Should've Been Us

Good Riddance

Josie and Grace had been home for about a couple months now.  Antonio returned to work a week after Angelique's memorial.  The kids went back to school at that time too.  Josie was slowly adjusting to having a new baby at home and not being in the field.  She wasn't used to just being at home.  She was unloading the dishwasher when Grace's cries came over the baby monitor.  She closed the dishwasher and made her way to the nursery.

"Shh... it's okay, Grace.  Mommy's here... I'm here."  She gently rubbed Grace's back.  Grace settled down but was still whimpering a little.  Josie checked her diaper.  "Ah.  Well, that explains it."  She took Grace to the change table and quickly changed her diaper and slipped her into a new onesie.  "There.  All better."

Grace cooed for her.  Josie knew that Grace wasn't going to be going back to sleep any time soon.  She took her and put her in her bouncy chair in the kitchen.  Josie could keep an eye on here there while she worked on prepping after school snacks.  She didn't know when Antonio would be home, but she knew that the kids would be back home in about an hour.  She also would get supper going so that everyone was in bed at a decent hour.  The last few days, the kids had been going to bed later than they should've and that resulted in very grumpy kids the next morning when it was time to get them off to school. 

She had just pulled the taquitos out of the oven when the kids came running into the kitchen.

"Hey Mom!"  They all exclaimed before rushing to the table to give their baby sister kisses.

"Well, at least we don't have to worry about you guys adjusting to her."  Josie laughed.  "Okay, snacks... homework... then you guys can have some free time."

"I have practice tonight."  Xavier reminded her. 

Josie groaned.  "I forgot about that!  Xavier, I'm sorry... um..."  She wasn't ready to take Grace outside in the crisp autumn air for such a long period of time just yet.

"Mom, it's okay... Tia Gaby said she'd come pick me up... and Diego wants to come watch."  Xavier smiled.  "I know I want you there, but there's going to be more practices and there are always the games."

Josie wanted to cry.  She could've never imagined having such a mature young man as her son.  "What did I do to have such great kids?"

"You just taught us well."  Zoë grinned.  "That and we don't want to add more stress."

"What will you girls be up to?"  Josie asked.

"I've got to practice some of my knife skills for the competition next week."  Zoë answered.  "So, if it's okay with you, I'll invade the kitchen?"

"Well, maybe, I'll leave you to finish making supper then."  Josie grinned.

"Then if she's making supper, could you help me with my history paper?"  Eva chimed in.  "It's about the suffragette movement."