Chapter 6 - The Feast of Six Hearts
One year later.
The dining room of the Ralston estate was illuminated by the soft, warm light of the crystal chandelier.
There was no spilled milk. There were no flying peas. There were no butter knives being used to dismantle chairs.
Instead, the long mahogany table was set with breathtaking elegance. In the center sat a gorgeous arrangement of white orchids and yellow roses.
Sitting around the table were seven people.
At the head of the table sat Victor Ralston, wearing a crisp white dress shirt with the sleeves rolled up. Beside him sat Hannah Brooks—now Hannah Ralston—wearing a simple, stunning emerald silk dress, her wedding band sparkling under the light.
Sitting on the left were Mason, Noah, Oliver, and Theo, all clean, dressed in sharp polo shirts, eating their dinner with proper utensils while happily debating the plot of their favorite animated movie.
Sitting beside Theo was Ethan, who now officially bore the name Ethan Brooks-Ralston, after Victor’s legal adoption papers had finalized three months prior.
And sitting at the far end of the table was Mrs. Alvarez, who had been insisted upon by both Hannah and Victor to join the family for every Sunday dinner.
“Pass the potatoes, please, Oliver,” Victor said smoothly.
Oliver picked up the silver bowl with two hands and passed it carefully down the line. “Here you go, Dad.”
Victor smiled, taking the bowl and winking at Hannah across the table.
Suddenly, Mason set his fork down and cleared his throat dramatically. “Attention, family! I have an announcement!”
Noah tied his linen napkin into a small bow around his collar. “Is it about the rocket ship?”
“No!” Mason said, puffing out his chest. “I want to review the rules for our new nanny.”
Hannah paused, her fork halfway to her mouth. She raised an eyebrow at Victor. “New nanny?”
Victor chuckled, taking a sip of his wine. “The boys heard we’re hiring an assistant to help you manage their school transport while you finish your nursing degree.”
Mason stood up on his chair—a habit he still hadn't completely broken—and pulled a crumpled piece of notebook paper from his pocket.
“Rule number one,” Mason read loudly. “She is not allowed to wear high heels that make clicky noises.”
“Rule number two,” Noah added, jumping up beside him. “She must know how to build a cushion fort that can withstand an earthquake.”
“Rule number three,” Oliver chimed in, holding up his wooden wrench. “She cannot touch my engine kits without a level-two security clearance.”
“And rule number four,” quiet little Theo said, standing up on his seat and looking directly at Hannah with endless love in his gray eyes. “She has to know that Hannah is our real mom, and nobody can ever replace her.”
The dining room fell into a quiet, breathtaking stillness.
Hannah felt hot tears of pure, unadulterated happiness spill over her cheeks. She looked at the four former "monsters" who had once terrorized nineteen nannies, who were now standing on their chairs looking at her as if she were the center of the universe.
Victor reached across the table, taking Hannah’s hand into his large, warm palm, intertwining his fingers with hers.
“You heard them, Mrs. Ralston,” Victor murmured softly, his gray eyes shining with boundless love. “You’re completely irreplaceable.”
Hannah wiped her tears, a radiant, beautiful smile breaking across her face as she looked around the table at her five sons, her loving husband, and the home she had built from eleven dollars and a tray of chicken.
“I’m not going anywhere, boys,” Hannah laughed softly, squeezing Victor’s hand tightly. “You’re stuck with me forever.”
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The four quadruplets erupted into joyous cheers, throwing their linen napkins into the air like confetti, while Ethan laughed and Victor pulled his wife in for a soft, lingering kiss under the sparkling chandelier.
The storm had passed, the ghost in the halls was finally at peace, and the broke stranger who had walked into a war zone had finally found her forever home.
