Lunch was warm and cozy—the kind of meal that felt like a soft blanket on a cloudy day. The three of them sat at the dining table, with Rachel swinging her little legs under her chair as she dug into her pasta.
Bella had just taken a bite of her food when Rachel, out of nowhere, announced with all the seriousness in the world, " Dadda, you know? Mommy was sad this morning."
Bella froze. Lucas paused mid-bite, his eyes shifting to their daughter. Bella quickly shook her head, warning Rachel silently with wide eyes, but the little one was determined to deliver her report.
Lucas leaned back in his chair, clearly amused. "Oh? And why was Mommy sad, princess?"
Bella choked slightly on her food, reaching for her glass of water. Lucas handed it over, watching her with a flicker of suspicion in his gaze. She managed a weak laugh, waving a hand. "She's just making up stories, don't listen—"
Rachel interrupted, full of righteous concern. "No! Mommy was sad because Dadda left really early. And she said…" Rachel lowered her voice as if sharing a top-secret mission, "…that she missed her hug. From you."
Lucas's eyebrows rose slowly, turning to Bella with a playful glint in his eyes. Bella shook her head again, her cheeks flushed pink. "Rachel…"
Bella groaned into her hands. "I never said that exactly…"
Lucas grinned, resting his chin on his hand and watching her with the smug satisfaction of a man who had just won the lottery. "Is that so?" he said, drawing out every syllable with exaggerated thoughtfulness.
Bella turned to Rachel with mock sternness. "Why do you have to tell him everything? That was our girl talk!"
Rachel shrugged. "I thought it was cute. And true." Then she gave Lucas a big, proud smile. "Now you know, Dadda. You have to hug Mommy more at night."
Lucas chuckled, his gaze softening. "Don't worry. I'll make up for the missing hugs tonight. And maybe throw in some extra."
Bella narrowed her eyes at him. "I will revoke your hugging privileges if you keep smirking like that."
"Oh, but then what'll happen to your hug cravings?" he teased.
She picked up her napkin and threw it at him, laughing despite herself.
Rachel giggled wildly, loving every moment. "You both are so funny."
Lucas caught the napkin with ease, leaning forward. "Thanks for being my little spy, princess.."
Bella sighed with mock drama, covering her face again as Lucas and Rachel high-fived across the table. But beneath all the teasing, her heart felt full—annoyed, embarrassed, and utterly happy.
The sky outside had already started to dim, the soft amber glow of twilight spilling in through the windows. Dinner had ended with giggles and a chocolate-stained Rachel, who insisted she had something "super important" to say. She wiped her hands on a napkin and jumped onto the couch with exaggerated flair, arms spread like she was making a big announcement on stage.
"I want to watch a horror movie tonight! Can we mumma?" she asked, face glowing with excitement.
Bella, who had just returned with her tub of vanilla swirl ice cream from the kitchen, paused mid-step. "Absolutely not."
Rachel's grin faltered. "Why not?"
"Because," Bella said, narrowing her eyes in mock-seriousness, "you still sleep with a night light."
Rachel puffed her cheeks. "That's not because I'm scared! That's because… because it looks pretty!"
Lucas, lounging with one arm stretched on the back of the couch, glanced between the two of them with a barely hidden smirk. "Come on, Bella. It'll be fun."
Bella turned a sharp glance toward him. "You too?"
"Just one movie," he said, sitting up straighter, a gleam of playful challenge in his eyes. "Let's see how brave our little night-light fairy really is."
Rachel gasped dramatically. "I'll show you who's brave!"
Bella let out a soft laugh but shook her head again. "I don't like horror movies. They mess with my sleep. And yours too, young lady."
"But I'm not scared!" Rachel argued.
"Right. Like the last time we watched a slightly creepy cartoon and you climbed into my bed at midnight," Bella replied dryly.
Lucas chuckled, clearly enjoying the back-and-forth. "I'll be right there with you both. If it gets too much, we can stop it."
Rachel gave her best puppy eyes. "Please, Mommy?"
Bella hesitated, the last of her resolve teetering on the edge. She looked at Lucas, who gave her that slow, lazy grin that he knew worked a little too well on her these days.
With a sigh, she muttered, "Fine. But if I end up dreaming about possessed dolls again, both of you are going to owe me."
Rachel squealed and jumped into her lap. "Yay! I'll pick the movie!"
Bella groaned. "Oh no…"
Lucas reached for the remote, already amused. "I have a feeling this is going to be entertaining."
The curtains were drawn, and the cozy warmth of the house wrapped around them like a soft blanket. The day had been long for all three, but now, nestled on the couch together, a different kind of excitement filled the air.
Rachel sat in the middle, her tiny legs curled up under her as she munched on popcorn from a large bowl that she insisted on holding herself. Lucas was on her right, arms folded as he leaned back lazily, pretending he wasn't already half-interested in the movie.
Bella sat on the left, her hand protectively on Rachel's back, though her other hand held a soft blanket draped across both of them.
The television flickered with the first chilling notes of the horror movie Rachel had somehow managed to convince them to watch. She'd been begging all the time for "a scary one, but not too scary," and Bella had finally given in—after about twenty minutes of careful scrolling and reading parental reviews.
Lucas, secretly amused by the idea, had only grinned and made sure the lighting was dim enough to add just the right touch of drama.
The movie started off harmless enough—mild jump scares and eerie music that made Rachel cling tighter to the bowl and lean a little more into Bella. Every time the music built up, Bella could feel Rachel stiffen, and then sigh with relief when nothing happened.