The Trap

Chapter 30

Paula suddenly woke up with the sun in her eyes. She rolled over to find the bed empty, worried that Simon had worked all night long and forgot to come to bed. She stretched before getting up, and retrieving her robe, which lay across the arms of the chair. After she knotted the robe, she headed down the hall. As she strolled, she could hear someone on the first level. She looked at the hallway clock to see that it was only eight, too early for the kids to be up or Simon for that matter. She went downstairs to find out where the origin of the noise was coming from, the kitchen. She peaked her head around the corner to find her daughters, who she had to literally drag out of bed on school days. And here they were on their time off getting up on their own at a reasonable time.

"Hey girls, what are you doing up before the crack of ten?" Paula asked wondering.

"Daddy is taking us to ride go-karts today!" Lily said before she took a bite of her peanut butter toast.

"Oh sounds like fun," she said smiling.

Just then Simon walked into the house from the back door while carrying a bag of puppy food. He had just fed Honey. He was wearing his normal blue jeans with a gray t-shirt. He walked over to Paula and gave her daily morning kiss.

"Hey love, sorry did we wake you up?"

"No I usually get up about this time. So Lily tells me that you're going to have them to yourself today?"

"Yep, I just thought that I should spend some quality time with them before they're legally my children too."

"Good idea, babe."

As soon as the girls were done eating, Paula helped them pick out their clothes and did their hair. She felt happy for them since they needed time to get to know each other better. Even though she was going to miss them, she was looking forward to her own quality time with Rochelle and Dylan. She waited for them in the entry way with Honey in her arms. When they finally came down about an hour later, since Simon took more time getting ready than the girls. She reminded them all to behave themselves and also to have a great day. She waved at them from the front door, as the car roared down the street. When the car was gone, she closed the door and walked back into the kitchen.

She poured herself a cup of coffee that she had made while she waited for them to come downstairs. She walked into the family room and sat down before placing her mug on a coaster. Then she grabbed the controls and watched the news while she enjoyed her drink. The house was its normal quiet level just like any other morning. Even though Simon and her daughters had just left, they were never up before ten. But the thought that they had already left the house made the house seem very quiet. She loved the peace and quiet the early morning brought but she felt like today would be different than a normal day in the household. Just then she heard someone walking slowly and carefully down the stairs. Dylan walked into the room with his hair looking like an afro. He rubbed his eye with his hand as he took a seat next to her on the couch.

"Morning honey, how did you sleep?" she asked putting her arm around him.

"Good, um Mum where's Dad, Holly and Lily?" Dylan asked curiously.

"Oh they're having some alone time."

"Can we have that too?"

"Yeah I was planning on it. So are you hungry?"

"Yes but first can we wake up my sissy, please?"

"Okay let's go."

Dylan and Paula walked up the stairs, while holding hands to Rochelle's room. As Paula opened the door, Dylan released his hand from her reach and ran straight for her bed. She started to stir when he kissed her and whispered something in her ear. Paula took her sweet time walking up to them to let them have a few moments alone. Rochelle rubbed her eyes while she smiled; she was in a good mood. Over the past couple of months, she had finally warmed up to Paula. As she started to sit up with Dylan's help, Paula picked her up as she threw her arms around her neck. When they finally arrived on the first story, she placed Rochelle on the couch next to her brother.