Chapter Twenty

Adrianna’s POV

            “Okay guys, you be good for mommy back here and I’ll be on this television right here!” I point to the television on the wall that has a live feed of the stage. “When we’re done we’ll go home for lunch, entiende?”

            “Sí, mama!”

            “Okay, I gotta go now. I love you all!” I receive kisses from my three babies and then walk towards the door.

            “Where’s my kiss?” I turn around to ‘the pout.’ Now I cannot physically walk out this door without taking her pout away. I’m incapable of letting her pout.

            “Sorry, my love!” I quickly run across the green room to kiss her until she’s smiling again.

            “It’s okay, bubbles! Have fun out there.”

            I follow the PA towards the stage and wait for my name to be called before walking out. Mackenzie is probably laughing at me because I’m not dancing out, but oh well. Ugh! Now I have to dance, because if I don’t, I’ll look stupid, because everyone dances. I quickly do a couple sways before greeting Ellen and sitting down.

            “You’re one of the only guests not to dance whenever you come on the show.”

            “I know! I always tell myself I’m just going to walk out and that’s it and then I think of Mackenzie and how she’s probably laughing at me backstage and then I get over here and you’re energy is so contagious that I just have to dance with you!” I end up laughing at myself over my rant.

            “Now, whenever you and Mackenzie are on the show, you bring the whole gang with you, right?” I smile and nod and wave towards the camera since I know they’re all watching backstage. “I’ve had the pleasure of seeing them grow up for the last three years and can I just say that they are some of the most adorable, well-behaved kids.”

            “Awe!” I coo. “Thank you! Kenz and I try hard, but they definitely keep us on our toes.”

            “Well, I saw them when they got here today and I snapped this picture.” A picture came up on the screen of Anya on the lap of one of the most fit, huge security guards that is on the lot. His name is Joe and he’s been around since Mackenzie and I have been coming on Ellen for interviews. I can’t help but laugh, because my daughter is literally the size of one of his arms.

            “That is so cute!” The audience is both laughing and cooing over the picture as well.

            “She was very animatedly telling him all about her ballet class.”

            “She loves dancing! All three of them are taking ballet and tap classes and having a lot of fun.”

            “Well, you’re kind of just here today for an update, huh?”

            “Yea, I just got back last week from shooting my new movie, so press will start for that probably at the beginning of next year. So, yea. Mackenzie and I love coming on here and just hanging out, since we’ve done it, like, a dozen times in the last few years or so. I swear, don’t you guys get sick of us?” I ask the audience and they all shout ‘no.’

            “We get questions all the time when you two are going to be on the show and now they want the kids on.”

            “Ohhh!” I laugh nervously. “I’m not sure about that one.”

            “Oh yea?”

            “Who knows. Kenz and I haven’t really talked about it. They are already aware of paparazzi and things, but we try not to glorify anything. Like you all saw in that picture, our kids treat everyone the way Mackenzie and I treat them. They’re friends and co-workers. It’s hard when so many people in your families are doing such major things too.”

            “Totally. Totally. I remember at the beginning of the year when Mackenzie was on the show, I was all excited to see the kids and I went into the room and they were all just like, ‘Oh. Hi!’ They wanted nothing to do with me that day.”

            The audience and I both laugh at the pretend hurt look that Ellen gives.

            “They love you! You’re just not a celebrity to them, you’re ‘just Ellen.’”

            “So, how’ve you been? How’s Mackenzie?”

            “We’re good! Just figuring things out raising three kids.”

            “I heard she sent you a pretty funny text this morning?”

            “Well,” I laugh and sigh. “It was funny, but you,” I then wave towards the audience. “And all of you know Mackenzie’s personality. She sent me such a sweet text this morning, because, and I’m sorry Ellen, but I did not want to get up for hair and makeup this morning. She didn’t have to be up until the kids woke up, but she ended up starting some coffee for me while I was in the shower.

            So, I finally get here at, like, seven and I’m sitting down for hair and makeup and I open my phone to this text.” I pull my phone out from my bra. “Sorry, but it’s too long for me to remember.”

            “No it’s fine. I’m just shocked you can fit anything else in that bra!” Ellen jokes.

