Free (Sequel to Trapped)

Ch. 43

Justin

Saturday, 1:18 pm

Ariana walks in the living room and Aviella looks up from her iPad.

"Well, look who's awake. Did you have a nice nap?" I ask.

"Yes, I did, actually."

"That's good." She walks over to the couch and sits in my lap.

I wrap my arms around her, planting a kiss on her head.

"Mommy, I helped daddy make mac and cheese. It was good." Aviella says.

"That's nice." Ariana mumbles.

She was still half asleep, and would probably fall back asleep in my lap if Aviella didn't try to keep a conversation with her.

"Aviella, let mommy wake up." I say.

"Okay!" Aviella nods, looking back down at her iPad.

Ariana lays her head on my shoulder, and soon enough she's asleep again. I knew it was gonna happen as soon as she sat in my lap.

I stroke her hair, then move my hand down to her back and rub her back.

Aviella sits on her knees and kisses Ariana's cheek.

"I love mommy." She says.

"I love her too." I smile.

Aviella was the sweetest, most adorable little girl I have ever met. From helping out any way she can, to saying she loves people who are sleeping. That was one of the main reasons I loved her so much. But she was only like that when she wanted to be. She could also turn into a little devil, probably because of Ariana.

2:24 pm

"Mommy's awake!" Aviella says, the biggest smile on her face.

"I didn't even realize I fell asleep again."

"Then you weren't asleep. You passed out." I say.

She looks up at me, her face blank.

"If you didn't know you were sleep, then you could've passed out."

"Aviella, can you go get my phone?" She ignores me, looking at Aviella who was sitting on the floor.

"Okay, mama." Aviella stands up and runs out of the room.

She comes back a few seconds later and gives Ariana her phone before planting a kiss on her cheek.

"Thanks, princess."

Ariana

2:26 pm

I turn on my phone and see I had two messages from Frankie.

F: we're coming over.

F: be there in 5.

The first one was sent 37 minutes ago, and the second only 4 minutes ago.

"Frankie said they're coming over and they're gonna be here in like 2 seconds." I say.

"That's nice."

The doorbell rings and Aviella runs to open it.

"Uncle Frankie!" She squeals.

"TT!"

"Who the hell is TT?" Justin whispers.

"Toulouse. She can't say his name."

"That's adorable. In a manly way."

I smile as Frankie walks in with Aviella on his hip and Toulouse in front of him.

Toulouse immediately jumps on the couch and I pat his head.

"Where's mom?" I ask.

"She was called in to work. Being a doctor and all." Frankie sits down on the other couch, talking to Aviella about her game while I play with Toulouse, still sitting in Justin's lap.

"Toulouse, you're my favorite dog in the whole world." Justin says.

"No, he's my favorite." I say.

"I'm pretty sure-you know what? Never mind. There's really no point in arguing with you."

"There isn't." Frankie says as Toulouse jumps off the couch.

I look at him, sitting by himself now because Aviella was on the floor playing with Toulouse.

"How have you been, little sister?"

"Same as yesterday. You know, since I saw you yesterday. And the day before that, and the day before that, and the day before that-"

"Okay, I understand. Thank you. Why must you always have and attitude?"

"You don't gotta be rude to my mommy. She can say what she wants."  Aviella says.

"That's my baby. You tell em'." I smile, reaching my hand down to give Aviella a high five.

"You should not encourage her to do that." Frankie says.

"I've been trying to explain that to her but she won't listen." Justin tell him.

"You're not listhening!" Aviella yells.

I giggle at her pronunciation. She got that from some TV show and now it's her favorite phrase.