and dropped my empty mug into the sink. Then, I went over to the fridge, taking out a bottle water, I poured myself a glass and brought the rim to my lips. Raphael and Aristide strolled into the kitchen from the pool while taking turns to play video games on the iPad.
"Rapha, how many times have I told you not to play with your iPad when you go swimming?" I raised a condescending brow, swallowing the last droplet of water before returning the bottle water back to the fridge.
Aristide shoved his arm into Rapha's ribs, getting his attention. Rapha glared at him but when he pointed in my direction, a puzzled expression crossed his face and he took off the headphones, situating it around his neck. Camilla snorted, shoving another forkful of the French toast into her mouth.
Rapha smiled sheepishly when he noticed my gaze fixated on the iPad clutched between his hands, "In my defense, I got bored and Ari decided we play video games instead."
"I'm not taking the blame for this one, Rapha. This one is on you." Aristide defended himself and walked over to his mom, snatching a couple of eggs from the plate and tossing it into his mouth.
"You, traitor," Rapha huffed and crossed his arms over his chest in protest, he turned to me, jutting out his lower lip in a childish pout, "Come on, mom. Trust me, I made sure it didn't fall into the pool."
Raphael was obsessed with his electronics just as Nora was obsessed with her barbie dolls. He never went anywhere with his iPad, even to the bathroom. I can't even count how many times it fell into the toilet, the bathtub and the pool. This was the tenth iPad he was getting. Literally.
I placed my hands on my hips and chided him, "That isn't my point, Rapha. I specifically told you to stay away from technology, just for today. You promised me."
"Mom, I didn't –"
"I told you to clean up your room two hours ago. Has that been taken care of?" I asked him. He avoided my gaze and stared down at his feet instead. Something he did to show that he was guilty. I threaded my fingers through my hair and sighed, "That's it. You're grounded."
His eyes snapped up to meet mine in disbelief, "I can't get grounded, mom. That's Leo's thing."
"Hey!" Leonardo grumbled, walking into the kitchen as well with a towel around his neck, "Don't you dare bring me up."
"Take a hike, loser." Rapha scowled at him and whined as I snatched the iPad away from him and tucked it under my arm.
"Don't call your brother a loser, Rapha." Blade chimed in, loosening his tie as he took few steps closer to where we stood. Leonardo's smirk widened as he perched on the counter stool next to Camilla.
"Dad, I'm grounded. Do something." Raphael made his way over to his father and literally gave him the puppy dog eyes. Of course Blade fell for it. His features softened and he looked up to stare at me.
"Baby...." He swallowed hard at the furious look on my face and coughed awkwardly, "I can't do anything, Rapha. I'm sure your mother has a good reason for punishing you."
"Dad's right. You need to learn respect." Leo said in a mocking tone. He let out a low huff when Camila slapped him upside the head, " What was that for, Aunt Cam-Cam?"
"For being mean to your brother." Camilla answered, narrowing her eyes at him. Aristide chuckled and covered it up with a cough when his mom glared at him.
"Has the world gone mad?" Raphael lamented and dramatically fell to his kneels. Blade rolled his eyes and pulled him up to his feet.
"Go to your room," I demanded.
"Mom," He whined with pleading eyes but let out a defeated sigh when my glare turned cold. He stormed out of the kitchen while muttering words I couldn't hear under his breath. Aristide left his mother's side and quickly followed him.
"Dad!" Rebecca squealed and ran in through the French doors. Blade didn't expect the force at which she hauled herself at him. He almost lost his balance but thankfully he caught her in his arms.
"Get back here, Becca. Dad isn't back –" Nora paused mid-sentence when she saw Blade. Then a wide smile took over her lips before she's running towards his direction, "Daddy!!"
This kids make it seem like Blade went on a one month trip every time he came back home from doing business. It's so sweet to watch. Blade turned into a big soft teddy bear when he's in the presence of his children. It warmed my heart all the time. He exuded a great amount of sweetness.
"Zio Blade!" Bianca, Camilla's daughter, exclaimed while running towards Blade.
"I'm so honored at the warm welcome," He hoisted Rebecca on his hips and wrapped his free around Nora and Bianca in a warm hug.
"Why does it seem like my kid likes Blade more than me?" Camilla whispered with a slight chuckle.
"I do feel the same way." I told her and we both laughed.
"Kids." Leonardo scoffed and hopped off the stool after wiping the water droplet from his hair with the towel. Cam and I both rolled our eyes as he grabbed an apple from the fruit basket and took a bit bite from it.
"I got you something, Leo," Blade called out, raising something high in the air as he placed Rebecca back on her feet, he glanced at it and slowly muttered, "A pokemon: Brilliant... Diamond..."
"Goddammit, dad. Just call it a Nintendo," Leonardo corrected in exasperation as he approached his father and gazed down at the video game with a shit eating grin, staring back up at his father, he whispered, "I have never loved you more."
"Leo, we've talked about this. No saying any curse words." I narrowed my eyes at him.
"But dad says it all the time," He grumbled with a pout as Blade ruffles his hair.
"Dad is an adult and you're still a kid. What other reason could you possibly need?" I deadpanned, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear.
Rebecca slowly sizzled over to my side and mumbled with a pout, "Mom, I'm hungry."
"I'm only seven. That's closer to being a teenager," He huffed.
"Dick size, mom," Nora suggested. Blade let out a sigh of frustration and made his over to me, planting a kiss on my cheek. I gripped Rebecca's waist and placed her on the countertop.
"Nora!!" Camilla and I said at the same time. I was beyond horrified at this moment.
"What? It's true." She smiled sheepishly.
"You did not just say that, Nora," Leonardo shook his head in shock and pointed at his dick through his swim trunks, "This bad boy right here is a lot bigger than you think. Have you seen it yet?"
"Yeah. And as your twin, I'm not impressed at all." Nora stated, leading her cousin, Bianca, over to the dining table. I shook my head at their banter and proceeded to make a sandwich for Rebecca. Amusement twinkled in Blade's eyes.
Leo's jaw dropped to his feet, he bit his lip and retorted, "You're just too blind to see it. Dad's genes run thick in the family. So I'm pretty sure I've acquired some manly physique."
"Dick, dick, dick. That's all I hear while I'm eating this banana," Rebecca muttered, removing the last peel of the banana before taking a bite from it.
"Alright, no kid should mention that word again. Understood?" I raised an eyebrow at their silence, adding cheese and pickles to the sandwich before placing the top slice of bread and handing it to Rebecca.
"Yes, mom." Nora responded.
My brow raised higher and my lips set into a frown. Leonardo sighed and slowly mumbled, "You got it, mom."
~•~
OMG! Babes. I love writing about this kids so much that it slipped my mind to write a very important aspect of the book. I know I mentioned before in the last chapter that some scenes would be revealed but that would be in the next chapter, half of it that is.
It's gonna be an insight to the past. Like I said before, something happened during the course of those seven years and I'm gonna let you know some of it.
Hope you loved this chapter! I've been working on it for the last few days. Because of the stress of school and stuff, the update would be once a week. It really pains me but I have to study hard.
Anyway, Thanks for 30k reads guys. You made me smile during the times I wasn't happy. I'm grateful for that.
I forgot this little detail so I just edited it;
After the time jump, Blade is 37years old and Sienna is 34.
Their children;
Leonardo – 7years
Eleonora – 7years
Raphael – 6years
Rebecca – 3years
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Love you all❤❤