11. Ria
CHAPTER 11
RIA
R ia couldn’t help being a little disappointed by Tristan’s abrupt departure. She felt like they’d really connected at the park, but as soon as things got a little tricky with the triplets, he was gone. It didn’t feel like a good sign.
Oh, well. There was no time to dwell now. Ria turned back to the kids, hands on hips. She calmed them down, offered a few orange slices, then told a long and involved story about magic carrots that had all the triplets trying their original snack.
The rest of the afternoon was spent playing at home. Ria kept hoping Tristan might emerge from his office to join in with a game, sit with them for story time, or at least come to the table for dinner or tuck the kids in at bedtime, but he was nowhere to be seen. She played with the triplets, fed them dinner, gave them baths, and tucked them into bed with no sign of Tristan. It was the same pattern she’d followed her first few days, but she’d really felt like something had changed today.
Once the kids were sleeping, Ria tiptoed back downstairs and into the kitchen to get a little dinner for herself. She’d had a few bites of the triplets’ dinner, but she hadn’t gotten enough to eat. The last few nights, she’d met Tristan in the kitchen, but he was nowhere to be seen tonight.
Ria’s heart pinched. Perhaps their conversation at the park had made him hesitant. Maybe Ria shouldn’t have encouraged — or forced? — him to come with them in the first place. And very likely, she should have kept things professional between them instead of opening up about her siblings and letting him open up about his sister.
Ria ate her dinner while reading. The whole time, she had one ear open, just in case she’d hear Tristan’s footsteps, but there was no sign of him. Once she finished, she slipped back upstairs to read a little more in bed before sleeping. Hopefully, Tristan would eat at some point.
A few days passed with little sign of Tristan. Ria spent her time playing with the kids, working on potty training, reading to them, and taking them to the park. Tristan seemed caught up in his work. He had dinner with the triplets a few times, and he and Ria shared a few more conversations after the kids were in bed, but it was all surface-level. They chatted about the weather, Tristan’s work, how the kids were doing, and what was for dinner. Neither of them brought up parenting or their families.
Tristan was around a little more than he had been in the first few days, but it seemed he still wasn’t ready to step into his parental role. After his disappearance following their park outing, Ria didn’t want to push him. She kept their conversations professional and dedicated herself to taking excellent care of the triplets. If she still found Tristan attractive, she kept that to herself.
About a week later, she was sound asleep when a noise startled her awake. Her heart racing, Ria sat up in bed to listen for another sound.
“Waaaaah!”
One of the triplets was clearly awake and in distress. Glancing at the clock just long enough to register the time (it was a little after three in the morning), Ria ran down the hallway to the kids’ room. Jacob was sitting up in bed, red-faced and crying. Ria scooped him into her arms, patting his back and stroking his hair, as she carefully carried him out of the room. Jasmine and Jamie hadn’t woken yet, but if Jacob cried much longer, she’d have three sleep-deprived and upset toddlers on her hands.
“It’s all right,” Ria told Jacob, bouncing him slightly in her arms. She nudged the door to the triplets’ room closed with her hip as she kept stroking Jacob’s back. “You’re okay.”
A moment later, a shadowy figure appeared in the hallway — Tristan. He strode towards them. Even in the darkness, Ria could see that his handsome features were marred by worry.
“I heard someone crying,” he whispered.
“Poor Jacob here seems to have had a bad dream,” Ria whispered back, still bouncing the little boy. In any other situation, with any other client, she’d have reassured Tristan that she could handle this and sent him back to bed. But he was up anyway, and the fact that he’d come when he’d heard the crying was a good sign. Perhaps this was a way to encourage him into his fatherly role — but Ria still wouldn’t push.
“Is he okay?” Tristan asked.
“He seems all right. You’re okay, huh, Jacob?” Ria patted Jacob’s back. He was still crying a little, but it was far reduced from the wailing that had woken Tristan and Ria. “I’ll just take him downstairs so we don’t wake the others.”
“I’ll come with you.”
Ria nodded, masking her surprise, and they quietly padded down the stairs. Ria carried Jacob into the playroom, where the rocking chair was, and sat down. Tristan sat on the armchair beside her. Now that the situation was a little calmer, and the room was faintly illuminated by the full moon through the picture window, Ria saw that Tristan was in his pajamas. Apparently, he slept in boxer shorts and a white T-shirt. Ria was in her pajamas, too — a pink top and a pair of pajama pants printed with colorful cupcakes. Hopefully, it was too dark for Tristan to see the cupcakes.
