Max slid Janie's soaked smock over her head. Janie shivered as the colder air hit her skin. Ozzy was wriggling with effort out of his pants, shirt draped over the shower rod and dripping on the bathmat.
Max tested the water flowing into the tub with her elbow and nodded. "It's perfect. Both of you, try not to get water on the floor, it could rot the wood."
"Ew!" Janie turned the tap with her downy fingers to the off position and climbed into the deep tub, Ozzy right behind her. Max left the steam-filled bathroom and went straight to her room.
She shut the door and leaned up against it, suddenly exhausted. She was tired from the fly, yes, but also just… so, so tired. She wished Ozymandias was there for the umteenth time in forever. She stood, remembering, for a long while, when-
-thunder smashed the house with its solid hands, and the very foundation shook in the ground. Max stumbled to the left and caught herself on one of her bedposts. Why, she wondered suddenly, was she given a king-sized bed? Wasn't that ironic and sad in a twisted sort of way?
She snapped out of her reverie as she heard Janie wailing in a high-pitched voice. "Mama! Mama!"
Max righted herself and sped to the bathroom. She yanked open the door and warm fog drifted into the hallway in plumes. "What is it?!"
"It's loud, Mama…" Janie quivered, standing dripping on the floor. Ozzy was in the mostly-drained tub, looking less frightened and more thoughtful.
"Should we not be in the water during a lightning storm?" he asked Max.
"Of course not, but you were cold." Max bundled Janie up in a fluffy towel. "Your pajamas just came out of the dryer; go put them on and get warm."
Ozzy took a towel and raced after his sister in a spirited race. At the same time, Frannie appeared in the hall. "They shouldn't be showering in a thunderstorm, Max." Her voice contained a condescending tone that Max despised above all else.
"I think I know how to take care of my own children, thank you," Max said shortly. She pushed past Frannie and made a beeline for her open door, where Janie and Ozzy were no doubt waiting.
"Max-"
Max was having none of it. Maybe Frannie wasn't still mad, but she definitely was. She shut the door on Frannie, shut the door on everyone else, shut the door on sentiment. Slam. A done sound.
Janie was in her favorite white dress and brown slippers, with her rose-colored robe overtop. "Mama, have you seen my scarfie?" Janie had adopted the practice of having a special scarf instead of a blanket, and she'd taken a liking to the red one Max had bought with her birthday money. Max had given it to her because she knew how much Janie loved it, and now Janie never slept a night without it wrapped around her neck, waist, or stuffed dog.
Ozzy was in his favorite PJs as well, a blue top and bottom that exactly matched his bedspread. He liked color-coordination, unlike Janie, who loved making everything as colorful as possible.
"It's here, Janie." Max picked up the soft article from off the floor.
"Yay! Scarfie!" Janie grabbed it and hugged it to her chest before tying it around her neck securely.
Ozzy went over to the window and looked out, a flash of lightning illuminating his pale face. "Is it time for bed, Mommy?"
"I don't know if I can sleep…" Janie shivered despite her warm clothing.
"Come into my bed, you two." Max looked at the clock. It was close to 6. Well, they could all use the extra sleep… plus, Max didn't want to deal with Frannie right now. She just wanted to curl up with her babies and sleep.
She climbed into her overly-large bed first, and Ozzy came in on her left, Janie on her right. Max tucked the covers around all of them, then put her arms out so she could hug them both to her sides. They settled in against her and she laid down. There would be no night-flight tonight. Tonight, it was just her babies and her.
Just for tonight, she thought as she slid into sleep.