Morphine

Chapter Forty One

"You're here!" Jeanette blinked in surprise.

"Yes." Marceline Anne smiled.

"But it's so icy out. They said if you don't have to come outside, don't."

"But we did. We had to see you."

Jeanette melted. "Aww!" She realized she was standing in the open doorway. "Oh my goodness, come in!"

Malcolm and Marceline Anne came inside.

Jeanette shut and locked the door behind them. "You must be so cold!"

"It's a bit nippy out there." She took off her coat.

He took her coat and his and put them on the coatrack. "Just a bit."

"How's my baby?" Jeanette cupped his face.

"Mom!" He blushed.

She hugged him.

He gave Marceline Anne a long suffering look.

She giggled until Jeanette let him go to embrace her. "How's my pregnant baby?"

Marceline Anne blinked. "You're hugging me."

"Yes. I hug my children." Jeanette pulled back. "You're mine now."

"Okay..."

"Say "Yes, Mother" and we'll get along swimmingly."

"No, Mother."

Jeanette's face broke as Malcolm laughed. "But I said-?"

"I heard you." Marceline Anne confirmed. "I'm no one's yes person."

Marceline Anne didn't know but she was gaining even more favor in Jeanette's book. "And you shouldn't be!"

"Why does that sound like a threat?"

"It's not." Jeanette pointed to her boots. "Do you need help?"

"I can still bend over."

"Nope!" Malcolm knelt in front of her and unzipped her boots.

"So you're going to take my shoes off until I give birth?"

"And put them on." He took her left foot out.

She rolled her eyes as Jeanette smiled.

M-

Malcolm opened the door. "You made it!"

"Of course!" Michael the Fourth chirped. "You guys made it last night; I can return the favor."

"Come in." Malcolm opened the door wider.

Michael stepped inside and took off his outside gear. "What'd you do all day?"

"I like that we have no school for the past two days but it's thrown us off." Malcolm frowned.

"How so?" Michael finished and followed Malcolm to the kitchen.

"We still get up early and do schoolwork but we still go to work but only for an hour. Everywhere else is closed."

"I haven't gone to work."

"Really?! Don't they need you?"

"Nope. Everybody's staying either at home or they don't call me. I've been on call but no one's called."

"I've been doing work in my office. Getting caught up on things that lapsed during our vacation? I'm not sure it's worth it."

"Don't go."