Eighty Four

"Mom, what's this?" Milo asks, his hands flying through Avery's old wooden jewellery box.

The nine-year-old is excitable and energetic, and Avery is half asleep still.

"What's what?" She asks, covering her yawn with her hand while she leans in the doorway.

Roman can hear the two of them from the bed and inwardly groans.

If Milo is awake, that means four-year-old Hallie and one-year-old Parker are going to follow soon.

"This circle," he says innocently, pulling a small metal ring out of the box.

"That's a ring, sweetheart," Avery explains, walking over to where he stands.

She wraps an arm around him, pulling him to her and kissing his temple.

"You don't wear rings," Milo frowns, his nose scrunching up when Avery kisses his head.

"I found that when I stayed at dad's pack, literally years ago," Avery realises, gently prying the old ring out of Milo's hand and examining it.

Some of the original chain is still attached, but it's mostly broken off, which she understands is almost definitely