I left their little area and went to sit on my bed that was when I noticed
what time it was. * God this day has flew by. * With that I went to take
another shower and get ready for dinner. I had no idea where we would be
going so I decided to wear the dress that Elizabeth had bought. It would
work for either a fancy restaurant or a nice one but may be a little much
for a regular one, but Darien had never taken me to just a regular one so I
wasn't worried. I was ready with five minutes to spare.
My hair was pulled halfway up and the ends where curled. It looked perfect with my dress. I had on a simple pair of high heels and a small silver purse. I heard the doorbell ring as I kissed the two sleeping figures in the cribs. "Sleep well, my angels. I'll be back soon." I whispered as I left the room. Ray met me at the bottom of the stairs.
"Wow! You look great. I know how to take care of children. Have fun. They will be fine. I won't let Mina in the kitchen. With me in charge you have nothing to worry about."
I smiled at her; she was able to assure me that everything would be taken care of before I could get even a word out of my mouth. "Thanks." With that I went into the den where Darien stood waiting. He was dressed in a simple black suit. * I dressed right. * I thought seeing his dress.
He offered me his arm as we walked out of the house. His car was waiting out side. A sleek midnight blue Dodge Viper. It was gorgeous. He opened the door like a gentle man, and helped me in. He then went around to get in and we pulled out of the driveway. We were about a mile from the house when he pulled over and turned to me with a grin on his face that I had come to know to well, way to well.
"What are you up too?"
"Oh nothing it's a surprise and besides it is going to stay that way until we get there." With that he pulled down his sun visor and a black handkerchief fell into his waiting hand.
"A blindfold?" I was about to protest when he gave the puppy dog eyes. I hate it when he does that. "Fine." Inside I was so excited. He smiled once, a real smile, and tied it behind me head. He then started the car and drove on.
We drove for about fifteen minutes before he stopped the car. Once he had the car turned off he got out and came over to the passenger, opened the door then helped me out. I could hear no sounds but that of the soft breeze in the trees, the crickets and every once in a while a call of a bird. He took my hands and led me away from the car; he still wouldn't let me take the blindfold off.
"We're almost there." He said slowing his pace down a little. All I could tell was that we were going over a little bridge because I cold hear the water flowing over what had to be rocks underneath. He came to as top shortly after we crossed the bridge. He let my hands go and moved behind me so that he could remove the blindfold.
When it was off of my eyes and I could see that I stood before a quilt spread on the ground and set with a dinner for two. I knew he couldn't have had enough time to do everything between the time he left my house and picked me up, but I didn't want to ruin the mood by asking. He was so thoughtful.
We sat down opposite each other and sat in silence for a few minutes. I surveyed the dinner that was laid out before me. It all looked so delicious. We talked a little as we ate, mostly about what we had been doing and about things in the past. He brought up the subject of our careers and I answered and so that was how we began to talk about my teaching job in Oregon.
"How long did it take you to get your degree?" He asked. I was more interested in if he had become a doctor.
"I took a course that they offered there and it really didn't take me long since I had been going part time at the college here."
"I didn't know that you were going to college then." His surprise was evident.
"No one knew but momma, and Elizabeth. And I made them promise not to tell anyone. Did you get your degree in medicine?" I was ready to change the subject a way from me.
"Yeah. I was certified about two years after we all left here."
"That's nice. You know you never did say where you have been."
"You never asked and neither did the others. So I didn't tell. But I've been in Little Rock. I'm head of the Emergency Room there. Rough business, almost wasn't able to get the time off to come back for the reunion. And to tell the truth I wasn't going to, don't know what changed my mind. But I'm glad that I did come back. I got to see everyone again and to catch up."
"That's wonderful Darien. Congratulations. I know it's a little late for them, but I just found so I can say so now." I smiled. I still thought that he had something on his mind but I wasn't sure. We finished our dinner in silence each liking being with the other.
He finally broke the silence as we finished dessert, which happened to be chocolate covered strawberries, Mm.my favorite.
"Serena .I have something to tell you."
* Oh god here it comes. * I looked up at him from where I was cleaning my hands off. "What is it Darien?" * Did I mention that I loved the way he said my name? *
"I've got to leave in the morning going back to Little Rock." He said the words slowly. I didn't know what to say to that. I was utterly at a loss for words. I knew that I didn't expect him to stay when after all I would be leaving soon anyway. But I would be back after a year I knew that. Oh well. There was nothing I could do to change his mind he after all had a well paying job and a career that he couldn't just drop it and leave people who depended on him hanging. He wouldn't do that any way.
"Oh. I'm glad that you did come back for the reunion and well to tell the truth I only because of Elizabeth."
