The Complicity of Love
Harry was also enjoying his new life more and more. Emma was growing to look more like Laura, but her spirit, energy, and sweetness were all her own. Despite those early difficult years, the girl had an incredible resilience and a childlike infatuation with her godfather.
At first, the little twins had seemed very cute to her, like dolls. But as she watched Daniel hold them, kiss them, and carry them, she didn't like them as much. Many times, she had reacted with tantrums and uncontrollable crying when she felt her godfather wasn't giving her the same attention.
"Not even with Ryan does he do this!" Harry said, offended.
"It's just that Daniel is her first love, Harry. That doesn't mean she doesn't love you," Amanda explained.
"I'm more handsome," Daniel added fuel to the fire.
"Of course you're not! You're older!" Harry responded.
"I'm still more handsome than you."
And Daniel was having a great time surrounded by "all his women"; Deanna, his daughters, Emma. He was the center of attention and the target of all that female love.
Jonathan watched the interaction. He was luckier now that Ethan was away studying, and though he was an older brother, he didn't have to share his mom's attention with any other child. His little sisters could already walk and followed him wherever they could. Like his father, he felt like the supreme leader.
Emma, Audrey, Grace, and Ryan always gathered around him, eager for the adventures the grasshopper had prepared for them. And he took care of everyone. He handed out blank sheets and colored crayons and told them what the theme of the drawing was for that afternoon. Each one, as best they could, tried to give their best artistic work, and then he gathered everything and stored it. In no time, he had piles of drawings inside several boxes.
But when everyone left and his little sisters were asleep, Deanna would come by his room to cuddle him, as always. They would talk for a while, maybe she would sing to him and lie down beside him. Jonathan's little hands would keep caressing her, and his nose remained round and tender, receiving several sweet kisses from his mom.
When Jonathan finally fell asleep, Deanna would stay a while longer, watching his serene face. It was a moment of peace she treasured every night, a reminder of how valuable each moment with her children was. Around them, the walls of the room were covered with the drawings Jonathan brought from his art classes; each day he got better, each day was more surprising.
She knew these moments were fleeting, that eventually, he too would grow up and begin to explore other aspects of life; until one day, just like Ethan, he would decide to spread his wings. So she took every opportunity to be close to him, to share those small and necessary things that warm the heart.
When she left, she took her time to walk through the house in silence. She looked at the furniture, the plants in their pots, every detail, and the lights hanging from the ceilings. Those lights reminded her of the theater, the furniture; the props of the scenes, she terribly missed the stage. "Maybe in a couple of years," she told herself. The urge to open her throat in front of an audience pulled at her, but her family pulled even more.
Every so often, she escaped to her music room, not wanting to lose the warmth of her voice; sometimes she took the girls with her, sometimes Daniel watched them so she could enjoy the hours doing what she loved. And some nights, he would ask if she wanted to return.
"Of course, I'll be back, but not yet."
"I don't want you to hold back, I want you to be happy."
"I'm happy here, with everyone, at home..."
"Yes, but I know you're also happy singing. We can manage, we can do it, we've done it before, it doesn't have to be different."
She smiled, remembering her grandmother's story and realizing how lucky she was. Daniel would do everything in his power to see her fulfilled and satisfied; even if it meant moving in a caravan around the world with their children in tow.
But Deanna didn't want that to happen, she knew the children needed love, but also stability. That's why she wanted to wait a little longer; someday she could return to Marcus's theater, someday she could travel again with Leonard, following him and arguing with producers. And someday her whole family would be in the front row again to see and hear her when the curtain rose.
"I want to do this now, I want to stay home. You couldn't stop me even if you wanted to if I decide to go back, and I know you wouldn't. But I really need to live this stage; I want to see everything, experience everything about being a full-time mother and wife. It's something I chose, I do it because I feel it this way."
Balancing life, every aspect of it, isn't easy. But it's easier when you have someone like Daniel, willing to share responsibilities, to give understanding and commitment, to prioritize your dreams. In short: life is easier when the person with you doesn't limit you.