Mummy, Daddy and Me

Seperation anxiety.

Phoebe
"Right girls, there are a list of chores for each of you on the fridge- we want them all done by the time we're back." Carter announced, pulling his coat on. 
"What time will that be?" Ellie asked sweetly.
"Should be about 1. The movie finishes at 12.45," he explained. 
"No mummy!" Jess suddenly cried and ran towards me from the kitchen. I sighed and wrapped my arms around her tightly. "No go." She sobbed into my shoulder. I held her tightly and rubbed her back. 
"You're going to be fine baby. Ellie's here and we won't even be that long!" I said to her, trying my hardest not to tear up myself. 
Carter and Jess's therapist have suggested spending some time apart recently so Carter thought it would be a great idea for us to head to the cinema, without Jess. Obviously, Jess' big brain would understand but because we are simply leaving her in the house, she's going to struggle. Ever since I got so busy with work, she's really struggled with me leaving and I hated it. Even when it came to work now, she was so hesitiant for me to leave her alone. This wasn't even alone though. I looked at Carter desperately, hoping he'd tell me we should just not go and look after little Jess instead but he shook his head and moved closer to us. 
"Jess, baby, come here," he mumbled, prying the crying girl off me. Jess tried to fight him but Carter was stronger. He crouched down in front of her, taking hold of her shaking hands. Jess was sobbing with her tears hitting the ground. My heart was breaking and I couldn't look at her. 

"You know where we're going, don't you?" he asked her. 
"Cinema," she choked back. 
"That's right. We won't even be gone for three hours!" He said, trying to sound enthusiastic. 
"I no wan you go at alllll," she whined. 
"I understand this is hard for you princess, daddy wishes I could make it all better right now but this is something Jenny told us to do, isn't it?" Jenny was her therapist. Jess just nodded sadly, sniffling but still letting tears fall from her eyes. She looked at me desperately. 
"You're going to be just fine," I reassured. 

Half an hour later, we were out of the door. Ellie took Jess to the kitchen so we could leave. Obviously there were tears, anger, upset and lots and lots of heart break but there was nothing else I could do. 
"She's defintely going to be okay?" I said to Carter. 
He looked at me and nodded, he reached his hand out and held mine. "That's the third time you've asked bubba and for the third time, I'm telling you she's going to be perfectly okay." I blushed and looked out of the window. We knew this would be hard for Jess but this hard for me? This anxiety was defintely not anticipated. 

Ellie
As soon as Phoebe and Carter left, Jess stomped up to her bedroom and slammed the door shut. I say her bedroom- it was our bedroom really but she was still a bit apprehensive admitting it. I wanted to follow her but I also knew she'd need some time to calm herself down and feel better. She needed space. It hurt me seeing her so upset and knwoing there was nothing I could do. 
I trudged to the kitchen and looked at the list of chores Carter asked us to do. It was to clean our bedroom, the kitchen, the living room and the playroom which I could do! Obviously, I wouldn't be able to clean the bedroom but the rest I could do. I put some music on, grabbed what I needed and got to work. 

Quicker than I even thought, Carter and Phoebe returned home. I stopped trhe music and turned to them. 
"Hey princess!" Phoebe smiled, wrapping her arms around me. I giggled as she kissed my cheek. 
"Ooh. You've been busy!" Carter announced, seeing the living room and kitchen tidy. I smiled proudly and nodded. 
"The only room not done is the bedroom becase Jess is up there and won't let me in so I can't tidy it. I told her to but I don't know if she has done." I explained. Phoebe nodded sadly. 
"You've done it all by yourself?" Carter asked. I nodded and smiled. "You didn't need to do that, munchkin. We set the chores for the both of you." He added. My heart dropped. Had I done it wrong? I just wanted to make them proud. 
"But!" Phoebe quickly muttered, pullign me close to her. "We are very proud that you have done and we couldn't be more thankful to have such a helpful baby girl on our hands." She teased and I squirmed, feeling my cheeks blush. I wasn't even feeling that little but god, they really helped you slip, didn't they? A few minutes later, I was sat on the kitchen counter, helping Carter make lunch and Phoebe had gone to speak to Jess. 

Phoebe
I pushed open Jess's bedroom door gently. I expected to see her room at least tidyish and he watching a show or something but she was fast asleep, laying on top of her covers. She was holding Rosie- her favourite yellow bunny in a death grip and I could see the dried tear marks on her face. I felt sick knowing my baby girl was home, like this, and I was out having fun at the cinema- I say having fun though. I didn't stop thinking about Jess the whole movie and I honestly couldn't even tell you what film we watched I was that distracted. I knew Carter was making lunch so I went into the room more. 

I sat on the side of her bed and brushed some hair from her face. I looked around and inspected it all. The room was messy and unkempt and it really did need to be tidied. With both girls sleeping in here- they'd been playing and enjoying the constant sleepovers. Carter keeps mentioning that we should move. Jess and I should sell our little house and he should sell his and we all move as a family of six. 

"Mama?" The little voice brought me out of my thoughts and I looked down. Jess's sleepy eyes were looking at me and I smiled softly. She returned it before rolling on to her back and stretching out. I smiled- she was my little baby. Even stretching she was still so tiny. 
"How are you feeling, little one?" I mumbled as she sat up. She tapped her head and pouted- she was feeling really small and had a headache. "We can sort your headache out princess. Do you want a cuddle?" She nodded and crawled into my lap, slipping her head into the crease of my neck and making sure Rosie was sandwiched securely inbetween us. 
"You did it, baby," I mumbled softly, running my hands through her hair. "You managed without mama for two whole hours!" I made my voie sound enthusiastic and she sat up in my arms. She began fiddling with my necklace- the one just for her. 
"I I I was sad though," she muttered. 
"Hm, yeah. So was I baby but you still did it. You still got through your sadness and that is just as much of a milestone than any others." Her eyes flicked up at me, as if asking me 'really?' and I leaned down and kissed her lips gently. She smiled as I pulled away. 
"I love you princess. More than anything in this whole entire world and I am so so proud of you!" She smiled more and snuggled her head into my chest. I heard a little 'I love you too' and smiled happily. She was my princess.