Stacie tapped on her laptop impatiently as she waited for Aubrey to pick up, checking the clock again to make sure she had the right time. She did.
She bit her thumbnail, wondering if she should just try Aubrey's phone instead. It wasn't like Aubrey to be late, if anything she was painfully punctual. She would've at least texted her if she knew she was going to be late.
Finally, after what felt like hours for Stacie, her computer stopped ringing and Aubrey filled her screen, a squirming baby poking her head at the bottom.
"Hey, babe," Aubrey said with a smile, adjusting the baby in her arms.
"You're late!" Stacie said accusingly, her heart still beating faster than it usually did.
"I had to change Tori. It was less than ten minutes."
"Ten minutes late in Posen adjusted terms is like an hour." Aubrey rolled her eyes. "I was worried."
Aubrey's gaze softened. "I'm sorry."
Stacie whimpered. "I miss you so much."
"We miss you too. I can't wait for Monday."
Stacie groaned. "That's in forever. I hate being away from you. I'm pretty sure Tori's forgotten about me already."
"She hasn't, she misses you." Aubrey lifted Tori so she could face the screen. "You miss mommy, don't you sweetie?"
"Hey, Tor!" Stacie waved at the screen. "You still remember me, kid?"
"Stace." Aubrey warned softly.
"She's a baby! I don't know what she knows."
"She's been hearing your voice since she was inside me, you've held her countless hours since she was born, she can't forget you so fast." Tori flailed as if she was trying to reach the screen. "See, she misses you."
"Aww, I'll be there in two days." Stacie blew a kiss at them. "You're picking me up at the airport, right?"
"Of course. I'm even making a tiny sign that says 'mom' for Tori so you can find us."
Stacie felt her throat tighten and tears stinging in her eyes. "I love you so much."
"I love you, too." Aubrey shifted Tori again and chuckled, wiping a tear. "I'm still hormonal, what's your excuse?"
"I don't need an excuse to miss my wife and daughter." Stacie pouted. "Next time either of us has to go somewhere, we're going together."
Aubrey tilted her head, the edge of her mouth tilting up. "Sounds like a plan."
"Tori!" Stacie yelled as she sat down in front of her computer. "Come on."
Stacie clicked the call button and waited, smiling when Aubrey's face filled the screen. Her eyes were half open and she yawned.
"Did I wake you?" Aubrey shook her head but couldn't stifle her yawn. "Go back to sleep, we'll call you later."
"No, I wanna see Tori." Aubrey rubbed her eyes. "Where is she?"
"She's coming, she was playing in her room." Stacie turned towards the door and yelled. "Tori, come here!"
Stacie heard the pitter patter of small feet and Tori came running into the room. She jumped on Stacie's lap and smiled at the screen. "Mama!"
"Hey, Tor, what have you been up to?"
"Jenny slept over yesterday!" Tori relayed happily.
"She did?"
Tori nodded. "Uh-huh, and we watched a movie and mom made spaghetti and we had ice cream."
"You had fun?" Aubrey asked, failing to keep herself from smiling as widely as the girl.
"It was awesome!"
Stacie hugged Tori. "The only thing missing was you and your cookies, right, kid?" Tori nodded distractedly. She started squirming to get off Stacie's lap and go back to her room. "Say goodbye to ma, kid."
"Bye, mama!" Tori waved.
"I love you, Tor!"
"Love you, ma!" Tori jumped off Stacie's lap and ran out.
"You're gonna have to bake cookies when you get back."
Aubrey chuckled. "I don't know if she missed my cookies or you did."
"Oh I miss way more than just your cookies, babe." Stacie bit her lip. She looked at Aubrey for a few seconds and then sighed. "How's your mom?"
"She's okay, the pain meds are helping." Aubrey leaned back, pulling her laptop with her. "My dad's the one going crazy. He wants to help but doesn't really know how."
"You need backup?"
Aubrey smiled. "I love you for offering, but-"
"Your parents hate me." Stacie nodded.
"They don't hate you." Aubrey shook her head. "You're doing enough holding down the fort there."
"Okay. But if you need me-"
"I always need you." Aubrey sighed. "My sister's coming this weekend. If my mom's feeling better I might come back earlier."
"You should've led with that!" Stacie grinned. "Sooner when?"
"Tuesday. I wanna stay for the appointment on Monday."
"Okay." Stacie fidgeted, she missed Aubrey but she knew she needed to focus on her mom right now. "Well, take as long as you need, I've got things here."
"Have I told you how much I love you?"
Stacie leaned on her elbow, her mouth twisting into a goofy grin. "How much?"
"Tons and tons." Aubrey blew her a kiss but it turned into a yawn, making Stacie laugh.
"Go back to sleep." Aubrey pouted. "I love you."
"Give Tori a kiss from me."
Stacie nodded. "And my kiss?"
"I'll give it to you in person when I get back."
Stacie stretched, fishing her phone from under her pillow and answering the video call from Aubrey. "Morning, gorgeous."
"Hey, babe." Stacie's chest ached at the sight of Aubrey's hair fanning out on her pillow. "What time do you start today?"
Stacie looked at the time on the corner of her phone. "In a couple of hours." She rolled over to her back, holding the phone in front of herself and biting her lip. "I had a dream about you."
She heard a groan on Aubrey's side. "Please stop, I'm here."
Aubrey turned the phone so Stacie could see Tori sitting back against the headboard with a book on her lap. "Aren't you a little old to be sleeping in our bed?"
The teenager leveled a glare at Stacie. "I didn't sleep here, I just brought breakfast."
"Breakfast in bed?" Stacie arched an eyebrow. "You're making me look bad, kid."
Aubrey turned the phone towards herself again and smiled. "She wanted to cheer me up."
"You guys are ridiculous when you're apart, ma's been moping," Tori added.
"Aww, you miss me, baby?" Stacie cooed.
Aubrey rolled her eyes. "Tori's exaggerating, I just turned in early last night. I was tired."
"You kept checking your phone and pouting." Tori's head appeared next to Aubrey's. "You need to check in more often."
Aubrey wrapped her arm around Tori, smushing her against her side. "She's the best, isn't she."
"She is pretty awesome." Stacie nodded while Tori squirmed to get free until she finally managed to get away.
"I'm leaving," she declared. "Bring me something cool."
"I don't think Cleveland has anything cool." Stacie pursed her lips. She finally shrugged and smirked seductively at Aubrey. "So, about that dream."
A grunt was heard off screen. "I can still hear you!"