Too Late To Love Me I Already Left With His Twins (Lydia and Dave) novel Chapter 335

Lydia

“Hi, Mommy. When are you coming back?”

Ava’s voice was quiet on the other end of the call.

“When did you leave today, Mom? I came to your room earlier. I wanted to tell you something.”

Guilt settled in my stomach.

“I’m sorry, princess! You know Mommy is planning the wedding with Aunt Anna. Today, we went to check out venues and discuss the wedding theme. I’m so sorry, my babyyy. I promise I’ll be there when I get home. I’m on my way back now!”

“Mom, I know, but—”

I ended the call.

Just like that.

Another bad habit of mine. I was so quick to explain myself that I often forgot to listen to what the other person was actually trying to say.

I scrunched my nose and stared at my phone. I would talk things out with her when I got home. Properly, this time.

I booked a ride, and the driver arrived two minutes later. I settled into the back seat and watched the familiar streets pass by, already imagining Ava waiting for me at home.

A few minutes later, I arrived.

I opened the door, stepped inside, and bent to unbuckle my shoes.

“Ava, where are you? I’m homeee!”

I slipped out of my shoes and straightened up.

“Your Aunt Anna really stressed me out today. You wouldn’t believe what we finally settled for!”

I was already preparing to launch into the entire story, complete with hand gestures and my personal commentary on Anna’s talent for turning a simple wedding into a national project.

But as I rose to show her the pictures on my phone, I stopped.

Standing before me was my favourite person in the world after my children.

He looked at me, a familiar smile playing on his lips.

“Hi.”

“SURPRISE, MOMMM!”

Eli’s voice rang through the house, followed by Ava’s quieter but equally delighted, “Surprise, Mommy!”

I stared at the three of them, one hand still resting on the strap of my handbag.

Eli looked particularly pleased with himself. “I bet you didn’t know Dad was here, right? We surprised you!”

“Oh, please.” I dropped my bag onto the nearest chair. “What if I’d had a heart attack? What would you people have done then?”

Dave laughed as he walked towards me.

I hit his arm playfully. “And you! When did you get back?”

“Just now.”

“Just now, my foot. You people are actually trying to finish me.”

Before I could launch into another complaint, Dave wrapped his arms around me and pressed a kiss to my forehead. I instinctively leaned into him for half a second before remembering that we had an audience.

“Free me,” I muttered, pushing lightly against his chest. “The children are watching.”

Ava rolled her eyes so dramatically that I wondered whether she had been practising in front of a mirror.

“Get a room. Urgh!”

Eli burst out laughing.

I pointed at my daughter. “Excuse me, young lady?”

“What?” She shrugged, looking entirely too innocent. “You were doing too much.”

I opened my mouth to respond, then stopped.

Anna’s voice suddenly came back to me. She had been talking about her daughter possibly hiding a relationship from her, about children growing up and keeping things to themselves, and about the importance of creating an environment where they could talk to us without fear.

I looked at Ava again.

Was my baby hiding something from me?

Before I could investigate, Eli clapped his hands.

“So, Mom, what were you saying about the wedding theme?”

I blinked. “What?”

“The theme. You said you and Aunt Anna were choosing one. Why didn’t you ask us for our opinions?”

Ava nodded. “We’re part of the family too.”

I stared at them. “Oh, so now you people want to join the wedding committee?”

“Yes!” Eli announced. “I have an excellent idea.”

“I’m listening.”

“A dinosaur-themed wedding!”

I stared at him.

“What?”

“A dinosaur-themed wedding,” he repeated, as though I had a hearing problem. “We could have dinosaur decorations, dinosaur-shaped cakes, and maybe a dinosaur standing at the entrance to welcome people.”

Dave pressed his lips together, clearly fighting a laugh.

I turned to him. “Don’t you dare encourage him.”

“I haven’t said anything.”

“Your face is saying plenty.”

Eli continued, entirely undeterred. “And we could have dinosaur music.”

“Dinosaur music?” Ava asked.

“Yes.”

“What does dinosaur music sound like?”

Eli opened his mouth, apparently prepared to demonstrate, and I immediately raised a hand.

“No. Absolutely not. In case you have forgotten, Eli, we are adults, and none of that works at an adult wedding.”

He frowned. “Adulthood sounds so boring.”

“Whateverrrrr!”

Dave finally lost his battle with laughter.

“I’m glad my suffering amuses you,” I told him.

“Immensely, darling.”

“Keep quiet.”

We eventually settled into the living room, where I brought out my phone and began showing them the pictures Anna and I had discussed during the meeting. The children crowded around me, with Eli practically climbing onto the sofa to get a better look while Ava sat beside me, her attention fixed on the screen.

“All right,” I announced. “Since you two have suddenly become wedding experts, let me brief you on what your aunt and I have been doing.”

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