26. Rendal

CHAPTER 26

Rendal

F or the girls, I'm willing to do anything to make them happy. That's why I plan a weekend trip to the zoo, bringing along Zola, Chloe, and Penelope so that they can enjoy the animals that we come across.

Seeing Chloe in a sundress makes everything worth it, to be honest.

Once we're there, Chloe and the girls excitedly point out the different animals we pass. The zoo is bustling with families, but I only have eyes for our little group. Chloe looks radiant today, her hair catching the sunlight and her eyes sparkling with joy. I find myself stealing glances at her whenever I can, my heart swelling with affection.

"Daddy, look at the monkeys!" Zola tugs at my hand, pulling me towards the primate enclosure. I laugh and let her lead the way, Chloe and Penelope following close behind.

As we watch the monkeys swing and play, I feel Chloe's hand slip into mine. It's a small gesture, but it sends a strong surge of desire through my entire body. I give her hand a gentle squeeze, savoring the moment.

We make our way through the zoo, taking turns pointing out interesting animals to the girls. Their excitement is contagious, and I find myself getting caught up in their wonder. At the elephant exhibit, Penelope gasps in awe at the sheer size of the creatures.

"They're so big!" she exclaims, her eyes wide.

"They sure are, sweetheart," Chloe says, kneeling down next to her daughter. "Did you know elephants are some of the smartest animals in the world?"

As Chloe shares facts about elephants with Penelope, I feel a surge of pride and love. She's such an amazing mother, and seeing her with both girls only reaffirms the fact that I made the right decision.

Finally, we reach the lion enclosure. The majestic cats are lounging in the sun, their golden fur gleaming. I wrap an arm around Chloe's shoulders, pulling her close. The feel of her body against mine sends a thrill through me.

"Look at the way Penelope is so captivated," I say, my voice filled with warmth. "It's like she's seeing magic."

Chloe glances up at me, her eyes shining. Our gazes lock, and in that moment, I feel like I can see our entire future laid out before us. The love and longing in her eyes mirror my own, and I have to resist the urge to kiss her right there.

At the penguin exhibit, Penelope and Zola start imitating the waddling of the penguins. With their little arms tucked to their sides, they wobble back and forth, exaggerating the birds' movements. I can't help but laugh at their antics, my heart swelling with love for these two adorable girls.

"You know," I say, leaning closer to Chloe, "I think we might be the silliest family here."

Chloe chuckles, her eyes sparkling with mirth. "And I wouldn't have it any other way."

Her words warm me from the inside out. I wrap an arm around her waist, pulling her close. The feel of her body against mine sends a thrill through me, and I have to resist the urge to kiss her right there in front of everyone.

"Daddy, look!" Zola calls out, pointing at a particularly large penguin. "That one looks like Uncle Grak!"

I burst out laughing, the image of my burly orc friend waddling like a penguin filling my mind. Chloe joins in, her laughter like music to my ears.

"Oh my," she says between giggles, "I can't unsee that now!"

Penelope, not wanting to be left out, chimes in, "Can we get ice cream after this? I want to waddle like a penguin with a cone!"

"Honey, we have to get dinner first," Chloe reminds. "But afterwards, we can get some ice cream."

Once we rounded all the exhibits and the girls started complaining about being hungry, we head to a cozy family restaurant. The warm lighting and cheerful chatter of other families create a comfortable atmosphere. As we settle into our booth, I can't help but feel a sense of contentment wash over me.

The girls eagerly peruse the kids' menu, debating between spaghetti and pizza. Chloe and I exchange amused glances over their animated discussion. When the waiter arrives, we place our orders – spaghetti for Zola, pizza for Penelope, and a shared platter of pasta for Chloe and me.

As we wait for our food, the conversation flows easily. Zola regales us with tales of her latest adventures at school, while Penelope chimes in with her own anecdotes. I find myself laughing more than I have in months, the joy of this makeshift family filling my heart.

Our food arrives, and we dig in with gusto. Between bites of pasta, we share jokes and stories. I watch Chloe help Penelope cut her pizza up into more manageable slices, and I'm struck by how natural this all feels. It's as if we've been doing this for years.

As the meal progresses, a comfortable lull settles over our table. The girls are focused on their food, giving me a moment to really look at Chloe. She catches my eye.

"Chloe," I begin, my voice low and serious, "I've been thinking... maybe we could start having sleepovers. Not just for the girls, but for us too. I want us to feel like a real family, in every sense."

"…I'd love that, Rendal. I think it's about time we started doing that. Besides, the girls would love it."

"So why not start tonight?" I ask, perking a brow. "If you're comfortable with that, of course."

Chloe nods. "Sounds like a plan."

After dinner, we return to Chloe's house to put the girls to bed. Once Penelope and Zola are asleep, Chloe and I find ourselves on the couch, the night quiet and intimate around us. I lean in, my arm wrapped around her shoulders, feeling the intensity of the moment.

"Chloe, I meant what I said earlier. I want to be with you, to wake up next to you every morning," I whisper.

I watch as Chloe's breath catches, her eyes widening slightly. Then, she nods, a soft smile playing on her lips.

"I want that too, Rendal," she whispers. "You have no idea how much I've wanted that."

Relief washes over me. I reach out, cupping her face gently in my hands. Slowly, I lean in, closing the distance between us. Our lips meet in a deep, passionate kiss. It's different from our previous kisses—this one is filled with promises, with hope for our future together.

I pull her closer, savoring the feel of her body against mine. The kiss deepens, and I pour everything I feel for her into it – my love, my commitment, my desire to build a life with her and our girls.

When we finally break apart, both of us are breathless. I rest my forehead against hers, not wanting to lose this connection.

"I love you, Chloe," I murmur, my thumb gently caressing her cheek. "You and the girls mean everything to me."

"Careful," she whispers. "We can't be too loud. We might wake the girls."

"You're right," I say softly, running my hand through her hair. "So nothing crazy tonight, huh?"

She blushes immediately, swatting at my chest. "Oh, Rendal, don't say that."

Instead of teasing her further, I think back on our day at the zoo instead. "You know," I say, gently nudging Chloe, "I think those penguins might have some competition in the waddling department. I didn't know those kids had such good moves."

Chloe laughs, the sound warm and rich. "Oh, don't remind me! I thought Zola was going to fall over at any moment. And Penelope wasn't much better. They were stumbling around like little drunk penguins."

"Hey now," I tease, "that's my daughter you're talking about. She's clearly inherited my grace."

"Totally."

We both burst into laughter, trying to keep our voices down so we don't wake the girls. Chloe shifts closer, resting her head on my shoulder. The weight of her against me feels right, like she belongs there.

"And let's not forget your brilliant idea to get ice cream after dinner," Chloe says, her voice tinged with amusement. "I swear, I've never seen two kids so determined to eat and waddle at the same time. I thought for sure we'd end up with ice cream all over the sidewalk."

I snort, remembering the sight. "Hey, they managed to keep most of it in their cones. That's a win in my book."

We fall into a comfortable silence, the memories of the day washing over us. I feel Chloe take a deep breath, then she speaks, her voice soft and sincere.

"Rendal," she says, lifting her head to look at me, "thank you. Thank you for fighting for us, for our love. I know it hasn't been easy, but..." She pauses, her eyes shining with emotion. "I'm so glad you didn't give up on us."

Her words hit me right in the chest, filling me with warmth. I lean in, pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead. "Chloe, you and the girls are worth fighting for. I'd do it all over again in a heartbeat."