A Different Divergent: A Better Tomorrow

~ninety-two~

Chapter 92

Our black sedan rolls to a stop in front of my parent's simple house, the sounds of an unseasonably warm Sunday morning coming through my open window. As Tobias is turning off the ignition, Tyler is in the backseat between his sleeping sisters bouncing up and down excitedly in his car seat. He's been extremely hyper since we told him our plans for the day after baths and breakfast were over.

"Tyler! Calm down, buddy," I quietly say, turning in my seat to look at him. "Don't wake your sisters."

"I sowwy," he says. Usually scolding him makes him pout but not today. His eyes are bright and his mood is light. He's so excited to see my mom and dad. Tobias and I quietly get the girls out of the car then unbuckle Tyler. Once he's free, he flies up the walkway. Almost like she has a sixth sense, my mom opens the door just in time for Tyler to launch himself into her open arms.

"Hello, my sweet boy," she says, hugging him tightly.

"Hi, Gwamma!" he says returning her hug just as fiercely then he leans back and gives her a big, wet kiss right on the mouth. "I miss you this much." He stretches his arms out as far as he can.

"That's how much Grandpa and I missed you," she says.

"I thought I heard a racket," Dad says with a chuckle as he steps out of the house, a bright smile turning up his lips. I study their faces, and they look so much more relaxed than the last time I saw them. He holds his arms out to Tyler who immediately goes to him. Tobias and I walk up to the happy reunion carrying Tessa and Teagan who are still napping in their car seats.

"You look tired, Beatrice," Mom says as she ushers us inside the house. The aroma of a typical plain Abnegation meal welcomes me when I cross the threshold.

"I am," I sigh unable to hide my fatigue. "Neither of the girls are feeling very well, and they had me up most of the night."

"Poor babies," she says as she gets Tessa out of her seat. I pick up Peanut and realize she's a bit warm so I take off her gray, mint green, pastel pink, and white hoodie with cute little ears, leaving her in matching mint green pants and a white short-sleeved onesie with a mint green bow on the front. Her eyes flutter open, and she starts crying. "Ssh. You're okay." I press my lips to her forehead and can tell that she's feverish without having to retrieve the thermometer from her diaper bag. I then check to see if she's hungry, and she grimaces when she tries to suckle my finger.

"What's wrong with her?" Mom asks, concern clear in her voice.

"Double ear infection and something called thrush," I say.

"Oh, yes," she says, nodding her head. "Unfortunately, you and your brother both had it more than once when you were infants so I know what you're dealing with."

"I'm going to try and nurse her," I say. I first give her a dose of acetaminophen then try to put her to my breast. She latches on and suckles for a couple minutes but releases me and cries louder. "It's been a very trying 24 hours with Teagan, and poor Tessa is cutting her first tooth so she's been really moody. As a matter of fact, I think it popped through sometime early this morning but it's very faint so I'm not 100% sure." Mom sticks her finger in Tessa's mouth, and a huge smile curls up her lips.

"I can feel it," she says. "The worst should be over for her until the next tooth comes in." After working really hard, Peanut settles into a nice, steady rhythm and stops making faces like she's in pain. I don't know what helped but I'm grateful for whatever it is. "Your father told me a little about the reason for your visit today not that you need a reason to come over. How are your friends, Will and Tori is it?"