Midnight Train

Chapter 1

"James, honey, are you ready to go?" I call down the stairs.

"Yes, dear," I hear from my husband.

I walk downstairs to see the love of my life. Tonight is our twelfth year anniversary and every anniversary we do something special. Every year we ride the midnight train.

"You look beautiful," he tells me before kissing me on the cheek.

I chuckle at the comment because I'm dressed in jeans and a loose t-shirt. I definitely don't look my best, especially compared to what I usually wear. Since my husband worked for a famous youtuber, we have a substantial amount of money. My typical style is normally more sophisticated because of the company that we usually keep. Also because of that money, we have a semi-large mansion and a maid, named Justice, to help us.

"Mom!" I hear my son yell. "Bex took my book!"

"You took it from me first!" I hear my oldest daughter yell back.

"Sam, Bex, you both can share the book, or ask Justice to read it to you," I tell my bickering children. "Also, shouldn't you be in bed?" That's when I feel a tug on my pants leg. My youngest daughter, Atlanta, is the clingiest of my children. She gets scared when we go away and her solution is to cling to one on us, usually me.

"Do you have to go Mommy?"

"Yes honey. Justice and your siblings will take care of you. And you have to go to bed." I try soothing my nervous daughter.

"Do you want me to take her to bed, Mrs. Amendola?" Justice asks.

"That's alright, Justice. I can do it myself." I pick up Atlanta and carry her upstairs.

Passing my other children's rooms, I call in, "You'd all better be in bed."

I hear the scampering of frantic feet when I tuck Atlanta into her bed. I kiss Atlanta on the head and start to walk away when I hear her start crying. I walk back and start singing a little song to calm her down.

"Sleep, baby, sleep. It's time to go to sleep. Your mother shakes her dream land tree and down fall pleasant dreams for thee. Sleep, baby, sleep. Sleep, baby, sleep."

That seems to calm her down enough that I can slip out. I walk to my son's room and see him patiently waiting in bed for me. I ruffle his curly, dirty blonde hair. I give him a quick kiss on the forehead and start walking out of the room.

"No story?" he asks me in a fake pouty tone.

"Fine," I yield. "A few pages."

After ten minutes, I place the bookmark into the book before placing it down on the nightstand. With that, I leave and go to my oldest daughter's room. There Bex sits, brushing her hair, similar to mine.

"Shouldn't you be in bed?" I ask her.

"My hair's tangled. Can you help me brush it out?"

I take the brush from her and run it through her hair, taking care to slowly work out any knots I come to. After fifteen minutes of that, I place the brush down. She gets the hint and climbs into bed. I give her a kiss on the forehead and start to leave when Bex asks me if I can read her a story.

"Sorry, Bex, but the book is in your brother's room. Maybe tomorrow night."

"Of course," she mutters. "He always gets to have it."

"Don't be rude to your siblings, Bex. I promise I will read it to you tomorrow," I gently reprimand my eldest daughter.

"Sorry Mom."

"It's ok sweetie. See you in the morning."

I walk downstairs again and see James sitting on one of the steps below me. I can't help but stare at him. He's continued working out, and his physique is still impressive. I step down until I'm next to him.

"Did you get the kids to sleep?" he asks me.

"It took a bit, but yeah," I reply, laying my head on his strong shoulder.

He drapes his arm across my shoulders and we sit there peacefully, until we hear little running feet coming down toward us. That's when I feel the little body crash into me, almost knocking me over. Thankfully James could catch me and the person on my back. I hear James sign before the weight of a child is removed from me.

"Atlanta Rachael Amendola! What are you doing out of bed?" I hear James scold our smallest child.

"I mwissed you Daddy," Atlanta says with puppy eyes.

I look James in the eyes, a silent conversation passing between us. This has been a discussion between us ever since Bex was old enough to wonder where her parents went on their anniversary.

"I'll get Bex and Sam," I tell James. I walk upstairs and slowly enter Sam's room.

"Sam, buddy, are you still awake?" I softly ask. Sam sits up in bed, sleepiness in his eyes.

"Yeah, what's up Mom?"

"How would you like to join your father and I tonight?"

Sam grins wide before jumping out of bed, sleep forgotten. He bolts out of his room, and I call after him, "Shoes!"

I'm almost out the door when I remember the book. I grab it off the nightstand and go to my daughter's room. She has her pillow over her head so she can attempt to sleep.

"Why is Sam running around like a crazy person?" she angrily asks me.

"Do you want to join him?" I ask, ignoring her anger toward her brother.

Bex shoots me a confused look before I elaborate. "Would you like to join your father and I tonight?"

She jumps up, grabs her shoes, then runs downstairs. I follow my hyperactive children down the stairs. They were running around and in their hurry, they almost knock Justice over, who is putting towels in the linen closet.

"Kids!" I reprimand them. "Apologize to Justice." Even if Justice is a maid, I want my children to respect everyone, no matter their social status.

"We're sorry Justice," Bex and Sam reply, looking down at the ground.

"I forgive you," Justice replies, a smile on her face. She loves them just about as me much as James and I.

"Justice, feel free to take the rest of the night off," James tells her.

We walk out the door, James holding the hands of Bex and Sam, and me carrying Atlanta. We walk to one of our cars. Despite our wealth, we still have normal cars like Toyotas and Chevrolets. James opens the door for two of the kids and they clamor in. He then comes around to the other side and helps me get Atlanta in her car seat. Then, being the gentleman he is, opens my door for me as well. We kiss each other on the lips for a few seconds, to the displeasure of our kids.

"Ewww!" Bex, Sam, and Atlanta all chorus. We break away, foreheads touching, small smiles on our faces.

"We'd better get going," I whisper to James

"Yeah," James whispers back.

I climb in the passenger seat and James shuts my door before walking around to his seat. Soon, we are driving to our location, but our kids still don't know where we are going.

"Mom, where are we going?" Bex asks me.

I turn to them, a smirk flickering on my face, "You'll find out when we get there.