Mr. Masters (Mr. 1)

Brielle

I hear the car pull up and I grin to myself. Julian has just been to pick up the kids. I’ve really missed them. We flew in from Rome a few hours ago after the best weekend ever. He dropped me at home first, and then he went on to get them. I hate that I couldn’t go, but his parents think he went away with Sebastian for the weekend. I don’t know how long we’re going to keep this secret of ours. I need to talk to him about it. I hate lying to the children. I hate sleeping downstairs when the rest of the family is upstairs.

I want to be up there with them.

Dinner is in the oven, and it’s then I realise how good it feels to be home.

The front door bangs open.

“Brelly!” Sammy squeals as he sprints into the kitchen and throws himself at me.

“Hello, baby.” I kiss his forehead. “Oh, I missed you.” I smile as I squeeze him in my arms.

Tillie comes sprinting into the kitchen and jumps up on my legs. Then Will appears, and I wrap my free arm around her.

“Hello, my pumpkin.” I kiss her forehead.

Julian soon follows behind them and he finds me with a child under each arm and a dog jumping up my legs. “I didn’t get this reception,” he mutters dryly, throwing his keys onto the bench.

I giggle as I stare into his eyes.

“I’ve got so much to tell you, Brell,” Willow says, her voice filled with excitement.

“You do?” I smile.

She holds her hands out. “You won’t believe it.”

“What?”

“Lola invited me to her birthday party.”

“She did?”

“Yes, and everyone is going.”

My eyes widen. “You mean the boys from golf?” She smiles and nods. “And all her friends from university.”

“This is great news.” I point at her. “You should wear the blue dress, and I’ll do your hair. We should practice some styles tomorrow.”

“Yes, can we?”

Julian rolls his eyes as he takes a seat at the counter. “May I remind you that the blue dress is for wearing at home only?”

I smirk as my eyes rise to him. He hates that his little girl is growing up.

“So, when did you speak to her?” I ask, focusing back on Willow.

“She’s been texting me all weekend.”

“She has?” I smile broadly. “Look at you, being all friendly and social.”

She smiles filled with pride.

“Dinner is about half an hour away. Why don’t you kids go shower and get ready for school tomorrow?” I ask.

“Okay.” Sammy scoots back into the living room. “Oh no! Maverick, no,” we hear him cry.

Willow walks into the living room. “Oh… shit.” She gasps.