I could tell by his face that he might have been expecting more, but I really didn't know what to say at the time. After that there was silence between us and I couldn't think of anything that would be appropriate to say. Oh true I had a million things I wanted to say to him, maybe I should have sad a couple of them, but of course I didn't. Who knows if I did maybe it would have changed our lives for the better. We stayed there for about another hour or so before he took me home. He didn't say what time he his flight was I guessed that it was early or he would have told me good-bye tomorrow. The drive back to my house was once again in silence.
When we arrived the house was dark, which meant that Ray and the rest where asleep. He got out of the car and opened the door for me; I already had my door keys out and ready. After he helped me out of the car he looked me in the eyes what he was looking for I didn't know. And I can't tell you if he found it. He walked me to the front steps and stopped at the base, I was at the landing when I turned around, I had no idea if I would ever see him again and Goddess he looked wonderful with the full moon to his back silhouetting him like an angel that had fallen, but for all the right reasons. I looked him over memorizing everything about him. Then before he had time to turn and walk back to his car, I practically flew down the steps and into his arms. I hugged him like there was no tomorrow and then kissed him. The kiss didn't last long but I got my point across. "Thank you, Darien for everything that you have done."
After wards I went into the house not looking back, afraid that if I did he would see the tears that were threatening to spill down my cheeks. I hated myself right then. Maybe I should have told him the way that I felt. Maybe I should have begged him to stay.
I didn't know who was staying here or who went back to the hotel or who might be staying with Lita. No one was downstairs and I was glad that way no one would see me cry. I could already hot feel the tears running down my cheeks. I went up the stairs composing myself with each step, I wasn't sure where Ray was and I really didn't want her to see me upset. Just my luck she was in my room with the twins. I opened the door slowly and found her sitting on my bed, looking intently at the door. * Oh my god, she saw everything. * It was the only thought that was going through my mind.
She didn't say anything, just looked at me. I wished she had said something, any thing had to be better than the silence. After a few more minutes she patted the bed beside her and offered me a smile. I was glad it was dark in the room that way she wouldn't be able to tell how red my eyes where, but I knew instinctively that she already knew that I had been crying. I went over to my bed and sat down.
"The twins are asleep. They were darlings while you where gone. Lita and Mina got into it about cooking again. But I was able to settle that." With that she grinned. "Well with some help from Ami. We were able to stop them before they went into an all out cooking war in the kitchen, so you have nothing to worry about. Mina is in one of the rooms with Michael, they were fighting about something earlier I'm pretty sure Mina won. Ami and Michael stayed the night. And so am I, hope you don't mind. I don't particularly care for hotels when I'm alone."
"Oh I don't mind you can stay here as long as you like."
"Sere you do know that I'm here if you want to talk. We are all here." She said as she got up and started to leave. "I left two bottles on the table in there incase they wake up. Good night Sere."
I smiled as she told me this, true a sad smile but a smile one the less. "Goodnight Ray." I watched as she started to close the door and went to her room. I changed quickly and slid into bed.
I lay awake for a while staring at the ceiling. I guess it was finally about twelve when I finally fell asleep. The twins slept through the night. And well into the next morning. I awoke the earliest that I had since I had been back in Georgia. The sun was just rising above the trees. I felt like crap. I checked on the twins before I went to take a quick shower, thinking that it would in some lift my mood. The only way that it helped was that there was hot water and it stayed hot.
I threw on some clothes and pulled my hair back in to a ponytail that would probably later wind up in a bun. Sometimes having long hair can be a real pain in the behind, especially when the weather starts to get hotter. About this time I heard a soft cry. I smiled as I went to see witch one of them was crying.
Walked into their little room and saw that they were both starting to wake up. That could be a problem, especially if they were both hungry. Adam was the one that was starting to cry. Instinct told me that Adriana wouldn't be far behind. Instinct when had I gotten an instinct with them? This is going to be hard. I didn't think that anyone else would be up this early, heck I'm not normally up this early. I hoped that she wouldn't wake up until Adam was through. Then I got an idea as the both started crying. I had left the carriers in a corner of the room and so I put them in their carriers and took them downstairs. I warmed their bottles and since I had the carriers on the table, I propped their bottles up on a folded towel so that they both could eat. I watched them a couple of minutes to make sure that they would be all right then went to fix me something.
I wasn't really hungry but I knew that I needed something or I would get sick later on. Teaching school can teach you some things. That's for sure. Since it was still nice out side being as the sun wasn't up I fixed something to eat and then took the twins out side to get some fresh air. There was a covered patio in back of the house with a couple of chairs. The twins were through eating and were looking around with big bright eyes. I'm not sure how I was able to do it, but I was holding both of them when I heard a plane go ever head. I walked a little ways in to the morning sun and watched as it flew over. Wondering where it was going and if it Darien was on it.
Adam and Adriana had fell back to sleep cuddled in my arms, some times they would coo in there sleep. I smiled down at them and wanted to cry for so many reasons. I knew there would a place and time for me to cry and this wasn't it, I had too much to do today. I walked back on to the patio and was surprised to see not one of the girls there but Michael. He offered me a smile, as if saying that he knew what I was feeling. I tried to return his smile but it really didn't work.
