Fate || BENNIFER

Perfect Sense

Jennifer's P.O.V 

I had been impatiently waiting for that moment for two days, getting more and more restless with every minute that passed. It was never easy to watch them go, but when they came back, my heart was full again. Marc's punctuality wasn't something I could rely on, and I never expected him at the time we had previously agreed. As I waited to hear his car arrive, I made the almost unconscious decision to open the photos app on my iPhone, and I didn't have to scroll much to find the pictures I needed to see. They were peacefully sleeping in their crib, oblivious to everything around them and how very loved they were. They were so small that they almost fit in my hands, and so fragile that I remember always being afraid to hurt them. In this specific picture, I was watching them very closely, admiring every detail of their little faces, and still in awe of the fact that those two miracles had come out of my body. I just wished I could've made that moment last forever. When I first learned I was pregnant with them, I was very sure that would be the only time, and I told myself I would enjoy it as much as possible. But with so much work, I barely had the chance to feel present enough to realize that two lives were growing inside of me. Now, with twice as much work, a new opportunity was coming my way, and with the man that had once been the love of my life.

I heard the car entering the driveway and getting me out of my thoughts. I left my phone on the table and headed outside. Marc was out of the car opening the back door. Emme was the first to jump out of the car and start running toward me. I crouched and opened my arms to receive her energetic hug. Max got out of the car and Marc handed him his bag, then he ran to join us in our hug. A hug of three had become my favorite thing in the world, they melted my heart.

After they ran inside, Marc handed me Emme's bag, because she had forgotten it when she had gotten out of the car.

"You look great." He said removing his sunglasses.

"You look tired." I said amused.

"Those kids require an energy I no longer have." He said scratching his eyes.

"Yeah... did they have fun then?" I asked.

"You know they usually have a hard time when they realize you're not gonna be there when they go to sleep, but I guess they're starting to understand the situation." He explained. "Max has been busy drawing something for you. You'll find it in his bag. It must be important... he wouldn't let me see it."

"Well... he's a genius so..." I said in a funny tone.

"He is... Anyway, I'll see you in two weeks." He said putting on his sunglasses.

"Actually... I have a concert next week, and I thought that maybe... if they stay with you for the night, it might help them get used to this situation faster." I said before he could walk to the car.

"I would like that." He replied.

"Great." I said nodding.

The situation started to feel awkward. He had to leave, and I had to go back inside. It always happened.

"I should go. They might've destroyed the house while we were talking." I joked.

"See you next week then." He said with a smile and turning around to walk away.

"Bye." I added as he got in the car.

When I went back inside, they hadn't destroyed anything, miraculously, but that didn't mean they weren't doing something they shouldn't have been doing. My phone wasn't where I had left it anymore, and the giggles coming from the kitchen helped me get an idea of who could have taken it. I followed the funny little voices, and I found two playful kids hiding behind the kitchen island.

"What are you doing?" I asked in a funny voice.

"We're calling." Emme answered.

"Who are you calling?" I asked to join their game.

"Grandma Lupe." She said.

"She wants to talk to you." Max said stretching his arm to hand me the phone.

"Does she?" I asked amused.

But when I brought the phone to my ear, I really heard a voice, they weren't playing. My mouth fell open, and they ran out of the kitchen laughing.

"Mom?" I asked to confirm it was her.

"Finally." She answered in a funny tone.

"I'm sorry. I didn't realize they had taken my phone until it was too late." I said as I sat on a stool by the island.

"They could've called anybody." She said laughing. "Anyway. I was gonna call you later."

"Everything alright?" I asked shifting to a concerned tone.

"Yeah! I just wanted to tell you that tomorrow I'm coming to visit." She answered.

"Tomorrow?" I said surprised.

My free hand went straight to my face. My mouth dried, and my body stiffened. I almost fell from the stool.

"Is that a problem?" She asked.

"No! No, it's not a problem. And I'm sure the cocos will be happy to see you." I answered.

"Aw... I can't wait to see them." She said in a nostalgic tone.

They were the cutest, but getting them to bathe and put on their pajamas was an arduous task. It was late, and they had to rise up early to go to school, so the moment I hung up, I knew what was next. I left a pair of new pajamas on their beds, and I proceeded to prepare the bath. While the bathtub filled, I undressed them before they could run away from me. There was something they loved about bath time, and it was the bubbles. They floated around them and over their heads, and that kept them distracted. I loved watching them grow up as they experienced the world step by step, curious about the things they didn't understand, and amazed by everything that seemed common to us adults. We played with the foam on the surface of the water, and they found it very funny when I put that foam on their heads or the tip of their little noses. It was a laugh fest when they saw each other. After a fun bath, I wrapped them in towels like burritos and I took them to their bedroom. They didn't put up much resistance, and I couldn't feel happier.

"What should we read after dinner?" I asked them as I helped them put on their pajamas.

"Peter Pan!" Max said excited.

"Again?" I asked amused.

"Yes!" Emme said jumping.

"Okay, Peter Pan then." I said accepting their choice.

They were especially obedient and had dinner peacefully. They didn't complain or play with the food, and only two reasons could explain that, either they had missed being home a lot or they had noticed how tired I was. Either way, I was delighted with the tranquility. I wasn't the only one who was exhausted, the moment their heads hit the pillow, they were out.

Now it was my time to go bed, or to find the cutest and most unexpected surprise. When I walked into my room, it took me just a second to notice the yellow envelope on my bed. When I got closer, I saw something written on it that said "To mom, from Max." I still didn't know what it was and my heart was already melting. I had to open it the moment I found it. I opened the envelope, and what was inside was the most adorable note. It said "I'll luv you beyond forever mom", and he had drawn a flower. Being a mom was hard, but those little things made all the exhaustion worth it. It had been an intense weekend, but now, in this very moment, everything made perfect sense to me, and it was beautiful.