Page 47 of Suddenly Entwined

I rush to the girls’ room, smiling at Lou in what I hope is a reassuring way, as I rifle through the paper bags. I know we had that damn octopus at the mall.

“Yes!” I exclaim when my hand closes around one of Leggy’s tentacles.

I pretend to swim across the bedroom and make the octopus attack Louisa’s tummy.

“Leggy!”

If I expected the crying to stop immediately, I was wrong, because her face scrunches up as she clutches the purple octopus to her chest, soaking it with her tears.

“You are one tired girl,” I say, shutting her door and turning out all but one light on her dresser.

“Can I lie down with you?”

“Is my Daddy home yet?”

I shake my head, pulling some hair off her damp, hot cheeks.

“Should we talk about all the things you’ll tell him at breakfast? About your new clothes and the pink toenail polish you chose–”

“And how I grated the cheese so good?”

I laugh, rolling my eyes a bit that of all the things we did today, helping me in the kitchen is the activity she can’t stop talking about. Slowly, Lou’s breathing becomes steadier as I trace my fingers along her back on top of her purple pyjama top.

“Atta girl,” I whisper, not daring to leave until I know she’s settled.

I think fitting in an afternoon at the mall was too much for her after a day of school. A few minutes ago she was pushing all my buttons, but now as her eyes flutter shut and I see her tiny fingers circle the fabric of her stuffed animal, I’m melting. They’re sweet girls who’ve had a wrench thrown into their routine. The door creaks as Natalie comes in. I give her a smile, holding a finger over my lips. I point at Leggy to show her I found it, and I feel lighter when she returns my smile and gives me a silent thumbs up. Natalie slowly climbs the ladder to the top bunk, obviously losing some of her steam too. I don’t move a muscle as I wait for them to fall asleep.

With a sigh of relief, I slide from the bed, leaving the lamp on in case somebody wakes up. I lean against the doorframe, weary but triumphant as I glance at the sleeping girls. Peaceful silence fills the house, and it’s hard to believe that a mere hour ago chaos reigned.

“Goodnight, sweethearts,” I whisper, blowing a kiss from the doorway, heart filling with a sense of attachment I’m not sure I should have.

Chapter sixteen

Berg

The front door whines when I open it, and I make a mental note to oil the hinges this weekend.

“Caro?” I call out, wondering if she’s fallen asleep with the girls like I always do.

“In here.”

I find her parked on my living room floor between the couch and the coffee table, a blanket pulled over her lap and a couple of magazines open on the table. Loose hair tumbles around her face as she turns and gives me a nonchalant wave.

“Hey. Don’t expect me to move anytime soon. I’ve fallen and I can’t get up.”

“Is that so?” I set my lunch kit and jacket down, too tired to put everything where it goes.

If future me ever asks why my kids don’t know how to pick up after themselves, I know the reason. As I enter the living room, she starts a dramatic slow clap.

“Hats off to you. Don’t know how you do it.”

Caro is beautiful, but her movements are sluggish and her voice is lacking some of its normal energy.

“Did they run you ragged?”

“We couldn’t find Leggy. It was touch and go for a bit there.”

I wince, knowing exactly how Lou can get at bedtime when the routine goes awry. Putting a new person in charge of bedtime would have been hard enough. Not having her comfort item? Yikes.

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