Heading downstairs Kate dropped her sea bag in the hall before heading in to the kitchen.
"brew?" Mike asked already anticipating the answer and handing her a mug
"thanks" she smiled taking it from him sipping the piping hot liquid tentatively
"and Pancakes" he said turning back to the stove
"yum these look amazing" she smiled as he placed a plate with three heart shaped pancakes with a mountain of berries in front of her.
Thankfully the 2 little ones were to engrossed in munching their way through the huge stack of pancakes and syrup in front of them to notice Kate was in her uniform. Although she knew ir wouldn't be long before they did notice and the tears began to flow.
"Mum!" Nicole called walking towards the kitchen "why is..." she began, stopping in her tracks seeing Kate sat at the table in her shore uniform. Turning she muttered something under her breath before running back up the stairs.
"NICOLE!" Mike called after as she slammed the door of her bedroom with a loud bang. walking to the door of the kitchen frying pan still in hand "Nicole!" he called again.
Putting her fork down Kate slid out from under the table, walking over to Mike she rested her hand on his arm. "I'll go, it's me she is upset with." she said heading out of the room.
Making her way upstairs she knocked gently on the door of her daughter's bedroom.
"Nicole?" she called softly
"GO away!" was the response that was shouted back. It wasn't in anger it was easy to hear it was shouted through tears.
Opening the door Kate slowly walked over sitting on the end of the bed. Resting her hand on Nicoles foot she could see she was crying
"Nicole? What's wrong?" she asked softly
"Leave me alone" Nicole sniffed pulling her foot out of her mother's reach.
Moving further up the bed Kate leaned in brushing the tangled hair off her daughter's face.
"come on Sweetheart what's wrong eh?" Kate asked again softly
Sitting up Nicole sniffed slightly the tears still falling. Kate looked at her daughter. She looked so much like her dad. she had his dark hair and steel blue grey eyes that seemed to change colour with her emotions.
"come here" Kate said holding her arm out
Nicole scooted across nestling in her mums arms as Kate pulled her In tight.
"Do you have to go?" she asked sniffing slightly
Sighing Kate rested her chin on the girls head. Kissing the top of her head she ran her fingers through her hair. It was true what they said, no matter how old you got you still needed your mum.
"is that what all this is about eh? Me going to work" she said in Nicoles hair
"i don't want you to get sick mummy" Nicole whispered pulling back looking up
It was the first time in a long time she had called been called mummy by her eldest. Pulling her back in to a hug she sighed. "Sweetheart we will be fine. You know I don't do the boarding's anymore and we have lots of masks and gloves and the visors."
"But what if..." Nicole began.
"Nicole. Nothing will happen" Kate smiled
"Promise" Nicole pulled back looking up her eyes filled with fresh tears
Sighing Kate really wished she could answer with yes, that she could promise nothing bad would happen and everything would be alright but she knew that wasn't the case. Both her and Mike had agreed they had be honest with the children about work as the only thing that was certain in their line of work was the uncertainty of everything.
"It's not that simple Nic. I promise to be as safe as I can. Okay." Kate smiled shifting as she could feel she was sat on something lumpy and it was uncomfortable. Reaching round she pulled out a rather battered looking stuffed Rabbit
"i remember this" she smiled sitting it on her lap. "you got it for your 4th birthday. It went everywhere with you." Kate smiled remembering having to prize it out of Nicoles sleeping arms to wash it and the race to get it dry and return it before she woke. "what did you call him now" Kate asked trying to remember.
"She was called Pinkie" Nicole said taking it from her mother resting it on the pillow
"that was it" Kate smiled. Remembering how the stuffed animal was once a shade of baby pink, it was now rather grey and was well loved. "now Daddy has made pancakes. Come and have some breakfast." Kate said reaching in to her pocket pulling out a tissue wiping her daughters' eyes.
Heading back down stairs Nicole followed Kate in to the kitchen heading over to the table.
"Nicole what was..." Mike began
Placing her hand on his Kate shook her head "Leave it" she whispered knowing it would only start things again
"okay" Mike said picking up a plate. "Pancakes" he smiled as he placed it in front of Nicole
"thanks Dad" she smiled looking up at him.
"Mummy" Grace asked curiously looking up. "Why are you in your uniform?" she continued
Bracing herself Kate painted a smile on to her face "Because I have to go to work for a bit"
"noooo" Grace proceeded to wail in a melodramatic way.
"it won't be for long Gracie; I will be back before you know it" Kate said trying to convince her daughter or was it herself.
Catching sight of her watch she sighed "speaking of which I best be getting going, knocker is waiting for me" she said walking out in to the hall.
"Bye mum" Nicole said wrapping her arms around her mum squeezing her tight
Kissing the top of her daughter's head "bye sweet. And Remember what I said. I need someone to maintain some sort of order with these two" she indicated over to her youngest two children. "they have your dad wrapped round their finger" she smiled.
Grace wrapped her arms and legs around Kate as she bent down to hug her, refusing to let go.
"i don't want you to go" she wailed
"i have to poppet. I will be back soon. Kate said as she managed to get free. "come on I don't want to see your sad face before I go." Kate said but it didn't work.
Standing back up she leaned in to Kiss Chris who was in Mikes arms He turned away so all Kate got was the back of his head. "Bye monkey" she said sadly running her hand down his back. As soon as he was placed down, he wandered off to play with his train set which was on the coffee table in the living room.
Turning to Mike she tried to keep it together. She felt as he wrapped his arm around her. Resting his forehead against hers. "stay safe" he whispered kissing her softly on the lips
"i will" she said looking in to his eyes.
Picking up her bag she headed out pulling the door shut behind her. Sitting in the car she looked up at the front door of the house. She wished she could be staying at home with her children. Being at sea and them in school she missed so much and now she could be with them but she loved commanding Hammersley. Putting the car in to gear she pulled off the drive. The sooner she left and completed this task then the sooner she could be back with Mike and her children.
so hope you like this. I know there are lots of keyworkers and the defence force is one of them. I wanted to show how the children may be feeling. anyway let me know what you think and leave a review. #staysafe xx