"Would you mind holding one of them so that I can put the other down?"
"Not at all Serena." He said as he took Adriana from me. I thought she was going to cry but she didn't. I gently laid Adam down and turned to get Adriana.
"May I lay her down?"
"Yeah, go ahead." I watched and could tell that he would make a good father one day.
"Serena I want to thank you for letting Mina and myself stay here. You don't know what that means to me, knowing that Mina had friends that care about as much as you do."
"Michael, yes I'm Mina's friend but I'm yours also, and I'll do anything I can to help my friends when they are in trouble."
After I had said that he reached over and hugged me. I don't know why but I started to cry into his shoulder. He just hugged me tighter and let me cry. I wasn't sure if her knew what was wrong, but he might have known some of it. I cried for a good bit of time before calming down.
"You do know Sere, that we are all here for you." He said wiping a tear away from my cheek. "If you ever need anything just ask. I'll do whatever I can to make you happy again."
I smiled a little brighter than I had since I found out that Darien was leaving and that was when I noticed the others behind him in the kitchen. They really looked worried. I had to do something to lighten the mood. "Mina I hope you don't mind me borrowing your husband's shoulder to cry on."
"Never Serena, you can use his shoulder anytime you want." She said smiling. I knew that today wouldn't be as bad as I thought it would, they would make sure of that. Ray and Mina came outside and each picked up one of the carriers and took them back in the house.
"You knew Sere; they can't be too comfortable in these things. Well, maybe that's not true, Missy slept really well in hers." Ray said as we climbed the stairs. We had left he guys in the kitchen; I heard something about breakfast and got a little worried. Ami put fears at ease right away.
"Don't worry, Zander knows how to cook."
"Actually they all know how to cook, when they want to. The only thing you are going to have to worry about is how long it takes them to cook it, and if they start arguing over what to make. Then it could get ugly." Mina added.
"Ray when are Missy and Jeremy going to be back?" I asked.
"Sometime today I think. Why?"
"Oh just wondering when I would get to see my niece." Ray and Mina had by this time out the twins in their cribs and we were all in the upper level activity room. It was a room that I had thought about turning into a office, once I was back of course.
There were enough chairs in there room for all of us and then some. "Guys I have some thing to tell you, but I think we had better wait for Lita. I really don't want to have to tell it twice. Ok?"
They nodded in agreement. And we went down to eat and wait for Lita. Ami was right the guys did know how to cook. It was really good. And they didn't make a huge mess. Lita showed up, as we were finishing. I told them that the dishes could wait and that they would all probably want to hear what I had to say. I wanted to have the twins with me when I told them they some how, in some small way gave me a little bit of courage. Ray and I picked them up as they still slept and grabbed two bottles to be on the safe side.
As we entered we saw everyone sitting and waiting for us. I took a deep breath before I started. I cuddled Adam in my arms and wished I were holding Adriana as well. "I have to leave tomorrow to go back to Oregon. I've already been away from the class longer than I told them and I need to be getting back. The good news is that I only have a year of my contract left. So after I finish it out, I'll be back. I wanted to tell you that any of you are welcome to use the house while I'm away." I looked pointedly at Mina and Michael as I said this. "Just don't trash the place."
"Are you sure you have to go? I meant who will keep the twins while you work." Mina asked.
Now I had thought about this and I wasn't really liking the idea of putting them in a day care while I worked but I knew that was what would wind up happening. "There's always daycare. And it would only be from eight until one. I don't think that is that bad." ** Liar you don't like the idea so just admit it. **
No one said anything for a few minutes. Adriana began to cry and Ray looked at me and smiled. "I think she wants her mommy." She said bringing her over to where I sat. "Do you want me to take Adam?"
"No I'll hold them both for a little while." There was a knock at the door, and Ray said that she would go and get it. Adriana settled down as I held her and eventually went back to sleep her little hands curled into fist. I heard pounding feet on the stairs followed by Ray yelling slow down. We all started laughing as Missy came running into the room. Her black hair pulled up into a ponytail. The little girl had a big smile on her face.
"Hi Missy, did you have a good trip?"
"Uh huh. Are those the babies? Daddy let me ride a horse. And there where chickens and other amamals. " She asked coming over to me.
"Did you like riding the horse?"
"Uh huh. He was this big." She said spreading her small arms as far as she could.
"Wow that big?" Mina was now talking to her. I watched as Ray and Jeremy came through the door hand in hand. They were smiling. Apparently glad to be together again.
Missy ran up to Ray who picked her up and hugged her. "Serena, since you are taking the twins back with you, you are going to have to stop a lot feed them. I'll go with you, that way you don't have to stop as often. And once we get there I'll stay a day or two and then fly back, ok?" Mina said after a few moments.
