Good Things

Chapter 4

"Mama, mama, mama." Addison mumbles as she tries to climb into Camila's lap. She still wasn't walking even though she was two.

"Addison, it's late. You should be in bed." Camila said with a frown.

The two year old continues trying to climb onto Camila's lap. "Mama,"

Camila stood up and lifted Addison up. She carried her to her room and put her down in the crib. "Sleep."

"No! Mama!" The two year old screams, holding her arms out for Camila.

"Addison, I am really not in the mood for this right now, so lie down and close your eyes." Camila said sternly.

Tears immediately fill Addison's eyes and shakes her head. "Up!"

"Addison!" Camila shook her head before leaving the room.

The two year old screamed as she stood in her crib, catching Lauren's attention.

"I'll be back in a moment." Lauren kissed the top of Marley's head and left her youngest daughter's room.

Addison held her arms out toward Lauren, tears streaming down her cheeks.

Lauren reached out and gently wiped Addison's tears away before lifting her up and carrying her back to Marley's room to finish helping her daughter with her homework.

She had yet to be told about the death threats from Kitty.

Relaxing against Lauren, the little girl closes her eyes.

"Where were we?" Lauren asked gently as she sat down on Marley's bed beside her.

Marley bites her lip and points at the problem she was on, it was dividing decimals.

Lauren nodded as she read of the question. "How do you think you do it?" She asked.

"I don't know." The teenager responds, running a hand through her hair. "It's confusing."

Addison shifts in Lauren's arms and releases a tired yawn.

Lauren explained how to divide by decimals in the simplest way she could before doing an example. "Now you try." She said softly. A part of her brain couldn't help but wonder if Marley was dyslexic because she always struggled with math.

Marley bites her lip and tries to do the next problem, accidentally flipping a six into a nine.

Lauren waited until Marley was finished before checking the answer with the answer she had gotten.  "Not quite." She said. "It's a six, not a nine."

Frowning, Marley looks up at Lauren. "That's what I put."

Lauren shook her head, showing Marley her paper. She pointed to the number. "That's a nine." She put the paper down and pointed to the six on the question. "That's a six."

Embarrassment fills Marley's eyes and she looks down. "Oh."

"Don't be embarrassed." Lauren said softly. "I'm your mother. You don't have to get embarrassed in front of me. I'm here to teach you." She leaned over and kissed he side of Marley's head. "It's okay."

Biting her lip, Marley looks up. "But I messed up."

"Everyone makes mistakes, Marley. No one is perfect." Lauren said softly.

Addison shifts in Lauren's arms once more and releases a frustrated whine. "Mama,"

"Shh." Lauren gently ran her fingers through Addison's hair. She looked back up at Marley. "It's okay."

"I'm tired." Marley mumbles in response.

"Okay. I'll write your teacher a note and explain why you haven't finished the homework." Lauren said softly.