Chapter 23: Daily Life
The morning sun peeked through the curtains, casting a warm glow over Simon and Gigi's bedroom. Simon stirred first, his internal clock still finely tuned from years of military discipline. He watched Gigi sleep for a moment, her peaceful face a stark contrast to the chaos he'd once known. This was the life he'd fought for—the life he never thought he'd have.
Quietly, he got out of bed and headed downstairs. The house was already starting to wake up; he could hear voices in the kitchen and the faint hum of the TV in the living room.
Khloe was sitting at the counter, scrolling through her phone, while Alex made her a smoothie. Kim was helping North with her homework, and Kylie was playing with Stormi on the couch. It was a typical morning, filled with the comforting noise of family life.
Simon greeted everyone with a nod as he headed for the coffee machine.
"Morning, big bro," Khloe said, glancing up from her phone.
"Morning," Simon replied, pouring himself a cup of coffee.
Alex turned around and gave Simon a polite nod. "Good morning, Major."
Simon raised an eyebrow, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. "You don't have to call me that, Alex. We're not on a battlefield."
Alex chuckled nervously. "Old habits, I guess."
Simon took a sip of his coffee, watching the interaction between Alex and Khloe. He still kept an eye on Alex, but after his thorough investigation, he felt more at ease. Alex was a good guy, and most importantly, he made Khloe happy.
A few moments later, Gigi appeared, her hair tousled from sleep. She walked over to Simon, wrapping her arms around his waist and resting her head on his shoulder.
"Good morning," she murmured.
Simon smiled down at her. "Morning, love."
Breakfast was a lively affair, with the whole family gathered around the table. Simon took his usual spot at the head, a position that seemed to come naturally to him. He listened as everyone talked about their plans for the day—Khloe and Alex were going hiking, Kim had a photo shoot, and Kylie was planning a playdate for Stormi.
After breakfast, Simon spent some time in the backyard, working out. He had set up a small gym area, complete with weights and punching bags. It was his way of staying sharp, even during his downtime. Gigi often joined him, and today was no exception.
They worked out side by side, the sound of weights clinking and punching bags thudding filling the air. Gigi admired how focused Simon was, his shredded physique a testament to his dedication. But what she admired most was his ability to balance his intensity with tenderness.
Later in the day, Simon took some time to catch up on his personal projects. He had been working on a memoir, detailing his experiences in the military and the lessons he had learned. It was a therapeutic process, one that helped him make sense of everything he had been through.
In the afternoon, the family gathered in the living room to watch a movie. Simon found himself sitting between Gigi and Stormi, who had insisted on sitting in his lap. He didn't mind; her giggles and questions about the movie were a welcome distraction.
As the day wound down, Simon and Gigi retreated to their room. They sat on the balcony, watching the sunset and talking about their future.
"I've been thinking," Simon said, his voice thoughtful.
"About what?" Gigi asked, leaning against him.
"About what's next. For us, for the family. I want to make sure everyone's taken care of, that we're all safe and happy."
Gigi smiled. "You're already doing that, Simon. Just by being here, you've brought so much to this family. And to me."
Simon kissed her forehead, feeling a sense of peace he hadn't felt in years. Life wasn't perfect, but it was good. And for Simon, that was more than enough.
To be continued...