Together

28.

28.

Time passed and autumn approached. The leaves started to fall from the trees and it got colder. New York was beautiful and the family took many walks through Central Park.

It was a rainy Tuesday and Lizzie was standing in the school yard with her children. Maeve and Jane had finished school but they wanted to swing on the swing for a while. Lizzie didn't mind so the girls handed in their bags and ran to the swings.

Lizzie watched with a smile until she was suddenly tapped. She turned around and saw Maeve and Jane, their teacher. "Mrs. Olsen, can I speak to you for a moment?" she asked. 'Um, yes of course.' Lizzie replied. Immediately she got an unpleasant feeling in her stomach. Had the twins done something wrong?

Mrs. Shephard motioned for Lizzie to come inside. "Mommy, what are you going to do?" Jane asked. She looked at Lizzie in surprise. 'Mom is going to have a chat with the teacher. Go play with your sister for a while. I'll be right back.' Lizzie promised her children. 'Okay.' Jane ran back to the swing. Maeve was still sitting on the swing and laughing she shouted for Jane to come.

Lizzie walked Mrs. Shephard to her classroom and sat down in a chair at Mrs. Shephard's desk. Mrs. Shephard took her seat. 'I'm glad you wanted to come along, Mrs. Olsen. I would like to talk about your daughters.' She started the conversation.

'No problem. It's nothing serious.' The teacher reassured her when she saw Lizzie was worried. 'I notice that Maeve and Jane are very close to each other and that is why they do not play with other children. In the beginning I just left it like that, but it's starting to become a problem now.' Mrs Shephard told.

'Problem? Why is it a problem?' Lizzie didn't understand what the teacher was so concerned about. 'They have no friends. They want to do everything together. It is healthy to hang out with other children as well.' Mrs. Shephard explained. 'It's difficult for me to force them to play with other children.' Lizzie replied.

'And that's why we have to give them a helping hand. What if we put Maeve in a different class? I think we help them a lot this way because then they have to hang out with other children.' Mrs. Shephard suggested. "I'll talk to my friend about it."

'Do that. It also helps to go out with one of the two. This way they are not always together and you also build an individual bond with the child.' Mrs. Shephard said. Lizzie nodded. 'Thanks for the advice. I'm going to talk to my friend about it.' Lizzie shook the teacher's hand and left the room.

Maeve and Jane were waiting in the hallway. "Are we going home, mom?" Maeve ran to Lizzie. 'Yes darling. We're going home.' Lizzie stroked Maeve's cheek and Maeve grabbed her hand. With her other hand, Lizzie grabbed Jane's hand and they walked to the car.

When they arrived home they found Chris in the hallway. He looked at them with a big smile. 'Hey. You're so happy.' Lizzie gave Chris a kiss. "I got the part!" Chris shouted. 'What? Congratulations!' Lizzie hugged him. 'What is a role?' Maeve asked. Chris laughed at his daughter and dropped to his knees. "Remember when Dad had to audition for a movie and Mom went to film it?" He looked at Maeve questioningly. 'I think so.'

"Dad just got a call and he was told he can be in that movie." Chris explained. 'Yay!' Maeve hugged him. Chris wasn't expecting the hug and fell backwards onto the floor. Everyone laughed. 'We should celebrate this.' Lizzie said. 'Time for cake!' Jane shouted.

"I think that's a good idea." Chris placed Maeve on the ground next to him and he stood up. "I'm going to get some cake." He decided. 'Why don't you take Jane with you? After all, it was her idea to get cake.' Lizzie suggested. She immediately tried to follow Mrs. Shephard's advice.

'Fine. Then Jane and I will go get some cake.' Chris said. "I want to come too." Maeve shouted. "No, Eve, you stay with mom." Lizzie said. "But I want to come too." Maeve pouted. 'Oh no. I'm not falling for that. My sisters used to always pull a lip like that.' Lizzie said. She had to make a lot of effort to remain strong. Maeve looked so sad.

"Maeve, you heard Mom. You stay here.' Chris put on his jacket. 'We will be right back.' He grabbed Jane's hand and took her away. "Why can't I come?" Maeve crossed her arms and glared at Lizzie. 'Because this time Dad is bringing Jane along. Next time you can come along.'

"But that's not fair." Maeve protested. 'There are more things in life that are not fair. Shall we play a game instead?' Lizzie suggested. Maeve looked at the door but when she realized that Chris and Jane were already gone she nodded anyway. She ran to the cupboard to pick out a game and Lizzie followed her, smiling.