"Kids! Time to get up!" Kara yelled up the stairs. Her oldest, Alice, was 14, followed by the boys: Markus, 8, then Connor, 5, and Miles, who was just about 6 months old. She loved those boys fiercely and her adopted father, Hank, was coming to visit. She was excited and she knew Markus and Connor were too.
"Morning, Mom!" Markus chirped, helping a groggy Connor down the stairs. "Alice is getting Miles."
"Thanks, kiddo." She smiled, leaning down to kiss the heterochromatic eyed boy, and scooping up the toddler. "Morning, buddy. Wanna eat some pancakes?"
"Cakes?" The boy's voice perked up, but she still sounded exhausted. She placed him in the larger green high chair, placing a few cut up pieces of pancakes in front of the boy with some eggs thrown in.
Kara placed a plate of food in front of Markus when Alice came into the dining room with Miles on her hip. "Hey, Mom."
"Morning, sweetie." She traded her daughter a plate of food for the baby in her arms. "Go ahead and eat. Remember, Uncle Hank is coming over today, so we gotta pick up a bit, ok?"
"Yes, Mom!"
Kara smiled. They didn't know the real reason Hank was coming over, but that was a secret and a surprise.
After breakfast, she took Connor and Miles into bathroom to give them a bath. Miles just needed it with his sensitive skin and Connor was a sticky mess from the syrup. Connor laughed hysterically, splashing gently as Kara washed his soft brown hair. Miles splashed around, his eyes bright and nothing but smiles.
When the boys were deemed all clean, she stepped out with the dressed boys to do the dishes, only to find the kitchen cleaned. Kara had some good kids, that was for sure. "Alice, Markus! Thank you for doing dishes!"
"Welcome!" They chorused.
"Let me know when you finish pickin up your rooms. I'm making a cake, so if you want to help…"
"Yes, Mom!"
"AYYYEEE!" Hank walked in, arms wide, as three energetic kids nearly tackled him. "Good to see you, too, kiddos!" He gave them a big hug and kissed them. "Come on, let me in! Your mom doesn't want the heat to leak out the house!"
"Uncle Hank, I'll take the bags!" He had brought food to share, a bunch of seafood that he had caught and cooked. "Is there any halibut?"
"Of course, there is halibut! What do you take me for?" He laughed, handing over one bag. "Two hands, Alice. They are pretty heavy, sweetheart."
While Hank was Kara's adopted father, he insisted on them calling him Uncle rather than Grandpa. I'm only 38, i'm too young to be a grandpa! That had been when Alice was born, when Kara was still married to that asshole Todd, but that was nearly 4 years ago. She had remarried an amazing man, Luther, last year and soon after adopted Markus, Connor and Miles. She loved her children so much.
There was a knock at the door as Alice lugged the heavy bag of fish into the kitchen. "Mom, was someone else coming?"
"I don't think so." She knew who it was, but she wasn't going to spoil it for the kids. "Why don't you go get the door, Alice? Markus, Con, why don't you go with her?"
"Ok?" She shot her mother a look, but didn't question it further, grabbing Connor's hand and leading him to the door. Kara whipped out her phone and hit the record button as Markus opened the door.
A hulking, tall man in a digital camo uniform stood at the door a huge smile on his face. "I'm home!"
A beat of silence, then… "LUTHER!" All three children screamed, slamming into him.
"Hey!" He laughed. "I missed you guys so much!" The large man stood, picked up the three of them with ease. "I'm home for a while too!"
Kara smiled. Luther was an amazing man, and she loved him so much. She put her phone down and picked up Miles, heading over to properly greet her husband. "Welcome home, Luth." She kissed him gently, earning a dual squeal of 'ew!' from Alice and Markus.
It was so good to have her family back, whole and complete.