Sweet Twins Indulge in Daddy's Love

However, Nancy seemed to be in a good mood.

"Kids, I'm home!" she called out as she entered.

It was a first for her in a long time to come back home early. The kids jumped in surprise at the sound of her voice. "Mommy's back!" they yelled gleefully as they ran to her.

"Hey, sweeties," Nancy bent and opened her arms as she saw their small figures scramble to her.

Bobby and Nadia looked at up at her with expectant faces.

Gathering them in her arms, she peppered their faces with small kisses.

"Someone's in a good mood," Charles commented as he laid the dishes on the table. "Has the problem been solved?"

"Ye of little faith," Nancy answered. "You should give me a little more credit," she pouted.

"Sure, sure. Whatever you say," Charles jabbed back, unable to resist teasing her even more. "So, who was it?" he asked.

"Before that, dinner first. I'll tell you about it later. I'm starving," she deflected. If it were up to her, she didn't want to involve Charles in the matter.

"You two, let go of mommy now. Go and wash your hands," he said to the kids.

The two children released Nancy but held her hands. "Mommy, let's go wash our hands," they said, tugging her to the bathroom.

Charles watched them with a soft smile.

It was as if the house itself warmed with the picture they painted.

The house was more than just shelter-it was home, and the bond between them was the hearth that burned at the center.

After they finished washing their hands, they sat down at the table.

Nancy picked up a piece of cabbage and put it into her mouth. Her eyes brightened at the delicious taste. "These are really good," she remarked with a pleased expression.

Then she glanced at her children. Reaching out, she started putting more vegetables on their plates. "You two should eat more of this to help you grow faster. Don't just eat meat," she said. "But I want Mom's cooking next time. I miss it," Bobby grumbled.

"Yeah, I want to eat Mommy's food too!" Nadia chimed in.

Hearing the children's words, Nancy felt a spike of guilt.

"Then, what do you want to eat tomorrow morning? I'll cook breakfast. How does that sound?" she said, filled with a desire to make it up to them.

"We like everything you make, right Nadia?" Bobby looked at Nadia and asked.

For the children, what she cooked mattered less than the sentiment. In their purest of hearts, it was the fact that their mother prepared food for them herself that filled them with immense warmth. "See, their standards aren't really high." Charles

chuckled.

"You've been working a lot lately," Nancy said in a soft voice, her words laced with an unspoken apology.

"Silly. I'm a willing victim to your every word." Charles smiled at her.

Nancy knew it couldn't have been easy for him to be taking care of the children all the time.

This man who was sitting with them at the table with food that he cooked himself was not someone used to housework, and yet he had done whatever he could to support her.

She felt a lump in her throat. Even she knew how to be grateful.

There was never a word of complaint, nor did he ask her for anything in return. At her word, he would drop everything and come running.

Still, she guarded her heart and kept it encased inside her own walls.

"Mommy, daddy, you love each other so much," Nadia grinned at them. "It's really nice to have both of you at home, right Nadia?" Bobby said. "Isn't it nice that we're all together here?" "Of course! I wish it was like this every day," Nadia said happily, clapping her hands.

Seeing the children smile tugged at Nancy's chest. The lump in her throat grew and her eyes glistened with her emotions.

The four of them shared a wonderful dinner. When they were done, Nancy bathed Nadia, and Charles did the same for Bobby.

"Mommy, can you tell me a story?" Nadia asked expectantly. She pulled at Nancy's clothes, silently telling her to lie down on the bed so the little girl could snuggle in her arms. "Sweetie I haven't taken a shower yet," Nancy said.

"Then can you tell stories to me after taking a shower?" Nadia asked again.

"Nadia, don't be so spoiled," Bobby said, entering the room in a night robe.

"I'll tell you a story instead." Then, he turned to Nancy and said, "Mommy, go and take a shower. I'll tell her stories."

Nancy smiled. Bobby was such a good older brother. "Thanks, honey." She pat his head and headed to the bathroom.

Bobby gently closed the bedroom door when she left.

Nadia looked at him with accusing eyes and crossed arms. "I wanted mommy to tell me stories. Who wants you to tell stories?" she said, dissatisfaction wrinkling her brows.

Bobby sat down on her bed and whispered, "Nadia, you're so stupid!"

Angry at being called such, Nadia shook her head, "No! You are the stupidest person in the world! You're mean and I don't like you anymore." She turned her head to the side haughtily and refused to look at him.

"Is that so? Then tell me, what makes me stupid?" Bobby smiled.

"You're the one who called me stupid first!" Nadia retorted.

"Mommy came back early today, right?" Bobby asked.

Nadia nodded. "So?" "We want mommy's company, right? You even want to sleep with her."

Nadia nodded again.

"What about Daddy, then? He also wants mommy's company. If you make mommy tell you stories, she won't have time for daddy."

Nadia looked at him confusedly. She didn't understand what it was exactly that Bobby wanted to say.

She blinked her big eyes at him, as if waiting for an explanation.

Bobby laughed at her lost expression. "See? This is why you're so stupid. Didn't you say you wanted a younger brother or sister for us?"

Nadia nodded eagerly. "Yes! I want mommy to give birth to a younger sister or brother. Then, I will be the older sister, and you can also be the big brother. We're going to play with the baby every day and we're going to take really good care of him or her. We're going to be so happy!" she said excitedly.

"Yeah, it would be really fun." Bobby patted her head helplessly, not knowing how to explain the birds and the bees to his innocent sister. "But that can only happen if mommy is with daddy."

"I know. You told me before I didn't forget," Nadia said proudly, as if she was awaiting praise for remembering.

"So, you can't keep mommy to yourself. If you keep hogging her, how can she be with daddy? We have already grown up, so we should let them have more time for each other," Bobby said seriously.

"Okay, I understand!" Nadia nodded. Her young eyes were filled with determination; she was convinced that she had just accepted a very important task.

"Good girl. So from now on, I'll read for you instead, okay?" Bobby picked up a stack of books and asked, "Which one will it be tonight?" He grinned.

Nadia pondered for a moment before deciding, "I want to hear the story of Snow White. Can you read that one for me?" Nadia asked, hugging her teddy bear in her arms.

"Sure." Bobby opened the book and started reading.

When Charles came out of the bathroom, he heard murmurs from Nadia's bedroom.

He opened the bedroom carefully, not wanting to unwittingly disturb his daughter. His eyes brightened slightly at the sight he arrived to, and then his face softened as a smile broke from his lips. "Nancy, listen!" he whispered urgently, holding Nancy's hand and showing her the gap in the door.

Bobby was sitting on Nadia's bed, reading her a story as Nadia snuggled up to him. "Look at him. He's all grown up now," Nancy said, unable to help smiling as well. "Yes," Charles agreed, sighing softly.

It was one of those conflicting discoveries that came with fatherhood. He felt his heart swell with a joy laced with melancholy. Time indeed passed by without notice. In the blink of an eye, Bobby was no longer the child who clung to his mother. He was growing up fast.