The High Life. The final stretch

Chapter 3

It was lovely to have Connor come to see me for our anniversary. It made it that little bit more special. Sadly he could only stay for one night, he had to get back for the kids but it had been nice to have him around even if it had only been for one night.

"Safe trip home." I said kissing him as he was about to leave

"Have a good week and see you at the weekend." Con said

"Yeah." I smiled

"I love you." Con said

"I love you too." I said

"Rhi come on." Steph said

"Okay coming." I shouted I kissed Con then went back into the theatre for the second round of auditions in Manchester.

It was a bloody long week. A week that I wanted so much to come to an end so that I could go home and chill with the family.

Friday night after the second round of audition in Bristol it was finally time for me to head back to London and home for the weekend. I was leaving again on Monday morning but I got to see the kids which was all that mattered. It was also a chance to go with Jodie to her 5 month scan and find out the sex of baby.

I got home just in time for bed time.

"Mum." The kids shouted running at me as I walked through the door. They were sat on the sofa watching tv. They hit me and knocked me backwards slightly.

"Hey guys." I said wrapping my arms around them

"Read to me mummy?" Grace said she was holding a book in her hand

"Of course." I said taking the book from her

"It's bed time Grace." Connor said coming into the living room from the kitchen

"Tell you what Grace if you all go get ready for be now then I'll read some Harry Potter before you go to sleep." I said they all ran towards the stairs to get ready for bed. Blake bless him was left behind having only just mastered walking there was no way he was going to be able to keep up with the others.

"Come on little man." I said scooping him up and carrying him up the stairs to get him ready for bed.

"Ready guys?" I was sat in the rocking chair in Blake's room giving him his bottle at 18 months he still likes to have a bottle of milk before bed the others were all the same Grace and Lilly were 2 and a half before they stopped having milk at night and the boys were 3 before they stopped so I wasn't going to take the bottle away from Blake until he was ready and after having a rough start in life I think he deserves it.

"Yeah." They all said coming into Blake's rooms and sitting on the floor in front of me. I felt like a primary school teacher, when they're going to read to the children. I smiled at the thought. Lilly had brought the book in for me to read.

I sat and read the story for about an hour until Grace had fallen asleep her head resting in Lilly's lap

"Think it might be time for bed." I said putting the book mark in the book and putting it on the floor at the side of me. I'd read 3 chapter. As I moved to put the book down I tried to limit moving so that I don't wake Blake up who's asleep in my arms.

"Think that's a good idea mum." Casper said Jessie was asleep in Caspers lap

"Okay." Carefully without waking him I put Blake into his cot. Then I moved Grace so that Lilly could go to bed then I moved Jessie so that Casper could go to bed.

"Night guys." I said to Lilly and Casper and they headed towards their bedrooms.

"Night mum." Lilly said

When they were all in bed I went down stairs Connor was sat on the sofa watching Tv

"Thought you'd fallen asleep yourself." He said looking up at me

"No not quite." I said smiling going to sit next to him and resting my head on his shoulder.

"Good to have you home. What your plan for tomorrow?" Con asked

"Thought I might take Grace and Lilly with me when I go with Jodie to her scan then do a bit of shopping with them. I notice there are black bags around both their rooms that have old clothes in." I said

"Yeah. Clothes that don't fit them anymore and clothes that ain't going to fit Grace until she's about 50." Con said I laughed

"I'll take them down to the charity shop tomorrow." I said

"Okay babe." Con said

"Jodie wants to do a bit of baby shopping as well tomorrow. Charlotte's joining us as well I think which should be nice. She has some work at the label to do first but she's joining us for lunch." I said

"Sounds good. If you're taking the girls out I might take the boys out for the day." Con said

"Go for it." I said smiling