As much as I loved last night, and this morning with Elliot I miss our babies. Both of them. I was just ready to get to them already.
"When are you coming?" Isabelle asks me right as I say hello.
"Soon."
"Like five minutes?" She says excitedly.
"No more like two hours. We are bit far away but I'll be there soon okay?"
"But I want to see you now." She whines.
"Isabelle I'm not there yet. I need you to behave okay? Just a little longer. Then we can spend time together."
"But you don't spend time with me. Only Evan."
"I'll tell you what, you be good and in two hours when I get to your grandpa's house you and me are gonna spend all day together. No Evan or daddy. Yes?"
"Promise?" She asks me still upset.
"Yes baby I promise. I'll see you soon. I love you."
"Love you too." She says before hanging up on me. How the hell does she even know how to hang up.
"How are the kids?" Elliot asks from the driver's seat.
"Good. Grace said Evan was pretty quiet and Isabelle was with Carrick as usual."
"So where are you going later?"
"I told her I'd take her out. So can you spend the day with Evan."
"Sure on one condition." I wasn't really asking him because he's the father therefore, he should just do it.
"Okay?" I ask.
"Well the press has been crazy the last few days with the trial and everything. I don't know why the care so fucking much but there was an incident where they followed Ana to work and almost crashed her car. Christian wants all of the family to have a CPO for next week. Just until the press backs off."
"Elliot. You can't be serious." I tell him.
"Please. For me. Just do it. I want you safe and I'm not allowed to go apparently since Isabelle doesn't want me to go."
"Elliot." I drag out his name. "No."
"Lina please. I saying please here. I respect your privacy and shit but come on." I know he's desperate for me to just agree.
"You know Mia told me that you guys would do this to me." He chuckles humorlessly.
"Yea she told me you would fight me on this. I wouldn't do this to you unless I thought it was absolutely necessary. You know I hate it too." He says taking my hand.
"Please don't make me." I say resting my forehead on his shoulder.
"I don't want to but it is regarding your safety and that I won't take lightly."
"Ugh... Fine. But I don't want them in the bathroom with me. And they can't be in suits. They have to blend in at least. And they can't be reporting to you on everything I do. Or Christian. Unless I'm like dying or something. I don't want them keeping tabs on me."
"You have something to hide?" He smirks at me.
"No but I don't want them to act like a freaking monitoring anklet. Where they tell you every where I've stepped. Wait is that what the two guys outside Grace's hour were doing?" I ask recalling the two men outside Grace's house yesterday.
"Yes. It's only for a little while. Once the press is over the story and that fucker Hyde is locked up I'll tell Christian to shove it." He kisses my hand.
"And he has to be hot. Preferably young." I smirk at him.
"See that is too far. Everything else I can live with but no. I'll give you a nice hot woman. Preferably young." He says in a bad impersonation of me.
"Sure I can work with that." I say winking at him. He laughs at me.
"Will you have a shadow for the next few days?" I shift so that I'm facing him with my feet on the seat.
"Not really." What a hypocrite. "I can take care of myself. I took judo as a kid. If you were traveling with the kids something could happen. The paparazzi could get too close and well you never know. Or if you're with Isabelle she could get scared. If I'm with you then I take care of you. But alone, I'm just not sure it's a good idea."
"It's okay. But only for a little while. This isn't going to be something permanent." Now I feel like such a bitch for always saying how Ana just puts up with everything. I just caved. This isn't what I want but it's what Elliot needs to get peace of mind. I reach over to place a kiss just below his ear.
"Thank you." He says smiling at me.
"So, where are we going next time?" I ask him.
"Hey open the door!" Isabelle shouts knocking on the window of the car as we pull up to Grace's house. I unlock the door and she opens the door for me hugging me tightly as I'm about to get out.
"Hey baby. You missed me?" I say chuckling at her response.
"Where were you? You took forever! Like 18 days. I counted." She says not letting go. I don't want to let her go but I would like to get up.
"I think you mean hours sweetie. I was with daddy but now I'm here and you and I are going to spend the day together. How's that?" She plus back still not letting go.
"No Evan?" She asks me.
"Nope. No Evan and daddy. We are going to have a girl day." She shrieks and holds me tighter. I see Carrick and Grace looking at us.
"Let's go gets my stuff." She says pulling on my hand.
"Hold on you didn't even say hi to your dad."
"Ugh.. Hi daddy." She hugs his legs briefly then runs back to me. I cave into her demands and walk inside. I greet Carrick and Grace on my way in and they tell me Evan is sleeping.
