Rebirth of the Broken Luna A Second Chance at Luna's Heart novel Chapter 54

Chapter 54

SILVIA

Samuel moved to his own chair, suddenly looking every bit of his sixty-three years as he sat down slowly on the chair dropping his cane by the side as he said,

“At least tell Xenois that you’ve invited them to the family dinner as well. Give him a chance to prepare, to talk to Lumina beforehand and for them to know what they are walking into.”

“Absolutely not.” I sat down across from him, leaning forward as I pressed on.

“If I tell him that I had invited Sophia and her son Riley, he’ll find some excuse to uninvite them from coming to the dinner. He will insist that they aren’t family. He’ll say it’s too soon, too complicated, too whatever. He’ll choose the path of least resistance, like he always does.”

“Maybe because he knows his wife better than you do. Maybe he knows this will upset her.”

“Maybe he needs to stop tiptoeing around her feelings and start thinking about what’s best for his son.” I stood up, as I started moving towards the fireplace where family photos lined the mantel. My eyes lingered on the last picture we’d taken with Xena, just weeks before her death.

‘Olivero deserves better than what he’s getting, Samuel. He deserves a stable home with parents who actually love each other.”

And you think Sophia can provide that?” He asked sounding resigned about the whole thing.

“I think Sophia has already provided that for her own son. Have you seen Riley? From what I’ve heard, he’s polite, well-behaved, and intelligent. He is everything that a mother could want in a child.”

You’ve never even met him.”

*I will on Saturday, tomorrow. And so will you.” I turned back to face him, crossing my arms. “I’m not changing my mind about this, Samuel. Dinner is happening, and Sophia and Riley will be there.”

He stared at me for a long moment, then shook his head as he muttered bitterly. “This is going to blow up in your face, Silvia. Mark my words.”

“We’ll see.” I said turning around to focus elsewhere hereby ending the conversation.

After Samuel left, I remained in my study, as I focused on something else.

I was already planning Saturday’s menu and seating arrangements, trying to figure out where to keep everyone.

It would need to be perfect, it had to be elegant enough to impress Sophia but also comfortable enough to put young Riley at ease.

The more I thought about it, the more excited I became, this was too good and cute for me. Two little boys, practically the same age, growing up together as brothers. It was almost cute, really. Oliver had been so lonely since he was an only child and his parents marriage was unravelling slowly, not

that it even mattered because they weren’t in love.

And with how the tension in that family was, he had become so withdrawn. Having a brother his age that pulls him out of his shell might be exactly

what he needed.

And Riley – poor little thing, growing up without a father, at this tender age where everyone needed both parents to love a child.

Every boy needed a strong male role model, someone to teach him how to be a man. Xenois would be perfect for that role, once he was free to embrace it fully, without feeling guilty about offending his wife. His wife who was nothing short of a criminal at this point.

I picked up my phone and started making a list of things to buy for the weekend that was fast approaching.

There were a lot of things that needed to be bought. New clothes for the boys, perhaps matching outfits for the dinner. Some toys they could share,

books they could read together. I wanted them to feel like brothers from the very first moment..

I could already picture them running through the gardens together, playing in the treehouse Samuel had built for Olivero sharing secrets and adventures

the way brothers should. The way Xenois and his brother had, before cancer took him too young.

My phone buzzed with a text from my personal shopper: “What size clothing for the additional child?”

I paused, realizing I didn’t know Riley’s exact measurements at all and I didn’t want to call Sophia to ask for something like this. She would only insist

that it wasn’t a big deal.

But he was five, same as Oliver, so they were probably close to the same size. I texted back; “Same as Oliver. And please pick up some toys suitable for

both boys – things they can play with together.”

Within minutes, she responded with a list of suggestions that was age appropriate and safe for the boys to play with: building blocks, art supplies, a train set, some board games appropriate for their age group. I approved everything, adding a few extras I thought they might enjoy as well.

Samuel thought I was meddling, but he was wrong. I was orchestrating. There was a difference.

Meddling was interfering in something that was working fine on its own which was different.

Orchestrating was taking a situation that was already broken by someone else entirely and finding a way to fix it.

Xenois’s marriage had been broken for years anyone with eyes could see that. I was simply providing an alternative to a happy marriage and life.

A better alternative.

I pulled out my laptop and started researching activities for the boys. Maybe we could take them to the new children’s museum that had opened in. town, or to the park with the elaborate playground. I wanted them to have fun together, to bond naturally without feeling forced by the adults…

My phone rang again – probably Samuel calling to lecture me some more about playing fair and stepping aside from issues like this and letting people make their own choices. But when I looked at the screen, it was my personal shopper.

“Mrs. Blackwood? I’ve put together everything on your list, but I wanted to confirm you said matching outfits for the boys? For a family dinner?”

–

“Yes, that’s right. Something nice but not too formal. I want them to look like brothers.”

There was a pause. “Brothers, ma’am?”

“Well, step-brothers. Soon to be, anyway.” I smiled, already seeing how perfect/they would look sitting side by side at my dining room table. “They’re

going to be such a beautiful family, don’t you think?”

“Of course, ma’am. I’ll have everything delivered by Friday afternoon.”

‘Perfect. Thank you, Marie.”