I'm sorry it took too long to update, 2 more chapters to publish
During the weeks that Andy had been staying at her father's house, she decided to return to work, putting Bella in the nursery that Alex used to attend. She made this decision because she needed to be in the office doing something productive and felt distractions were not helpful.
There was still some tension between her and Robert. However, he wasn't sure why, he sensed a significant gap between them. He had asked several times if they were okay, to which she always replied that they were fine.
One morning, as Robert and Travis were called to the same location, he noticed Andy in the distance talking to a man in uniform whom he hadn't seen before. As Andy and the officer approached, Robert noticed a change in her facial expression.
Travis then asked Ryan, who had approached them, "Who's that handsome-looking guy with Herrera?"
Ryan replied, "That's her new partner. She's had him for a month. I'm surprised they're getting along and still working together. She's usually scared them away by now."
Robert felt a surge of frustration upon hearing this and turned his attention to the job at hand.
"So, what happened here?" he asked.
Ryan explained, "A man was tied up in a cupboard and couldn't get out. He had been there for three weeks without food or water. They have arrested a woman who locked him up, but she claims she never meant for it to happen."
Robert asked, "So what are we here for if the man is dead?"
Ryan replied, "The neighbour next door was worried because he hadn't seen him for a while and called it in, so now it's a police matter, and we were called out together."
As the situation was now in the hands of the police, Robert and Travis couldn't do much else, so they left. Unfortunately, the day didn't get any better for Andy and her partner, as police matters kept arising throughout their shift. As their shift neared its end, they received a last-minute call that brought Andy back to the night she nearly lost Alex. It concerned a missing three-year-old girl.
It took all night to find the little girl, who had wandered out of her home while she was supposed to be sleeping. Her parents believed she was safe in her bed, but while in their bedroom, she went downstairs and out the front door, leaving it open. She followed a cat that had run off into some trees. A woman found her wandering while walking her dog and immediately called the police.
The parents couldn't thank the woman or Andy enough for bringing their daughter back safely.
Once her shift was finished, Andy was eager to go home. Not wanting to disturb Robert, who had both kids in bed with him, she slept on the sofa.
As morning approached Robert hushed Alex and Bella, who were making lots of noise, telling them, "Shh, mummy is sleeping." When they spotted their mother on the couch, they began to poke and smack her, trying to wake her up. Alex climbed onto the sofa, laid down next to her, and kissed her, saying, "I love you, Momma." Bella then copied him, laying her head on Andy's chest. At that moment, Andy was awake but kept her eyes closed, cherishing every minute they spent together.
Robert joined them leaning down on the floor against the sofa and kissing Andy on the forehead.
"Robert, if you want to, you can go to bed. I'll wake you in a few hours," she said.
"No, I'm fine. I'm just here with my favourite people," Andy replied.
"Where are you going?" she asked, opening her eyes as she felt Robert move. Robert assumed she didn't mean him, so he started to get up.
"I thought you just meant the children," he replied.
