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Chapter 7

The next morning unfolded with an unusual calm, a rare and welcome stillness in our usually bustling household.

Kennedy and Austin had left early to spend the day with their parents, leaving just Eden, Noah, and me alone in the apartment.

As noon approached, I found Noah in the kitchen, busy preparing lunch for the two of us.

The sounds of pots clanging and utensils tapping against the counter created a comforting rhythm, while the delightful aroma of herbs and fresh vegetables filled the air. I glanced over to see him moving with practiced ease, his focus evident as he chopped the ingredients with precision.

Meanwhile, I was on the living room floor with Eden, who was happily engaged in her tummy time. She wriggled and squirmed, her tiny hands reaching out for the colorful toys just beyond her grasp. With each attempt to lift her head, her determination was unmistakable, and I couldn’t help but smile at her persistence. Eden’s soft coos and occasional giggles filled the room, a sweet and gentle soundtrack to our midday routine.

Noah called from the kitchen, letting me know lunch was ready. Gently, I gathered Eden into my arms, her little body warm and snug against me.

Together, we made our way to the dining table, where a simple yet delicious meal awaited.

I placed Eden in her small crib that Noah had set up beside the table and took a seat next to him.

As we ate, we chatted about all sorts of trivial things, letting the conversation flow easily. Just as I was about to ask Noah something, the doorbell suddenly rang.

“I’ll get it,” I said, setting my utensils aside and standing up. I made my way to the door, a slight curiosity sparking within me as I wondered who it could be.

As I reached the door, I took a steadying breath, my hand hovering over the handle for just a moment. I wasn’t expecting anyone, and the calm of the day had made me unprepared for any kind of surprise. Finally, I pulled the door open and froze.

Standing there, framed by the doorway, were my brothers. I blinked, feeling the air grow thick around me as I struggled to process what I was seeing. Each of them looked slightly different from how I remembered, yet there was no mistaking who they were. The years had added lines to their faces and perhaps a hint of weariness to their eyes, but in those expressions, I could still see the shadows of the boys I had once known.

“Estella…” one of them began, his voice both familiar and foreign, carrying the weight of all that had been left unsaid.

I swallowed, my mind racing with a hundred questions, but no words seemed to form. Behind me, I could hear Noah’s footsteps as he approached. I felt his steady presence, grounding me.

Finally, I managed to speak, my voice barely a whisper. “What… what are you doing here?”

My oldest brother Felis took a small step forward, his hands lifting slightly as if to reassure me. “We… we wanted to see you. To talk,” he said softly, his eyes searching mine for some sign of welcome.

No. This couldn’t be happening. They couldn’t just show up here, after all these years, at my door. My heart raced, and I felt my hands tremble slightly. The weight of their presence was suffocating, the memories of pain and abandonment surging back all at once.

I felt Noah’s reassuring hand on my back, his touch grounding me amid the chaos swirling in my mind. Desperately, I looked up at him, feeling the helplessness in my own eyes. I couldn’t do this. Not now.

Noah’s gaze met mine, steady and understanding. Somehow, without words, he knew exactly what I was feeling. He gave me a small, almost imperceptible nod, and in that silent exchange, I found permission to step away. I took it as a sign to turn around and retreat back into the kitchen where Eden was waiting.

“Estella, please,” I heard Orion’s desperate voice call out behind me, thick with years of regret. His plea tugged at something deep within me, stirring the part of me that still remembered the brother he once was. But I didn’t stop.

Back in the kitchen, I settled into a chair at the table, my body heavy as though weighed down by all the years of pain I had kept locked away. I felt the sting of tears building, blurring my vision until they spilled over, warm and unrelenting. Eden cooed softly in her crib, the gentle sound grounding me, reminding me of the life I had now the life I had built without them.

From the hall, I could still hear Noah’s voice, calm and steady, speaking to my brothers. I couldn’t make out their words, and maybe it was better that way. The murmur of voices faded into the background as I focused on the rise and fall of my own breaths, trying to push away the tidal wave of memories that threatened to consume me.

Minutes felt like hours as I sat there, head bowed, tears slipping silently down my cheeks. I wanted to be stronger than this, to push past the pain, but their sudden arrival had cracked open a part of me I had buried long ago.

Eventually, Noah returned to the kitchen, his face etched with the quiet strength and concern that I had come to rely on. He knelt beside me, reaching out to gently brush away the tears from my cheeks.

“They’re gone,” he murmured softly, his voice filled with both relief and an unspoken understanding of the toll this had taken on me. “They wanted to talk, to explain… but I told them now wasn’t the time. I gave them my number, though. If you ever feel ready… the choice is yours.”

I nodded, barely able to respond, the words caught in my throat. Noah reached for my hand, holding it tightly in his own, and I felt a sense of calm begin to return, piece by piece.

“Thank you,” I whispered, my voice barely audible.

Noah smiled, his thumb gently tracing soothing circles on my hand. “I’m always here, Estella. Whatever you need.”

I took a shaky breath, feeling the weight begin to lift, if only a little. For now, I knew I didn’t have to face the them. But I know I would soon need to.