Evening had settled over the Palmer residence. Maximus and Laura had left at Emma’s insistence—she had decided to stay with Diana to take care of the twins, giving Peter and Celeste some much-needed time to rest for the remainder of the evening and night.
That simple gesture meant the world to Peter. He had been running on barely any sleep for weeks. Later that afternoon, he and Celeste headed somewhere unexpected—at least for her. It was a surprise. Practically everyone had helped put it together, and the room was truly something special, a space fit for two little princesses.
"Celeste… I have something to show you," Peter said, remembering the surprise. "Emma… please, bring the girls."
Emma immediately understood what was happening—it was time for Celeste to see what had been prepared for her and the twins. Diana and Emma gently picked up the sleeping babies and followed them to the beautifully decorated room.
"Celeste… This is a gift for you and the girls. I know you didn’t have time to prepare anything, so everyone pitched in to make this happen," Peter said as he opened the door to the nursery.
The room was painted white, with matching white furniture. The decor was a blend of soft pink and lilac, making it look like something out of a dream. Celeste stood there, completely speechless. The space had a plush gray rug, and at its center was a spacious crib designed to fit both babies. She walked over and admired it, her fingers lightly touching the smooth wood.
A cozy pink armchair sat by the window, perfect for nursing while looking out over the garden. The entire space was designed with her and the twins in mind.
"What do you think?" Peter asked eagerly.
"It’s beautiful," Celeste whispered, her voice breaking as tears welled up in her eyes.
For a moment, she was transported back to the time when she had left for Willowcombe. She knew she never could have given her daughters something like this on her own. But now, standing here, she was grateful for this moment—it felt like a dream. Her life had been filled with one hardship after another, yet somehow, meeting Peter had brought her more blessings than she could have ever imagined.
"Where are the girls?" she asked, looking around.
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