“So, do you think he had a bad dream?” Tristan asked in a low voice.
“I think so. They’re not uncommon at this age.” Ria rocked back and forth as Jacob’s sobs turned into quiet whimpers.
“And you’ll stay here, rocking him, until he falls asleep?” Tristan asked. His elbows were resting on his knees as he watched her rock back and forth.
“I will. It shouldn’t be long.” She almost added that he didn’t need to stay, but if Tristan was showing interest in parenting, she didn’t want to discourage him.
Tristan sighed. “I didn’t know kids this young could even have nightmares. When one of the triplets cried at night, I always thought they were hungry or thirsty or needed a diaper change.”
“That’s a fair assumption,” Ria replied. “But often, a kid just needs a little comfort.”
“Right.” Tristan shook his head. “I just… I wish I knew that kind of thing. I’ve read books, I’ve tried my best, but I always feel like I fall a little short.”
“Every parent feels that way,” Ria said. “I did, too, when I first started taking care of little ones. I always worried I was doing the wrong thing! Just give it time. I know you love the triplets. Everything else can wait — and I’d be happy to help you.”
“I know.” Tristan’s mouth quirked into a smile. “You were the one who encouraged me to come to the park.”
“I’m sorry if I overstepped a boundary.”
“Not at all. It just… well, it was a lot. But maybe it’s time that I try to be more of a father to the kids, instead of a clueless uncle.”
“You aren’t a clueless uncle,” Ria protested, though internally she was singing with joy that Tristan wanted to step into a father role. “You already love the triplets, don’t you?”
“Yeah.” Tristan’s eyes crinkled. “I do. They’re good kids.”
“So…” Ria rocked a little more, choosing her words as the rocking chair creaked faintly. “Do you accept my help?”
“I do.”
“It means I’m going to tell you what to do.”
Tristan chuckled. “All right. I’m ready.”
“Then your training starts now.” Ria stood, carefully shifting Jacob, and gestured to the rocking chair. “Have a seat.”
Tristan followed her instructions, and Ria carefully handed Jacob to him.
“Like this?” Tristan asked.
“Perfect. Now, stroke his back gently with the flat of your hand.”
Tristan did so. Jacob fussed a little, but he was relaxing into Tristan. Clearly, the stress of whatever bad dream had woken him was already fading away.
“Am I doing it right?” Tristan asked.
“You’re doing it perfectly.” Ria sat back on the armchair she’d taken from Tristan and folded her legs beneath her. There was something magical about watching him rock the little boy in the faint light. That sight made her feel as though all could be well. “You can also talk to him a little or sing if you’d like.”
“Singing is out of the question.” There was a smile in Tristan’s quiet voice. “If I tried, neither you nor Jacob here would ever sleep again.”
“I’m sure you’re not that bad.”
“Trust me, I am. The only thing I’m really good at is work.”
“You must be.” Ria stifled a yawn. There was no way she was leaving, not when Tristan was finally making progress, no matter how tired she felt. “You founded your own company, right?” Ria didn’t want to admit it, but she’d looked up both Tristan and his company after moving in. He was wildly successful for someone his age.
“Yes, I did.”
“And you made your legacy from scratch. I’ve read that, too.”
“It’s true… although I think I should admit that I got help from my parents. My father gave me a start-up loan, and since he was a businessman, he taught me a lot of useful skills.”
“Really?” Ria was surprised. “Your story online sounds like you built your business from scratch.”
“That’s how I wanted it to look,” Tristan admitted. “But I can’t deny that there’s more to it.”
“Hmm. Well, even if you had financial support from your parents, even if you had advice, you’ve still done amazing work. No one can deny that you’re good at what you do.”
“Thanks.” Tristan’s teeth flashed white in the darkness as he smiled. “I think this little one is asleep.”
Ria checked Jacob’s eyes, which had drifted shut. The young boy had long since stopped fussing, and his head now rested on Tristan’s shoulder as his chest rose and fell peacefully.
“I think you’re right. Do you want to take him back upstairs?”
“Yeah.” Tristan stood and, carefully so as not to jostle the little boy, headed towards the door. He paused just before he reached it, though, and turned back. “It’s so different, holding a sleeping child compared to holding an awake one. He’s so warm and heavy.”
“Whereas in the day, the kids are all flailing limbs and wet kisses,” Ria agreed.
