The morning sunlight poured into the kitchen as Ethan prepared breakfast. Grace sat quietly at the table, her tiny hands folded in her lap. She had been unusually reserved since waking up, and Ethan noticed. He set a plate of pancakes in front of her and crouched down to her level.
“What’s on your mind, sweetheart?” he asked gently.
Grace hesitated, her big eyes filled with a mix of uncertainty and longing. “Daddy… can I ask you something?”
“Of course, anything,” Ethan said, brushing a strand of hair from her face.
She fidgeted with the hem of her dress. “Do you think Ella would ever… want to be my mummy?”
Ethan’s heart clenched at her timid question. He reached out, taking her small hands in his. “Why would you think she wouldn’t want that?”
“I don’t know,” Grace murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. “What if she doesn’t like me enough?”
Ethan shook his head firmly. “Grace, listen to me. Ella loves you so much. She cares about you like you’re already her own. I promise you, she’d be overjoyed to hear this.”
“Really?” Grace’s eyes widened, hope flickering across her face.
“Really,” Ethan assured her. “I’ll talk to her, okay? But I already know her answer.”
Later that morning, Ethan found Ella in the living room, tidying up some of the kids’ scattered toys. She looked up as he walked in, her face softening into a smile.
“You look serious,” she teased. “What’s up?”
Ethan sat down beside her, his expression gentle but earnest. “Grace asked me something today.”
Ella set the toys down, giving him her full attention. “What did she ask?”
“She wants to know if you’d be her mummy,” Ethan said, his voice thick with emotion. “But she’s scared you might say no.”
Ella’s breath hitched, her heart swelling at the thought of Grace’s vulnerability. “She asked that?”
“She did,” Ethan said. “And I told her there’s no way you’d say no because I know how much you love her.”
Ella’s eyes shimmered with unshed tears. “Of course I’d love to be her mummy,” she said, her voice steady despite the lump in her throat. “She’s already like a daughter to me, Ethan.”
Ethan reached for her hand, squeezing it. “I knew you’d say that. I’ll go get her.”
Ethan returned a moment later with Grace in tow. The little girl clung to his hand, her expression a mixture of nervousness and anticipation.
“Go ahead, sweetheart,” Ethan encouraged her gently.
Grace took a tentative step forward, her gaze locked on Ella. “Ella… I mean, um, Mummy?”
Ella’s heart melted at the tentative way Grace said the word. She knelt down, opening her arms wide. “Yes, baby?”
“Do you really want to be my mummy?” Grace asked, her voice trembling.
Tears spilled down Ella’s cheeks as she pulled Grace into a tight embrace. “I would love to be your mummy, Grace. I already love you so much.”
Grace’s face broke into a radiant smile, and she wrapped her arms around Ella’s neck. “I love you, Mummy,” she whispered.
“I love you too, baby,” Ella replied, her voice thick with emotion.
Just then, Liam and Leo came running into the room, their curiosity piqued by the commotion.
“What’s going on?” Liam asked, tilting his head.
“Grace called Ella ‘Mummy,'” Ethan explained with a grin.
Liam and Leo exchanged a glance before racing toward Ella and throwing their arms around her.
“She’s our mummy too!” Leo declared proudly.
“Yeah! We love you, Mummy!” Liam chimed in.
Ella laughed through her tears, overwhelmed by the love and warmth surrounding her. She hugged all three children tightly, her heart full.
The days that followed were filled with joy and adjustment. Grace, who had always been a quiet and reserved child, began to blossom. She walked with more confidence, her laughter echoing through the house as she played with Liam and Leo.
At school, all three children started forming new friendships. The twins were thriving, their natural charm and energy making them popular among their peers. Grace, too, was coming out of her shell, her bond with her brothers giving her the courage to interact more with her classmates.
Ella watched them with pride and gratitude, knowing how far they had come since the dark days with Tania.
One evening, they sat around the dinner table, sharing stories about their day. Liam was animatedly recounting how he’d won a race during gym class, while Leo chimed in with his own tales from art class. Grace listened intently, occasionally adding her own thoughts.
Ethan watched them with a smile, his hand resting on Ella’s. “This is what I’ve always wanted,” he said softly, his voice filled with contentment.
Ella turned to him, her eyes shining. “Me too.”
After dinner, the family gathered in the living room for a movie night. The kids cuddled up on the couch, their laughter filling the room as the movie played. Ethan and Ella sat side by side, their hands intertwined, feeling a sense of peace they hadn’t known in years.
As the weeks turned into months, their bond as a family grew stronger. Grace began calling Ella “Mummy” without hesitation, and the twins took pride in their little sister’s growing confidence.
Ethan, true to his word, made every effort to cherish the life they were building together. He surprised Ella with small gestures-a bouquet of her favorite flowers, a handwritten note left on her bedside table.
Ella, in turn, found herself opening up to him more, trusting him in ways she hadn’t dared to before. They worked together as a team, navigating the challenges of parenthood and life with newfound unity.
The shadow of Tania’s actions still lingered in the background, but it no longer defined their lives. They were moving forward, one step at a time, as a family.
One evening, as Ella was tucking Grace into bed, the little girl looked up at her with a thoughtful expression.
“Mummy?” Grace said.
“Yes, sweetheart?” Ella replied, smoothing Grace’s hair.
“Are you happy?” Grace asked, her voice small.
Ella smiled, her heart swelling. “I’m very happy, Grace. Why do you ask?”
“Because I’m happy,” Grace said simply. “And I want you to be happy too.”
Ella kissed her forehead, tears prickling her eyes. “You make me very happy, baby.”
As she turned off the light and left the room, Ella felt a deep sense of fulfillment. For the first time in what felt like forever, everything was falling into place.
And she knew that, no matter what challenges lay ahead, they would face them together-as a family.