"Look me and grandma made cookies in the morning for you. You can share with daddy. But not for Evan because he can't eat cookies. He's a baby." She guides me to the kitchen and gives me one. She's beaming when I tell her how good they are. "I sleep here in daddy's room. Grandma says we can make it so it's my room now. So when I have sleepovers I have a room. I'll have two rooms. One here and one with you." She shows me all the pictures she colored with Carrick and how she was fixing the old clothes Elliot had at this house so they can be put in boxes to put in the attic.
"Sounds like you were busy." I tell her after she stops talking.
"Yes I was so tired."
"Okay well are you super tired and can't go with me today?"
"Not that tired."
"Hi. What happened to all my stuff?" Elliot says walking in the room.
"Your mom is taking your things to the attic and this is going to be Isabelle's room." I fill him in on what Grace said.
"Fine." He scoffs sarcastically. "We have to get going. Evan should wake up in an hour or so. So you can feed him then go to where ever you two are going."
"Sure. That's fine. Isabelle where's your stuff?" She points to her bag.
"Daddy can take it let's go!" She pulls my hand again. I hear Elliot laugh at how eager she is. "Bye grandpa and grandma. We're leaving." She says as she tries to pull me past them out the front door. I stop and talk with them for a few minutes. She's very impatient today. I see Elliot walk out to take the kid's things to the car. Once he comes in he's carrying a smiling Evan in his arms. He gives me Evan who immediately rests his head on my shoulder. I know he hasn't, but he looks like he's gotten bigger in the half day we were gone. Isabelle doesn't look too happy about me holding him though. I see her glaring at Evan. Elliot must have noticed as well because he carries her and that seems to be enough for now.
When we finally do make it home Isabelle is glued to my side. I don't mind and she doesn't bother me but I also know that it's because she wants to leave.
"Isabelle why don't you go put the clothes in your bag away. When I'm done with Evan we can go." I tell her and she runs out to what I'm assuming is her room.
"She's excited." Elliot comments sitting on our bed. Evan latches on instantly sucking away.
"She is. So I'm going to leave milk in the fridge for later." I tell him.
"Okay. What if it's not enough? What do I do?" His eyebrows come close together showing how worried he is. This will be the first time he's alone with the baby.
"You won't need more but if you do just call. Just keep him on his belly when he's awake. It will make him tired so he'll fall asleep. You'll be fine." I tell him running my hand over the stubble on his cheek.
"And you'll come home right, if I need you." He looks up at me.
"Yes Elliot I'll be here. But you won't need me because you're a great father. And Isabelle and I need some time alone."
"Maynard is waiting for you. She'll be your 'shadow' for a few days." Good I like her. She isn't as formal as everyone else. And she seems more entertaining, for Isabelle's sake, than other security details Christian has. Not that I've met them all.
Evan stops sucking and I shift to burp him but Elliot volunteers to do it. "I'll see you later baby. I love you." I kiss Elliot's lips quickly after readjusting my bra. "And I love you baby." I kiss Evan's head before grabbing my purse and some more comfortable flats. I'm sure Isabelle is going to drag me to a million places today.
"Ready?" I ask. I love seeing her face so happy. She nods taking some shoes. I tie them for her and she practically runs down the stairs.
"Which car? This one? Or daddy's? Or his truck?" She loves Elliot's truck and as much as I would love to make her happy I simple hate it so my car it is because I rarely use it. "I need a big girl seat." She yells before going to get one. We always have one extra in the garage for times when we drive off with one. I think we have three for Isabelle alone. She puts it in her self and waits for me to put on her seatbelt. I show her how to do it so she learns. "I want music please." Fortunately, for me, I have made my musical tastes grow on her. Which means she knows a majority of the songs that come on. Elliot hates it. But he loves me so puts up with it.
Our first stop is a salon where we are going to get our hair cut because honestly we are both in need of it. Considering my hair is so long I cut three inches hopefully it doesn't look like a lot. Isabelle just got a little trim. She been loving her hair lately. Then we sit and get our nails done. "I want pink please." She says to the lady.
"You can't have pink on your fingers because you're not allowed to have painted nails in school. You can get pink toes though." She pouts but I give her a look telling her that this is not negotiable. "You can get a clear so they at least look shiny though."
"Okay. Can I get a shiny please." The lady smiles at her and nods. I decided on a beige so they look natural.
"Why are we sitting here?" She asks me.
"We can't get up until they are dry. Because if we put our shoes on they'll mess it up. So why don't you just tell me what you want for your birthday while we wait."
"Um. We can make a cake." She says looking at her toes.
"What about a party? You don't want a party?" She shakes her head. "Do you want to tell me why?" She shakes her head again. "You know if you want a party daddy and me will get you a super fun party. We can invite Amy. And other friends in your class. Grandpa and grandma can come. Mia, Luke, Ana-"
"And Mr. Grey?" She asks me.
"Yea him too. I bet you'll get lots of presents."
