GENESIS
"Yeah, go ahead," Zarina said, wiping her hands on her apron with a grin. "We’ll close up. Go get your little monsters."
I looked between them, Cady already stacking the last trays, Zarina double-checking the register and shook my head, throat suddenly tight.
"What am I going to do without you guys?" I said softly.
Cady rolled her eyes, but her smile was warm. "You’ll survive. You’ve survived worse than us closing shop by ourselves."
Zarina walked over and pulled into a one handed hug. "You’re not abandoning us. You’re just being a mom. We’ve got this."
I hugged her back, then reached for Cady. She squeezed tight before letting go.
"See you tomorrow,"
"Co early this timd," Zarina called after . "Or we’re eating your share of tomorrow’s test batch."
I laughed, waved once more, and stepped out into the late-afternoon sun.
I slid into the car, started the engine, and the radio ca on mid-song ,Vanessa Carlton, that old, nostalgic one.
I turned it up.
The windows were already down.
I sang along as I pulled out of the parking lot, voice cracking on the high notes, smiling like an idiot.
Making my way downtown
Walking fast
Faces pass
And I’m hobound
The wind whipped through my hair.
If I could fall into the sky
Do you think ti would pass by?
Cause you know I’d walk a thousand miles
If I could just see you tonight...
I belted the famous lines louder than I should have, windows open, heart wide open too, feeling every word like it had been written for this exact mont in my life.
The school gates ca into view too soon.
I parked, grabbed my phone, and walked toward the pickup area.
Mitchell spotted first, all long limbs and a big grin. He waved goodbye to his little group of friends and ran over, backpack bouncing.
"Aunt Gen!"
I crouched and caught him in a hug. "Hey, handso. Good day?"
"The best!" he declared, already climbing into my arms.
Then the twins, Dash walking calmly, Izzy sprinting ahead full speed.
"Mommy!"
They crashed into my legs and I kissed both their heads.
Daisy ca last, taller every week, walking with a group of other teens. She was blushing, laughing at sothing one of the boys said. When she saw she waved them off and jogged over.
We all piled into the car, Mitchell and the twins in their booster seats in the back, Daisy up front with .
The drive ho was loud.
Izzy told every detail of her art drawing. Dash quietly corrected her exaggerations. Mitchell sang a song he’d learned. Daisy talked about so boy in her class who "isn’t even that cute, Lily, stop smiling like that."
I laughed the whole way.
When we got ho they scattered imdiately, each running to their room to drop backpacks and shoes (I had a strict "no scattered things" rule, and they mostly followed it now).
I went straight to the kitchen.
Lunch was simple: grilled cheese, apple slices, carrot sticks, orange juice. They ate at the table, booster seats still in place for the twins, Mitchell proudly using a regular chair now.
After lunch ca howork.
Daisy at the kitchen island with her math.
The twins on the rug with coloring books.
Mitchell at the table with , practicing his letters.
Hours passed in that gentle, exhausting rhythm.
By late afternoon they were all quiet, playing, napping, and reading.
I slipped into my study.
The room was small, sunny, and mine.
A desk. A laptop. A stack of notebooks. lissa’s old planner she’d given when I finally sat for my high school equivalency exams two years ago. I’d passed barely but I passed. I had my certificate frad on the wall now, right next to a photo of the twins on their first birthday.
I sat down, adjusted my glasses, opened the docunt titled
Silent No More
The moir was only a few pages long so far.
I stared at the blinking cursor and stared at the words.
Silence wasn’t quiet.
It was a room with no doors.
It was the sound of my own heartbeat counting seconds I couldn’t speak into.
It was waking up every morning already tired from holding my breath.
It was learning to disappear inside my skin so no one would notice the girl who used to laugh too loud.
It was safe.
It was small.
It was all I had left when the world decided I wasn’t allowed to be loud anymore.
I paused.
My fingers hovered.
I thought about the twins napping down the hall.
