Ella sat quietly at the kitchen table, staring out the window as the last traces of daylight slowly faded. She had just watched Ethan leave with Grace, her heart heavy with the knowledge that he was going to ensure their daughter’s safety while she stayed behind with the boys. Her mind kept returning to Tania and the unknown danger that seemed to be lurking just out of reach. What was Tania planning? Why go after the children, and why now?
But as much as her mind raced with the worries of the world, Ella knew she had to remain strong for Leo and Liam. They needed her more than ever. And tonight, she would do everything she could to make sure they felt safe, loved, and reassured.
She heard the faint sound of footsteps coming from upstairs, and before long, Liam and Leo appeared in the doorway of the kitchen. Both of them were looking more solemn than usual, their faces etched with the same unease that had taken root in their hearts earlier that day.
“Come on, my little superheroes,” Ella said, her voice light and warm, trying her best to mask the worry in her heart. “Let’s get you two cleaned up. We need to get ready for dinner, and we’ve got a lot of fun things to talk about tonight.”
Leo’s eyes softened at her words, and though his lips remained tight, he nodded. Liam, on the other hand, hesitated for a moment before slowly nodding, too.
“Alright, mummy,” Liam said, his voice small, as if unsure of what to say.
Ella gently kissed them both on the foreheads. “Go on, freshen up. I’ll set the table, and we’ll have a nice meal together.”
As she began to prepare the table for dinner, she heard their footsteps again, the boys returning with their faces scrubbed clean and fresh pajamas on. They looked more like themselves now, though the nervousness still lingered in their eyes. Ella had always known her boys were sensitive, and after everything that had happened today, she could tell the weight of the fear was still too much for them to carry.
The dining room was warm and inviting, the golden light of the overhead chandelier filling the space with a soft glow. Ella tried to keep the atmosphere light as she placed the final dish on the table-pasta with a creamy tomato sauce, one of the children’s favorites. She didn’t want to overwhelm them with too much serious talk, at least not yet. Dinner was meant to be a time for peace, even if the world outside seemed anything but peaceful.
Liam and Leo sat at the table, each with their hands folded neatly in front of them. Ella could tell they were trying hard to be brave, but it was clear the unease they’d been carrying all day hadn’t left them yet. She made sure to serve them generous portions of their favorite food and smiled as she placed the bowl of garlic bread in the center of the table.
“Alright, my darlings,” she said, sitting down across from them. “Before we start eating, let’s have a little chat. What do you say?”
Leo looked at her, his brow furrowed, as if unsure of what this chat would be about. “What kind of chat, mummy?” he asked.
“Well,” Ella said, trying to sound as casual as possible, “I just want to know how you’re feeling. Are you both okay?”
Liam’s eyes darted to Leo’s before he spoke up in a hesitant voice. “Mummy, are we in trouble?”
Ella’s heart ached hearing the fear in Liam’s voice. He was usually so confident, so full of life, but today… today had shaken him. She reached across the table, taking his hand in hers. “Oh, sweetheart, no. You’re not in trouble, not at all. You two are safe. You’re both safe with me, and we’re going to make sure nothing happens to you. But I know today was scary, and I’m so sorry for that.”
Leo nodded in agreement, his own lips trembling ever so slightly. “We were really scared, mummy,” he admitted. “I don’t like it when I feel like someone’s watching us. It felt… it felt like there was someone out there.”
Ella nodded, her gaze soft as she looked at her children. “I know, my love. I know. And I promise, we’re going to make sure that doesn’t happen again. We’re going to be extra careful, okay? But right now, all I want you to do is focus on eating, enjoying this yummy pasta, and thinking about something fun.”
Liam blinked, his eyes still wide with concern. “What if they come back? What if the person who’s watching us comes back again?”
Ella’s heart gave another painful squeeze, but she refused to let her children see her doubt. “I know it’s scary, darling. But we’re not going to let anything happen to you. We’re going to take care of everything. You just need to trust me, okay?”
Liam looked at her, his small hand squeezing hers tightly. “Okay, mummy,” he whispered.
Ella gave him a warm smile, her heart full of love for these two brave little souls who had been through so much in such a short time. “Good boys. Now, let’s try something fun, okay?”
She leaned back in her chair, pretending to look thoughtful as if an idea had just come to her. “How about we play a game? A dinner game. I’ll ask you both questions, and you have to answer them as quickly as you can. No thinking too long, okay?”
The boys looked intrigued now, their eyes lighting up as the distraction worked its magic. Liam’s face broke into a small grin. “Okay, mummy. What kind of game?”
Ella grinned back at him. “It’s a ‘favorites’ game. I’ll ask you both what your favorite things are, and you have to tell me fast. Ready?”
They both nodded enthusiastically, their mood already shifting as their attention turned to the fun they were about to have.
“Alright,” Ella began, “What’s your favorite food?”
“Pizza!” Leo answered immediately.
“Spaghetti!” Liam said, grinning wide as Ella laughed.
“What’s your favorite animal?”
“A lion!” Leo exclaimed.
“Uh… a lion too!” Liam quickly added, and the boys burst into giggles.
“Okay, last one,” Ella said, her eyes twinkling. “What’s your favorite color?”
“Red!” Leo answered.
“Blue!” Liam said, holding up a finger. “Just like my Superman shirt!”
Ella chuckled. “I love it. You both have such great tastes. Now, that wasn’t so bad, was it?”
The tension in the room seemed to melt away as the conversation continued. The boys started sharing silly jokes, their laughter filling the space with a sense of normalcy, and for the first time that day, Ella felt her shoulders relax.
They ate their dinner together, talking about their favorite things, what they wanted to do the next weekend, and all the fun things that made them happy. The stress and fear from earlier were still present, but Ella could see that, for now, the boys were beginning to feel safe again, surrounded by love and familiarity.
Once they finished eating, Ella made sure they brushed their teeth and got ready for bed. The evening had been far from perfect, but the laughter and joy shared over dinner had provided a much-needed escape from the fear that had overshadowed their day.
She tucked the boys in, kissing them both goodnight. “Sweet dreams, my loves,” she whispered, her voice soft but firm.
“Night, mummy,” they said in unison, their voices sleepy but content.
As Ella shut the door to their room and walked back downstairs, she let out a sigh of relief. For now, the boys were safe, and she had done everything she could to ease their worries. Tomorrow, they would face whatever came next together, just as they always had.
But as she sat down on the couch, the weight of what was to come pressed heavily on her chest. Tania was out there, and Ella couldn’t let her get any closer. She would fight for her family. She had to.