Secretly Yours

The Boys Are Back

Stella's POV

It's been six years.

I let myself forget about him and I stopped crying myself to sleep halfway through year four so that's good at least. I've picked up a second job because we can't depend on the generosity of Mike and Vanessa forever, as kind as they are. So now, on top of my job at the department store, I work the night shift as a waitress at the Frutti Music Bar with Bloom. The only difference is that she works there all day. Poor thing gets home at midnight covered in smoothie juice and looking a mess and still has time to tell Alex and Bella a story before they go to bed. They stay up for her. Lilly and Arty are normally knocked out by the time I get home because Flora offers to watch them for us. After the old lady who previously owned the place bit the dust, Flora now owns the Carriage House, the daycare I mentioned last time I wrote to you, so she and the triplets moved out of the apartment building and into the home above the daycare. She is so much help with the kids.

It's not all bad. I got a promotion, so I'm the manager now. The money is very helpful, but it's not nearly enough. The kids are going to have to go to school soon and I don't know how I'm going to pay for their school supplies. We'll get by. We always do. If only I had a college degree. Apparently, if you want to do anything on Earth, you have to have one of those because saving the Magix Dimension a trillion times doesn't qualify you for anything. Don't worry, Ms. F. That was a joke. We haven't revealed magic or anything. Speaking of, Roxy is still adamant about living out her life on Earth despite discovering she has superpowers. I'll keep you updated on that, but as of right now, she just wants to get through high school and become a veterinarian.

In other news, I've met a boy. Not a boy, really, but a man. Sometimes I forget that I'm twenty-three years old now. I still feel like a teenager when he looks at me. He's sweet and funny. His name is Ismail and every day at exactly noon he shows up at the store to ask me out. So far, I've said no because... well, what if HE comes back? But my resolve is starting to wear down and he's really good with the kids.

Oh, and Marlowe's two years old now! Aisha is absolutely ecstatic about her little girl. and Bay is such an adorable big brother to her. We don't know much about the father other than that he was one of Aisha's clients and he must have had some lovely locks because Marlowe's hair is just now growing out and it is blonde and I mean blonde. She's also a little lighter than Bay and Aisha but not by much. Aisha got her job as a personal trainer back, so now the kids stay at KIDSports all day instead of going with the others to Carriage House. It costs money, but she likes to see them during the day since she gets home from her other job too early in the morning to see them at bedtime. I don't blame her. Her second job is very demanding and I know that if I had the option to see my babies throughout the day I would.

This letter is getting a little long and I have to bring the kids to daycare once they finish eating breakfast, so I'll end it here. I've attached a picture of all of us, including the kids, since you asked how we were taking care of ourselves in your last letter. Please don't mention how much they resemble... them. Until they get back, I prefer not to think about it. That is, if they get back. You'll let us know, won't you?

Okay, now it really is getting too long. We miss you a lot, Ms. Faragonda. Write back soon.

Love,
Stella

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Bloom was sick, so I took her shift at the Frutti Music Bar, simple as that. Simple, except for the fact that I had already had a shift that night so I just worked two shifts instead and ended up having to walk home at midnight.

When I got back to the apartment, everything was very quiet. Granted, everyone was already in bed, so obviously I was the only one left awake. Except for Aisha, of course, who was working a high-end party uptown. Poor hun. The life of an escort is taxing.