The next morning i woke fairly early, quietly getting up not to disturb the twins I got ready,prepped breakfast+lunch and got the twins stuff ready for the day.Ian was still asleep and i headed to my laptop to check the case.I smiled, it had been a while till i got a good lengthy case.As I sipped my coffee, I dived into the case files, scanning through the notes and updates from the previous day. The complexity of the case was exactly what I needed to get my mind sharp again. I began typing away, my fingers flying across the keyboard as I pieced together the evidence and formulated a plan.
Just as I was getting into the zone, I heard faint cries from the twins' room. I saved my work and closed the laptop, knowing I had to tend to their needs. I gently lifted each baby out of their cribs and settled in for feeding time.Ian stirred, yawning, and helped with burping and changing duties. "You've been up for a while, haven't you?" he asked, noticing the breakfast and lunch preparations."I wanted to get a head start," I replied, smiling. "And squeeze in some work on the case."Once the twins were content and asleep, Ian took over watching them while I stole away to my laptop again. The quiet morning moments were precious, and I was determined to make the most of them.As I immersed myself in the case, the soft sounds of Ian cooing at the babies provided a soothing background hum. My focus sharpened as i studied the company names.Closing off my laptop for the morning i decided to get Ziva and Cameron ready. Ian was getting work done whilst they played with themselves.I took Ziva first, as she tended to be fussier. Changing diapers and cleaning her up was now part of my life. I dressed her in a beige winter onesie and matching beanie, then nestled her back to sleep in her cot.
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ext, I tended to Cameron, who was always quick to get ready - as long as I was there. I put him in a blue winter onesie and spent some quality time playing with him until Ian emerged, already dressed and ready to go. I raised an eyebrow in confusion."I'm so sorry, babe, but the office really needs me," Ian said, his apologetic tone accompanied by a gentle kiss on my head."But you took paternity leave," I pointed out, trying to keep my surprise in check."I know, babe, but this is really important," Ian replied, his eyes locked on mine, seeking understanding.I studied Ian's face, searching for any hint of what was going on. "What's so important that you need to leave now?" I asked, trying to keep my tone neutral.Ian hesitated, glancing at the twins, who were blissfully unaware of the tension. "It's a critical project, and my team needs me to wrap it up. I promise I'll make it up to you, and we'll figure out a way to balance everything."I sighed inwardly, knowing how much Ian's job meant to him. But I couldn't shake the feeling that something wasn't quite right. "Okay," I said slowly, "but promise me you'll be back by dinner?"Ian's face lit up with relief. "I promise. And I'll make sure to bring home something special for the four of us."As Ian grabbed his bag and headed out the door, I couldn't help but feel a pang of unease. What was really going on at his office?I turned my attention back to the twins, who were starting to stir. Time to refocus on parenting duties – and sneak in some more work on the case.
I settled onto the sofa, cradling the twins in my arms. Ziva was fast asleep, but Cameron lay awake, nestled in the crook of my neck. I gently adjusted my hold, ensuring they were both comfortable. With a flick of the remote, a soothing movie filled the room, providing a calming backdrop for our quiet afternoon together.
Halfway through my typing, Ziva suddenly sensed Ian's absence and let out a piercing wail. I sighed, trying to keep Cameron calm as I juggled soothing Ziva. No matter what I did, she refused to settle, her tiny face scrunched in distress.Desperate to calm her down, I quickly grabbed my phone and dialed Ian's number, hoping he'd answer and provide some reassurance. The phone rang, and rang, and rang, before finally going to voicemail.I tried again, thinking maybe he was busy, but the result was the same. My anxiety grew as Ziva's cries intensified, and Cameron began to stir, sensing his sister's distress."Please, baby girl, calm down," I cooed, trying to keep my own frustration in check. But Ziva wouldn't settle, her wails echoing through the room.I was on my own, with no backup in sight. Ian's unavailability only added to my stress. Where was he? Why wasn't he answering?As the minutes ticked by, Ziva's cries showed no signs of abating. Cameron, now fully awake, joined in, creating a cacophony of sound that threatened to overwhelm meThe desperate cries continued, piercing the air like a siren. I tried everything to calm the twins: rocking, singing, swaddling, but nothing worked. My nerves frayed, my patience worn thin.Hours ticked by, each passing minute feeling like an eternity. The movie I'd been watching earlier now played silently, forgotten in the chaos. My laptop lay abandoned, the case files untouched.As the sun began to set outside, casting a golden glow through the windows, I felt my energy waning. How much longer could this go on?Finally, just as I thought I'd lose my mind, I heard the door open. Ian walked in, looking exhausted, his eyes scanning the room."Hey, sorry I'm late," he said, dropping his bag and rushing to help.But I was beyond consolation."Where were you?" I demanded, my voice low and even, but laced with anger. "I called you multiple times. The twins have been screaming for hours."Ian's expression faltered. "I'm sorry, I was stuck in a meeting. My phone died."I glared at him, my frustration boiling over. "A meeting? That's all you ever have. Meetings, meetings, meetings. What about us? What about your family?"Ian's eyes dropped, and he took a deep breath before approaching the twins, who were still sniffling. "I'm sorry, Friday. I'll make it up to you, I promise."But I was too far gone."Make it up to me? You think a simple apology will fix everything? You need to be present, Ian. For us."The tension hung in the air like a challenge.
