Page 244 of Nanny and the Beast

I see love.

53

KLAUS

”Breakfast in bed?” James exclaims. “We never have breakfast in bed.”

“Don’t touch it,” Rosalie instructs, glaring at the food suspiciously. “Why do we have a special breakfast today? What’s wrong?”

Emma and I look at each other. I don’t know how to explain to the kids that their mother is back. It’s happy news, of course, but I can’t find the words to tell them.

Thankfully, Emma takes over.

“Nothing’s wrong, sweetie,” she says.

James reaches for the blueberry cottage cheese muffin. Rosalie swats his hand away.

“Don’t touch the food,” she tells her brother. “They’re being nice to us for no reason. It’s very suspicious.”

I sigh out loud.Emma widens her eyes at me, quietly telling me to pull myself together.

“Today is actually a very happy day,” she says, reaching for their hands. “I want tostart by saying that I loved getting to know the two of you. I loved every minute we spent together, from putting up Halloween decorations together to ice-skatingin Chicago. The two of you will always have a special place in my heart, and nothing will change that.”

James sneakily reaches for the muffin again.

“Are you leaving us, Miss Turner?” Rosalie asks quietly.

Hearing that, James loses interest in the muffin. He looks at Emma with big eyes.

“Not ever,” Emma says, glancing down at her hand. The diamond ring catches the morning light. “We’re family now.”

She blinks away tears. I know that it’smy turn to take over. I pray I don’t mess this up.

“Wereceived avisitor late last night,” I say. The kids turn their attention to me. “It’s someone who loves you with all their heart. They had to be away from you for a long time because they weren’t well, but they’re back now.”

“Who is it?” James asks.

I glance over at the door, where my sister has been standing this whole time, hidden from the children’s view. Her eyes are red from crying, and I can tell she’s nervous about reuniting with the kids. Instead of moving forward, she remains frozen in place.

“Mommy used to make these muffins,” James says, looking at the muffins.

Rosalie’s eyes widen. Her breath catches in her throat.

“Mom?” Rosalie calls out.

Sera slaps her hand over her mouth but finally walks into the room. She stops at the foot of the bed. The kids’ eyes widen before they leap into their mother’s arms. My throat is thick with emotion as I watch the three of them reunite.

“Is this a dream?” Rosalie asks.

“No, baby,” Sera says. “I’m so sorry I was gone for so long. I’m back now, and I’m never leaving you again.”

“We thought you turned into an angel,” James says, sobbing against his mother’s neck. “We thought we would have to wait a really long time to see you again.”

“I was...sick,” Sera says. “So sick, but I’m all better now. Nothing’s going to separate us ever again.”

Emma walks over to me and wraps her arms around my middle. I cup the back of her head and hold her close, needing my woman’s soft strength.

“We missed you,” James says, sniffling.

---