"Mina I couldn't ask you to do that."
"That's just it, you are not asking. I'm offering."
"But I couldn't take you away from Michael for that long."
"YES YOU CAN!" Michael immediately interjected before Mina cold say anything.
"WHAT?!" Unfortunately for him Mina was holding a pillow that wound up in his face, I was glad that she wasn't holding anything harder, or more dangerous.
"All I meant Mina was that while you where gone I could use the time to look for a job and find us a place. You have nothing to worry about, especially with Ray and Lita here. And you know good and well that I would never do anything to hurt you." He said pulling her into his arms trying to calm her down. Luckily for him it worked.
"Ok, Sere, you have his approval so what time do we leave in the morning?"
"Don't I have any say so in this?"
"Nope." Every one chorused at once.
I shook my head and gave up, no use fighting them when they all agree you can never win. You can never win. "Umm.I want to be out of here by seven."
"That early?! Oh well. What's the weather like there?"
"Think early spring here."
"Ok that I can do!" She said as she jumped up and went out the door, I could only guess to pack.
"Are you sure you don't mind Michael?"
"Nope not at all." He said grinning.
"Serena we'll be back later." Ray said as the three of them walked out of the room. With the help of Ami, we carried the twins back to their room. Those two slept more than I did, but I knew, as they got older they would become more active. I would cherish the days that I had of them sleeping all day before I would be chasing them all over the house. We fed them and changed them then left them to sleep once again.
Mina and I spent the day packing. And soon everyone was back. Lita fixed a wonderful dinner, saying that she needed the practice. Yeah whatever, she could cook what ever she wanted the first time perfectly. After dinner we all helped with the dishes and then loaded the car with our luggage, and rented a little trailer that I could use to transport the cribs and everything.
The two of us had a time trying to get it hooked to the back of my car. We spent about an hour trying while the others laughed. Finally the men decided to take pity on us and finished it. After wards we all went to bed.
I lay awake for a while once again staring at the ceiling. The next thing I know the alarm clock is going off and it felt like I had just fell asleep. I did my morning ritual. And then dressed the twins. I found everyone in the living room, wide-awake. We said our good byes and I made sure that they all had my phone number. After the twins we set in the back seat, still sleeping we got in the car and drove off.
The car was silent for a while with only the radio playing and the soft coos coming from the back seat. We took turns driving. And talked about anything and everything that entered our minds. Thankfully Mina didn't bring up one subject, she had an instinct of what not talk about. And don't you know I was really thankful for it.
We drove far that night stopping somewhere, heck I don't remember where, and continuing early the next morning. The twins were wonderful on during the trip. I think it will be very easy traveling with them, right now at least. When we finally arrived back in Oregon we went straight to my house. Luckily for me I had a two-bedroom house. The funny thing was moving the baby stuff into the house and watching the twins at the same time. Hey we did it though. In the process we broke nothing. Everything was still in on piece as we settled down for our first night there. I felt bad about having Mina sleep on the couch, but she said that she didn't mind and that it bet sleeping on the floor.
The next morning we were up early once again and went to the school. I explained the reasons for my long absence and that after my contract ran out that I would be going back to Georgia. Everyone there offered me their condolences and said that they would help out in any way possible.
Mina stayed a couple days before going back, making sure that I would be okay and that Adam and Adriana had settled in well. She told me to call if I needed anything, anything at all. And asked if it would be ok if she and Michael used my house until they found one of their own. I agreed. I watched my friend go, a little sad but knowing that I would see her and the rest of them in a year. Right now I had to think about the two babies sitting on the ground beside me.
We fell into a regular routine of late night feedings and changing and then day care in the mornings. The twins cried a good bit for a while at day care. But settled in well enough for a year being there.
That year flew by for me. In a way I was glad and in another I wasn't. I would be going back home to all my friends. But I would be leaving the children that I had taught. The twins were growing beautifully. I had Adam's hair cut short, and Adriana was a little long. Enough that you could tell that one was a boy and one was a girl.
They were both shy and didn't take to many people. I had everything packed up and ready to leave one morning. I had traded in my dream car for a midnight blue Jeep Cherokee. Our luggage was in the back and once again there was a trailer behind the jeep, this time it was holding there beds and things for there rooms, not to mention toys and some other luggage.
My family and I were finally going home, I couldn't have been happier. Wait I take that back, there is one way I could have been happier, but I'll leave that for another time. The children were wonderful they loved to ride and I hoped that it lasted until the end of the trip.
And so ends this chapter in my life.
