The garden was alive with color, the air fragrant with the scent of blooming flowers. As we strolled along the winding path, I watched as Lily and Jake took in their surroundings, their eyes wide with wonder.
"Wow, look at all the flowers!" Jake exclaimed, running ahead to examine a patch of daisies.
"Stay close, buddy," I called, chuckling at his excitement. "I don't want you to get lost."
Lily lingered a little behind, her gaze fixed on a cluster of bright azaleas blooming nearby. I could see her expression shift from joy to something more wistful.
"Dad," she said softly, pointing to the flowers. "Look at those azaleas."
"Beautiful, aren't they?" I replied, moving closer to her. "They add such a nice splash of color to the garden."
"They were Mom's favorite," Lily said, her voice barely above a whisper. "She always bought them whenever we had a little extra money."
The mention of their mother sent a pang through my heart. "Your mom loved azaleas?" I asked gently, kneeling down to her level.
"Yeah," Lily nodded, her eyes glistening slightly. "Whenever we had some coins saved up, she'd buy a few. She said they reminded her of spring and new beginnings."
I felt a rush of emotions—sympathy for the loss they had experienced, but also a deep desire to honor that memory.
"It sounds like she cared a lot about making things beautiful for you both," I said, hoping to keep the conversation light. "These flowers must have made her happy."
Lily smiled, a bittersweet expression crossing her face. "She always said they brought good luck. I wish I could have shown her this garden."
Jake, overhearing us, wandered back over, his curiosity piqued. "What's good luck?"
"Lily was just telling me how much Mom loved azaleas," I said, looking at Jake. "They remind her of her."
"Can we plant some here?" Jake asked eagerly. "That way, we can have them all the time!"
"That's a great idea," I said, feeling a sense of warmth and hope. "We can plant azaleas right here in this spot. You both can help me pick out the colors you like."
"Can we get pink ones?" Lily asked, her face lighting up. "Those are my favorites!"
"Pink azaleas it is," I agreed, standing up and looking around the garden. "We'll make a special spot for them. It'll be our little reminder of your mom and all the beautiful things she loved."
Jake grinned, bouncing on his heels. "And we can take care of them together!"
As we wandered through the garden, Lily and Jake suddenly stopped, their eyes lighting up with excitement.
"Dad!" Jake exclaimed, bouncing on his feet. "Can we have a playground?"
I knelt down to their level, seeing the sheer joy in their eyes. "That sounds amazing. But why do you want a playground so much?"
Lily's expression softened. "When we lived in our old place, we didn't have anywhere to play. Sometimes we'd just play on the street, but it wasn't safe. I want to have fun and make friends here!"
Jake nodded vigorously. "And swings! I love swinging high! It feels like flying!"
A smile crept onto my face. "I can see why you both want that. It sounds like a great way to have fun and feel free."
"And a swimming pool!" Jake shouted, his eyes gleaming. "We could have pool parties!"
"A pool too?" I laughed. "You really want to make this place your own, don't you?"
"Yeah! We can splash and play! And have ice cream!" Lily chimed in, her excitement contagious.
"I'll think about it," I said, standing up. "Let me talk to Collins about making that happen."
"Yay!" the twins cheered, and I could see their spirits lift even higher. Their joy was infectious, and I couldn't help but feel a sense of determination to make their wishes come true.
After spending some time in the garden, we returned inside. The sun was beginning to set, casting a warm glow through the large windows. I could sense the twins were starting to feel the weight of the day, their energy slowly fading.
"Alright, you two," I said, kneeling down to their level. "It's time to get you settled in for the night. How about I show you to your rooms?"
"Rooms?" Jake asked, his eyes lighting up with curiosity. "We get our own rooms?"
"Of course!" I replied, smiling. "This is your home now, and you deserve to have your own space."
I led them down the hallway, past the family photos that lined the walls. They paused to look at each one, intrigued.
"Is that you?" Lily asked, pointing to a picture of me at a company event.
"Yep, that was a few years ago," I replied, trying to gauge their reactions. "I was celebrating a big deal for my company."
As we approached the first door, I turned to them. "This will be your room, Jake." I opened the door to reveal a cozy space with a bed covered in soft blue bedding, a small desk, and a window overlooking the garden.
"Whoa!" Jake exclaimed, running inside. "It's so cool!"
I chuckled, watching as he jumped onto the bed. "You can decorate it however you like. There's a closet for your clothes and some toys in there too."
"What kind of toys?" he asked, his face alight with excitement.
"Some books, action figures, and art supplies. I thought you might like to draw," I said, feeling a swell of pride.
Lily peeked in, her eyes widening. "Can I see mine now?"
"Absolutely!" I said, closing Jake's door and leading her to the next room. "This one is yours, Lily."
I opened the door to a room adorned in soft pastel colors, a bed with a fluffy pink comforter, and a window with a view of the sunset. "I hope you like it."
"It's beautiful!" she said, rushing in and twirling around. "Can I have fairy lights?"
"Of course! We can hang some up together tomorrow," I replied, noticing the spark of joy in her eyes. "And there's a little reading nook over there. You can choose books from the library."
Lily squealed, "I love reading!"
"Great! You can pick out some bedtime stories," I said, watching her excitement. "Now, how about we get you both ready for bed?"
As I helped them settle in, I realized how much they needed this sense of normalcy. "Okay, let's do a quick routine. Teeth brushing, then a story?"
"Can we have a story about adventures?" Jake asked, his eyes brightening again.
"Absolutely," I said, leading them to the bathroom. As they brushed their teeth, I couldn't help but smile at the sight of them—siblings, together, finding comfort in each other amidst the chaos.
After they finished, we returned to Jake's room. I found a storybook on the shelf, its cover adorned with fantastical creatures. "How about this one? It's about two kids who go on an epic quest."
"Yeah! I want to hear that!" Jake shouted, jumping onto his bed.
I settled onto the edge of the bed, opening the book. As I began to read, I could feel their attention shifting fully to the story. Their eyes grew heavy, and I could see them getting drowsy as the tale unfolded.
"And then they discovered the hidden treasure," I read, pausing dramatically. "But they had to solve a riddle first!"
"Riddles are cool!" Jake murmured, barely able to keep his eyes open.
Lily leaned against me, her head drooping. "Can we solve the riddle tomorrow?" she asked sleepily.
"Of course, we can make it a game," I promised, tucking the blanket around them. "But first, you both need to get some sleep."
As I finished the story, I could see their eyelids fluttering. "Goodnight, my brave adventurers," I whispered, kissing each of their foreheads. "I'll be right down the hall if you need anything."
"Goodnight, Dad," they murmured in unison, their voices soft and filled with trust.