Leonard couldn't hold back, took Marcus aside in a corner of the salon, and told him what Deanna had planned.“This time, if you call Sacha, I'll kill you,” Marcus threatened.“She doesn't want to travel, she wants to sing again, and she wants to do it here.”“God! I've been waiting for this for so long.”“I know, but we have to be careful. I know Crusher will move whatever needs to be moved and act as a babysitter, but just in case, find out how we can set up part of the theater for the girls. I'll pay for it.”“Of course you'll pay for it. I'll do anything to see her shine on my stage again.”The happiness of being married to the woman he loved and the anticipation of hearing the applause for his daughter drove him crazy. He was unrestrained. He hugged Susan whenever he could and kissed her in front of everyone, even Camila.And while the children entertained themselves in the section reserved for them, the adults enjoyed the evenin
Harry was also enjoying his new life more and more. Emma was growing up to look more and more like Laura, but her drive, energy, and sweetness were all her own. Despite those difficult early years, the girl had incredible resilience and a childish infatuation with her godfather.At first, the little twins had seemed very cute, like dolls. But as he watched Daniel hold them, kiss them, and carry them, she didn't like them so much anymore. She had often reacted with tantrums and uncontrollable crying when she felt that her godfather wasn't paying her the same attention.“She doesn't even do this to me with Ryan!” Harry said, offended.“Daniel is his first love, Harry. That doesn't mean she doesn't love you,“ Amanda explained.“I'm more handsome,” Daniel added, adding fuel to the fire.“Of course you're not! You're older!” Harry replied.“I'm still more handsome than you.”Danie
Ethan Crusher approached her slowly, looking at her first from the doorway as he rocked his little sister and sang her to sleep. Deanna looked up and saw his curious, bright gaze, which he had always had. A young gentleman; and he was so big now.Encouraged by her smile, he entered. To him, she wasn't his mother, as she was to Jonathan; she was his friend. Emily was always present in his memory and in his heart. And from her, he had inherited his eyes and smile, his hair and elegant manners. His build and stern expression were Daniel's.“How are they?” he asked in a whisper.“They're fine...”“And you?”“I'm fine too.”He sat down nearby, taking one of the pink bunnies in his hands.“Tell me what's wrong,” Deanna said.“I have doubts... about college.”“What's wrong?”“I'll have to go far away... It's exciting, but it also scares me a little. I don't want to disappoint Dad.”“I doubt you could do anything to disappoint him. You're his pride and joy.”“Yes, and that weighs on me a litt
Returning home with her daughters presented another challenge for Deanna. If it weren't for Daniel's experience, she would surely have lost her mind.“I don't understand why you have so many doubts, honey.”“I want to do it right.”“And you will, you always do. I understand that it's natural for women to take care of babies... Although I don't know how it works,” he said, leaning over one of the girls' cribs.“You're not helping, Leonard.”“But I can learn, and if I can, so can you. Besides, that idiot knows a lot more than we do.”Deanna looked at her father for a moment, the look of wonder on his face.“It looks like you've never seen a baby before,” she said.“I have, but not this pretty. It's... amazing.”“Have you thought about having children with Susan?”“Huh? At my age? No... Susan told me she doesn't want to have children, and I respect that... To be honest, I don't know if I'd be a good father... I don't know if I'll be a good husband.”“What if she changes her mind one day?
As the hours passed, it became more difficult. She couldn't stand, she couldn't sit, she couldn't lie down. Her face went from a smile to a grimace of pain; Daniel held her, caressed her, massaged her, did everything he could, but he knew it was all up to Deanna.Until the pain became unbearable; the doctor did one last check and announced that they were ready to begin.“I want my mommy!” she cried to Daniel.She looked like a frightened little girl, and of course, Daniel looked over and motioned for Philippa to come in. She took her hand, caressing her face and offering words of encouragement.“Here comes the first one, Deanna, push...” the doctor urged her.Daniel held her other hand, amazed to say the least. His wife's face was contorted and she was panting heavily. They exchanged glances, he kissed her forehead; the effort was so great that tears began to fall from Deanna's eyes.“You're wonderful, you're doing great... I love you,” he said, half scared.And then she heard it: her
Susan waited for them in Leonard's car. It was Ethan's last year of high school, and he was about to start college. When they saw her standing there, they were surprised.“Auntie, how are you?“ Naomi greeted her.“Hello, kids...”“What are you doing here?” Ethan asked.“I came to pick you up because Daniel and Deanna are at the hospital. Your sisters are about to be born.”Naomi screamed uncontrollably! She practically dragged everyone to the car.“Calm down, Naomi, there's still time. Don't get nervous,” Susan tried to calm her down.“My sisters are coming! I want to get there!”For some reason, of the three siblings, she was the most anxious. She was finally going to have sisters. Yes, they would be a few years older, but she wouldn't be alone. Throughout the pregnancy, she had spent a small fortune on little dresses, hair ribbons, tiny shoes, and everything else in duplicate. She was overwhelmed with excitement.Ethan, on the other hand, didn't quite know how to feel. He was happy
The day had arrived; the day everyone had been waiting for. Her obstetrician had warned her that multiple pregnancies often resulted in delivery before 37 weeks; that if it happened, she shouldn't panic, even if the girls were born a little premature, as this was to be expected.And Deanna felt it, like a premonition, that morning. Something inside her was telling her, her body was screaming at her. But she told Daniel to take the children to school as usual and go to work, that she felt fine and it was probably just another discomfort. She stayed in bed; she had a strange, uncomfortable feeling in her chest.During those last few weeks, she rarely got out of bed, it was very difficult for her, and her husband insisted that she stay calm, that he would take care of everything and that she should rest. She took advantage of the time to finish reading that pile of books she always left half-read, and that's what she was doing when she felt moisture wetting the sheets.She found a large
“I want to show you something,“ Daniel said, taking her by the hand.“What is it?”“It's a surprise, come on...”Deanna stood up, she was in the final stretch, she could feel it. With some difficulty, she let her husband take her by the hand to the door of what would be their daughters' room.“You mustn't look,” he warned her.Deanna covered her eyes with both hands, and he made sure she wasn't peeking. He opened the door and, with one hand on her back, guided her inside.“Okay, you can look now.”In the center of the room, between the two cribs, Daniel had placed a low table. On it, a lamp spun on its base, emitting colored lights, and for each light, the shape of a firefly was reflected on the ceiling, walls, and furniture. It looked like a starry sky.“God... It's beautiful,” Deanna said with a smile.And he looked proud of his achievement, of his little gift.“Explain something to me...” she said.“What?”“Where did you come from? How do you do such beautiful things with that seri
Camila entered Daniel's house as she always did: as if it were her own. Deanna was a little surprised to see her. Although the relationship between the two women had improved greatly, Camila was still a little embarrassed about the things she had done and didn't know exactly how to make amends.So when Daniel called her to ask her to talk to his wife and help her, she was happy and glad to be able to do something for her. She arrived with lots of bags, lots of things for the girls. She wasn't very demonstrative, but she was as anxious as she was with any of her grandchildren for the twins to arrive. Anxious like any grandmother.“Dear, how are you?”“Hi, Camila, I'm fine... What are you doing here?”Camila put the bags on the floor.“I came to bring some gifts for my granddaughters,” she said, sitting down across from Deanna, ”and to talk to you.”Deanna looked at her a little confused. Talk about what? She waited for Camila to start. She just sighed and had another burst of sincerity