Chapter 273
Lucas ran up to us then, slightly out of breath. “Mama, ball!” he announced, proudly holding up his toy.
I pulled him into a one–armed hug. “That’s wonderful, sweetheart. Are you having fun?”
He nodded enthusiastically, then looked at his sleeping sister. “Ella sleeping?”
“Yes, she’s tired,” Dominic explained softly. “Just like you get tired after playing.”
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Lucas considered this seriously, then placed his ball carefully on the grass. “I be quiet for Ella,” he whispered dramatically, making both Dominic and me smile.
As I watched my son gently pat his sister’s tiny foot, I felt a wave of contentment wash over me. Here, in this garden with my family, discussing plans that honored both my role as mother and Luna and my identity as a designer, I felt truly whole.
Three months later, I stood in the doorway of my newly completed design studio, taking in the transformation of the east wing space. Sunlight streamed through the tall windows, illuminating the cream–colored walls and gleaming hardwood floors. Custom–built storage units lined one wall, filled with carefully organized fabrics, threads, and design materials. A large work table occupied the center of the room, its surface clear and waiting for my next project.
In one corner, a comfortable children’s area had been created with soft rugs, toys, and a small table where Lucas could draw or play while I worked. A bassinet for Ella sat nearby, positioned so I could easily see her from my work table.
The walls featured framed sketches from my first collection, alongside professional photographs of the finished garments. A large corkboard displayed Lucas’s colorful drawings, integrated with my own design inspirations. And in a place of honor hung a family portrait -Dominic, Lucas, Ella, and me, captured in a moment of perfect happiness.
The space was everything I could have wished for–professional yet personal, accommodating both my work and my family.
I heard footsteps behind me and turned to see Dominic approaching, Ella cradled in one arm while Lucas walked beside him, clutching his
hand.
“What do you think?” Dominic asked, his eyes taking in my expression. “Is it what you envisioned?”
“It’s perfect,” I said, emotion making my voice soft. “Better than I could have imagined.”
Lucas immediately ran to the children’s corner, exclaiming over the new toys and art supplies. Ella, now six months old, watched with bright eyes from Dominic’s arms, taking in the colorful new environment.
As I moved further into the studio, I noticed a small envelope propped against a new sewing machine. Opening it, I found a postcard from London, with Adrian’s neat handwriting on the back:
London is everything we hoped for. Claire and I are settling in wonderfully. Hope your designs are taking shape as beautifully as your life has.
I smiled, genuinely happy for his new beginning. Setting the card aside, I joined Dominic by the windows.
“Happy?” he asked, adjusting Ella in his arms as she reached curiously for a swatch of fabric on a nearby table.
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Chapter 273
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“Very,” I replied, watching as Lucas arranged colored pencils with serious concentration. “Seeing you find this part of yourself again makes me happy too, Dominic said softly.
I surveyed the room–my professional space, filled with evidence of my design work, my children, my mate. I didn’t just find a part of myself, I said, understanding washing over me like a warm tide. “I found my complete self.”
Dominic’s arm slipped around my waist, pulling me close as we watched Lucas start a new drawing. Ella cooed softly, reaching for my hair with tiny fingers. Through our bond, I felt Dominic’s contentment mirroring my own–a sense of rightness, of wholeness, of all the pieces of our lives fitting together in perfect harmony.
In this moment, surrounded by the physical manifestation of both my roles–mother, Luna, designer–I knew I had finally achieved the balance I’d been seeking. Not by compartmentalizing or sacrificing parts of myself, but by integrating them into something stronger and more beautiful than I could have imagined.
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I completely enjoyed this book. The excitement and danger were written so colorfully. Looking forward to seeing new books coming. Th… More
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