"Mom!!"
"Mom she took my book again!"
"No I didn't!"
"Yes you did!"
"NO. I. DIDN'T!!"
"YES. YOU. DID!!"
Normal chaotic scene among kids right? Well, I hope so.
Sighing for the umpteenth time today I separated my five-year-old daughters.
Whoever said having twins was a double blessing left out the double trouble.
"So what is it this time? A book? What book honey"
I coaxed, trying my best not to pour the day's tiredness and frustration on them.
"She took my sketch book again"
Luckily it's nothing new. With a sigh I turned to my little trouble Elsa who refused to meet my gaze.
I already got my answer from that.
"Elsa?"
"Mom I just wanted to see"
"You should have asked her. Please return it and apologize to your sister"
I watched Elsa reluctantly go to take the book, mumbling a sorry. I ruffled their hair when I felt strong arms around my waist. The air stuffed with that addictive tobacco scent mixed with just the right amount of cedar I knew all too well.
"Hey gorgeous" he murmured, his voice low enough to send a quiet shiver down my spine.
Damn.
I swear I felt my knees buckle against my will. That damn drawl gets me every time. I had to keep reminding myself about the kids watching. But that low chuckle did nothing to help at all.
"Daddy!"
I sighed in relief at the distraction. Carefully moving from his embrace I watched the girls cling to his legs. He moved easily with them clinging to his legs—like they weighed nothing. And that uniform? Yeah… it wasn't helping my thoughts, and he knew it. The smug look on his face said he was enjoying every second of it.
Well I guess he deserved it. After years of pursuing a real life rock.
"Daddy what took you so long?" — Elsa
"Daddy I ranked first in art class" — Lisa
"Daddy I miss your stories" — Elsa
"Yes tell us another please" — Lisa
Their voices faded away as he climbed up the stairs to our shared bedroom with the girls still clinging to his legs. He didn't even break a sweat.
After locking his gun away upstairs, he shrugged off his jacket and returned downstairs to the living room. Only then did they allow him just to climb on his lap as he settled into the couch .
"Why didn't you tell Mom? Mhm?"
"No Mom's stories sound like lectures"
I gasped dramatically at Lisa's words, my hand flying to my chest theatrically.
"No they don't"
" Yeah they don't. Your mother's stories are great. She's just bad at expressing it cuz she's the boring one"
The kids laughed at his joke as I playfully shot a cushion at him
" I have a better story today. And I assure you it's not boring "
I puffed my chest proudly and settled beside them. Elsa rolled her eyes and I did same
"Trust me it's interesting."
"Fiiinnnnneeee"
"Sheesh tough crowd. Anyways... once upon a time, there were two kids, twins"
"Us?"
"Nope"
.....