@~%~ Author's Notes ~%~@
And so that ends this story. I fixed the problem about the review thing. I honestly didn't know that it was like that. But it's fixed. Like it, hate it? Think something should have been done differently? I apologize if there were a whole lot of errors in the story as a whole. It's kind of hard to edit your own work when you know what it is supposed to say. Sequel? Well that all depends on ya'll. Let me know. Review or email me at slvrdrgn85@yahoo.com
Thanks,
Silvra
My hair was pulled halfway up and the ends where curled. It looked perfect with my dress. I had on a simple pair of high heels and a small silver purse. I heard the doorbell ring as I kissed the two sleeping figures in the cribs. "Sleep well, my angels. I'll be back soon." I whispered as I left the room. Ray met me at the bottom of the stairs.
"Wow! You look great. I know how to take care of children. Have fun. They will be fine. I won't let Mina in the kitchen. With me in charge you have nothing to worry about."
I smiled at her; she was able to assure me that everything would be taken care of before I could get even a word out of my mouth. "Thanks." With that I went into the den where Darien stood waiting. He was dressed in a simple black suit. * I dressed right. * I thought seeing his dress.
He offered me his arm as we walked out of the house. His car was waiting out side. A sleek midnight blue Dodge Viper. It was gorgeous. He opened the door like a gentle man, and helped me in. He then went around to get in and we pulled out of the driveway. We were about a mile from the house when he pulled over and turned to me with a grin on his face that I had come to know to well, way to well.
"What are you up too?"
"Oh nothing it's a surprise and besides it is going to stay that way until we get there." With that he pulled down his sun visor and a black handkerchief fell into his waiting hand.
"A blindfold?" I was about to protest when he gave the puppy dog eyes. I hate it when he does that. "Fine." Inside I was so excited. He smiled once, a real smile, and tied it behind me head. He then started the car and drove on.
We drove for about fifteen minutes before he stopped the car. Once he had the car turned off he got out and came over to the passenger, opened the door then helped me out. I could hear no sounds but that of the soft breeze in the trees, the crickets and every once in a while a call of a bird. He took my hands and led me away from the car; he still wouldn't let me take the blindfold off.
"We're almost there." He said slowing his pace down a little. All I could tell was that we were going over a little bridge because I cold hear the water flowing over what had to be rocks underneath. He came to as top shortly after we crossed the bridge. He let my hands go and moved behind me so that he could remove the blindfold.
When it was off of my eyes and I could see that I stood before a quilt spread on the ground and set with a dinner for two. I knew he couldn't have had enough time to do everything between the time he left my house and picked me up, but I didn't want to ruin the mood by asking. He was so thoughtful.
We sat down opposite each other and sat in silence for a few minutes. I surveyed the dinner that was laid out before me. It all looked so delicious. We talked a little as we ate, mostly about what we had been doing and about things in the past. He brought up the subject of our careers and I answered and so that was how we began to talk about my teaching job in Oregon.
"How long did it take you to get your degree?" He asked. I was more interested in if he had become a doctor.
"I took a course that they offered there and it really didn't take me long since I had been going part time at the college here."
"I didn't know that you were going to college then." His surprise was evident.
"No one knew but momma, and Elizabeth. And I made them promise not to tell anyone. Did you get your degree in medicine?" I was ready to change the subject a way from me.
"Yeah. I was certified about two years after we all left here."
"That's nice. You know you never did say where you have been."
"You never asked and neither did the others. So I didn't tell. But I've been in Little Rock. I'm head of the Emergency Room there. Rough business, almost wasn't able to get the time off to come back for the reunion. And to tell the truth I wasn't going to, don't know what changed my mind. But I'm glad that I did come back. I got to see everyone again and to catch up."
"That's wonderful Darien. Congratulations. I know it's a little late for them, but I just found so I can say so now." I smiled. I still thought that he had something on his mind but I wasn't sure. We finished our dinner in silence each liking being with the other.
He finally broke the silence as we finished dessert, which happened to be chocolate covered strawberries, Mm.my favorite.
"Serena .I have something to tell you."
* Oh god here it comes. * I looked up at him from where I was cleaning my hands off. "What is it Darien?" * Did I mention that I loved the way he said my name? *
"I've got to leave in the morning going back to Little Rock." He said the words slowly. I didn't know what to say to that. I was utterly at a loss for words. I knew that I didn't expect him to stay when after all I would be leaving soon anyway. But I would be back after a year I knew that. Oh well. There was nothing I could do to change his mind he after all had a well paying job and a career that he couldn't just drop it and leave people who depended on him hanging. He wouldn't do that any way.
"Oh. I'm glad that you did come back for the reunion and well to tell the truth I only because of Elizabeth."
I could tell by his face that he might have been expecting more, but I really didn't know what to say at the time. After that there was silence between us and I couldn't think of anything that would be appropriate to say. Oh true I had a million things I wanted to say to him, maybe I should have sad a couple of them, but of course I didn't. Who knows if I did maybe it would have changed our lives for the better. We stayed there for about another hour or so before he took me home. He didn't say what time he his flight was I guessed that it was early or he would have told me good-bye tomorrow. The drive back to my house was once again in silence.
