Page 16 of Lilly

"Gotcha," I say, scooping up both Miles and Ethan before they can take off. My phone rings but I can't answer it while carrying two squirming toddlers. I set Miles on the kitchen counter, keeping hold of Ethan as I quickly get out my phone and answer it. "Hello?"

"Hey, it's me. How's it going?"

I catch Miles before he wiggles off the counter. "It's a little crazy but we're managing."

"Have you made lunch yet?"

"No, but I'm trying to. The boys just got up from their nap." I put the phone by Miles' ear. "Say hi to Mom."

"Mommy, come home," he says. Then Ethan repeats it, using the same tone. They always copy each other.

I take the phone back. "They miss you. So do I. When do you think you'll be back?"

"Probably around six. William looks a lot better today but he's still tired. I should go. I just wanted to check in."

"Okay, we'll see you soon. Love you."

"Love you too."

I worry about her flying home on that private plane. Normally, I wouldn't let her take it. After nearly losing my mom on a private plane, I don't want Jade on one. Or my parents. But they insisted on taking it yesterday so they could get there quickly. I worried the entire time they were in the air, just like I'll worry again today until they're home. I've got my parents and my wife on the same damn plane. If anything happens to them...I can't even think about it.

"Daddy, I'm hungry," Ethan says.

"I know. We'll have lunch in a few minutes."

An hour later and with Lilly's help, I manage to get everyone fed, then we go out to the patio and the kids play while Lilly and I watch. Then it's nap time again for the boys, then dinner time. By six, I'm completely wiped out.

When Jade walks in, I give her a hug the moment I see her. "Thank God you're back."

She laughs. "The kids wore you out?"

"It's not just that," I say quietly to her. "I didn't like having you on that plane."

She looks at me. "I know."

"Mommy!" Miles and Ethan yell, holding their arms up to Jade.

"Hi, guys!" She kneels down and hugs them. "I missed you!"

"Mom!" The girls run into the living room and up to Jade. Lilly's right behind them.

I walk up to my parents. "How was the trip?"

"It was good," my mom says. "We had a smooth flight home." She smiles, trying to make me feel better. She knows I was scared to death that something would happen to them.

"Next time, would you please just take a regular plane?"

She hugs me. "I'm sorry, honey. We were just in a hurry to get there."

"Garret, I need to speak with you," my dad says.

He's got that serious look I don't like. It means something's wrong. Something happened.

"Let's go outside," I tell him.

When we're seated on the patio, I say, "What's wrong? Is this about William?"

"Yes. But it could affect all of us."

---