Let Me Stay The Night

Christina could not reject the adorable kids.

She reached for the card and removed the cap of the pen. “All right. Tell me what I should write.”

Lucas cast a glance at Camila. I’ll leave the artistic side of things to Camila,

Camila started eloquently. “My sweet darling, you’re the most important person in my life. I want to hug you, kiss you, and never let you go.”

Christina laughed at her cringy words.

Lucas hurriedly reminded, “Don’t laugh, Mommy. Focus on writing it down.”

Christina stopped laughing and gave him an okay before writing down Camila’s words.

A while later, she handed over the written card to Camila. “I’m done. Shouldn’t you both be going to bed now?”

Camila took the card and skimmed through it in detail. She then gave Christina a tube of lipstick. “Mommy, stamp it.”

“How?” Christina laughed so hard that her shoulders trembled.

Lucas pursed his lips and made a smooching sound. Christina was amused by his charming side.

Comprehension dawned on her as surprise filled her. “Where did you learn that?”

“From the movies. All of them stamp their cards with a kiss.”

Without much choice, Christina applied a layer of lipstick on her lips, then gently pressed them on the card, leaving a red mark.

“Done. Here you go!”

Lucas and Camila checked the card and were satisfied with the mark. “This is perfect. Continue with your work, Mommy. We’ll return to our room to finish our homework.”

“Go ahead.” Christina didn’t notice the kids plan and buried her head in work.

the card into the gift bag. With all the preparations done, all that was

two went to their room after taking a shower. One was drawing, while the other was stacking blocks.

and ran out of their

finally back!” Lucas clung onto Nathaniel’s leg.

lifted her arms, gesturing for Nathaniel to carry her. “Daddy,

the kids in each arm and strode to their bedroom. “Why aren’t the both of you asleep? It’s already so late. Are you waiting up for me?”

embrace before I even got back.

bed and

is Mommy’s gift for you.” Lucas

give it to me herself if it’s from her? Nathaniel asked curiously.

a loss for words. It’s not good when Daddy is

wheels in his brain turned quickly, and he

giving it to you, so she asked for Lucas’ and my help.” Camila was terrible at lying, so she repeated Lucas’ lie with her puppy dog’s eyes.

only slightly bigger than his palm. As it was sealed with tape, he couldn’t peek inside it.

“Mommy said you have

furrowed. What kind of

We’re going to sleep now.” Camila couldn’t

blankets around them, then pressed his lips to their

kids were exhausted. They mumbled, “Good

Nathaniel flashed a rare, gentle smile. He got up and

the way back to his bedroom, he opened the gift bag, reached inside, and took out a piece

smooth red cloth was so thin he could see through

about giving such a gift.

a pair of thin pajamas. Thin wisps of steam radiated from her back. The warm glow from overhead shone down on her,

her neck to the side, she wiped the water droplets from her hair with a towel. Her

person looking at her at that moment would know how beautiful she

there for? Aren’t you going to take a shower?” Christina

red lips mark and read its contents while