When we arrived the house was dark, which meant that Ray and the rest where asleep. He got out of the car and opened the door for me; I already had my door keys out and ready. After he helped me out of the car he looked me in the eyes what he was looking for I didn't know. And I can't tell you if he found it. He walked me to the front steps and stopped at the base, I was at the landing when I turned around, I had no idea if I would ever see him again and Goddess he looked wonderful with the full moon to his back silhouetting him like an angel that had fallen, but for all the right reasons. I looked him over memorizing everything about him. Then before he had time to turn and walk back to his car, I practically flew down the steps and into his arms. I hugged him like there was no tomorrow and then kissed him. The kiss didn't last long but I got my point across. "Thank you, Darien for everything that you have done."
After wards I went into the house not looking back, afraid that if I did he would see the tears that were threatening to spill down my cheeks. I hated myself right then. Maybe I should have told him the way that I felt. Maybe I should have begged him to stay.
I didn't know who was staying here or who went back to the hotel or who might be staying with Lita. No one was downstairs and I was glad that way no one would see me cry. I could already hot feel the tears running down my cheeks. I went up the stairs composing myself with each step, I wasn't sure where Ray was and I really didn't want her to see me upset. Just my luck she was in my room with the twins. I opened the door slowly and found her sitting on my bed, looking intently at the door. * Oh my god, she saw everything. * It was the only thought that was going through my mind.
She didn't say anything, just looked at me. I wished she had said something, any thing had to be better than the silence. After a few more minutes she patted the bed beside her and offered me a smile. I was glad it was dark in the room that way she wouldn't be able to tell how red my eyes where, but I knew instinctively that she already knew that I had been crying. I went over to my bed and sat down.
"The twins are asleep. They were darlings while you where gone. Lita and Mina got into it about cooking again. But I was able to settle that." With that she grinned. "Well with some help from Ami. We were able to stop them before they went into an all out cooking war in the kitchen, so you have nothing to worry about. Mina is in one of the rooms with Michael, they were fighting about something earlier I'm pretty sure Mina won. Ami and Michael stayed the night. And so am I, hope you don't mind. I don't particularly care for hotels when I'm alone."
"Oh I don't mind you can stay here as long as you like."
"Sere you do know that I'm here if you want to talk. We are all here." She said as she got up and started to leave. "I left two bottles on the table in there incase they wake up. Good night Sere."
I smiled as she told me this, true a sad smile but a smile one the less. "Goodnight Ray." I watched as she started to close the door and went to her room. I changed quickly and slid into bed.
I lay awake for a while staring at the ceiling. I guess it was finally about twelve when I finally fell asleep. The twins slept through the night. And well into the next morning. I awoke the earliest that I had since I had been back in Georgia. The sun was just rising above the trees. I felt like crap. I checked on the twins before I went to take a quick shower, thinking that it would in some lift my mood. The only way that it helped was that there was hot water and it stayed hot.
I threw on some clothes and pulled my hair back in to a ponytail that would probably later wind up in a bun. Sometimes having long hair can be a real pain in the behind, especially when the weather starts to get hotter. About this time I heard a soft cry. I smiled as I went to see witch one of them was crying.
Walked into their little room and saw that they were both starting to wake up. That could be a problem, especially if they were both hungry. Adam was the one that was starting to cry. Instinct told me that Adriana wouldn't be far behind. Instinct when had I gotten an instinct with them? This is going to be hard. I didn't think that anyone else would be up this early, heck I'm not normally up this early. I hoped that she wouldn't wake up until Adam was through. Then I got an idea as the both started crying. I had left the carriers in a corner of the room and so I put them in their carriers and took them downstairs. I warmed their bottles and since I had the carriers on the table, I propped their bottles up on a folded towel so that they both could eat. I watched them a couple of minutes to make sure that they would be all right then went to fix me something.
I wasn't really hungry but I knew that I needed something or I would get sick later on. Teaching school can teach you some things. That's for sure. Since it was still nice out side being as the sun wasn't up I fixed something to eat and then took the twins out side to get some fresh air. There was a covered patio in back of the house with a couple of chairs. The twins were through eating and were looking around with big bright eyes. I'm not sure how I was able to do it, but I was holding both of them when I heard a plane go ever head. I walked a little ways in to the morning sun and watched as it flew over. Wondering where it was going and if it Darien was on it.
Adam and Adriana had fell back to sleep cuddled in my arms, some times they would coo in there sleep. I smiled down at them and wanted to cry for so many reasons. I knew there would a place and time for me to cry and this wasn't it, I had too much to do today. I walked back on to the patio and was surprised to see not one of the girls there but Michael. He offered me a smile, as if saying that he knew what I was feeling. I tried to return his smile but it really didn't work.
