My Peace (Beautifully Broken 5)

She rolls her eyes, and it’s just her and me… me and my sister, and this giant house suddenly doesn’t seem so bad. I can hear the kids’ laughter echoing from somewhere down the hall, playing hide and seek, and it’s all going to be ok.

I feel it.

Maddy visits for over an hour, only leaving when the baby starts to get cranky. It doesn’t escape my attention that she doesn’t leave until it’s almost time for Pax to be home. They’re clearly taking turns sitting with me.

I freshen up, and and am waiting for my husband when he comes through the door.

“Hey, babe, he greets me. His suit fits him perfectly, although he has loosened his tie. I’m pretty sure it’s the first thing he does when he walks out the office door. “How was your day? Did you rest?”

“Yep,” I tell him honestly. “Maddy visited, the kids played. It was good.”

“Good,” he answers, and pulls me to him. “Gimme some of that.”

I smile against his lips, and he kisses me hard. “I missed you today,” he admits, and he grips my butt in one hand.

“Good,” I grin.

“Is it bedtime yet?” he growls into my neck. I smile.

“Not yet.”

He releases me. “Fine. Play hard to get. You’ll get yours.”

I laugh, and we play with Zu for a while after Pax changes clothes. Honestly, I like him better in jeans and a t-shirt. A suit just isn’t him, even if he does wears it well.

At dinner time, we sit in the dining room, and the table is so long. There is room for twenty at it, and the wood gleams in the candle-light.

Zuzu stares at me from across the table.

“Mama, our new house is big.”

Pax chuckles at her troubled expression. “Is that a problem, Zu?”

She shakes her head. “No, daddy. I just… I just… can I have a puppy now?”

“You little opportunist,” Pax smiles. “We’ll see.”

“You shouldn’t be too surprised,” I tell him. “She’s your daughter, through and through.”

He grins at me over his water glass.

After dinner, we have our dessert in the main family room. Natasha seems troubled as she brings us the tray with three pie plates.

“Mr. Alexander never ate in here,” she tells us. “This rug was shipped from Turkey. It’s very expensive.”

Pax’s head snaps up, and he takes a plate from her.

“Natasha, I assume you know about Mr. Alexander’s will… how we have to employ you for five years?”

Natasha stands up straight. “Yes, sir.”

“That doesn’t entail you telling me or my wife what to do. That isn’t in your job description. I don’t know how your relationship with my grandfather went, but our relationship with you will not be that way.”

Natasha looks sheepish, and I almost feel sorry for her, even though her attitude all day has been annoying.

“This is our home now,” Pax continues. “We will treat it as a home, not a museum. I’ll thank you to not make us feel uncomfortable about that.”

Natasha nods reluctantly. “Yes, sir.”