Gonzales

25

The family gathered in the cozy kitchen of the family home. The scent of freshly baked cookies filled the air, and the sound of laughter and chatter echoed through the rooms. 

Alessandro and Evelyn were sitting at the kitchen table, catching up with their two oldest sons, Romeo and Matteo, who had come for a weekend visit. Romeo, with his calm demeanor, was sitting beside his fiancée, Charlotte, while Matteo leaned against the counter, cracking jokes as always. 

The younger boys, Marco, Luca, Leo, and Aurelio, were scattered around the room, each of them with their own little activity, though the promise of freshly baked cookies seemed to hold everyone's attention.

"These are amazing, Mom!" Matteo exclaimed, taking another cookie from the cooling rack. "How do you always do it?"

Evelyn smiled, her eyes sparkling with pride. "It's all in the recipe, sweetheart. The secret's in the butter." She gave a small wink, knowing well that the real secret was the love she put into everything she made for her family.

Aurelio already sharp enough to know when his favorites were being offered, was hovering near the plate of cookies. His little blue eyes were wide with excitement as he waited for just the right moment to swoop in.

 His blonde hair, almost glowing in the soft afternoon light, looked messy from playing with his older brothers in the yard earlier.

"One more cookie, Mommy?" Aurelio asked, his voice sweet but persistent as he looked up at his mother with a smile that could melt any heart.

Evelyn chuckled and nodded. "You can have one, darling. But only if you let everyone else have their share, too."

Aurelio gave a small nod, though his eyes were already fixed on the last remaining cookie on the plate. His tiny hands were practically shaking in anticipation. He wasn't the type to wait long, especially when it came to cookies, and the promise of that last one was too much for him to resist.

But just as he made a move toward the plate, Luca, at sixteen, darted in front of him. His dark hair was a little messy from the afternoon's activities, but his quick reflexes were sharper than ever.

"No way, kiddo," Luca said with a grin, grabbing the last cookie and popping it into his mouth before Aurelio even had a chance to protest. "You snooze, you lose."

Aurelio's face immediately crumpled in disbelief. His little hands clenched into tiny fists, and his blue eyes, always so trusting, flashed with frustration. He stared at Luca, looking as if he could hardly comprehend what had just happened.

"Hey!" Aurelio whined, his voice rising with the tiniest hint of a tantrum beginning to form. "That was mine!"

Luca shrugged nonchalantly, chewing the cookie slowly, savoring the moment. "Doesn't look like it, little man. Better luck next time."

The room fell into a brief, stunned silence. Marco, always the peacekeeper between his brothers, shot Luca a warning look, but it was too late. Aurelio's lip began to tremble, and before anyone could react, he crossed his arms and stomped his foot dramatically.

"Mooooom!" Aurelio wailed, his voice high-pitched and pleading. "Luca took it! He's mean! That was my cookie!"

Evelyn, trying to hold back a laugh, stood up and walked over to Aurelio, bending down to his level. "Now, now, sweetie," she said softly, her hands on his tiny shoulders. "You know we have to share with everyone, right? We can't be selfish."

Aurelio glared at Luca, his face red with indignation. "But it was mine!" he whined again, and his pout deepened. He was a determined little thing, even for his age.

"Come on, Aurelio," Marco interjected, trying to calm him down. "It's just one cookie. You can't always have everything your way." Marco's tone was gentle but firm, knowing full well that his younger brother had a tendency to demand things go his way.

Aurelio sniffled, wiping his nose with the back of his hand. "But I always get what I want!"

Evelyn smiled softly, placing a hand on Luca's shoulder. "It's true, Aurelio does get a lot of attention around here," she said, her voice teasing but affectionate. "But that doesn't mean we get to take things from others, even if it's just a cookie."

Luca, seeing the upset on his brother's face, softened a bit. "Alright, alright," he said with a playful sigh, taking a step back. "I guess I could've been a little nicer."

Aurelio's eyes lit up, his face lighting up with that familiar mischievous sparkle. "Really? You'll give it back?"

Luca chuckled. "I never said that, kid. But I can give you half." He broke the cookie in half and handed one piece to Aurelio, who immediately stopped sniffling and took it eagerly, his pout fading away.

The tension in the room melted away, and even though Aurelio wasn't completely satisfied, his earlier frustration seemed to disappear with the bite of his half-cookie. He gave Luca a quick glance, his blue eyes still narrowed in suspicion, but the tears had stopped, and the drama was over—for now.

Evelyn looked over at Alexandro, who had been watching the scene with a smile. "Sometimes I think he's going to take over the house with his stubbornness."

Alessandro laughed softly. "That one's definitely got a strong will. But it's a good thing he has older brothers to keep him in check."

Romeo, who had been watching the exchange with charlotte , turned to Evelyn. "Sounds like Aurelio takes after you, Mom," he teased with a grin. "A little spoiled, but lovable all the same."

Evelyn rolled her eyes, though her smile never faded. "I think it's safe to say he gets it from his father," she said with a wink toward Alexandro, who chuckled in return.

Aurelio, now content with his half-cookie, hopped up into his father's lap. "Daddy, I get my cookie!" he said proudly, his voice full of victory. 

Alessandro ruffled his hair affectionately, chuckling at the way his little boy had wrapped everyone around his finger once again.