            “It was in there tight.” I wink at her. “Anyway, it said:

            I know today is Monday and you assume it’s going to suck, but according to statistics, there will be over five thousand weddings, ten thousand childbirths, and forty-two million hugs occurring today throughout the United States. Also today, there will be at least four people that will win the multimillion dollar lotteries, six hundred people will get promotions at work, and three thousand people will lose their virginity. There will also be six hundred dogs adopted, thirty-five thousand balloons sold and eight hundred thousand Skittles sold! Plus, the words ‘I love you’ will be said over nine million times. So again, I know today is Monday and you assume it’s going to suck, but just smile, because according to statistics, it should actually be a really nice day!”

            The audience coos and Ellen just smiles before cutting to commercial.

            “I know we didn’t talk about it before the show, but do you think Mackenzie will come on with you for the next segment?”

            “I don’t know, but we can ask.” One of the PAs quickly asks over the walkie talkie if someone can ask Mackenzie to come on. “We didn’t bring anyone to watch the kids though.”

            “Well, I know you both haven’t talked about having them be on camera, but they can if you two are comfortable with it, if not, then they can stay backstage with Joe.”

            “Let’s have Mackenzie come up here first and her and I can discuss it. It’s nothing against you, you know that. We love you and the show; we just don’t trust all the media.”

            “Of course!”

            Within a few minutes, Mackenzie is behind the stage with very light makeup on. She was already wearing a very nice, but casual black glitter top with skinny jeans and she had her hair in loose curls. I quickly run back to talk to her.

            “Hey, baby!” She gives me a deep kiss that I know is because the kids aren’t around.

            “Mmm.. Hello to you, too!” She smiles up at me and I wrap my arms around her waist while she rests her hands on my stomach.

            “She just wanted to see if you’d be okay coming on for the next segment.”

            “Of course!”

            “She also asked if we would bring the kids on, but I told her I’d have to talk to you first. I don’t mind. I think she’s the only person I would trust talking with the kids because they know her so well, but you’re their mommy.”

            “I don’t know, Ade. I thought we’d have a couple more years before we got questioned for the kids’ interviews. If we let them do this, then we’re going to get bombarded.”

            “But we don’t have to let them do other shows. Hell, you and I don’t even do most shows, because we don’t agree with the hosts.”

            “I just don’t think now is a good time. They’re still so little and, while it would be cute, I don’t want to pressure them into anything.”

            “Okay! I agree. I’ll tell Ellen and meet you out there.”

            “In a rare double interview, I’d like to welcome: Mackenzie Jackson!” Ellen introduces my girlfriend and the audience goes nuts! They easily double the noise they made for my entrance. Mackenzie politely waves to the audience on the way out before skipping around the couch and chastely kissing me then hugging Ellen.

            “Hi, everyone!” Mackenzie waves at the audience again after she sits down between myself and Ellen.

            “How are you?”

            “Oh, you know, just trying to balance life.”

            “What would you say are some of the major questions you two get either on social media or when you meet fans?” Mackenzie looks to me and we have a brief, silent conversation before she answers.

            “A major one is ‘How are the kids?’ We get that more than anything.” I nod in agreement before adding.

            “We also get asked, like, ‘when are you getting married’ and ‘when are you having more kids?’ and we definitely both want those things, but I think people tend to forget that I’m twenty-four and Kenz is twenty-three and we already have three toddlers and crazy schedules.” We both laugh and she continues.

            “While we’d never complain about our lives, because we are so unbelievably grateful to have three amazing kids and the opportunities that we’re given; we have our whole lives ahead of us still. Autumn, Conner, and Anya keep us so busy now that bringing another baby into the mix, we think, will just be too crazy.”

            “So, I always hear mixed answers from guests with kids about this question, but what do you think is harder: babies or toddlers?”

            “Toddlers.” We say in unison.

            “Interesting, why is that?”

            “They’re so much more mischievous.” Mackenzie states.

            “They definitely start testing limits and such as toddlers and having, not only parents to test, but two siblings as well always keeps things interesting.”

            “Who do you think the three of them take after more?”

            “Autumn takes after Mackenzie. She’s a little mommy and often will get into arguments with Anya over bossing her around.”

            “Yea, because Anya takes after Ade and doesn’t have a filter whatsoever.” I quickly look towards the audience with a smirk and a wink. “So anything she wants to say or do is done without a second thought.”

            “And Conner?”

            “I think he’s our blended child.” Mackenzie states and I nod in agreement. “He’s extremely protective over us and his sisters, like Ade, but he’s also incredibly quiet and a people-pleaser, like me.”

