Fostered by their teacher

Chapter 3

Mrs. Lewis's POV

I was finishing up some cleaning in the kitchen when my phone buzzed on the counter. Seeing Y/N's name pop up made me pause. She only ever called me during the day when she needed help, and lately, that had been happening more than usual.

I dried my hands and answered. "Hey, Y/N. What's up?"

Her voice came through the line, tired and a bit distracted. "Hey, Mrs. Lewis. I hate to ask this, but could you pick up the triplets from preschool today? Mum and Dad are stuck at work again, and I need to grab Mason and Lincoln."

There it was again—the weight in her voice, like she was trying to manage everything on her own. Y/N was a high schooler, but she was practically playing parent most of the time.

"Of course, Y/N," I replied without a second thought. "I'll pick them up and drop them off at your place. Don't worry about a thing, okay?"

There was a pause, and I could hear her sigh in relief. "Thank you so much. I really appreciate it."

"No problem, sweetheart. Hang in there, alright? You're doing an amazing job."

She laughed softly, though I knew she didn't believe me. "Thanks, Mrs. Lewis. I'll see you later."

I hung up and grabbed my car keys, heading out the door. The triplets—Harper, Trey, and Taylor—were only three years old, and handling them was no small task. They were sweet, but anyone who knew them also knew they were a handful.

When I arrived at the preschool, I parked and walked up to the entrance, familiar with the routine by now. As soon as I stepped inside, one of the teachers, Ms. Carson, greeted me with a smile.

"Hi, Mrs. Lewis! Picking up Harper, Trey, and Taylor again?" she asked, already getting the sign-out sheet ready.

"Yes, I am," I said, smiling back. "Their parents are tied up at work again, so I'm filling in."

She nodded sympathetically. "They're lucky to have you. I'll get them for you. They're just finishing up their afternoon activities."

"Thank you," I said, leaning against the counter while I waited. Preschool always felt like a whirlwind of activity—children playing, teachers cleaning up after the chaos of the day. I could already hear Trey's excited voice coming down the hallway.

Soon enough, the triplets came toddling out, all wide smiles and chubby little hands clutching onto toys. Trey, as usual, was the first to spot me, his lisp immediately shining through as he ran up to me.

"Misssss Lewis!" he shouted excitedly, stretching his arms up for a hug. "I made a pwetty picture today!"

I bent down to scoop him up, laughing. "You did, Trey? I can't wait to see it."

Behind him, Harper and Taylor followed, each with their own little personalities shining through. Harper had her hands full of crayons and paper, while Taylor shyly clutched onto a stuffed animal. They were all adorable, but I knew once we got to the car, the real circus would begin.

"Are Mum and Dad coming home tonight?" Harper asked, looking up at me with big, curious eyes.

I gave her a gentle smile. "They're busy with work, sweetheart, but they'll be home later. Y/N's going to be with you until then."

"Okay!" Harper chirped, seemingly satisfied with that answer. Taylor, quiet as ever, nodded and took my hand while Trey wriggled in my arms, already bursting with energy.

"Le's go home! Le's go home!" Trey sang out, swinging his feet as I carried him to the car. His energy was endless, and he never seemed to sit still for more than a second. Harper was talkative, too, while Taylor preferred to stay silent, observing everything around her.