Chapter 6: New Chapter

Six years had passed, and Carmela had finally found herself. She had left the city of Winchester, but not before getting a divorce from Max. It took a while for the divorce to be settled, as Max didn't want to let her go, still having two minds. But in the end, she won and she was able to move on with her life.

She started a new life in a small town called Springdale. It was a quiet town, and she liked it that way. She didn't want any drama or excitement in her life. She just wanted to live a simple, peaceful life.

Carmela's twins, a boy, and a girl, were a source of joy and light in her life. She named the boy Noah and the girl Hannah. They were both bright, happy children, and they loved their mother very much. Carmela was devoted to them, and she loved spending time with them. She was glad to be able to give them a happy, stable home, which was something she had not had as a child.

Noah and Hannah were always curious about their father, but Carmela never told them anything about him.

"Mommy, why don't we have a daddy?" asked Hannah one morning as Carmela was getting them ready for school.

Carmela paused for a moment, trying to figure out how to answer. "Well, sweetie, sometimes things don't work out the way we want them to," she said gently. "But that's okay, because we have each other, and that's all that matters."

"But I want a daddy," said Noah, his brow furrowed in confusion. "Why can't we have one?"

Carmela sighed.

"Your daddy and I were not a good match," Carmela said, choosing her words carefully. "We had different ideas about how we wanted to live our lives. So we decided to go our separate ways. But I promise you, you will always have me, and I will always love you."

"But we want a daddy," said Hannah, her eyes filling with tears. "All the other kids at school have daddies."

Carmela felt her heart break for her children. "I know, honey," she said, wrapping her arms around them both.

"You know, you don't need a traditional family to be happy," Carmela said, trying to find the right words to explain. "Love comes in all shapes and sizes. You can have a family without a daddy, and you can still be happy. You just need to have people who love you, and who you love back. And you have that already, right here with me."

Noah and Hannah looked at each other, and then at their mother. Slowly, they nodded their heads. "I guess that's true," said Hannah. "We have you, and we have each other."

Carmela gathered up their backpacks and helped them put them on. Then she took their hands, and together they walked to the bus stop. As they approached, Carmela could see the other children gathered there. She could also see some of the parents, talking and laughing together. For a moment, Carmela felt a pang of sadness. But then she looked down at Noah and Hannah, and her heart felt full.

"Have a good day at school," she said, giving them each a kiss on the forehead.

Carmela waved goodbye to the children as the bus pulled away. She could hear the parents talking about her, and she felt a flush of shame. But then she remembered what she had told the children. She had a family, even if it wasn't traditional. And she had a good life, even if it wasn't what everyone else expected. She turned and walked home, her head held high.

As she opened the door, her phone rang. It was her best friend, Sarah. They met soon after she came to this new town and they became friends.

"Hey Sarah," Carmela said, a smile in her voice.

"How are you?"

"Hey Carm, I'm doing great," Sarah said. "Listen, I've got some news. I'm getting married!"

Carmela's jaw dropped. "Wow, that's amazing!" she said. "Congratulations! Are you and Dan happy?"

"We're over the moon," Sarah said, her voice filled with joy. "We've been trying for a while, and we're just so excited. It feels like a dream come true."

"You guys are going to be amazing parents," Carmela said. "What are your plans?"

Sarah chatted excitedly about her engagement, telling Carmela all about the plans she and Dan had made. She talked about baby names and nursery colors and parenting styles that they had planned in time.

Carmela listened, smiling, but inside she felt a twinge of sadness.

She remembered how happy she had been when she found out she was pregnant with twins and her life with Max.

And then she remembered how that happiness had turned to heartbreak. She pushed the memories away, focusing on her friend's joy.

"Oh, I almost forgot to tell you," Sarah said. "My doctor told me that I'm might be lucky to have twins, if me and Dan tried!”

Carmela felt a jolt of emotion. She wasn't sure if it was happiness or sadness or something else entirely. "Twins!" she exclaimed. "Wow, that's incredible! What a lucky mama you are."

"I know, right?" Sarah said. "It's still sinking in, but I'm so happy. I just wanted to share the news with you. You've always been there for me, no matter what.

"I'm always here for you, Sarah," Carmela said. "And I'm so happy for you. Having twins is a big deal, but I know you and Dan are up for the challenge. How's Dan feeling about it all?"

"He's a little nervous, but mostly he's just excited," Sarah said. "He's always wanted a big family, and now it's really happening." She paused, then added, "I hope you know that I'm always here for you too, Carm. You're like a sister to me."

"I know, and I feel the same way,"

Carmela smiled, but her smile faded as she noticed something in the corner of her eye. A shadow, just outside the window. She turned, but there was nothing there. But as she turned back, she caught a glimpse of movement in the mirror. A shadow moved behind her. She turned, but again, there was nothing there. She shivered, her heart pounding. Had she imagined it? Or was someone there?

"You okay?" Sarah asked. "You sound a little distracted."

"I'm fine," Carmela said, forcing a laugh. "I must have just been daydreaming for a minute. Sorry, I missed the last bit of what you were saying. Can you repeat it?"

"Sure," Sarah said. "I was just saying how much I appreciate you and how you're always there for me. I know I can count on you for anything."

"I'm always here for you, Sarah," Carmela said, trying to push away the sense of unease that had crept over her. "You can always talk to me about anything."