Page 33 of Royal

This feels amazingly domesticated. I smile and follow the children running up the stairs. “Yell at me once you’re dressed, and I will fix your hair. Don’t forget to wash your face and brush your teeth,” I tell Penny, and she runs into her room, shutting the door.

Donovan is covered in syrup. I sigh and bring him into the bathroom, setting him on the counter so I can clean his face and hands.

“You know Mommy loves you so much?” I ask him, knowing he might not understand me.

“Wuv you, Mama.” He reaches his little hands out for me to hold him, and I cuddle him.

I open his closet with him on my hip, settling on a pair of Levi’s and a long-sleeved thermal shirt since it’s not chilly, but Donovan tends to run on the cooler side.

His hair is crazy because he rolls in his sleep so much, so I wet it and brush it down. “You are so cute.” He giggles and I help him get on the bed where I put him to dress him for the day.

“Naomi? I’m dressed,” Penny calls and pushes open the door. She is holding a hairbrush and some hair ties. “Want to pop over there on the floor?” I point to a small chair across the room where I can reach her while she sits on the ground.

She runs over and plops down on the floor. Donovan gets the idea that she wants to play, and he starts zooming around on his knees, pushing around a little toy motorcycle.

“What kind of hairstyle do you want?” I ask her.

She taps her little chin, and I smother my smile at how cute she is. “Can you do two French braids?”

“Yes, I can.” I brush her hair and ensure all the knots are out. “Do you want anything special for dinner tonight?” I ask her, making small talk.

“Can you make spaghetti?”

I laugh. “I can do that. Spaghetti is also one of Donovan’s favorites. Do you like your school?” I ask her next, running my fingers through her blonde strands, taking another bit of hair and adding it to the braid.

She shrugs, and alarm bells ring in my head.

“Is something bothering you there?” I ask her.

“We have bullies.”

That pisses me off. Royal walks into the room while she is talking about it. “There is only one way to deal with bullies, sweet girl, and that is to smack it out of them.”

My mouth opens in shock when he says that, and then I start laughing. “I didn’t want to say that because I didn’t know how you’d react. Never let someone be mean to you, you are too precious.”

Once her hair is finished, she turns around and hugs me. I hug her back, and then she runs to Royal, who scoops her up, putting her on his hip and carrying her like he would a small child.

“Ready to go?” he asks me.

“I just need to change into another shirt and grab my bag.”

“I will put them in the truck while you finish up,” he tells me, and with his free arm, he scoops up Donovan, who giggles and clings to his shirt, wrinkling it.

I laugh, watching him carry them down the stairs. He pretends that he will dump them out, which has them cracking up.

I hurry and run a brush through my hair, doing a side braid and throwing on a pair of jeans and a white peasant top, not bothering with makeup.

Down the stairs, I notice Penny’s lunchbox is still on the table. I grab the handle and Donovan’s small bag of snacks and drinks that I keep stocked for him.

Through the glass on the door, I see Royal chasing after a running Donovan. I know the feeling well, he sometimes runs rather than eating. I have thought about getting one of those leashes parents have for their children who like running off.

Royal manages to catch him before he tries to dive headfirst into a mudhole. I laugh as he wrangles him, Donovan flailing in his arms, trying to get down to the ground. Tiny humans have super strength when they want to get their way.

Penny is giggling at him. “Are you being naughty?” I ask Donovan as Royal wrangles him in the car seat, making sure to buckle him and double-check it.

Donovan is pouting, unhappy that he can’t roll around in the mud. Royal shuts the door, and I laugh. “This is tame compared to what I’ve had to experience before. He’s a handful.”

Royal helps me into the truck and snaps me in like I’m one of the kids, kissing me on the cheek as he leans back out.

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