Chapter Three- Okay, they are that bad
"Tea, soup and covers." Tessa said, kissing Zoë's head as she got into bed. Zoë sneezed once again.
"I understand." She sneezed again. "I just have to stay in bed all day."
"That's right."
"Feel better Zoë." Her baby sister said.
"Thanks Sophie. Have a good time today, okay?"
"Okay!" She smiled as her oldest sister picked her up and carried her out of the room.
"We're ready!" She heard Olivia shout from down stairs. Tessa cringed. She was not looking forward to this.
"I'm coming." She shouted. "Wait for me."
By the time that Tessa reached the bottom of the stairs the twins had managed to put their coats on and all that remained was their boots. After putting their boots on the four of them left for the park.
It was a hard, long and very tiring walk. Tessa felt as though she needed a pair of extra hands. Every rain puddle the kids saw they tried to dive into. Olivia clung tightly to Tessa's hand but her brother was another story. He walked a few short paces ahead of them and by the time they reached the park he was drenched in mud and water from head to toe. This, however, did not seem to bother him one bit. In fact Tessa thought that he seemed happier the dirtier he was.
"Okay guys. Stay where you can see me. Okay?" She said as she sat on the park bench and flipped open her drawing pad.
"Okay!" The twins squealed as they ran off to the playground. Tessa laughed and then she turned to her little sister, who still stood beside her.
"What's wrong? Do you want to go play Sophie?" Sophie shook her head. Her strawberry blonde ponytails bounced. Tessa lifted her on to the bench. Sophie peered onto her sister's drawing pad.
"What's that?" She pointed to the drawing pad.
"Oh. It's my drawing pad, would you like to look at it?"
"Yes please." She said she took the giant pad in her very small hands. Tessa watched her youngest sister for a moment and enjoyed the sight of her indulging in what she thought to be one of the best things in life, art. Tessa looked up to find the twins. She located them on the swings, obviously having a small argument of some sort. She laughed and turned back to Sophie.
"This is pretty." Sophie said of Tessa's newest drawing.
"Thank you." She told her.
Sophie's little blue eyes studied the picture in great detail. It captivated her.
"Who's it for?"
"What do you mean?"
"Who is the dress for?"
"No one. It was just an idea. But you just gave me a new idea."
"How?"
"Well, now that I think of it, don't you think that dress is just perfect for Mommy?" Sophie looked at the picture for a moment longer.
"Yeah, for Mommy!" She cried. "Where's Mommy?"
"Mommy and Daddy are on vacation, remember?"
Sophie began to tear up a little bit.
"Oh darling, please don't cry." She said as she hugged her.
"I want my Mommy." She started crying.
"I'll tell you what. Why don't you and I make the dress for Mommy, okay."
"Okay." She sniffled and then she smiled.
Tessa smiled in reply. Happy that she had succeeded in calming her baby sister she looked up to find the twins. It took her a moment to realize that she could not find the twins anywhere. Her mind whirled and she immediately began to say as silent prayer. Quickly stuffing her notepad inside her Kath Kidson messenger bag and placing it over her head, she grabbed Sophie's hand and began to walk. Where she was going, she did not know.
"Where we going?"
"Look for the twins and don't let go of me!"