About Kieran coming ho tonight, kissing my forehead, asking how my writing went.
About the bakery, the laughter, the sll of fresh bread.
About how far I’d co from that little girl who believed her own voice was a weapon.
I smiled, a little teary, and kept typing.
I didn’t even know when I’d fallen asleep until I felt soft lips brush my forehead... then the bridge of my nose... then each eyelid.
I stirred and opened my eyes.
I wasn’t at my desk anymore.
I was cradled in strong arms, his arms, my head tucked under his chin, body curled against his broad, warm chest.
"Baby," I groaned, voice thick with sleep, "you’re ho."
He pressed another kiss to my temple.
"I’m ho."
I looked up at him owlishly. He was still in his suit shirt, top two buttons undone, sleeves rolled to the elbows, revealing those strong, veiny forearms that always made my stomach flip even after all these years. His jaw was shadowed with stubble, eyes tired but warm, hair slightly mussed like he’d run his hands through it too many tis today.
"What ti is it?" I asked, rubbing my face against his neck like a cat claiming territory.
"Around ten," he murmured, voice low and rough from the day. "I’m sorry I’m late. Got tied up in so boring assdinner eting that should’ve been an email."
I reached up, fingertips brushing the rough stubble on his cheek.
"You look exhausted," I whispered, thumb tracing the line of his jaw.
He leaned into my touch, eyes fluttering half-closed.
"Do you know what will revive , Mrs. Blackwood?"
I tilted my head, a teasing smile curving my lips.
"What?" I asked, voice soft and knowing.
He smiled, that dangerous little tilt that still made my pulse jump.
"A bath. With you. No clothes. No interruptions. Just hot water, your skin against mine, and maybe my mouth on every inch of you until neither of us rembers what day it is."
I laughed, the sound breathy, and already lting.
"You’re impossible."
"I’m tired," he corrected, nuzzling my neck. "And I missed you. Let have you in the jacuzzi. Please."
How could I say no to that?
I wrapped my arms around his neck.
"Take upstairs, Mr. Blackwood."
He carried up, through the hallway, past the kids’ closed doors, blessed silence from their, up the stairs, straight into our bedroom.
The jacuzzi tub was already filling when we got there, steam rising, low lights on, the faint scent of lavender and eucalyptus curling through the air. He’d started it before waking . Of course he had.
He set on the counter gently, hands sliding to my hips.
"Arms up," he murmured.
I lifted them. He peeled my shirt off quickly, so impatient. My bra next. Then he knelt, kissed the soft swell of my stomach still faintly lined from carrying the twins before tugging my leggings and underwear down in one smooth motion.
I watched him undress next, his shirt buttons, belt, slacks, briefs, every movent fascinating, tired muscles shifting under skin I knew by heart.
When he was bare he stepped between my legs, hands framing my face.
"You’re so beautiful," he whispered, like it was a secret he still couldn’t believe.
I pulled him into a kiss, tasting the day on him: Alcohol, stress, and love.....yes love, I can taste that, sue .
He lifted again, stepped into the tub, and sank us both into the hot water.
Steam rose around us.
I settled against his chest, back to his front, his arms wrapping around like armor.
For a minute we just breathed, water lapping around us, hearts syncing.
Then his hands started moving.
Slowly and exploratory.
Over my collarbone, down my arms, across my stomach.
He kissed the side of my neck.
"Missed this," he murmured against my skin. "Missed you."
I arched into his touch.
"Missed you more."
His fingers slid lower, teasing between my thighs.
When he found , of course already slick, and aching, I gasped.
He circled my clit slowly, teasing.
"Tell what you want," he whispered in my ear.
"You," I breathed. "Just you."
He lifted slightly, positioned his cock at my entrance, and sank in, slowly, deep, both of us groaning at the stretch, the heat, the perfect fit.
We moved together, lazy, unhurried, water rippling around us.
No rush.
No words.
Just skin on skin.
Breath on breath.
Love so thick it felt like drowning in the best way.
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