"Cordelia," I called from the living room.

She comes trotting in as usual with a smile on her face. As promised for her seventh birthday, we're going to give her some explanations. How did she end up living with us? Why her parents are no longer here and other questions. It's time to answer them now that she's old enough.

"You're going to answer my questions, now" she asks, sitting down between us.

"That's right," Gabrielo replies, smiling at her. "What do you want to know first?"

"Where is my mom?" she asks, turning to me. "The one before you."

"In heaven," I say in a low voice. "Your parents. They were in an accident three years ago. I don't know if you remember what happened. You were there. "

Cordelia nods, looking serious. Her nightmares lasted so long that no one could forget.

"That's how you ended up with us. Your parents wanted me to be the one to take care of you for them. Gabrielo is there for you too. That's why I want you to think of us as your parents," I said, breathing in.

"Today we want to give you a key," Gabrielo continues, taking out a key. "It opens the house where you used to live with your parents. It's a mansion that contains the history of your family up to you. If you ever want to visit it, you're free to do so whenever you want."

"What about Iyan and Isla? What about Julio? What about Max? Aren't they my siblings?" She asks with teary eyes. "Aren't we part of the same family?"

Gabrielo and I exchange a look and I let him speak. It must be said that despite the time that has passed, I have not had the best family relations. I want Cordelia to feel at home here. Because this is as much her home as the twins', Julio's or Max's.

"Lia, my darling," Gabrielo laughs, putting her on his lap. "Being a family doesn't only depend on blood ties. What really counts are the heart ties."

"What are the heart ties?

"They are the feelings that connect you to all the people who love you. What blood ties don't have are heart ties, the affection you have for Julio, Max, Iyan and Isla. I want you to know that no matter what happens, you are part of this family. Alma and I will always think of you as our child, okay?"

She nods and takes Gabrielo in her arms. I smile as I see this beautiful image before me. If only life was this simple.

"Cordelia, I want you to listen to me carefully," I asked, taking her little hands. "If there comes a day when... you realize that you're in love with Iyan, Max or Julio, you can, okay? You don't have the same parents, so you have the right. It doesn't matter what other people tell you", I insisted.

Even if this truth seems strange at the moment, it is still true. Nothing prevents Cordelia to become my daughter-in-law if not the social codes. Except that she will always be Cordelia Smith. And no one can take away her belonging to the prestigious Smith family.

Cordelia frowns and I run my index finger across her forehead to unfold it.

"In the future, I'd like to know who the person you love is when you're ready," I explain. "There's no problem, no matter who you love. Dry your tears now, huh?"

Cordelia comes over and gives me a hug. I take her in my arms while smiling and caress her hair.

Max comes into the room and hugs Cordelia. These two are getting along really well since he arrived. It's amazing. They are so close. Always there for each other.

"Time for a snack", I sighed as I got up. "Let's go, shall we?"

Cordelia follows me into the kitchen as usual to bake a cake. She has discovered a talent for baking. We go through the door and I observe the mess in front of me. Iyan and Isla are bent over the island covered with flour and cake batter. I hear Gabrielo laughing behind me with Julio in his arms.

"Since you want to laugh, you'll come and clean with them," I say. "Isla! Iyan!"

The twins turn to me smiling. Their smiles quickly fade when they see my irritated expression.

"What are you doing?" I asked calmly.

"We made a cake for Lia," Isla explained. "She was crying, so we made her favorite cake."

You might say you spilled her favorite cake on the floor. I look over at the oven, which isn't even turned on with a mold full of batter inside. I turn on the oven and set it for an hour.

"You should have asked for help," I sighed. "Get up, everyone to the shower."

"Let's go out to eat today," Gabrielo says. "There's a new amusement park that just opened. We can have dinner there. And since Mattéo is sleeping here tonight, we can all go together."

"Yes!" the children exclaimed, jumping on my husband. "To the park!"

They start to chant "to the park" while going up to their room.

Cordelia stays in the room after everyone else and takes my hand. She takes me to the center of the room to sit down.

"I want to tell you something," she said, looking into my eyes. "I'm glad to be here with everyone. Can we go visit the house during the vacations?"

"Of course we can, Cordelia," I said, taking her in my arms. "We'll probably visit the town on the way."

"Does it really bother no one?"

"Stop worrying like an adult," Gabrielo asks, stroking her head. "Everything will be fine, I promise."

Gabrielo joins our embrace and I hear Max speeding down the stairs.

"Lia! Hurry up! Otherwise, you are going to stay all alone!" He says, taking her hand to pull her upstairs.

________

Hey ! I'm sorry it took so long to post the bonus !

I'll try to post them all today so here is the first on !

Have a nice day !