Page 104 of Hollow Deception
He looks so happy with himself that I don’t want to burst his bubble, but my face must be too revealing.
“What is it? Is it too much?”
I bite my lip and nod. “I’m worried we’re spoiling them.”
“They’re just things, Sofia. We’re teaching them manners, teaching them to get along with other kids, so what if they’ll need a second playroom? We have the space for it.”
“…A second playroom?”
Both of them have large bedrooms and a room for all of their toys. Now he’s telling me there will be a second one?
“I want them to know they’re loved.”
“And they do.” I put my hands on his chest. “But they feel that way because of the time we spend with them, not because of the things they have.”
“Can I at least buy her a bitch doll? Something she can have all year? Maybe an entireWizard of Ozset.”
“Did you give her the wrong pronunciation on purpose?”
“I promise you, no.”
The smile he has on his face almost makes me not believe him. But it’s more likely that was simply an accident he didn’t correct. She’s young enough that she mixes up letters all the time, especially in English.
“Seriously, though. I’m worried everything you bought is way too much…”
He sighs. “I’ll cancel the rest of the orders.”
“There were more?!”
He looks sheepish. “It’s more fun now that she’s growing out of the baby stage. So many more options.”
I groan. “You’re making this too hard for me. I don’t want to be the bad guy.”
“I’ll cancel the rest,” he says with more conviction. “I got carried away and excited.”
“Thank you.”
He gives me a quick kiss. “Now, I should make sure the kids aren’t getting into anything they shouldn’t be. And if she’s still awake, I owe her a bedtime story.”
He leaves me alone to finish my shower and wonder how I ended up here after the stress of our marriage a few years ago. I never admitted it to him, but part of me was worried early on that once the attraction waned between the two of us, he’d recede into his miserable self and I’d become more combative. But that never happened. Any of it. He’s so happy that I don’t know if he’s even recognizable at all.
And me?
For once in my life… I feel relaxed. Like my mind isn’t going a mile a minute all the time. Which is ironic since I’m always getting pulled in multiple directions with my family and my role here. My temper is reduced too. I can take a breath and hold mytongue. And I don’t care about being right or winning or any of that nonsense anymore.
Because I have more control and agency over my life, and of course, a family that I adore.
THE END
