Fostered by their teacher

Chapter 4

Y/N's POV

The drive back home from picking up Mason and Lincon feels endless. They're both talking over each other in the backseat—Mason about his day in class and Lincon about the new game they played at recess. I try to stay focused, but the weight of everything is pressing down on me. I still need to get home and take care of the little ones, all while waiting for Mom and Dad, who won't be home until late—again. Work, as usual.

I pull into the driveway, and we all pile out of the car. Lincon's practically bouncing as he rushes ahead to the front door, while Mason lags behind, grumbling about his math homework. I take a deep breath and gather myself before unlocking the door.

"Alright, shoes off, and don't leave your stuff lying around," I say, though I'm half sure no one's really listening. Lincon kicks his shoes off carelessly, while Mason drops his backpack in the hallway with a thud. I'll probably end up picking it up later.

As we walk into the living room, I see Mrs. Lewis sitting on the couch with Harper, Taylor, and Trey. They're in the middle of a matching game, Harper giggling and Trey fidgeting as usual. Taylor sits quietly, holding onto Teddy.

Mrs. Lewis looks up when we enter. "Hey, Y/N. How did everything go?" she asks with her usual warmth.

I force a smile, grateful for her being here. "Busy as usual. Thanks so much for watching them."

"No problem at all. They've been great, as always," she says, gathering her things to leave. "I cut up some apples for a snack, and we played games for a bit. They're all ready for you."

"Thanks," I repeat, the exhaustion creeping into my voice. "I really appreciate it."

"You're doing an amazing job with them," she says kindly before heading to the door. "If you need anything, just give me a call."

After she leaves, I finally get a moment to take it all in. Harper is still drawing with her crayons, Trey is running in circles around the couch, and Taylor hasn't let go of Teddy once. Mason and Lincon have already started digging through the kitchen for snacks.

"Okay, guys, let's get organized," I say, trying to assert some control. "Mason, homework before you do anything else, alright?"

Mason groans but nods, dragging his feet toward the table with his backpack. Lincon, still holding a handful of crackers, follows but plops onto the floor beside the table, pretending to be interested in whatever Mason is doing.

"Tay-Tay, Harpie, Trey," I say, kneeling down to their level. "Did you have fun today?"

Harper smiles up at me, holding out her latest drawing—some kind of colorful squiggle that I'm sure has an important meaning in her world. "I drawed a rainbow!" she says proudly.

"That's awesome, Harpie," I say, giving her a quick hug. "It's beautiful."

Trey rushes over, waving his own artwork in my face. "I made fishies!" he declares excitedly.

I nod, giving him a high-five. "You did a great job, buddy."

Finally, I turn to Taylor, who's been watching everything from her spot on the rug. I kneel beside her, gently brushing a strand of hair out of her face. "What about you, Taylor? You have a good day?"

She nods quietly, hugging Teddy a little tighter. "We played a matching game," she whispers.

"That sounds fun," I reply softly, giving her a quick squeeze. "I'm glad you had a good time."

I stand up, feeling the weight of responsibility pressing on me again. "Alright, I'm gonna start on dinner. You guys keep playing for a bit, and then we'll eat, okay?"