Chapter 26

Mikayla's POV
I sat at the small dining table, feeding my twins, Emma and Daniel, with great affection. Although they couldn't talk yet because they were only one year old, I was sure they could understand. These babies had incredible intelligence and sensitivity, and I could see from their eyes that they understood my words.
“Emma, Daniel, you know, Daddy Rudolf is very kind, right?” I said while feeding porridge to their mouths.
Emma nodded, her little eyes sparkling beautifully as she looked at me. As if she wanted to say yes. Meanwhile, Daniel looked at me with a curious expression, his mouth filled with food.
“He'll come back in three days, and we'll have fun again like yesterday,” I continued, encouraging them. “He wants to take care of you and watch you grow.”
Although they couldn't express their thoughts with words yet, I could feel them responding with sweet laughter and smiles. My two babies were everything to me, and I could feel the love between us.
“Mom tries hard to give you the best,” I said, feeding Daniel who looked happy. “We’ll do a lot of things together, and maybe we can make better food for Daddy Rudolf when he comes back. How about that?”
Emma waved her hands as if she wanted to help, and that made me smile. The only thing I could do now was stay optimistic and try to create beautiful memories with them.
I took a deep breath and continued feeding them. Outside, the sound of the crashing waves added to the comfort of our time together. In the past, I might have felt lonely, but now, with them, I felt genuine happiness—despite the simplicity of our lives.
After eating, I let them play for a while before going to bed. “Remember, you are the light of Mommy's life. My love for you will never fade, no matter what happens,” I said, my heart filled with hope and love.
When night fell, the atmosphere in the house became calm and comfortable. My twins, Emma and Daniel, were starting to get sleepy. I decided to read them a story before they fell asleep in my arms.
Gently, I led them to the small couch in the living room. “Full of imagination, full of love,” I said in a soft tone as they lay down beside me. I opened a book filled with beautiful stories and began to read in a calm voice.
Over the sound of the waves crashing outside, I began to read a story about princes and princesses, about adventures in the forest and wonders found. Emma listened intently, while Daniel looked mesmerized, his eyes growing heavy.
“What do you want to be when you grow up?” I asked as I read, hoping they could feel every word I said.
Even though they couldn’t answer, I was sure they heard the hope and love I instilled in every sentence.
Several times, Emma tried to lift her head as if she wanted to speak, and that made me smile.
After I finished reading, I kissed each of their little cheeks, “Sleep well, honey. Mommy loves you.”
Gently, I laid them down on their beds.
This house was indeed small and only had one bedroom. But I felt grateful because at least I still had a place to live with them—a place where we could feel safe and love each other.
As I lay beside them, I let myself feel at ease. I watched their sleeping faces; Emma with her lips slightly curved, and Daniel with a peaceful expression. In silence, I imagined their future and all the different hopes for the two of them.
Since this house was small, we might have to squeeze in, but I believed that being together was the most important thing. The affection and love that grew here would be a strong foundation for them.
Before I fell asleep, I prayed that I would always be able to protect and provide the best for them.
The next day, I decided to bring my twins to work. I couldn’t afford daycare, and this was the best solution I could find for the time being. Luckily, my boss had been accepting of this situation before.
However, when I arrived at the cafe and prepared everything, I felt a little anxious. I knew bringing children to work wasn’t ideal, but I hoped that I could manage everything while still keeping their attention.
The day was going well until suddenly my boss called me. “Mikayla, we need to talk,” he said in a serious tone. My heart was pounding as I approached him, feeling a little nervous.
He explained, “I’m sorry, but I can’t let you bring the twins to the cafe anymore. They’re quite disruptive to your work, especially when they cry. We’re all under pressure, and I’m worried that your focus will be reduced.”
My heart immediately clenched. I felt hurt and disappointed. I understood that he was just concerned about the efficiency of his business, but my feelings were mixed. I didn’t mean to interfere with my work, but this was a difficult situation for me.
“I can do a better job of keeping them quiet during work hours, sir,” I replied, trying to hold on to my job. “Please, give me a chance.”
He shook his head, reflecting an unavoidable firmness. “Mikayla, I understand your challenges as a mother. However, we need to maintain a productive work environment. In the meantime, I suggest looking into daycare or other solutions.”
My despair grew, and my heart felt like it was breaking apart to hear all this. I felt trapped between the need to work and the responsibilities of motherhood. With no support and nowhere else to take my children, I was really struggling.
“I understand. Thank you for understanding,” I said, trying to hold back the tears that threatened to fall. Leaving the room, I felt my heart heavy with a new burden.
Back at my workplace, I felt the walls closing in on me. How could I possibly find a daycare? When would I find the time to look for alternatives, when every day was already a struggle?