Vanessa guided Ethan and Emma towards their room. The twins were tired but reluctant to call it a day, dragging their feet with playful resistance.
“Mommy, just a few more minutes?” Ethan pleaded, clutching his well-loved stuffed lion tightly against his chest.
Vanessa crouched to his level, brushing a strand of his messy hair out of his eyes. “You’ve had such a busy day, Ethan. Your body needs sleep so you can grow big and strong.”
Emma, holding her blanket like a cape, sighed dramatically as she climbed onto the bed. “But Uncle Riccardo’s still here,” she mumbled, pouting.
From the doorway, Riccardo’s warm chuckle filled the room. He leaned casually against the frame, his dark eyes soft as he watched them. “Even I have to go home and sleep, Emma. But I’ll see you both tomorrow, okay?
