Total pages in book: 104
Estimated words: 99413 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 497(@200wpm)___ 398(@250wpm)___ 331(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 99413 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 497(@200wpm)___ 398(@250wpm)___ 331(@300wpm)
“No, just Lanya and NJ. He said Auntie Reese has the boys at home with her today. Lanya is here to play with Vita and Eva,” Nori says.
“Vita isn’t a baby; she’s not going to want to play with them,” Inzo says.
“Come, we will all join Nico for ice cream and some soccer; how does that sound?”
Inzo frowns and points at me. “Like that? Really, Poppa?”
Uncle Uri sighs.
“I would like to play. Is Sim here? Do you think she can help me?”
“Stay here. I will go see.”
Uncle Uri leaves and I stand waiting for him to return.
“Do you know how to use those?” Nori asks.
“Yes, Uncle Misha showed me one summer.”
“Cool, Poppa has been teaching us,” he says.
“Hush, we’re not supposed to tell. If I can’t go anymore because of your big mouth, I’m going to beat you up,” Inzo growls.
“You can’t beat me.”
“Yes, I can.”
I tune them both out as I begin to have a vision. This one is the clearest I’ve had all day. I’m in another house. Not the one from the first vision or the second.
I know this is a new one, as the windows are all different. This one feels more like an apartment than a house. A high-rise. I look around and I’m alone at first.
Then there is a sweet scent that fills the air. I spin and there she is. The faceless woman I held in my arms before.
She’s not alone. There is another woman standing next to her. However, the other woman isn’t faceless but glitching.
She’s not a blur but a glitch. I tilt my head, wondering if she’s undecided or if I will be. Right now, none of it is making any sense because my head is buzzing.
“Enough, you fight, you don’t get ice cream or to play. You will sit and watch the rest of us have fun until you know how to behave.”
“Sammy, Sim is coming to help you. She has an extra vest. You are tall for your age; it should fit.”
“Thank you, Uncle Uri,” I say and smile.
I enjoy it when Uncle Nico teaches us to play soccer. I hope I’m able to focus and play today. I will try hard to.
CHAPTER 7
Our Family
Tasha
I sit with my two-year-old, Sunny, in my arms as the rest of the kids chatter among themselves and play. Jess and Meg are sitting with their little sister, Karen, while she pours them imaginary tea. At three, Karen is full of personality, and her older sisters adore her.
LaSalle spoils her with a new tea set every time he travels. She’s using the latest one Misha sent her after LaSalle couldn’t pick it up before having to return home. Her uncle Misha refused to allow her to be disappointed.
Misha has become as protective of my children as we are. Karen has perfected the puppy face that gets her anything from the males in our lives. LaSalle, Logan, Misha, Uri, and all the others—no one is immune to our little girl.
Not even her older sisters. My heart is so full as I look around me. The ache isn’t there today, not right now. I look down into my son’s face and smile.
He’s a brown version of his father with a sprinkle of me. LaSalle wouldn’t be able to deny not one of his kids, those with Ellen or me.
Not that he would try. He loves being a father, as one can see from the number of children we have. I was pregnant every year for four years.
War or no war, nothing stopped me and LaSalle from growing our family. The only year I wasn’t pregnant was that first year after Elijah. Sometimes I believe my husband kept me pregnant as if that would sit me down.
Things are quieter now, but our loss has been an echo over the last year. I would like to have just one more, but that doesn’t seem to be in the cards.
I haven’t gotten pregnant since Lucia. That heartbreak and devastation have been so hard on us. It took a while for me to be ready to try again, but now I’m ready.
That’s why I’m taking not getting pregnant this time so hard. We’ve been trying for six months. I thought I would have been carrying our next by now.
One more. I would love another girl. However, it seems I was meant to be a boy mom. Three boys and one and a half girls. If not for Jessica and Megan, poor Karen and I would be outnumbered by the testosterone-carrying members around here.
“Is it my turn yet?” Elijah asks as he sits next to his brother while Sammy plays video games.
“Not yet, hold on.”
“You said that an hour ago. You promised I could play too, Sammy.”
“I know. It’s taking me longer than I would like to beat the last two levels,” Sammy says in frustration.