            “How about we rapid-fire address some rumors that are going around about you two and some audience questions?”

            “Okay!”

            “Mackenzie, are you two secretly engaged and/or married?”

            “No.”

            “Adrianna, are either one of you pregnant right now?”

            “No.”

            “Kenzie, besides acting, what does Adrianna like to do?”

            “Paint!”

            “Ade, what is Mackenzie’s guilty pleasure?”

            “She talks about it alllll the time on social media, but Orange is the New Black.”

            “Kenz, how old were you two when you first kissed?”

            “Sixteen.”

            “Adrianna, what’s your favorite movie to watch together?”

            “Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist.”

AGMJAGMJAGMJ

            “Mommies?” Anya questions ultra-innocently walking into the living room where Mackenzie and I are going through some fan mail we’ve received. Mackenzie looks up from the letter she was reading and fixes her glasses as Anya climbs up onto the couch between us.

            “Yes?”

            “Can Conner and I watch a movie so because we’re boooored!”

            “You’re bored?” Mackenzie asks animatedly. “Well, we just can’t have that now can we?” She smirks towards me and I shake my head. She can handle this one. I’m going to start lunch.

            “Yea, mommy! So, can we watch one?”

            “It’s almost lunch time, bug, so how about we make a huuuuge fort in the playroom instead!”

            “Okay!” I hear Anya rush off towards the playroom yelling for her brother and sister.

            I quickly whip up some macaroni and cheese and some chicken nuggets and cut up some oranges to go with it. When everything is done I plate the food and call everyone into the kitchen.

            “Mama! Come look at our fort!” I hear Autumn call before tiny footsteps are hurrying towards the kitchen and Conner coming into view.

            “Vamos, mama!” Conner takes my hand and pulls me towards the playroom, sliding the door open once we get there. Mackenzie really out did herself this time.

            There’s many different colors of sheets hanging from all different angles of the room. There’s a blue one that I recognize from our old bed hanging from one wall up towards one ceiling fan. There’s a smaller green one draped from the reading loft to the bookshelf and two red ones on the sides going from the kids’ bedroom doors towards the center.

            One of their walls in the playroom is a night sky with Peter Pan and Princess and the Frog characters and we have LED lights built into the wall. It looks amazing turned on right now.

            “Wow! You guys did so good! Did you count how many sheets you used?”

            “Four!” Autumn shouts.

            “Anya, en español?”

            “Cuatro!”

            “Conner, how do you sign the number four?” The little boy holds up his four fingers and Mackenzie and I congratulate all the kids before ushering them towards the kitchen.

            “Mommy, can we have our nap in the fort?”

            “If you three promise promise promise to behave and go to sleep, then you can.”

            “We promise!” Conner answers for the lot.

            The five of us sit down at the table to lunch and four of us dig in right away; Anya, not so much.

            “Uh, mama. I don’t want this.” She states while pushing her plate towards the center of the table.

            “Why not?”

            “It’s gross. I don’t like any of it.”

            “Anya, you just ate this last week at grandma’s house. This is what’s for lunch today.”

            “But I don’t want it.” Her voice becoming stronger and her leg kicking in the air. She’s all the way back in her booster chair, so her knee hits the table. “Owie!” She starts fake crying; I know because she didn’t hit it that hard, there are no tears, and she instantly looks towards Mackenzie. All the kids know that Mackenzie is a sucker when they cry.

            “Anya, this is for lunch. Now, you can either eat this or go take a nap hungry, but you’re not getting something else later; you’ll eat this.”

            “Mommyyyy!” She whines for Kenzie, but I can tell Mackenzie is letting me handle this.

            “Listen to mama and eat your lunch.”

            “I don’t want it!” She yells at Mackenzie and slams her little hands onto the table, now fully crying. “I want pizza!”

            I get up from my spot and walk around to her chair, pulling it out and facing it towards me. “Anya Janae, listen to me.” I say firm, but gently. “You have two choices.” I can see my little girl’s blue eyes steel right in front of me. When Mackenzie said Anya was a mini-me of my personality, she wasn’t lying; we are both extremely stubborn and I already know this is heading nowhere quickly. “You can eat your lunch and then take a nap in the playroom or you can go to bed right now. What’s your choice?”

            “I. Want. Pizza!” She yells into my face. Three years old going on thirteen apparently.

            “Okay, you made your choice. Let’s go.” I pull her out of her booster chair and place her on the floor. She quickly runs towards the other room, but I catch up and grab her hand, knowing what she was going to do.

