Chapter 81
Evelyn smiled as she walked into the house a few minutes later. It was about two o'clock in the morning. Mercedes and Colby were in the living waiting up for her. Evelyn was pretty sure her sisters would be up waiting for her too. But she knew Valerie and Derek were asleep. Aaron was spending the night at a friend's house.
"Hi Mom. Hi Dad," Evelyn said. She locked the door behind her.
"Hi sweetie," Mercedes said.
"Did you have fun?" Colby asked.
"I had a lot of fun," Evelyn commented. She walked over to the sofa. She waved her hands telling her parents to move over for her to sit between them. The two smiled and moved over. Evelyn took her seat.
"So, Andy gave me a promise ring just now," Evelyn said, showing her parents her left hand.
"Awe," Mercedes said.
"He actually asked my permission to give it to you," Colby commented.
"He did?!" Evelyn said.
"He did."
"Awe, he asked your dad to give you the promise ring like someone would ask the dad's permission to marry the daughter!" Mercedes said.
Evelyn and Colby laughed.
"Yes, I love the cheesiness and corniness of this!"
"It's fine, babe," Colby said.
"Yeah. I love it too, Mom," Evelyn said. "But that's because it's all happening to me!"
"And we're very happy for you, baby girl." Colby wrapped his arms around her daughter, hugging and kissing the top of her head.
Evelyn quickly wrapped her arms around him, returning the hug.
Mercedes smiled. She remembered back to eighteen years ago when Evelyn was inside her. She and Colby had been lying in bed together right when Evelyn started moving around. Colby immediately moved to Mercedes's belly. He placed his hand there, feeling her on the outside. He kissed her belly every so often.
Mommy!
Mercedes was pulled from her thoughts.
"Uh-oh," Evelyn said.
Mommy!
"I think that's Valerie," Colby said.
"She must have had a bad dream or something," Mercedes said.
"I'll go check on her," Evelyn said.
"No, we'll get her, sweetie," Colby said.
"No, let me. Let me take care of my baby sister."
"All right, then. Go head," Mercedes said.
Evelyn quickly got up from the sofa. She headed up-stairs to her youngest siblings' bedroom.
"Mommy!" Valerie cried.
"Hey, you're okay," Evelyn said, walking into the room.
"Evie," Valerie said.
"It's okay," Evelyn said, sitting on the bed with Valerie. She wrapped her arms around her little sister. "Did you have a bad dream?"
"Mmm-hmm."
"Awe. I'm sorry."
"Are you okay, Val-Val?" Derek asked.
Evelyn smiled. She looked over at her little brother.
"No," Valerie said, clinging onto her big sister.
"What was your dream about?" Evelyn asked.
"A scary monster hurt Daddy and Mommy and tried to take me away."
"Awe. It's okay."
"Is everything okay?" Mercedes asked as both she and Colby came into the room.
"Just a bad dream of a monster hurting both of you and trying to steal our Valerie," Evelyn replied.
"Well, we're both all right, princess," Colby said. He went over to the bed and kneeled down on the floor.
"Yes, we're both just fine," Mercedes said.
"I don't want to go back to sleep!" Valerie said.
"Awe," Evelyn said.
"Do you want to sleep with me and Mommy?" Colby asked.
"Mmm-hmm," Valerie said.
"Okay. Come here."
Colby stood up. Valerie reached for her dad. Colby quickly scooped her into his arms.
"I don't want to sleep by myself," Derek said.
"You can come too, Derek," Mercedes said. She walked over to his bed and picked him up.
"Slumber party," Colby said, bouncing Valerie up and down. It made her laugh.
Evelyn smiled at the sound of her baby sister laughing.
"Okay, come on," Colby said.
Evelyn said good night to her parents and younger siblings. She then headed to her room to get ready for bed.
Mercedes and Colby took their younger children to their room where they all were to sleep. Valerie and Derek both quickly went back to sleep. Mercedes went to sleep quickly as well. Colby stayed awake a few extra minutes. He never tried of the kids sleeping him and Mercedes. He loved to cuddle with them and his wife. They were his world.