A Different Divergent: A Better Tomorrow

~nineteen~

Chapter 19

Tobias pulls into our regular parking space in the Dauntless underground garage and turns the car off. I glance over my shoulder at the two peacefully sleeping innocent faces in the backseat. Tessa was already napping when I buckled her into her car seat, and she's yet to stir. Tyler, on the other hand, was out like a light before we exited the park even though he was constantly telling us he wasn't tired right up until the point he fell asleep.

"I'll get Tyler and you get Tessa then I'll come back and get the rest of the stuff," Tobias says.

"Why don't you move the car to the Pire so you don't have to walk as far," I say as he's getting ready to get out of the car. He thinks about my suggestion for a moment.

"We're already parked," he says. "I don't mind the walk but I'll move the car if you would like to shorten yours." I roll my eyes at him, and he grins.

"Come on," I say as I open my door. "Let's get the kids home." We manage to unbuckle Tyler and Tessa, take them out of their seats, carry them through the garage, up the steep path to the Pire, and to our apartment, then up to their rooms without waking them. I turn the baby monitor on and decide to take a nap myself or at the very least rest while the kids are down.

The smell of taco meat wafting through the apartment wakes me up, and I get out of bed. I first check Tyler's room but find it empty. He obviously is downstairs with Tobias while he's making supper. I walk into Tessa's room, and she looks like she just woke up as well. I change her diaper and put her into a short sleeved pink onesie that she can sleep in and put her romper in the hamper. I watch her carefully as I head for the kitchen, checking for signs that she's hungry but don't find any.

"Hi, Mommy," Tyler says when he sees us. "Daddy's making tacos." His grin is splitting his face in two. He loves tacos. It's one of his favorite foods.

"I know," I say, kissing his head. "That's what woke me up." I put Tessa in her swing, set the timer, and walk into the kitchen to offer my assistance.

"You can kiss the cook," Tobias says, pointing to his mouth with the bamboo spoon he's holding when I ask what I can do. I go up on my tiptoes and gently press my lips to his. We move our mouths together gently until Tyler starts giggling. We look at him, and he's covering his face with his hands. I roll my eyes and start laughing at his innocence.

"How about I get the plates ready," I say. I take a step closer to Tobias, and he looks down at me. I lower my voice so we can't be overheard before I continue. "Let's show Tyler the new place after supper and see what he thinks."

"That's a great idea," he says. "We have plenty of time before Avery comes over. I'm looking forward to his reaction." I set up a little taco bar in the middle of the island and get plates out of the cupboard. "Hey, Tyler, come here. I'll get you in your seat." He comes running over, and Tobias lifts him into his booster seat. We have a wonderful dinner just the four of us. I like eating with our friends in the cafeteria but it's our home cooked meal nights that I absolutely cherish.

Tyler makes funny faces at Tessa causing her to laugh while Tobias and I clean up the kitchen after we finish our meal. I'm so stuffed that I feel like I'm moving backwards. Once everything is sparkling clean, Tobias and I sit down on the couch to rest up before heading across the hallway.

"Tyler, can you come here?" I ask as Tobias gets up to retrieve Tessa from her swing. He sits Tessa in my lap, and I check to see if she's hungry. She could probably wait a little while longer but since she's refusing bottles I need to make sure she's finished before we leave tonight. I get a receiving blanket out of the diaper bag and cover us up as she nurses.