"Would you mind holding one of them so that I can put the other down?"
"Not at all Serena." He said as he took Adriana from me. I thought she was going to cry but she didn't. I gently laid Adam down and turned to get Adriana.
"May I lay her down?"
"Yeah, go ahead." I watched and could tell that he would make a good father one day.
"Serena I want to thank you for letting Mina and myself stay here. You don't know what that means to me, knowing that Mina had friends that care about as much as you do."
"Michael, yes I'm Mina's friend but I'm yours also, and I'll do anything I can to help my friends when they are in trouble."
After I had said that he reached over and hugged me. I don't know why but I started to cry into his shoulder. He just hugged me tighter and let me cry. I wasn't sure if her knew what was wrong, but he might have known some of it. I cried for a good bit of time before calming down.
"You do know Sere, that we are all here for you." He said wiping a tear away from my cheek. "If you ever need anything just ask. I'll do whatever I can to make you happy again."
I smiled a little brighter than I had since I found out that Darien was leaving and that was when I noticed the others behind him in the kitchen. They really looked worried. I had to do something to lighten the mood. "Mina I hope you don't mind me borrowing your husband's shoulder to cry on."
"Never Serena, you can use his shoulder anytime you want." She said smiling. I knew that today wouldn't be as bad as I thought it would, they would make sure of that. Ray and Mina came outside and each picked up one of the carriers and took them back in the house.
"You knew Sere; they can't be too comfortable in these things. Well, maybe that's not true, Missy slept really well in hers." Ray said as we climbed the stairs. We had left he guys in the kitchen; I heard something about breakfast and got a little worried. Ami put fears at ease right away.
"Don't worry, Zander knows how to cook."
"Actually they all know how to cook, when they want to. The only thing you are going to have to worry about is how long it takes them to cook it, and if they start arguing over what to make. Then it could get ugly." Mina added.
"Ray when are Missy and Jeremy going to be back?" I asked.
"Sometime today I think. Why?"
"Oh just wondering when I would get to see my niece." Ray and Mina had by this time out the twins in their cribs and we were all in the upper level activity room. It was a room that I had thought about turning into a office, once I was back of course.
There were enough chairs in there room for all of us and then some. "Guys I have some thing to tell you, but I think we had better wait for Lita. I really don't want to have to tell it twice. Ok?"
They nodded in agreement. And we went down to eat and wait for Lita. Ami was right the guys did know how to cook. It was really good. And they didn't make a huge mess. Lita showed up, as we were finishing. I told them that the dishes could wait and that they would all probably want to hear what I had to say. I wanted to have the twins with me when I told them they some how, in some small way gave me a little bit of courage. Ray and I picked them up as they still slept and grabbed two bottles to be on the safe side.
As we entered we saw everyone sitting and waiting for us. I took a deep breath before I started. I cuddled Adam in my arms and wished I were holding Adriana as well. "I have to leave tomorrow to go back to Oregon. I've already been away from the class longer than I told them and I need to be getting back. The good news is that I only have a year of my contract left. So after I finish it out, I'll be back. I wanted to tell you that any of you are welcome to use the house while I'm away." I looked pointedly at Mina and Michael as I said this. "Just don't trash the place."
"Are you sure you have to go? I meant who will keep the twins while you work." Mina asked.
Now I had thought about this and I wasn't really liking the idea of putting them in a day care while I worked but I knew that was what would wind up happening. "There's always daycare. And it would only be from eight until one. I don't think that is that bad." ** Liar you don't like the idea so just admit it. **
No one said anything for a few minutes. Adriana began to cry and Ray looked at me and smiled. "I think she wants her mommy." She said bringing her over to where I sat. "Do you want me to take Adam?"
"No I'll hold them both for a little while." There was a knock at the door, and Ray said that she would go and get it. Adriana settled down as I held her and eventually went back to sleep her little hands curled into fist. I heard pounding feet on the stairs followed by Ray yelling slow down. We all started laughing as Missy came running into the room. Her black hair pulled up into a ponytail. The little girl had a big smile on her face.
"Hi Missy, did you have a good trip?"
"Uh huh. Are those the babies? Daddy let me ride a horse. And there where chickens and other amamals. " She asked coming over to me.
"Did you like riding the horse?"
"Uh huh. He was this big." She said spreading her small arms as far as she could.
"Wow that big?" Mina was now talking to her. I watched as Ray and Jeremy came through the door hand in hand. They were smiling. Apparently glad to be together again.
Missy ran up to Ray who picked her up and hugged her. "Serena, since you are taking the twins back with you, you are going to have to stop a lot feed them. I'll go with you, that way you don't have to stop as often. And once we get there I'll stay a day or two and then fly back, ok?" Mina said after a few moments.
"Mina I couldn't ask you to do that."
"That's just it, you are not asking. I'm offering."
"But I couldn't take you away from Michael for that long."
