When I have kids, they’ll have to learn to love sleeping as much as Daddy does. With me as their father, they’ll not only be hilarious and full of energy, they’ll learn that the best way to befueled for the day is a good night’s snooze. The little tikes will look forward to nap time as much as I do—I hope.
Thinking about early wake ups, I suddenly remember that Anya is in California for Christ’s sake. It’s like 7:00 a.m. there.Yuck.
Immediately, I send her another message.
Matteo
Do you always wake up so early?
“Hey, sleepyhead,” my sister calls out, spotting me before anyone else.
I look up from my phone to find her holding her daughter while lounging on the couch. They’re wearing matching pink and white pajamas with little clouds on them. Meanwhile Cesar is on the ground in his green dino jammies and matching socks, smashing toy trucks together while Ivan watches, pretending to be wholly interested in the destruction.
“Hey,” I greet in return, opening my camera app and pointing my phone at her. “Smile.”
“What?” she gasps, trying to hide her makeup-free face too slowly.
“Cute,” I comment, saving it.
“Matteo!” she complains shrilly. “I wasn’t ready.”
“Looks perfect to me,” I disagree honestly. Jade always looks beautiful, even sleep-deprived and cranky—which she hasn’t been since the twins’ newborn days. The sound of aggressive crawling catches my attention and I bend down to scoop Cesar up as he gets to my feet. “How’d you know that I want a picture with you too, little menace?”
“Dog,” he tells me, swinging his arms animatedly.
“Oh, did you help walk Aunt Ana’s dog this morning?” I ask, flaring my eyes wide to mirror his excitement. “Was Sirius a good boy?”
“Armani let him hold the leash,” Dmitri says, entering the room with a steaming cup of coffee. “He hasn’t stopped telling anyone who will listen.”
“You held the leash?” I ask, tickling his stomach. “Look at you, Mr. Muscles.” Sirius is a trained security Doberman who’s been with Ana since she married Cassio. A chicken could hold his leash and he’d behave. Thankfully, since Cesar is quite obsessed with him recently.
Before my nephew can get bored of me, shoutno, or squirm away, I snag a selfie of the two of us and save it to send with the one of Jade and Isobella.
“Where’s everyone today?” I ask, letting Cesar back down to return to his toys. He crawls back to Ivan instead of walking, knowing that he can speed faster that way.
“Ana and Cassio are at the orphanage planning for an upcoming fundraiser,” Jade says, beginning to list out everyone’s whereabouts like it’s her job. “Apollo is off with the Todorovs, Nico and Remo are upstairs, Armani went with Ana and Cassio, and…everyone else hasn’t said or I haven’t seen them. Oh! Dad’s outside doing check-ins with the guards. And Martha is prepping lunch, I think.”
“You’re always on top of it,” I praise, maneuvering around the couch to kiss both her and her daughter on the top of the head. “I need a snack. I’ll be right back.”
“Bring me a couple raspberries, will you?”
“Got it!”
I open back up my text thread and select the two pictures, finding that Anya has replied.
Anya
It’s only 7. That’s not too early.
Matteo
You sound like these two. Early birds, all of you. *attached 2 images*
Matteo
Those are my proof of identity by the way.
“Martha, my love,” I sing, gliding into the kitchen. “Did you miss me?”