"I don't think so." She says matter of fact.
"Why not?"
"Cuz it's only one birthday so only one present. So only cake right."
"You don't want a present?" I ask her.
"It's okay I like cake. If I get a present I can't share. But cake can be for everyone."
"You can get both." I tell her. She hasn't looked at me. Somethings wrong I can tell.
"It's okay I know you don't have lots of money. I like cake." Money? What is she talking about?
"Why don't I have money?"
"Because Rick takes it. It's okay. I like cake." Rick, that was the moms boyfriend. I've never even seen the guy. Isabelle doesn't talk about him. I know from what she's told us that he was controlling, abusing. A no good piece of trash as far as I'm concerned. She doesn't like to talk about him. And I don't want to hear much either. I can't handle hearing how he treated my baby for all those years.
"Rick?" She nods her head. "Well Rick doesn't take my money. Daddy works really hard so he can buy things for you. You are so small sweetie. You don't have to worry about money. That's me and daddy's job okay. We worry about that and you worry about school." I say pushing hair out of her face.
"I do good at school." I smile even though she won't look at me.
"I know that's why you get a present for your birthday. And cake. Auntie Mia can make it. You know she makes super yummy cakes." I see her smile just a little. "So do you want a party with your friends?"
"No just my family. And Amy. And my two friends. That's it. Please." She looks up hopefully at me.
"Your family will always be there because we love you so much and you are the best daughter anyone could hope for. And such a good big sister. I love you Isabelle."
"I love you mommy." She put her arms around my neck tightly. Forget my nails I hug her back.
After getting our nails done we buy a few things around the mall.
"Can I get these?" She asks pointing to a pair of rain boots. They're three hundreds dollars. She doesn't need three hundred dollar boots. But she looks so happy. She tries them on then walks to the mirror doing a very Mia-like pose. She turns around to stick out her butt. It's Mia all over again. Not that I mind, I love Mia but it's the cutest thing to see. I take a picture sending it to Mia before she gets shy. I really don't understand her logic though. She'll ask for overly expensive shoes yet worries that I'm spending too much on her birthday. Maybe it's because it's a "present". Whenever we label something as a present she becomes shy and talks about how she is either a good or a bad girl.
"That's what you want?" She nods quickly
"For the rain." She says.
"Okay but you better take really good care of them. And tell daddy thank you when you see him later."
"I will thanks mommy." I just smile at her. Now I see how people end up spending so much money on their child. "Can we get Evan some shoes?" She asks me.
"You want to buy something for Evan?" I ask her. Up until now she hasn't even mentioned Evan. So I'm surprised she actually wants to spend some time on him.
"Yes. He need something too."
"Sure but maybe not shoes. We can buy him a little outfit at a different store." She picks out some jeans and a shirt that won't fit him for a few months but she wanted that for him and I'm not about to discourage any choices she makes. As long as she wants to get him something I'm all for it.
"Why don't we go to dinner then the movies." I tell her as we walk out.
"I want some pasgeti please."
"It's spaghetti baby. But sure let's go." We went to an Italian restaurant where we have spaghetti and some dessert. I was pretty amazing and she thought so too. I didn't even remember Maynard was with us until I saw her drive in a car behind her. It seemed like a really useless day for her since nothing exciting happened. I felt bad that she was just following us around all day so Isabelle and I agreed that she should eat dinner with us. She's actually really funny. She has a daughter that lives with her dad. They're in a long distance relationship, which I don't understand but she said it worked for them.
After the movie Isabelle was pretty tired so I called it a day. I've really missed time with her. Maynard followed us back. She must have told Elliot we were on our way back because he greeted me at the door and helped carry Isabelle who was fast asleep to her room. I left her shoes in her closet before making my way to Evan's room. He was asleep too. I stored some milk in the fridge because I felt so full after not pumping all day. He was asleep with his thumb in his mouth. He didn't have any baby acne anymore so now his face was perfectly smooth. His hair was getting curly just like Elliot's. He's probably going to grow up to be a perfect clone of his father which is a good thing. But there is no trace of me in him.
"You coming to bed?" Elliot asks quietly walking in the room.
"Yes I was just checking on him."
"Come. Let's sleep." I look back at him smirking.
"I don't want to sleep."
"Then come to bed and we'll not sleep." He says cocking his head. I turn, leaning forward to kiss my baby good night. I put a blanket around his body then turn the monitor on. I feel him watch me as I turn the lights down and get ready to leave Evan for the night. I motion for Elliot to follow me downstairs, which he does. I sway my hips a little more than I usually do.
The next chapter will be in Mia's POV. This was just a filler chapter while I write out Mia's story. For the reviewers who were interested in her story. But tell me what you think of this one. Thanks for reading and reviewing.