"YES YOU CAN!" Michael immediately interjected before Mina cold say anything.
"WHAT?!" Unfortunately for him Mina was holding a pillow that wound up in his face, I was glad that she wasn't holding anything harder, or more dangerous.
"All I meant Mina was that while you where gone I could use the time to look for a job and find us a place. You have nothing to worry about, especially with Ray and Lita here. And you know good and well that I would never do anything to hurt you." He said pulling her into his arms trying to calm her down. Luckily for him it worked.
"Ok, Sere, you have his approval so what time do we leave in the morning?"
"Don't I have any say so in this?"
"Nope." Every one chorused at once.
I shook my head and gave up, no use fighting them when they all agree you can never win. You can never win. "Umm.I want to be out of here by seven."
"That early?! Oh well. What's the weather like there?"
"Think early spring here."
"Ok that I can do!" She said as she jumped up and went out the door, I could only guess to pack.
"Are you sure you don't mind Michael?"
"Nope not at all." He said grinning.
"Serena we'll be back later." Ray said as the three of them walked out of the room. With the help of Ami, we carried the twins back to their room. Those two slept more than I did, but I knew, as they got older they would become more active. I would cherish the days that I had of them sleeping all day before I would be chasing them all over the house. We fed them and changed them then left them to sleep once again.
Mina and I spent the day packing. And soon everyone was back. Lita fixed a wonderful dinner, saying that she needed the practice. Yeah whatever, she could cook what ever she wanted the first time perfectly. After dinner we all helped with the dishes and then loaded the car with our luggage, and rented a little trailer that I could use to transport the cribs and everything.
The two of us had a time trying to get it hooked to the back of my car. We spent about an hour trying while the others laughed. Finally the men decided to take pity on us and finished it. After wards we all went to bed.
I lay awake for a while once again staring at the ceiling. The next thing I know the alarm clock is going off and it felt like I had just fell asleep. I did my morning ritual. And then dressed the twins. I found everyone in the living room, wide-awake. We said our good byes and I made sure that they all had my phone number. After the twins we set in the back seat, still sleeping we got in the car and drove off.
The car was silent for a while with only the radio playing and the soft coos coming from the back seat. We took turns driving. And talked about anything and everything that entered our minds. Thankfully Mina didn't bring up one subject, she had an instinct of what not talk about. And don't you know I was really thankful for it.
We drove far that night stopping somewhere, heck I don't remember where, and continuing early the next morning. The twins were wonderful on during the trip. I think it will be very easy traveling with them, right now at least. When we finally arrived back in Oregon we went straight to my house. Luckily for me I had a two-bedroom house. The funny thing was moving the baby stuff into the house and watching the twins at the same time. Hey we did it though. In the process we broke nothing. Everything was still in on piece as we settled down for our first night there. I felt bad about having Mina sleep on the couch, but she said that she didn't mind and that it bet sleeping on the floor.
The next morning we were up early once again and went to the school. I explained the reasons for my long absence and that after my contract ran out that I would be going back to Georgia. Everyone there offered me their condolences and said that they would help out in any way possible.
Mina stayed a couple days before going back, making sure that I would be okay and that Adam and Adriana had settled in well. She told me to call if I needed anything, anything at all. And asked if it would be ok if she and Michael used my house until they found one of their own. I agreed. I watched my friend go, a little sad but knowing that I would see her and the rest of them in a year. Right now I had to think about the two babies sitting on the ground beside me.
We fell into a regular routine of late night feedings and changing and then day care in the mornings. The twins cried a good bit for a while at day care. But settled in well enough for a year being there.
That year flew by for me. In a way I was glad and in another I wasn't. I would be going back home to all my friends. But I would be leaving the children that I had taught. The twins were growing beautifully. I had Adam's hair cut short, and Adriana was a little long. Enough that you could tell that one was a boy and one was a girl.
They were both shy and didn't take to many people. I had everything packed up and ready to leave one morning. I had traded in my dream car for a midnight blue Jeep Cherokee. Our luggage was in the back and once again there was a trailer behind the jeep, this time it was holding there beds and things for there rooms, not to mention toys and some other luggage.
My family and I were finally going home, I couldn't have been happier. Wait I take that back, there is one way I could have been happier, but I'll leave that for another time. The children were wonderful they loved to ride and I hoped that it lasted until the end of the trip.
And so ends this chapter in my life.
@~%~ Author's Notes ~%~@
And so that ends this story. I fixed the problem about the review thing. I honestly didn't know that it was like that. But it's fixed. Like it, hate it? Think something should have been done differently? I apologize if there were a whole lot of errors in the story as a whole. It's kind of hard to edit your own work when you know what it is supposed to say. Sequel? Well that all depends on ya'll. Let me know. Review or email me at slvrdrgn85@yahoo.com
Thanks,
Silvra