            See, when Anya loses out on something, her brain tells her that everyone needs to lose out with her. Mackenzie and I have been working on this with her for years and she has gotten a lot better, but I really don’t want Autumn and Conner to lose out on their naptime in the fort just because Anya ruined it.

            “No, young lady. You and I are going to walk to the guest room and you can sleep in there.”

            “But mama! Okay, I’m sorry. I’ll eat it! I’ll eat my lunch.” The tears are now back and I’d be lying if I said it didn’t break my heart. I’m a mother, of course it does, but she has to learn and it’s not like she’s starving. These kids snack between meals all day long.

            We walk hand in hand to the guest room and I sit on the bed before putting her in my lap so she’s facing me.

            “Listen, bug, I gave you your choices and you chose not to eat. Mommy and I are not going to make special meals all the time just because one of you wants something else. You like that food, I know you do. So, because of your tantrum you’re going to take a nap. If you’re hungry afterwards then you can eat what’s on your plate. Understood?”

            She looks up at me with tear-filled eyes and nods her head. I stand up and hold her while I turn the bed down. I give her a big hug and a kiss before I lay her down and tuck her in.

            “Te amo, mija.”

            “Te amo.”

            I get to the door before I hear her little voice again.

            “Mama?” I turn around and offer her a smile. “I havta go potty.”

            After I take her to the bathroom and tuck her back in, I come back into the kitchen where the rest of the family is now done eating lunch. Conner and Autumn are bringing their plates to the sink when I sit back down.

            “Is she okay?” Mackenzie quietly asks me and I can see the worry etched on her face.

            “Baby, she’s fine. She was done crying by the time she laid down. She gave me a hug and kiss goodnight, told me she loved me, and she was practically asleep before I left the room. I think she was just tired.” I give her a quick kiss on the cheek and a smile before she gets up to put the other kids down for their nap.

            After I finish my food, I start the dishes and wait for Mackenzie to come back.

            “Why do we have a dishwasher if you wash the dishes yourself all the time?”

            I turn around and laugh as she’s leaning in the door frame watching me. “Because I grew up as dishes being a chore. We had a dishwasher too, but it was for when company was over. Not just because five kids wanted to be lazy.”

            “I’m not lazy!”

            “Kenzie, you had nannies and maids. I don’t blame you for using a dishwasher. I blame your parents.” I quickly realize what I just said and put the dish down I was just washing. I turn around while drying my hands. “I am so sorry, Kenz. It just slipped out.”

            “No. It’s fine. It’s been, what, four years now? Not that I really think about it. They were never around before that anyway.” I pull her into a hug and she quickly embraces me tightly. While she tries to forget, I don’t think a child could ever forget something like that. “I know I’m not the perfect parent. I spoil them and I don’t always let them go where they want, when they want and I don’t always discipline them when I should. I’m sorry.”

            “Baby, you are an amazing parent and nobody is perfect. The kids love you and I love you. We both spoil them and we both discipline. It’s a balance. So, sometimes we get things wrong, but we always work together and that’s what they need. They need consistency and love and attention and they get that from you. You’re not like them. You never will be.”

            “Thank you.” I give her some soft kisses on her cheeks and lips before she pulls away. “I’ll dry the dishes, so we can finish up some letters before they wake up. Maybe we can go for a walk after that?”

            “Sounds good.”

AGMJAGMJAGMJ

            “Awe! This person sent pictures with the kids’ names in them.” Mackenzie shows me the three paintings and we set them aside.

            “Did you hear that?” I ask my girlfriend, thinking I heard maybe Anya moving down the hall. She shouldn’t be awake this fast, but she also isn’t in her room.

            “Hear wha-?”

            “Moooommyyyy!” Anya cries from the guest room and the two of us jump up and rush over to the room. We slide open the door to see the bed covered in vomit and Anya sobbing. Mackenzie quickly picks her up out of the soiled bed and Anya gets sick again all over her. “Mommy, it hurts!”

            The two of us take her to our bathroom across the hall and manage to make it there without Anya getting sick again.

            “Ade, she’s burning up.” Kenz tells me as she sits the pale child on the side of the tub and starts stripping the wet dress off of her. “What’s hurts, baby?”

            “Everything!” Anya cries even louder and her small body is shivering with no clothes on.

