Stolen Time

3 Years of Love

"Baby I'm home!" you shouted into your home 

"Mommy!" Little Melanie came running from the kitchen towards you, her little strides always warmed your heart. You dropped your bag and crouched down as Mel jumped into your arms. You pulled her close to you and lifted her up. "I missed you so much angel"

Melanie snuggled into your shoulder until you felt her head rest on your shoulder. "Daddy!" Surely she looked behind you to find Spencer closing the door. She pulled away and directed her attention towards him.

You inched closer to Spencer and handed Melanie into his arms as he smiled "Hello my beautiful princess." Spencer attacked her with a bunch of kisses as she giggled.

He slowly put her down and she looked at your hand "Trash?"

"Uh" you shuffled through the stack of mail in your hands and handed her all the junk mail "Here you go sweetie"

She ran away back into the kitchen and in came towards you her sitter, Julie. She smiled as she stepped towards you and Spencer in the doorway. "She was great today. We are almost perfecting counting to 100. She's a very fast learner"

You nodded "She gets it from her father"

Spencer hummed in agreeance and smiled as he opened the door for Julie "Thank you for staying the extra day"

"It's no problem. I love spending time with her." Julie grabbed her bag from the hanger next to the door and stepped out "I'll see you guys tomorrow"

"Bye Julie" You waved as she stepped out and once Spencer shut the door you dropped the smile and watched Spencer drop his. Then he began to walk towards the stairs.

"Where are you going?" You sighed as you trailed behind him.

He opened the baby gate and began to climb the stairs, but you stayed. "To sleep it's been a long day"

"Spencer are we not going to talk about what happened today?" You scoffed and watched as he turned slightly.

"No" He shrugged and continued to walk up.

"Are you kidding me?!" You almost shouted as he continued his ascend up the stairs. "You're just going to ignore me again!"

"Mama?" You heard a small whisper coming a couple of steps from you.

You turned your attention away and looked down at Melanie who was holding a paper in her hand. You bent down to her level as she walks towards you but Spencer just kept going on. "What's this?"

She handed you a white cardstock paper and it was filled with messy watercolor and shapes that most likely resembled people. Mel's little finger pointed at all the colors and said, "Mommy and daddy!"

"It's beautiful sweet girl" You chuckled and pulled her in for a hug.

As her small arms wrapped around your neck you felt the sweetest relief. Today was a terrible day and having Melanie in your arms felt alleviating. As you pulled back she rubbed her eyes and looked down at her feet as she yawned. You lifted her up in your arms and carried her up the stairs. "C'mon pretty girl let's go to bed"

"Noo" She whined at almost a whisper.

"I'm sorry pretty girl but it's time for bed" You gently rubbed her back she yawned again. "I'm going to work tomorrow but when I come home we can go to the park"

"Yay" She yawned.

It was early for you, but it was getting late for Melanie. At 8:30 you were jet lagged and walked down the hall catching a glimpse of Spencer unpacking his go bag. Stepping into Melanie's room you got her changed into her pajamas and tucked her in, her eyes were already falling heavy.