Chapter Eighteen

Diane wasn't sure she would still find the kids awake, she was late and it had happened too often lately, that she missed their bedtime. It was hard with the new firm, not being able to share the responsibilities with anyone and she already knew this couldn't have gone on like that for too long.

She checked on Nat first, he was already asleep and of course his blanket was resting on the ground, so she covered him with it again and gave him a kiss. She was feeling guilty for not spending enough time with him lately, she could only hope she was able to make up for it during the short time they did spend together.

When she got closer to Emma's room, she heard whispering voices from inside, so she stopped in front of the door to listen to them.

"I want to wait up for mommy. When is she coming home?"

"She should be here any minute," Will replied.

"I don't like that the firm keeps her away from us so often."

"I don't like it either, but it's her dream, you have dreams too, right?"

"Of course I do. I want to be a singer when I grow up."

"A singer?" Will asked and he clearly sounded surprised, this was definitely one profession their daughter hadn't mentioned yet, "I see."

"And I want a baby sister, but ssssssh, don't tell mom."

It was Diane's turn to get surprised. She'd never really thought of having a third child, two was kind of the ideal number anyway, both Will and her were happy that they had a girl and a boy.

"I…won't…tell her," Will replied, keeping breaks in-between words.

"Wouldn't it be cool to have a baby in the house? I am old enough to nurse her now, I could be a huge help."

"I'm sure you could be sweetheart, but you know what, it's really late, you should go to sleep or you will be really sleepy in school in the morning."

"I know. I hate getting up early."

"I really hate that too."

Diane decided that it was time to enter the room, so she knocked and was immediately greeted by her daughter rather loudly.

"You're going to wake up your brother," she tried to silence her as she stepped inside the room and Will stood up from the side of the bed to give place to her.

"I'm so happy to see you, mommy," Em said as they hugged and kissed each other.

"And I'm happy to be home. Is everything all right?"

"Daddy made pancakes for us."

"Really? I hope you've left some for me too."

"Of course we have, we also wrote you a note, haven't you seen it?"

"I haven't, I came up here first thing, hoping to find you still awake."

"Daddy said I should be sleeping, but I wanted to wait up for you."

"I'm glad you did, but daddy was right, you really should sleep now, we'll talk tomorrow morning, all right?"

"Good night, mommy, I love you."

"I love you too, sweet dreams," she kissed her once more, before she stood up.

"Good night," Will kissed his daughter too and they both left the room.

"Hey," he pulled her close after he shut the door behind them.

"I don't even know how to thank you for doing this, I've been such a bad mother lately."

"Don't say that, the kids love you, you should see the note they left for you."

"Let's check out those pancakes you've made, I'm hungry," she said, kissing him.

For a short moment she considered bringing up his conversation with Em, but it probably wasn't the right time to discuss such a thing. She could only hope having a baby sister wasn't a permanent dream in her daughter's life, because that was definitely one wish she couldn't fulfill.