birds // hs

21. Attention

"Baby, come on," Harry whined as I rolled over and tried to sit up from the bed. "We haven't had sex in weeks!"

"That's because Rose is still here," I informed him sassily. "I told you, Harry, she's everywhere. I am not risking her walking in on us."

His hand grabbed my shirt and he easily pulled me back to him, laughing into my hair as I struggled to free myself.

"Portland?"

Harry raised his eyebrows. "Portland?"

"Yeah."

"Is it cold there?"

"Sometimes. It's a lot like Washington."

"Ah."

He rested his chin on my head and closed his eyes, exhaling deeply as I hugged his warm torso.

"Baby?"

"Yeah?"

"I really need to shower before my parent teacher conferences later today. Would you get the twins and I'll meet you in the kitchen to feed them?"

"Yeah, sure."

"Thanks, sweetheart. See you in a few."

He kissed my head gently and squeezed my hand, then got up from the bed and left me cold and lonely.

After laying in the sheets for a few more minutes and taking a few deep breaths, I got up slowly and pulled on my pink pajama pants then trudged out to greet the early morning.

Rose, of course, was already awake and dressed in one of her form-fitting pantsuits, sipping coffee and reading the newspaper while the smell of bacon and eggs filled the kitchen around her. Correction: filled our kitchen.

"Morning."

I yawned. "Morning. How did you sleep?"

"Just fine. The girls are really good about sleeping through the night now, aren't they?"

I slid onto the counter and took a big sip of coffee. "Yeah, I guess they are."

She smiled a little to herself and continued reading the front page until she heard Harry come in and we looked up at the same time.

There he was, all dressed up in his best white button up and dark blue slacks, with his clean hair perfectly styled and his face freshly shaven.

"Good morning, ladies," he grinned at us both. "Smells good in here."

"Oh, I just whipped us up some breakfast to get us through our meetings," Rose answered innocently. "Eggs?"

"Yeah, sure," he nodded. "I'm not one to turn down free food."

They both laughed heartily and I couldn't help but roll my eyes. That was a lame joke and we all knew it.

"Should we just ride together?"

I suddenly remembered the twins and hopped from the counter, then padded down the hall to their room while James followed close behind.

"Mia, Mia," James whispered excitedly as I turned the knob. He knew not to go inside their room so he plopped down on the floor right outside and watched as I checked on both of them, then gently lifted the newly woken Mia from her crib- all while trying not to wake Maggie.

"Good morning, baby Mia," James beamed at the squirming little ball of fat currently resting in my arms. "Mama, can I hold?"

"Of course, darling, you know what to do. Go sit in your baby spot and I'll get her bottle. Do you want to feed her?"