Chapter 2- Maybe they aren't that bad
Tessa went into the kitchen to make herself something to eat. Her mother had done her the favor of making sure that the refrigerator was full. In fact, it was so full that it was about to burst. Tessa turned around when she heard the pitter patter of little feet behind her. It was Michael.
"Hi Michael."
"Hi." He said. "Where's my Mommy?"
"She left for a couple of days, but until she gets back, I'm here, okay?"
"Okay." He smiled, he seemed to like the idea of that. "When you aren't here, where do you go?"
"I go on assignments for God."
"Just like my Mommy and Daddy and your Mommy and Daddy?"
"That's right."
"Am I going to do that someday?"
"Yes you are. Anyway, aren't you supposed to be having your nap right about now?" Michael nodded.
"You want to go back upstairs and go to sleep?"
"But I'm hungry. What are you having?" He asked, taking a seat at the kitchen table when he noticed that she was holding the refrigerator open.
"I haven't decided yet. But if you must eat, what would you like?"
"An apple please."
"Okay." She said, as she heard someone sneeze.
"Hi Zoë."
"Hey."
"You feel any better?"
"A little. What's for lunch?" She asked as she sat in the chair next to Michael.
"I don't know, Michael wants an apple, but other than that I've got nothing."
"Maybe just some sandwiches and apple slices." Zoë suggested.
"Yeah!" Michael said.
"That does sound good."
"Good morning fellow members of the bourgeoisie class." Came a little voice. That little voice belonged to Michael's genius twin sister, Olivia. Tessa and Zoë exchanged glances.
"What?" Michael asked her.
"Your so naive." She sighed, taking a seat across from her brother.
"Hey, no name calling." Tessa demanded. "Apologize please Olivia."
"I'm sorry Michael."
"That's ok."
"How old are you guys anyway?" She said, trying to remember.
"We just turned three." Olivia said proudly.
"Congratulations."
"Hey, I'm going to go and get Sophie." Zoë said. "She's probably going to wake up any moment."
"Thank you Zoë. Are you feeling up to going out today?"
"Yeah, I think I am. Maybe it was just a twenty-four hour thing."
"Hopefully." Tessa said as Zoë went up the stairs.
"Where are we going?" Olivia asked.
"Oh, I don't know guys. Maybe we'll go and play in the park or maybe just for a little walk or something."
……………………
By the time that Tessa would have considered taking the kids out it was pouring rain and there was absolutely no way that she was taking them out in such a severe storm as this was supposed to be. That would be a recipe for disaster. Besides Zoë wasn't feeling well again, so with no help it was going to be hard no matter what she and the kids decided to do together.
"We're ready to go." The twins said excitedly. They were waiting for her by the back door, struggling to put their coats on and defiantly having no success with their rain boots or their hats or even gloves.
"Go where?" She asked, bouncing Sophie on her hip.
"Outside, to play!" Olivia reminded her.
"Yeah."
"Look outside guys. It's raining and you'll get swept a way by that wind. So, maybe tomorrow, if it stops raining."
"But you promised."
"Your Mommy wouldn't let you go out there, would she?"
The twins exchanged glances. "No." Olivia answered. "Mommy wouldn't."
"But how are we going to have fun?"
"Come on guys, take off your coats and follow me." The twins obeyed and followed her to the living room. Tessa sat on the floor and placed Sophie, (who cried every time Tessa put her down) on her lap. The twins came and sat next to her.
"Now. What do you do on a rainy or snowy day?"
"Well sometimes Mommy takes us out shopping or to the library or on one of her assignments."
"And Daddy takes us out to play in it."
"No, I mean what do you do when you stay inside the house?"
"A story!"
"A lot of stories!" Olivia announced excitedly as she seemed to suddenly remember their tradition.
"That's no problem, I have a lot of stories."
"As many as Mommy?"
"I don't know."
"As many as Daddy?" Olivia asked.
"I can definietly say no to that one. But what do they tell you about, casework?" Tessa inquired. The twins nodded.
"Hum, let me think. How about you guys go put your pajamas on and come back down here, and then I'll be ready for you."
"Okay." The twins said as they bolted upstairs in anticipation of the new story.
……………………
"What story should I tell?" Tessa asked herself out loud. Sophie sat comfortably on her lap and the twins sat on the floor around her. Zoë, who could not sleep and who had heard that there would be a story was lying on the couch with a pillow and a blanket.
"Do you have any stories about dragons?" Michael asked.
"Dragons aren't real." His sister told him. "Can you please tell us about the Watergate Scandal?"
"Olivia, I wasn't even born when Watergate happened."
"Oh."
"I was born in 1999, I don't even remember the millennium."
"Hey, Tessa did you ever stop to consider that you were born in a different millennium than the rest of us?"
"Not really, now that I think of it. But does it really matter? Like I said, I don't remember the twentieth century."
"That's not what counts. What counts is that you were there." Zoë said. "Anyway, will you please tell us about the time that you and I got lost in San Francisco. I was four, you were ten."
"Oh that funny little trip. Poor Mom that was supposed to be her day off." Tessa laughed. "Does that sound fun to you guys?" She asked the twins. They nodded. "All right, here's how it all began…"
…………………..
By the time that Tessa had finished telling the story the fire in the fireplace had died out. Only little ashes were left dancing in the fireplace. The rain pounded heavily on the roof, but it was a peaceful rain. Tessa looked down, Sophie was asleep in her arms. She had been so immersed in her story that she had failed to realize that all of her listeners had indeed fallen asleep! The twins looked so peaceful, sweet and innocent lying on the floor together in each other's arms. One would say that they were little angels, even if they did not already know that to be true. That day had forced Tessa to reconsider her opinion on Michael and Olivia. Perhaps they weren't all that bad. May be they were just 'spirited' as their mother had suggested. Or could it be that they were just typical three year olds? She thought this all over very carefully as she put Sophie and the twins to bed, and then ventured to her own bed, leaving Zoë on the couch.
………………..
"Sunrise, sunrise, looks like morning in your eyes…" The music played in the background.
"This is nice." Monica sighed softly as she laid her head against her husband's shoulder.
It was dark out and they were all alone on a warm beach. They danced together under the moonlight, their bare feet swimming in the pearl white sand.
She felt safe in his arms and he felt happy just holding her.
"How do you think the kids are?" She asked abruptly.
"Fine." He told her. "After all, they are with Tessa, right?"
"Right."
"You are so beautiful." He said, running his fingers through her hair.
She didn't know how to reply other than to kiss him. He tightened his grip on her and deepened their kiss. As they kissed she could feel the water rising under her toes. The tide was coming, and while both of them knew it; neither of them cared as they were content in their own little world. When they finally stopped Andrew laid down on the beach, pulling Monica with him.
"Andrew, what are you doing?"
"Let's sleep here tonight."
"But, the tide…"
"It's okay angel girl, it's not going to come up any farther than it has." He told her. She smiled.
"Okay, I'd love to." She said.
He took her in his arms as she turned over on her side to face him. They resumed their kiss from where they left off and spent the rest of the night like that under the stars in each other's arms.
