A Different Divergent: A Better Tomorrow

~thirty~

Chapter 30

I groan into my pillow when Tessa's incessant fussing through the baby monitor wakes me up about 10 minutes before our alarm is set to go off. I shouldn't complain though, she slept almost six full hours last night. She's such a remarkable baby. I swing my legs over the side of the bed and reach for my robe. I slide it on as my feet hit the ground then I quietly make my way into her room. She's whining loudly and on the verge of a full-blown meltdown, which neither of us want. I change her into a dry diaper then sit down in her rocker. She smiles up at me as she latches onto my nipple and tears spring to my eyes. She was 12 weeks old yesterday. Time is going by entirely too fast. It seems just like yesterday that I held her in my arms for the first time and now she rolls over, smiles brightly at everyone, and laughs out loud. I love her milestones but I worry that I'll start missing them since I've gone back to work, and I don't want to miss a thing.

"Love, what's wrong?" Tobias asks as he pads into the room, his concern for me evident. He's been so loving with me during this pregnancy and patient with my irrational mood swings.

"She's growing so fast," I whisper, emotion choking me. He runs the back of his fingers gently down the side of my face, wiping away some of my tears. "Do you remember a conversation we had a while ago about me working?"

"Yeah," he slowly says, obviously wondering where this is going.

"I've made a decision, Tobias," I say. "I want to work from the Pire, unless there's an emergency, of course, but I only want to work Monday through Friday with reduced hours, perhaps 10-4 or 10-6. I know it means a pay cut but I'm more than okay with that. I want to spend more time with the kids but I don't think I would feel like me without my job. Tori will become your second, and I'll take over Harrison's duties. I'll keep my seat on the council though since it's been decided that all meetings will now be held inside the city on a three-month rotating schedule. I'm already familiar with the duties and the other representatives, and it isn't time consuming. I also think we should hire a nanny like Will and Christina did for Liam."

"You really have been thinking about this," he says. "I'm behind you 100% if this is what you really want."

"It is," I say. "And one more thing," I take a deep breath to steady my nerves, "I don't want to train the initiates after this year. When I agreed to do this with you, we didn't have a family. I honestly feel like we're neglecting Tyler and Tessa with the amount of time we're with the misfits throughout the day and with all the extra time at home we spend on paperwork."

"Okay," he says, surprising me. I thought I'd have a fight on my hand with this news. "I actually have been having the same thoughts running through my mind. I miss spending time with the kids, and it's hard trying to juggle everything. I think the transfers will be better off with someone who can focus all their attention on them in the future."

"Wow, we made a lot of decisions today, and it's barely 6 a.m.," I say. "Do you think Tori, Will, and Harrison will be okay with my reduced hours?"

"Yeah, they will," he says. "We've had this discussion also. They thought you would quit. They're going to be thrilled you've decided to continue. You make one hell of a leader, Tris." I blush at his unexpected compliment. "I better wake up Tyler and get him ready." He gives me a soft kiss before he kisses Tessa's head then turns for the door.

"What time do we have to be at the train?" I ask. It must be pregnancy brain because I should know this.

"The operator is stopping the train for us at 7:55 so we can get on. I told the transfers that they are to be at the platform no later than 7:50," he says. "Do you want breakfast here or in the cafeteria?"