Hayden's Desire

Chapter 6

Tuesday finally arrives and my day repeats like any other day; except tonight I have a date and dad wants to keep Cassian over night and just drop him off when he brings the boys tomorrow morning. After much debating with myself and making sure that dad was okay with keeping him over night because sometimes Cassian can be a handful when it comes to sleeping if his routine is messed with; even if he is staying with my dad.

The closer the time inches toward when Cassian and I need to fetch my brothers off the bus means it is closer to the time that Adam will be here to pick me up for our date. Cassian wakes from his afternoon nap and we go through our routine and then we head downstairs so he can watch an episode of something while playing before we have to head outside for the bus in about an hour.

An hour later of playing with Cassian and building whatever he wanted to over that time, we bundle ourselves in our warm clothing before heading outside and waiting. Fifteen long minutes later, the bus finally arrives and the boys bound off toward the two of us.

"Hey boys, how was school?" I ask walking up the drive with them on both sides of me as I carry Cassian.

"Good!" they holler as we enter the house.

The boys drop their bags just inside the door off to the side as their take off their warmer clothes. "Hayden, can we have a snack please?" Hadley asks as he returns Cassian hug.

"Sure Had, I'll make your snacks." I walk toward the telling them, "Start your homework so it's done before dad arrives. Oh, by the way, Cassian is spending the night tonight." I know telling them that will be motivation so that way when they go home, they have more time to play.

"Okay!" they quickly holler back and I can hear them messing with their bags and I smile brightly.

Making the three boys peanut butter sandwiches, one each, I head back into the living room with a tray filled with four plates (the fourth one is for me) and four small glasses of milk; because let's be honest here folks, who doesn't like a good glass of milk with peanut butter sammy's.

Handing the boys their plates and cups, I settle the tray on my stand next to the chair I usually sit in when there are more than just Cassian and myself here at home. Grabbing my sandwich I watch the boys do their homework and eat as Cassian just eats and watches his uncles do their school work.

Cassian notices that I'm sitting down and he comes over to me raising his arms with both hands full; one holding his cup of milk, the other has his sammy. Picking him up with a kiss on his sticky face, settling him on my right leg, as he and I continue to eat and watch Hadley and Harper eat and work silently.

Dad arrives at 4:15 p.m. about fifteen minutes earlier than he expected he would. By the time he arrived, both Hadley and Harper had all of their homework finished and they were excited to be able to play with Cassian all night until Cass has to be in bed.

"Hey son, how was your day, the boys?" dad asks entering the house with a smile and a hug for me and hugs and kisses for the little ones.

"Good, they've had a p.b. and j. sammy and milk for a snack an hour ago and all of their homework is done and correct."  

Dad nods with a satisfied grin as he turns to my brothers, "Get your stuff on and grab your bags so we can go home." Dad turns his attention to me as he picks Cassian up, "Is his bag packed, Hay?"

Pointing to the corner where the boys had placed their bags is Cassian's bag full of everything he will need until the morning. "Right by the twins' backpacks." Grabbing my keys, gesturing outside, saying, "I'm going to switch his car seat to your truck okay?"

Dad nods as he helps Cass with his cold weather clothes and shoes as I head outside. Taking my son's car seat from my Jeep and closing the door with my shoulder as I open the back door of dad's extended cab truck; placing the car seat on the bench seat before climbing inside.