𝐇𝐞𝐫 𝐑𝐞𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐧, 𝐇𝐢𝐬 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐭

𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗣𝗧𝗘𝗥 𝗙𝗜𝗩𝗘

It was Tuesday evening, and the sky was fading into hues of purple and orange as we drove down the familiar streets. Chris had convinced me and the boys to go out with him. He'd been talking about some surprise for a few days now, but I wasn't too sure about it. Surprises from Chris were a mixed bag in the past-some good, some bad. But this time, he seemed determined to get me and the boys to come along. His excitement was infectious, and Na'Jae and Noah, our twin boys, didn't care much about the surprise; they just wanted to spend time with their father.

"Mama, are we almost there?" Na'Jae asked from the backseat, his voice bright with curiosity.

I glanced at Chris, who sat next to me behind the wheel, a smirk playing on his lips. He chuckled softly. "Yeah, little man, we're almost there," Chris replied, his voice deep and reassuring. He turned to me briefly, his eyes twinkling with a hidden excitement. "You'll see, Maluena. I promise you'll like this."

I nodded, trying to ignore the slight unease in my chest. I hadn't fully come to terms with Chris's return into our lives. Four years was a long time to be apart, and in that time, I had raised our boys overseas, in a world that felt miles away from the one we were now driving through.

We finally pulled up in front of a tall, modern building with glass walls that shimmered under the evening sky. It was luxurious, the kind of place that made your stomach knot just looking at it. The boys' eyes widened as they stared up at the towering structure.

"Whoa!" Noah exclaimed. "Daddy, who lives here?"

Chris smiled, parking the car and stepping out, motioning for us to follow. "Well," he said, his voice warm and calm, "I do."

I paused, my hand gripping the car door tighter than I realized. I looked at him, my heart racing, but before I could say anything, Chris walked around to me, taking my hands in his. His touch was familiar, soft yet firm, and it sent a shiver through me. He locked eyes with me, something serious in his gaze, yet still that playful charm in his smile.

"And so do you guys," he added, looking down at Na'Jae and Noah, who were now bouncing in place. He returned his gaze to mine. "That is, if your mom is okay with it."

The air around us seemed to pause for a moment. My hands slipped out of his, and I turned to look at our boys. Na'Jae and Noah were practically buzzing with excitement, their little bodies full of energy and anticipation.

"What do you boys think?" I asked softly, kneeling down to meet their eyes. "Would you want to stay here with your dad sometimes?"

They both nodded furiously, their little faces lighting up with joy. My heart clenched in my chest as I watched their happiness. This moment, right here, was what I'd wanted six years ago. A chance for us all to be together. Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes, but I swallowed hard, forcing them down.

Chris smiled, clearly pleased. He bent down and opened his arms wide. The boys ran into him, wrapping their arms around his neck, and he lifted them up effortlessly.

"Alright, let's see your room, little guys," Chris said as he carried them inside.

The apartment was stunning, beyond anything I had ever imagined. The kind of place you only see in magazines. Marble floors, floor-to-ceiling windows with a view that stretched across the city, and furniture that looked like it was handpicked by an interior designer. It was... perfect. Too perfect, almost.

Noah ran ahead, pulling Na'Jae along with him. They found the bedroom that Chris had set up for them, and as soon as they laid eyes on the bunk bed, they exchanged mischievous glances. The same kind of bunk bed they used to have overseas, back when it was just the three of us.