Friday 28th August 2020, 7:30am
Jonny was just about to wake the twins for breakfast so that they could eat together before he left for work when he was sure he heard a little tap at the door. He frowned as he wondered who on earth would be knocking at that time unless Victoria was early but he opened the door to reveal his wife with a healthy tan and two suitcases and her handbag on the floor besides her. She had dark circles under her eyes because he knew travelling always took the energy out of her but she was clearly glad to be back.
"Jac!" He grinned as he leapt forward and wrapped his arms around her tightly. "I thought I was picking you up tonight from the airport." He protested.
"I got an earlier flight and I thought I'd surprise you." Jac smiled as she pulled away.
"Oh, I missed you so much." He smiled as he leant in and kissed her on the lips before they parted and he took in everything about her appearance as he had longed to see his wife once more.
"Are they awake yet?" She asked as she carried her hand bag and dragged one suitcase into the penthouse whilst Jonny grabbed the other for her and then closed the front door.
"No, I was just about to wake them. Go on, you do it. I want to see their faces." Jonny smiled and he followed Jac where she knew both of her children were sleeping in the same single bed in Anna's room. She went and crouched down next to the bed and tucked a bit of Emma's long fiery red hair behind her ear before she whispered to her.
"Emma… Emma time for school." Jac joked softly as she knew it was still their summer holidays.
"Mummy I don't want to go to school." Emma mumbled.
"Wait for it." Jonny grinned.
"Mummy? Mummy!" She suddenly realised who she was talking to and Emma shot out of bed and into her mother's arms. Anna also sat up, and once she realised what all the commotion was about, she jumped up too and joined in with the hug.
"Hello you two." Jac smiled. "Right, Victoria isn't coming around today because I've still got the day off of work." Jac informed them. "But, I have got a lot of washing to do so–"
"You can leave your washing; you're tired and I can do it over the weekend." Jonny offered.
"It's alright, I can start sorting it out into loads." Jac stated.
"Mummy can you do my hair please because daddy's awful at doing a high ponytail and he always pulls my hair." Emma requested.
"Of course I can." Jac smiled. "I've got you some sweets and a couple of little presents but they're somewhere in my suitcases so I'll have to find them later."
"Can you wash my hair tonight?" Anna asked.
"And me please." Emma added.
"Sure." Jac nodded. "But only, if you two promise me that you're going to sleep in your own beds tonight. Yes?"
"I promise." Emma confirmed.
Jac had her suitcases opened on the bed, and Emma and Anna were sitting on Jac and Jonny's pillows whilst she threw her washing into different piles on the floor corresponding to darks, lights, colours and delicates.
"Are you two looking forward to starting year three next week?" Jac asked.
"Kind of." Emma began. "I can't wait to see all my friends but I've heard that you have spelling tests every week."
"Well if that is true, I'm sure they won't give you anything beyond your capability."
"What's capability?" Anna asked.
"It's like your ability to do something. If I ask you to tidy your bedrooms, I know you're capable of doing so – or in other words, I know that you are able to tidy your rooms."
"But my room is tidy!" Emma protested. "Daddy made us tidy it for when you got back."
"I know it's tidy, it was just an example." Jac stated. "Ah, here're your presents." She announced as she took out a white carrier bag. "You can decide between you who gets what but there's a pencil case and a soft toy each, and the bag of sweets is to share." Jac stated as she took out a little toy koala and kangaroo, as well as furry pencil cases based upon the same animals.
"Did you see a real koala bear?" Anna asked.
"Not in the wild; I was in a big built up city all the time but I did see some when I walked past a zoo. They're just like your dad, all they do is sleep and eat all day." Jac quipped which caused her children to laugh. "And don't tell him I said that." She added.
"You know, you used to snore really loudly when you were a baby." Jac smiled as she stroked Emma's hair as she settled her in her own bed for the first time in weeks. Emma was tucked under the duvet with her toy koala in her arms whilst Jac sat on the edge of the bed after she had read her a story. "And Anna just used to sleep right through it."
"Do I snore now?"
"Thankfully, no."
"Tomorrow, can we go swimming?"
"I'm still really tired Emma, maybe on Sunday. Tomorrow, I'll let you and Emma make some cakes or something if you want. Now though, it's bedtime." Jac said quietly as she bent down and kissed Emma on the forehead before she stood up, straightened Emma's duvet up and switched the lamp off. "Night night."
"I love you mummy." Emma mumbled as she closed her eyes.
"I love you too Emma." Jac smiled before she tiptoed out of the room and headed for her own bedroom.
"Are you not exhausted?" Jonny questioned after his wife had climbed into bed. "You've given them a bath and washed and dried both of their hair and then read them a story each and you haven't slept for hours."
"Yeah but wanted to spend some time with them." Jac stated as she laid on her side facing away from her husband who then proceeded to wrap his arms around her waist. "It feels weird that I was actually missed." Jac admitted.
"Of course you were." Jonny smiled. "And this time it wasn't just certain parts of you." He grinned.
"I know it's been four weeks but can we wait until tomorrow night?" Jac requested as she slipped her fingers between his on top of her navel. "It's just I'm still jet lagged and–"
"Yeah sure, Jac it's fine." Jonny whispered.
"Thanks for doing the last few lots of my washing." She mumbled.
"It's alright." He smiled. "Oh I missed you so much." He chuckled as he squeezed her in his arms.
"Thank you, for letting me go." Jac said gratefully. "I learnt a lot and had a great time."
"You're welcome. You've got to be one of the most sought after cardio surgeon in the world now; you specialise in foetal, paediatric and adult cardiothoracics. And you could give Mo a run for her money with transplanting as well because when you want an organ, you don't let anyone else stand a chance at getting it." He smirked. "Not to mention how incredible you are with the patients. Y'know, you're so kind, sympathetic, caring and…" Jonny stopped as he had expected a sarcastic comment from his wife, but instead he was met with silence. Her eyes were closed and her chest slowly rose and fell with each breath she took; she was asleep. He kissed her on her forehead before he turned the light off and settled down for the first night in a month that he had his wife in his arms.