            “You want to take a lavender bath with mommy in moms’ bathtub?” I run my fingers through her sweaty hair and my heart breaks at how miserable she looks when she nods. We’ve been lucky and none of our kids have ever gotten anything worse than a cold before. Hopefully she doesn’t have this too long and the other two can escape it.

            I rush over to the bath and start it while Mackenzie takes Anya’s pull-up off and starts to strip off her gross clothes as well. I grab the lavender oil from the cabinet and pour some into the lukewarm water. I leave Kenz to bathe her while I go take care of the soaked sheets and clothes. After putting them into the washing machine, I move to the playroom and see that Conner and Autumn are both sleeping soundly.

            By the time I get back into our bathroom, Anya is sitting in the tub throwing up into a bucket. Our poor baby. “Bug, do you want me to make you some soup?”

            “No, mama. I not hungry. I’m hot and I don’t want to take a bath anymore.” She shakes her head slowly and I grab a towel out of the cabinet to hand to Mackenzie. “Mommy?” Anya quietly asks while she’s taken out of the tub. “Can I just wear my pull-up?”

            “Yea, baby. You can lay down in moms’ bed with the iPad, okay?” The little blonde nods her head pitifully before resting her head on Kenzie’s shoulder.

            “Voy a la tienda a comprar medicina.” I tell Mackenzie before heading out the bedroom to get my shoes on. Our kids are never sick and rarely ever even complain about headaches, so I know we don’t have a whole lot of medicine in the house. I can run out real quick and get some and be back before the other two wake up.

            “Choochie?” I call through the house when I get back, carrying multiple bags of medicine and juice. I put the juice away and bring the medicine through the house, looking for Mackenzie. As I turn the corner to go down our hallway, Kenz is quietly coming out of our room, closing the door behind her.

            “She fell back to sleep about ten minutes ago.” She whispers and we walk back towards the kitchen.

            “Okay, I bought some juice for her and medicine. I also bought extra vitamin C medicine for all of us to take on top of our daily vitamins.”

            “How could she have gotten sick and the other two didn’t?”

            “She’s small, Kenz, and a kid. We’ve been to a lot of parks over the last week. She could have just picked up something. Hopefully it’s just a bug and she’ll get over it quick. I’m going to put the sheets in the dryer. Be right back.”

            As I’m starting the dryer, I hear Conner run pass the laundry room and I know he’s running to check on Anya.

            “Mama?” He practically yells into the laundry room.

            “Conner James, no gritar.” I say firmly. “No yelling. Inside voice, please.”

            “Lo siento. Where’s Anya?”

            “She’s in mine and mommy’s bed. She doesn’t feel good, baby boy.”

            “Tan she still play with us?” He walks into the room and I pick him up and sit him on the counter facing me.

            “No, she’s resting. When someone’s sick, they can’t play a lot. They have to rest.”

            “Oh.” His face falls and he looks down to the floor. “How tan we make her better?”

            “She just needs rest and medicine until she feels herself again.”

            “Wait, mama!” He quickly scoots himself off the counter and runs out of the room. I turn the light off and follow him, noticing that Autumn isn’t in the playroom anymore either. Picking up the blankets, Conner runs back up to me. “Here!” He holds his blanky out to me. “Give this to Anya. It always makes me feel good.”

            “Awe! I’m sure she’ll love it. Thank you.” His smile grows even bigger as I place a kiss into his blonde hair. “We’ll give it to her when she wakes up, bueno?”

            Anya finally wakes up about two hours later, around four in the afternoon, and calls for me.

            “Hey. How are you feeling?” I ask softly, walking into the bedroom, noticing that she still looks very pale.

            “I don’t like feeling yucky, mama.” Sitting on the bed, I move the little girl onto my lap and cradle her. “When am I going to feel better?”

            “No sé, pero tienes hambre? Want to try some soup?” She shakes her head. “Alright, but I got you some medicine and some Pedialyte. You need to drink some to keep hydrated.”

            “When I get to play with Conner an’ Autumn?” She whispers while gently playing with my hair.

            “Not til you’re feeling better. How about I send them in here to say ‘hi’ while I get your medicine and juice?”

            “Please?”

            “Okay, I’ll be right back. Stay in bed.” Walking back out towards the living room, I see Conner and Autumn sitting on the couch with Mackenzie. “Babies, your sister wants to see you two, so you can go in the room, but not on the bed. Understand?”

