They moved to their own place in the June after they were married; Rene’s birthday that year was just the trio looking around. Adelinde noticed and practically fell in love with a simpler house close to the music district—in the more silent moments, one could even hear the instruments being played at the gazebo. What would’ve led to others turning it down made Adelinde smile enough that Rene agreed.
In the year they’ve been here, Matteo still had fairly frequent trips back to the palace—partially because his friends were mostly children of his now-former caretakers and so he maintained a good relationship with Mark. Rene’s work continued to be somewhat unstable but still better paying than anything she tried in Eyset; on certain days Adelinde would play in the music district and accept tips, which added on to it a bit. They didn’t need to make their own money, but Rene enjoyed the independence—she couldn’t sit still all day, every day anyway.
Rene and Adelinde have been married for a year and some months by now. Adelinde played on the music district’s piano while Rene sat with Matteo. Five or six was when most kids started school—mostly provided by caretakers or parents for younger kids, then when they were in their early teens they went to an actual building, at least in larger cities like San Asari—so she was mostly in charge with making sure he did what he needed to.
He had a really good grasp on reading, at least, and the smaller history lessons fascinated him, but he didn’t like numbers as much. Rene had been the opposite—she self-taught herself a lot of the basics, but she encountered math more often than she did a situation where she had to read or write, so she had an easier time with them. Adelinde said she remembered history more, but never really had a preference while learning it.
Matteo had a few easy math problems, and Rene tried to help when he got stuck. He got distracted a few times by a shift in music as performers came and went, but after an hour or so of them being there something else caught his attention.
“Rene”—he alternated between that and ‘Reny’ now, mostly using the latter if they were only around family—“there’s a girl back there.”
“A lot of parents drop their kids off here while they shop,” Rene said.
“She isn’t with any adults though.”
He helpfully pointed, and Rene turned around to see what he meant. A young girl—still toddler aged, it looked like—took a spot on the ground away from the other people near the gazebo. She didn’t look scared or lost, just watching the performers with a kind of wonder.
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“She seems fine for now,” Rene reasoned, turning back towards Matteo. “No matter what, you still have to do your schoolwork.”
Matteo frowned. “Why do I have to when you and Mom don’t?”
“Your mom and I already did our schoolwork,” Rene said. “It won’t take you more than ten minutes if you focus on it.”
He thought about it for a moment, then put on a determined look.
“Okay, I believe you. What’s one plus three?”
“Count with your fingers if you have to,” she suggested. She closed her hand into a little fist and he did the same, mimicking her when she put up each finger. “This is one, and this is three. Now how much is it?”
“Four?” Matteo guessed.
He let out a little cheer when she nodded.
“That’s right. Write that down and go on to the next one.”
The process repeated, Rene offering less help as he continued down the paper. He finished later than she said—it took him closer to twenty, but he still got distracted every now and then—but he didn’t seem to notice nor care. He ran up to the gazebo to play on the second piano, adding a somewhat childish portion to the song that the other musicians were more than happy to comply with.
Another hour went by before Rene had to leave for work. She stood up and walked a bit closer to the gazebo to let Adelinde and Matteo know, but the former stepped down from the piano and met her about halfway there.
“It’s time for you to go?” Adelinde guessed, offering a light kiss once she reached her.
“Yeah,” Rene replied. “It’ll take the rest of the afternoon, but I’ll be done in time for us to still eat out. I can meet you and Matteo there.”
“That’s fine. Before you leave, though”—she turned towards the girl Matteo pointed out earlier, still sitting alone and with the same look as before—“did you see her come with anyone?”
“I didn’t,” Rene said, looking at the girl as well. “Matteo said she came alone, but I was facing the other direction so I didn’t see it myself.”
“She’s been out here for a while,” Adelinde noted, frowning a bit. “She doesn’t seem very well-dressed for the weather, either. I’m not sure much people would leave a toddler out here without some kind of supervision, even if San Asari is safe—but she doesn’t look lost or confused, either.”
“Your mom brain is applying itself to someone else’s kid,” Rene pointed out, recognizing the kind of look Adelinde made.
“It’s hard for me to leave a child alone,” Adelinde admitted. She looked back at Rene. “If no one comes to get her by the time Matteo and I leave, I’ll try to speak with her. Otherwise”—she gave a kind smile—“have a good day at work, love. I’ll see you at dinner.”
Rene nodded, offering a parting kiss then turning over towards the gazebo to wave to Matteo. Once Matteo waved back, she left the music district.