Page 114 of A Dream for Daphne

ACTION IN THE SHEETS

“You get that sling off on Monday,” Julie said Wednesday, two weeks later. “I bet you can’t wait.”

“I can’t,” she said. “And I’m thrilled to be back to work this week, even if it’s only helping with Colin and Holly.”

All four kids were down for their naps. Poppy and Reese took turns staying with the kids for the rest of the week that Daphne had been injured. Last week and this week Julie was watching all four kids here with Rose or Thomas dropping the kids off around their schedules.

It worked out well and the worst part of it all was the boredom that she’d experienced.

“They said you shouldn’t be lifting the babies just yet,” Julie said. “Not even next week.”

“I’ll do it with my right arm next week. I can do it now with my right arm. It’s like I told Poppy, how many people out there only have one arm to begin with? Or don’t have help and get hurt and are home with kids? It’s fine.”

“But they don’t want you to be hurt any longer and it’s not a big deal. I will admit last week was touch and go with all four of them, but it wasn’t for long stretches. Not full days.”

Because everyone flexed their schedules so that Julie wasn’t overwhelmed.

Daphne knew she could handle the four kids easily. Even with one arm, Julie and she weren’t the same.

Poppy even confessed that Holly was still wound up at night and not getting enough energy out during the day. Even mental energy.

Daphne always had activities planned if they were inside, but Julie tended to put on cartoons, movies, or sat and read to the kids.

She did that too, but only for a limited amount of time.

When she was reading to the kids, she was interacting the book out with them, which they enjoyed. Colin especially when they were using props.

“I’m glad it worked out,” she said. “They are great bosses and I was so worried about being out.”

“I know,” Julie said. “They are great. But they wouldn’t fire you over this. You got hurt watching Holly. Heck, she would have probably gotten hurt long ago with me if I let her run like you do.”

She didn’t know if that was a compliment or an insult.

“Holly needs stimulation,” she said. “It’s all good. Look at how well she’s napped the last two days.”

Julie snorted. “You’re right. I barely got an hour out of her and the last two days she’s falling asleep at the lunch table, then slept for three hours.”

“And that is three hours you get to relax or deal with the babies,” she said. “Not that Tatum sleeps that long since he’s napping in the morning.”

“He took two two-hour naps yesterday,” Julie said. “Even Summer did. I don’t know your secret. It’s not like they were running around.”

“Fresh air and being entertained with the other kids,” she said. “Did you notice that when we are outside there is just so much going on they are constantly looking around? If not at Colin and Holly, then each other or nature.”

“I did notice that,” Julie admitted.

“They get excited and their little endorphins are running too. It tires them out,” she said, smiling.

“It’s not a reason to watch more than two kids though,” Julie said, laughing. “I’m glad this is only short term.”

Daphne finished her sandwich and cleaned up her dish, reaching for Julie’s to put away too.

Julie let her. She had to do something more than just sit around.

She wasn’t even sleeping well because it was like the kids. She didn’t get enough energy out of her.

It’s not like there was much cleaning to do. All she did was walk the grounds most days to get outside, or sit on her front porch and read.

The rest of the week after she’d gotten hurt, she did what Abe joked about. Sat on the porch and watched the guys work.

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