"Your mother is here," Damian said as he noticed Eilika standing by the door.
At the sound of her name, Roman spun around. His face lit up instantly, and he scrambled across the floor to bury his face against her skirts, his small arms wrapping tightly around her leg. "Mama!"
Damian stood slowly, regaining his composure as he cleared his throat. "Roman was feeling neglected," he explained, his eyes meeting Eilika's. "He feared your entire heart was being occupied by the boys we brought back."
"What?" Eilika's expression melted into one of deep sympathy. She looked down at the boy clinging to her. "Why did you feel like that, sweetheart? Those boys are guests who need our help. That is the only reason I have been so busy."
"But I don't want them to have my mama's attention," Roman insisted, his tiny lips forming a stubborn pout that made his eyes look even larger.
