A Different Divergent: A Better Tomorrow

~eighty-seven~

Chapter 87

I'm lying on our couch, listening to my family make a racket in the kitchen while the aroma of garlic, tomato, pepperoni, and Italian seasoning wafts throughout the apartment, making my stomach growl loudly. It feels like lunch was days instead of hours ago. Maybe I haven't been getting enough calories lately. It takes a lot out of me nursing two babies. I need to keep up my strength. Tobias insisted that I rest when we got home because I was practically sleepwalking up the path on our trip from the Pit to the Pire. I couldn't stop yawning and even bumped into his shoulder then bounced off his hard body, stumbled over my own feet, and nearly fell but now I'm wide awake. I think the thought of accidentally going over the edge of the path with my little Peanut in my arms woke me up. I tried arguing with him at first, telling him that she would want to be nursed as soon as we got home but she's still asleep so I gave in to his wishes.

Tyler and Tessa were both very happy to see us when we walked through the door. Tessa cooed and babbled then squealed and kicked excitedly when she saw me, and once again Tyler rushed to his daddy, thankful that he was home safe and sound. I think they've both been picking up on Dauntless' troubles and our increased stress. We asked Avery and Callen to stay for supper but they already made plans with some of their other friends so we decided to make only one pizza, and because he's had such a rough day, we let Tyler pick it out. I was secretly hoping for my favorite, the Canadian bacon and pineapple, but he wanted his old standby, pepperoni.

An extremely loud clap of thunder rumbles in the distance, and a flash of lightning illuminates the apartment. Oh, no! Our kids all have one thing in common, they are terrified of storms. I hear Tyler start whining at the exact same moment Tessa and Peanut burst into tears. I sit up on the couch, linger for a moment while getting my bearings then get up and go to Peanut's bassinet.

"There's no need to be scared, Peanut," I say as I pick up my now very wide awake baby girl. "Mommy's got you." I nestle her safely in my arms and head into the kitchen as the electricity goes out. Just before darkness envelopes us, I see Tobias picking Tessa up out of her booster chair.

"Oh, great," he mumbles.

"I'm right here," I say, letting him know that I'm close. "Why don't we go sit on the couch? Tyler, can you give Mommy your hand?"

"No. I want my daddy," he whines.

"I need to get some candles so we can see, buddy," Tobias says. "I need you to go with Mommy." I find his hand and lead him into the living room with Tobias on my heels. Flashes of lightning give us just enough light to get situated by. I sit down on the end of the couch and Tyler crawls up right beside me. He wraps his arms around mine, and I lean over and kiss his head. I can feel his whole body shaking with fear. Poor little guy. I shift Peanut to one arm, and Tobias sits Tessa on my lap. This is one of those times that an extra arm or two would come in handy. "Mommy's got all of you. There's absolutely nothing to be frightened of, okay?"

"You pwomise?" Tyler asks, his voice quivering.

"I promise, buddy," I say. I wish I could wrap my arms around him and give him some comfort but I'm afraid Peanut would dive head first on to the floor without my arm securely around her. While the four of us sit huddled closely on the couch, Tobias gets candles out of the pantry in the kitchen and lights them all over the first floor of our apartment. If it weren't for the whining, crying, sniffling, and tears, it would be a romantic setting.

"I know I promised you no work tonight, love, but I've got to check with maintenance and see when we can expect the lights to come back on and then I need to call Shauna to make sure there are no injuries."