GETAWAY CAR

28. Dress

May 1st 2017

Taylor's POV

I know it's still early when I'm awoken by the shifting of the bed covers. I've become a light sleeper since I hit 12 weeks and it seems the bigger these babies grow, the more uncomfortable it gets for me to try and sleep. My eyes flicker open and I fumble around for my glasses on the nightstand to see Karlie sitting on the edge of the bed and my small movements drag her attention to me, so she smiles softly as she spots that I'm awake.

"I'm sorry, babe. Did I wake you?" She asks as she pulls her hair up out of her face. "No, I think your son did." I wince as I feel a kick to my rib, "no, that was definitely jellybean." I feel another softer kick to my side, "I don't think tiny liked being accused of something he didn't do." Karlie smiles at my commentary as I rub soft circles on my stomach, trying to calm them down a little so I can go back to sleep. She lies across the bed and leans over me, an elbow on either side of my stomach to support herself. She pulls the covers back and lifts my shirt to expose my bump, placing a hand either side of it and talking softly. "You two better settle down in there and be good for your mommy today. That means no more kicking, especially you jellybean, and no crazy cravings either." Her request is met with another kick to my ribs and Karlie clearly feels it too because she presses butterfly kisses all over my stomach which pulls a soft laugh from me as I bite my lip and watch my girlfriend, she's a little crazy but she's so in love with our family, I know she would do anything to protect our kids.

"I really need to get ready now, I can't keep the driver waiting for too long." Karlie looks up at me with sad eyes, she really doesn't want to leave me alone but she has to work. "How about you keep me updated on your schedule and if Maisie's feeling better then we can meet you for lunch?" She looks over to the baby who's still asleep in the middle of the bed and smiles, "only if her temperatures down and she's not as fussy." She notes and I nod, "you have a deal."

Karlie climbs out of bed as I fix my shirt and curl up under the covers. "Try and go back to sleep babe," she presses a soft kiss to my lips and then walks off into the bathroom. I hear the shower turning on and sigh, she doesn't want to go and I don't want her to go either but there's nothing she can do, it's her job.

•••

I wake up again a couple of hours later, but this time I'm awoken by Maisie. I grab my glasses and put them on as I sit up, the rest of the house is quiet so I assume Karlie's gone. Maisie's lying in the bed beside me as she cries and I manage to push myself up so I'm supported by the mountain of pillows as I pick her up. "Hey there, little bug." I smile at the baby as I comfort her, adjusting to the idea of being awake before getting out of bed. I pick up my phone to check the time, it's nearly nine so I know Karlie's been gone for at least an hour. "Are you hungry, bug?" I speak to the baby who's stopped crying, but she's still fussing in my arms as I throw my legs over the side of the bed.

"Are you coming dibbles?" I call after the cat who's still lying on my bed and she jumps down, slowly sauntering over and out of the room as I close the door behind me. I balance Maisie on my hip as I walk downstairs and into the open plan of my kitchen and dining room. I sit Maisie in her bumbo which is on the counter top, this way I can make her bottle and still keep an eye on her but I don't have to bend down to pick her back up. She babbles away as I make her a bottle and I talk to her as if I'm replying to whatever she's saying and she loves it.

I wait for her bottle to cool down and feed the cats instead, lifting their bowls onto the countertop as I fill them. "Where are you, mere?" I look for the cat and find her under the table. "Here you go." I sit their bowls back down on the floor, struggling as I get back up from the ground.