Page 91 of Nothing to This

After checking the front door was locked, she went to her room to quickly change.

Both the kids were in the middle of her bed, beneath the covers.Carefully lifting them, she slid in beside them, kissing each and stroking their beautiful faces.

“How they doing?”

Glancing up, JD leaned against her doorframe.

“It’s been a long day,” she said.“They’re out already.”

“We’ll have to talk to them.About walking off with people.”

She nodded.“I thought the same thing.We can’t make it seem like we’re mad though, I don’t want to scare her.”

“I think Kye got a bigger fright than she did,” JD said.“We’ll make bacon for breakfast, that will mellow him out.”

Sliding an arm over both of them, such warmth and relief couldn’t be underrated.“They’re so precious, JD.Thank you for bringing her back to me.”

“I promised you I would.She belongs in her mother’s arms.”

Bowing, she brushed Sky’s hair from her forehead to kiss her.“And her daddy’s too.You saved her, JD.You put our family back together.”

“It wouldn’t have been fractured if it wasn’t for my insane ex,” he said.“I am sorry, babe.”

“Would you stop apologizing.”Kye muttered something in his sleep, so she caressed his face.“There, sweetpea.Mommy and Daddy are here, you’re safe.”

“Get some sleep,” JD said and boosted himself off the doorframe.

“Where are you going?”

“I’m tired, babe,” he said.“And we don’t want to disturb them.”

Raising her arm from beneath the covers, she held a hand toward him.“None of us should be alone tonight,” she said.“Get in on the other side of Kye, they need us… We can squish.”

His glaring surprise was almost funny, but he didn’t hesitate.Entering, he closed the door and came over to slip into her bed behind Kye.After dropping the covers, he kissed each of the kids and settled down, reaching over the top of them to rest a hand on her jaw, stroking his thumb up and down her cheekbone.

“Thank you.”

“I wouldn’t cast you out tonight.”She smiled.“Kye was right, we have to squish.”

“No one I’d rather squish with.”

“Get some sleep, Daddy,” she said, taking his hand from her face, keeping it in hers when she slid her arm back under the covers to rest their twined hands between the kids.

“We’re going to keep them safe, Siren.Whatever it takes.”

She closed her eyes and pulled them closer together.“We’re all safe now.All safe.”

After the stress of the day, they could do with some rest; she had a feeling they’d all sleep sound.They’d come so close to her worst nightmare.JD saved the day by saving their baby.

The trauma would probably hit them hard tomorrow, but all she could feel then was relief.They were together, and right now, she couldn’t be more grateful for her children, and for their father too.

***

After their discussion at breakfast, she spent a long time washing and drying her daughter’s hair while JD spoke to the cops.When Sky was dressed, she ran to her brother’s bedroom where Kye and JD were playing the cartoon game.She stopped in Kye’s doorway.

With no regard for blocking the screen, Sky came to a screeching halt in front of the two males seated on the end of Kye’s bed.

“Daddy!Daddy!”Sky shrieked.“Look my butterflies.”Turning her head side to side, she showed the slides in her hair that she’d gotten for her birthday yesterday.“They sparkly.”