The house was quiet after Riccardo left, and Vanessa was grateful for the calm. She knew she’d need some time to sort out her thoughts after the day they’d just had. Ethan and Emma were still buzzing from all the excitement at the park, telling each other stories of the slides, the ducks, and the ice cream. Hearing their laughter, she couldn’t help but smile.
She walked up to their room, finding the twins getting ready for bed. Ethan was already in his pajamas, talking a mile a minute, while Emma brushed her teeth in the bathroom.
“Alright, you two,” Vanessa said, leaning against the doorway. “It’s almost bedtime.”
“But Mom, we had so much fun today!” Ethan said, his face still bright with excitement. “Can we do this again soon?”
Emma came out of the bathroom, her eyes shining. “Yeah,