            “Yea!” The both shout as they run around the corner to the room. Mackenzie already had the medicine measured out and some Pedialyte in a sippy cup for her, so I grab them and head back to the quarantined room. I’m passing Mackenzie as Autumn comes running into the room.

            “Mommies! Conner’s on the bed. I tolded him to get off, but he yelldid at me.” She pouts as her hands go to her hips, standing there expecting one of us to hand out a punishment.

            “Okay, Autumn, can you go wash your hands, please, before you touch anything.” Mackenzie tells our oldest as she follows me into the master bedroom.

            “Conner James, quitaté de la cama!” I tell him.

            “Get down, please.” Mackenzie echoes in English.

            “I just wanted to gib her a hug. Hugs always make us feel better. I sorry!” He worriedly states, but makes no effort to get off the bed.

            “And he gaved me his blanky!” Anya smiles holding up the worn blue fabric. Mackenzie picks Conner up and cuddles him close before carrying him to the bathroom to wash his hands. I place her sippy cup on the side table and hand the little blonde her bubble gum medicine.

            “You can watch Netflix and play on the iPad, but if you start to feel worse at all then call me and mommy. The door will stay open and we’ll leave the intercom on so you can hear us and we can hear you.”

            “Thanks, mama.” I offer her a smile and kiss her forehead three times before telling her we’ll check up on her in a little bit.

AGMJAGMJAGMJ

            “Mommyyyy, it itches!” My eyes open and see that it’s just a little after three in the morning. Mackenzie and I decided to have Anya stay in our bed with us since her fever was going down before we went to bed. “Help, mommy! It itches!”

            “Ade! Wake up!” Quickly, I roll over and see both girls sitting up in bed and then it hits me. Little red bumps all over the tiniest member of the family.

            “Chicken pox.”

            “I don’t want to turn into a chicken so because I like being me!” Anya panics and I still her shaking hands.

            “You won’t turn into a chicken, bug. They’re just really itchy bumps. Let’s get you into the bathroom so we can see better.” I carry her to the vanity seat and strip her clothes to see that the bumps are completely covering her body.

            “I know they’re really itchy, baby, but try not to itch them. Mommy will get your mittens and you can wear those.”

            “Pero, mama, they itch soooo bad.” She whines and scratches at her arms.

            “Kenzie?” I call over to my girlfriend and she quickly peeks her head into the bathroom.

            “Yea, babe?”

            “I need her mittens.”

            “Okay, I’ll go grab them.” A couple minutes later, she’s back and again stops at the doorway. “Here they are!”

            “Why are you just stopped there? Come in.”

            “I don’t know if I’ve ever had the chicken pox.”

            “Are you serious?”

            “Well, yea. I don’t remember, but I don’t think I have. They’re contagious. The whole house could get them.” Putting Anya’s mittens on and grabbing the Calamine lotion from the cabinet to rub on her, I talk Mackenzie’s anxiety down.

            “Well, I’m down to just shove them all in the same room now, if that means we just have to deal with it one time. My parents did that with us when Carlos and Nicka got them.”

            “Ade, I don’t think I ever had them though and I’m not going to make you take care of everyone by yourself.”

            “Well, call your mom and see if she knows.”

            “Yea, good idea.” She leaves the doorway and I pick Anya up, leaving her in just her pull-up again. She instantly curls into me, resting her tired head on my shoulder as I rock back and forth.

            “Mama? … No sorry, nothing’s majorly wrong. Anya has the chicken pox and I can’t remember if I’ve ever had them before, do you know? … Uh-huh. … Okay. … Yea. … I will and we love you too.” She hangs the phone up and comes to take Anya from me. “I had them when I was four. My parents didn’t want Quinn and Tyler to get them, so they sent me to mom’s house. Naya, Mychal, and I have all had them.”

            “Mama!” Conner cries break through the intercom and I rush to his room. “I’m hot!” I flip the light on and see beads of sweat dripping down his red face. I take his pyjamas off and pick him up to bring him to our room.

            “It’s alright, Conner. We’ll get you some medi-.”

            “Mommies!” Autumn cries and I cannot contain my sigh. It’s a trifecta. Three sick toddlers at three o’clock in the morning. It’s going to be a long day.

Author's Note

Honestly, I'm in such a slump with this story and I haven't been able to write in it for about two years, but it's a goal of mine to finish, because it's the first thing I've ever written. Any constructive reviews could help or anything that would be cool to write about in future chapters. Thanks!