𝑫𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒎𝒊𝒏 𝟓

𝐏𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝟒

𝐉𝐀𝐍𝐄𝐓

As I looked at Christopher, my heart swelled with gratitude for all that he did for me and our family. The warm sunlight bathed us both, and I could see the joy in his eyes. "Baby," I called out in my soft, feathered voice, hoping to break through the momentary bliss of silence.

"Hm?" he responded with a gentle mumble, turning his head from the sun, his eyes still closed, to look at me.

"You know how thankful I am for you, right?" I said, my voice laced with sincerity. His smile deepened, and he nodded, not needing to say a word.

"I mean it. I'm truly blessed that you deal with me and my obnoxious schedule and help out with the kids when I'm gone," I continued, leaning forward slightly. "It's easier now that they're bigger, but when they were smaller..." I paused for effect, making a humorous facial expression that elicited a chuckle from him.

"Your telling me," he laughed, shaking his head. "I used to get so frustrated, especially with Story... she was so stubborn" He paused, his smile widening as he looked at me, nostalgia dancing in his eyes. "But it was worth it."

I nodded, feeling the warmth of those memories wash over us. However, the recent thoughts about the kids crept back into my mind. "But, I noticed the kids were up last night. I know you had them up to see me, but I couldn't help but notice they weren't even in their pajamas, ready for bed," I said, my hands gesturing animatedly as I spoke. "On top of that," I emphasized, raising my brows in concern. "They had lots of energy, Christopher."

He sighed and sat up from his reclined position on the cozy lounge chair, the moment of lightheartedness fading. He looked out at the gorgeous view of the mountains, seemingly lost in thought. "Yeah, J, I fucked up," he admitted, glancing at me through his tinted shades.

"At first, I was strict with them, but then I would let them stay up an extra five minutes. Five turned into thirty, and thirty turned into an hour."

"Why?" I asked, my voice tinged with frustration. I closed my eyes realizing we'd only bicker back and forth from here. At this point in my life, I had no room for fighting. "You know what? It doesn't matter. Let's just get them back on track, Christopher. Please, I want my kids to have options." He nodded, his expression serious now, and I continued, "You know I didn't have a choice."

"Yeah, I know, baby," he said softly.

"Joseph didn't give me a choice to go to college, none of us did," I added, referring to my older siblings. "So I want Story and Eissa to have a choice, to do whatever and be whatever. Stevanna got her bachelors degree, Christopher it's possible. With a little more disciple we can make it happen. So please, don't let them miss sleep. Baby, if they're tired in school, how do you expect them to focus and pass classes?" I whined, my concern spilling over.

"I know, baby," he replied, reaching for my hand. His touch was comforting, and I felt the tension in my shoulders begin to melt away as he intertwined his fingers with mine.

He brought my hand halfway to his lips, kissing it softly. A rush of warmth flooded through me, sending shivers up my spine, and I couldn't help but smile despite the seriousness of the conversation. The connection between us was so palpable, grounding me even in this moment of concern.

As I looked into his eyes, I felt a mix of love and determination. "Let's just make sure we're on the same page with them, okay?" I said softly, squeezing his hand. He nodded, a reassuring smile gracing his lips, and I felt a sense of relief wash over me. Together, we would ensure our kids had the best chance to thrive something I had always wanted for them, and now, with Christopher by my side, I felt ready to tackle anything that came our way.