Core of My Heart [UNDER EDITING]

Lactose Intolerance

Ciara's P.O.V.

It was them. There they were. I cannot believe this. I'm finally getting my children back. The kids I haven't seen for years. I missed them so much. They've grown so big. And they're so beautiful. Finally, they're mine again.

They were in the backseats of my car, sitting quietly. The windows were down, so all I could hear was the wind going past my ears. Every time I glanced in the rearview mirror at them, they were looking out their windows. It kind of made it awkward to me. Just sitting there, not saying a word. But, hey. That's how it was the whole way there. I didn't want to force them to talk to me.

When we got to my house, I heard someone gasp. A small smirk appeared on my face. My house wasn't small, but it wasn't extremely big, like a mansion. A nice size. Perhaps, for a family with two children.

I got out and they did too. They both gazed at my house, Charlize had a look of pure amazement, Kaelynn looked a bit angry. Well, I wasn't expecting Kaelynn's reaction. I helped them with their bags (each had one), and showed them around the house. Charlize was astonished at every room we went through, whereas Kaelynn growled lowly.

"...Finally, here's the kitchen!" I said, holding my arms out. "You can get whatever you want. If it involves the stove or oven, you have to get me first. Okay?"

Charlize nodded while Kaelynn shrugged. I sighed softly before turning away from them to go to the fridge. "Are you guys hungry?" I asked.

"Ummmm..." Charlize pondered. A low rumble errupted out of nowhere, and I knew her answer.

"Great! I'll make sandwiches!" I exclaimed, making ham and cheese sandwiches for the two.

Kaelynn does not like me. I can tell she doesn't. The way she acts around me sets off my alarms. And, it's sad, too. Because, I'm her mom.

After they ate (well, Charlize ate), the youngest groaned. She held her stomach, and I rushed over to her.

"Charlize! Honey, are you okay?" I asked.

"Wh-what was in that sandwich?" She asked.

Kaelynn bent by her sister, looking at her face.

"I-it was ham and cheese!" I reaponded frantically.

Kaelynn's eyes widened. "She's lactose intolerant!"

"Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry! I didn't know!"

"Of course you didn't! You weren't here with her for most of her life, were you?"

Charlize got to the floor. "Kaelynn, I think I'm gonna--"

Her sentence was interrupted by a loud gagging sound, and lunch splattered against the floor.

***

I softly knocked on Charlize's door and waited for her answer.

"Come in," she said.

I did as I was told and sighed as I saw the young girl tucked into her bed still. She gave me a small smile, and I smiled back.

"Hey, girl. You okay?" I asked, sitting on the edge of her bed.

"Yeah. My stomach's feeling a bit better. Nothing to worry about."

"I truly am sorry about the whole thing. I made your first day here crappy."

"It's okay. You didn't know."

We both sat in a comfortable silence for a few minutes. Then, she said, "You're really nice, Ciara. None of our foster parents never really cared about us."

I was quite shocked and a little angry at that. Why would anybody want to do these children--MY children--like that? I'm pretty sure they wouldn't hurt anybody... Well, I'm sure Charlize won't. Kaelynn? I'm not so sure. I was almost tempted to tell them that I was their birth mom right then, but decided against it. It would probably freak them out telling them the first day of being with me, so I'll tell them some other day. Not today.

"Do you have kids?" Charlize asked, out of the blue.

I gulped nervously. "Uhhh, what do you mean?"

"I'm asking, do you have children?"

Quick, Ciara! Think of a way to get out of this without lying! I stuttered in trying to say something.

"I-uh... I-I'll tell you some other day, okay?" I answered while quickly standing up.

She looked very confused, but I gave her a small smile before getting out of her room. 'That was close,' I sighed. I turned around to be met by Kaelynn, who stared at me.

"Oh, hey, Kaelynn!" I said, smiling brightly.

Kaelynn ignored what I said. "What happened in there?"

"Mmmm, nothing major. Charlize and I had a little talk."

"About what?"

"You know, random things. What happened earlier, your past foater parents, uh--"

"Kids? Yeah, I heard you guys."

Oh no. Really?

I laughed nervously. "Well, y-yeah."

"Why won't you answer her?"

"She's...too young to understand. Besides, I'll tell her later."

"I'm not too young. You can tell me."

Crap, crap, CRAP! How can I get out of this situation now? "Uhhh...Later?"

Kaelynn narrowed her eyes at me before walking away. Yep, that girl does not like me!

A/N: Picture of house