Teens Undercover

Chapter 4

Teens Undercover

Chapter 4

I silently walk into the house the best I can, praying that I don't wake my brothers and sisters.

I pull Jay with me up the stairs, praying that he will have a quiet foot tread.

This is the most praying I've done in my life.

I show Jay his room and go to mine, everything just the way I remember it. I put down my bag and flop onto my bed, pulling one of my pillows to my chest, breathing deep.

"HOPE!" Claire screams, jumping on my bed, landing next to me.

"Hi cutie, where's Blaire? You never go anywhere without her." I say, kissing the top of her head.

"Blaire with Jay." She says, pulling my pillow under her head, smiling at me, her front tooth missing.

"You lost a tooth." I say, pulling her onto my stomach, lifting her in their air with my feet.

She giggles and screams, kicking her legs around, "Down!" She yells as I tickle her sides.

"Only if I can have a kiss." I say, lowering her.

"No!" She giggles, putting her hands over her lips.

"Nobody's getting down anytime soon...." I tease, lifting her back up.

I fly her around like an airplane, tilting to one side them bringing her back over to the other side.

"Down Hope, down!" She says, trying to get down as I tilt her to the side.

"Only for a kiss." I say, lowering her, tilting my cheek to her.

She places a quick on my cheek, "Okay, down!" She says, squirming around.

I tilt her back, flipping her gently off my bed, "How about some strawberries?" I ask, picking her up and holding her on my hip.

"STAWBERRIES!" She yells, pointing out the door.

I laugh and carry her into the kitchen, setting her on the counter. I pull a container of strawberries out of the fridge, pulling a cutting board out and cutting the stems off and cutting them into sliced. I grab some instant vanilla pudding and mix it up, adding the strawberries to it, adding some chocolate sauce on top and setting in on the table, taking Claire over to the table, passing her a soon, "So, as good as before?" I ask, taking a small bite.

I look at her, pudding and chocolate all over her face, she nods quickly, eating more, pudding dripping down her face and onto her bib I put on her before we started eating.

"Are you glad I'm home?" I ask cautiously, truly wondering if she is happy to see me.

I was already enrolled in 18 & Done when the twins were born, so I never really got to spend anytime with them, or really any of the kids for that matter, but I make sure that I always play with Claire and Blaire whenever I visit, I want them to know for a fact that I love them.

Claire turns and looks at me, wiping her face with a napkin, setting it on the table next to her empty bowl, she jumps down, walking over to me and leaning against my knees, "Always Hope. I love you." She says, wrapping her arms around my legs, resting her head on my lap.

I bite back tears that threaten to spill, get it together Hope, you're an agent for the government, you're not supposed to cry.

I pull Claire up onto my lap, wrapping my arms around her, "I love you more baby girl." I say, taking off my jacket and wrapping it around her, kissing her nose.