Destination Love

Destination Love-Chapter Twenty-Six

"I don't want to." Chloe folded her arms over her chest, and shook her head. "Not without Dad." 

"Alright, that's fine, Chloe." Taylor turned to the younger daughter, "What about you, Ava?" 

Ava shook her head, "If Chloe doesn't then I don't want to." 

"Okay," Taylor laid Mason down in his crib, and turned to the two girls standing in the doorway, "That decides it. We wait for your dad." 

"What if Mom comes here?" Chloe asked. 

"She doesn't know where we are." Taylor followed the girls out the door and downstairs. "I don't want you girls to worry about this, okay. I'm not going to let her near you, unless you want her to be." 

"I don't." Chloe answered. 

Taylor nodded. "Well, I think the two of you should get to bed." 

Ava pouted, "I don't want to go to bed." 

"Well, sweetie," Taylor brushed a hand over the little girls hair, "You've had a long day, and we have a camp out with the kids tomorrow. It's going to be another long day." 

"Come on, Ava." Chloe held out her hand, "I'll help you brush your teeth." 

"Will you read me a story?" Ava looked to Taylor. 

"Of course." 

An hour later, with all three of the children sound asleep, Taylor flipped the deadbolt on both her front, and back doors. She checked the locks of all the downstairs windows before heading up to her bedroom. 

Too restless to sleep, she paced her bedroom. She'd sent Alex a text message just after leaving Allison at the spa. She hadn't said anything more then that she needed to talk to him. He hadn't answered, but she really hadn't expected him to. She hadn't heard from him since he left. 

She forced herself to shower, and change. Then settled on her bed to watch television. The clock had just ticked over to midnight when her phone dinged. She grabbed it to check the text. 

"Are you awake?" It was from Alex. 

"Yes." She responded. 

A moment later her phone rang with a video call. She couldn't help but smile when she saw his face pop onto her screen. "Hi." 

"Hello, beautiful. How are the kids?" 

Taylor climbed off the bed, and closed her bedroom doors. "They're good. Sleeping right now. They've been so amazing with the orphans. I think both the girls have made new friends. Chloe especially. There's a boy..." 

"A boy?" 

Taylor laughed at the annoyance in his expression. "Yes, Alex, your daughter is growing up. She's interested in a boy." 

"Yeah, I don't know about that." 

"Well, he's a sweet boy. He's very shy. I was surprised to see him talking at all, but Chloe got him to talk. She told me on the way home, that she sought him because he was standing alone. She didn't want him to be a wallflower at his own party." 

"Well, then I'm proud of her." Alex grinned. 

Taylor settled on her bed, and studied his features. "You look tired." 

"I'm exhausted. The facility opened yesterday, and I've been going non-stop all day." 

"Do you think you'll be home soon?" 

"Yes, in a few days." He cocked his head, "What's wrong?" 

Taylor took a breath, "Allison showed up at the spa."