SWNOVELS Chapter 17 Chapter 17
A day later,
I was finally home. It felt odd to be back amongst the forest and crisp northern breeze. With the air filled with the fresh scent of pine and the ground scattered with their natural litter, nothing had changed. Everything was perfectly peaceful. The bright sunlight fought its way through the multitude of branches to produce only a dappled version of itself and the nesting birds tweeted from high above. It was hard to believe that anything terrible could ever happen here. But the thought of Milly lingered like a terrifying shadow at the back of my mind. And the worst part? We were so close and now so powerless.
As our house came into sight, I took Leo's hand. He turned to me and tucked my hair behind my ear.
"Ready?" he asked.
I nodded and he kissed me softly on the forehead.
"Before we go in, I need to apologise. I should never have hit you. That is my one rule and I broke it because I lost my temper. I don't expect you to forgive me but I want you to know that I am sorry.”
"I forgive you, Leo. Of course, I do. You had every right to be mad at me."
"I still should not have done it," he said kissing my cheek. "I'm sorry. Now let's go and see our bambinos.”
I smiled at the thought of seeing my six little ones and as we neared the front door I heard the faint sound of their laughter.
Unable to wait much longer, I ran up the steps that led to the front door and burst straight into the hallway. The laughter ceased and a few seconds later I heard little footsteps coming out of the hallway. "Mama!" Cato squealed as he set his eyes on me stood breathlessly in the doorway. I sunk to my knees and embraced my three and a half- and-a-bit-year-old. The tears were already streaming and only increased when Mathias, his 8 months younger brother, joined the hug and then Silas, my youngest son only one turning two next week.
"My little boys. I've missed you so much,” I sobbed running my fingers through Mathias's head of blonde curls.
A moment or so later, Luca entered the hallway with an armful of baby. Francesca, one of my 1 and half-year-old twins was in one arm whilst her sister walked slowly beside. They were only just walking when I left and now look at Marie. Lili, my youngest at nine months was in his other arm.
"Oh my goodness. You have grown so much!" I exclaimed as I took Lili from Luca's hands.
Leo picked both the twins up and wrapped his arm around me and for the first time in three months, the family was together again.
"And you two are practically running!" I said placing a hand on
Francesca's cheek.
"Do I get a hug?" Luca asked.
"Oh Luca, I'm sorry," I said handing Lili to Leo who didn't quite have his hands full yet.
I threw myself into Luca and hugged him tightly. He picked me up and swung me around before squeezing me like a Boa constrictor. Wow, I missed my best friend.
"You're alive," he said looking at me.
"Thanks captain obvious," I remarked.
"Ahh I missed you so much," he squealed hugging me again.
Luca then picked up Silas and Mathias and I picked up Cato and we had a group hug. My best friend, my six children and the love of my life- my eight favourite people all together and all happy.
I held Leo's hand as we approached the house.