Perspective

Bonus: 4

"MOMMA!" Hayden shouts. "More cereal!"

"I'm coming, baby. Give me one sec," I call to my 3 year old.

Asher randomly left this morning without telling us. Whenever I called him, he just said that he's busy. Now I'm in charge of taking care of both kids, writing my presentation about irrigation systems, and getting the house cleaned up

Asher and I bought a house in a city about 4 hours away from our hometown. I'm 23 and Asher is 24. Asher opened his own branch of his dad's company near us. I'm currently on my way to get my PhD in agricultural sciences. The kids are doing great. Harper is in 2nd grade already and Hayden is 3 years old. Both of them are great kids. I'd say Asher and I are doing good when it comes to parenting and plus the kids are just naturally like that.

I walk out of the room, holding a bag of laundry.

"Harper, can you pour Hayden some more cereal?" I ask my 7 year old who just walked downstairs.

He walks over to his baby sister and pours some cereal into her bowl.

"Good morning, Mom," he greets me as I put clothes in the washing machine.

"Good morning, baby." I kiss his forehead before pouring detergent in the washing machine and turning it on.

"Where's Dad?" He asks.

"I have no clue. He just left and he won't really answer me."

"He ran away?"

"I hope not," I mutter under my breath.

On cue, my phone beeps with a text.

It's from Asher.

I read the text and immediately call him.

"I didn't have time to make pancakes," I tell Harper. "Eat some cereal, okay?"

He nods before getting a bowl.

"Hey, baby," Asher greets me on the phone. I slip into our room so the kids can't hear.

"Are you out of your damn mind?" I ask my boyfriend. "I'm not driving 4 hours with two kids."

"Please?"

"Asher, no. Absolutely not."

"Please, babe."

"There is nothing important enough to make drive that long."

His dumbass texted me and told me to bring the kids to our hometown. I'm already busy, I don't have time to drive there and back.

"Baby, please," Asher begs.

"Give me one good reason, Ash."

"The twins have their cheer competition today and I promised that the three of you would come."

"Why didn't you just say that? You had me so stressed out for so long."

"I'm sorry." There's a pause. "How are the kids?"

"They're great. Did you get there safely?"

"Yeah. I love you."

My stomach flutters. "I love you too."

"And the kids. I love them too."

I smile. "They love you too, baby."

"Drive safe, beautiful."

"I will. Bye, baby."

"Bye, sunshine."

We end the call and I leave the room.