Tristan smiled again, then disappeared upstairs.
Ria knew she should follow. She should get back into bed and reach for sleep again, at least until dawn brightened the house and it was time to make breakfast for the triplets. Yet she didn’t move from her spot in the armchair. The last half an hour with Tristan had given her a lot to think about.
She wasn’t surprised that he’d had support from his parents. So many wealthy and successful businessmen did. The fact that he’d admitted it had been a shock, though. Everyone wanted to prove that they were making their own way in this life, when there wasn’t a single person alive who didn’t rely on someone else, at least a little.
Another surprise, a bigger one, was the fact that Tristan had gotten out of bed at all. This wasn’t the first time one of the triplets had cried in the night. It wasn’t the first time Ria had woken from slumber and rushed into their room to carry a fussy toddler downstairs for a rock in the chair and a little gentle talking. It was the first time Tristan had come running too, though. Perhaps his actions signaled a change in his relationship with the kids. Perhaps this was the start of him stepping more and more into his role as a father.
Ria smiled to herself.
Just as she was thinking of getting up, perhaps for a cup of herbal tea before trying to sleep again, Tristan reappeared in the doorway.
“You’re still up,” he said.
“Yeah. I’m not that tired now.” Ria shrugged. “I might stay up a little.”
“I feel very awake, too.” Tristan seemed to hesitate. “I could make us some tea.”
Ria’s heart warmed. “That would be lovely.”
She flicked on the lamp on one of the side tables, bathing the room in soft, warm light, and pulled a blanket over her legs. A few minutes later, Tristan returned with two steaming cups of something herbal and warming.
“I was worried it was going to be matcha or something,” Ria joked as Tristan handed her one mug.
“Nope, it’s just chamomile. It’s caffeine-free and relaxing.” Tristan winked and settled onto the couch. He took a second blanket and pulled it over his knees.
“Okay, but you have to tell me.” Ria leaned forward slightly, her mug cupped between her hands for warmth. “Why do you drink the turmeric-and-lemon water in the mornings?”
“It’s good for inflammation,” Tristan answered easily.
“No, but why? Why did you start drinking it in the first place? Why do you eat so much kale and wear glasses you don’t need and buy ugly vases you don’t like?” For a moment, Ria thought she’d overstepped again and offended him, but he didn’t seem upset. He just looked thoughtful.
“I want to fit in, I suppose. Tech CEOs are supposed to be fashionable and eat healthy and own expensive things. When I was a kid, I never felt like I fitted in with my parents. I was always passed off to expensive schools and nannies — no offense — and I never spent much time with my mom and dad.”
“No offense taken,” Ria said automatically.
“Good.” Tristan flashed her a brief smile. “My parents always seemed… ashamed of me. When I got older, it became important that I did and said the right things so that they’d be proud. And so that the media and the public would take me seriously and respect me.”
“Did your parents ever say they were proud of you?” Ria asked.
Tristan smiled. “No. But my father gave me money and advice to start my company, so I have to imagine that he was proud. Anyway, I do like some of the stuff I do. I exercise a lot, which I enjoy, and I think eating healthy is good for me.”
“And the glasses? And the fasting? And the vases?” Ria ticked each habit off on her fingers.
Tristan chuckled now. “All right, not all of it.” He paused. “I’m sorry for saying I was unhappy that I was always passed off to nannies.”
“No, I’m not offended. Nannies are great, but we can’t replace parents.” Ria hesitated, then plowed forward. “That’s why I’m so happy you got up to help Jacob today. And that you’ve been joining the triplets for meals or playtime a bit more. And especially that you asked me for help.”
“I am trying.” Tristan sipped his tea. “It’s just too bad that I can’t impress them with an expensive vase or a pair of glasses, like I can with other people.”
“Ha.” Ria grinned. “Toddlers are so easy to impress. So easy.”
“How?”
“Play with them. Make them some nice food. Let them stay up a little late or watch a movie in their pajamas in the morning. Take them somewhere fun. Kids that age just want your time and attention, really.”
Tristan nodded slowly. “I think I can do that.”
“You definitely can.”
Ria sipped her tea. In that moment, talking with Tristan in the middle of the night when everyone else was sleeping, she felt a thrum of connection between them. Perhaps it was just that they were finally opening up to each other. Perhaps it was simply the magic of the nighttime.
Or perhaps the crush Ria had been suppressing for weeks now was stirring, unable to be contained any longer.