Alex Martinson looked around the room and shook her head. She’d only been gone a few hours, the room looked like a bomb had gone off and the house was eerily quiet. She put her bags down and picked her way through the debris. All the rooms were empty and she carefully pushed open the door to the master suite. Alex gasped and ran for her camera; this was a shot of a lifetime. She inched her way into the room trying to be as quiet as possible, not wanting to disturb the scene. She snapped picture after picture and when she couldn’t resist any longer, she walked closer to the bed. She reached out a hand to touch, but shrieked when she was grabbed by the wrist.
“Don’t you dare wake them up,” Rick whispered. He untangled himself from his sleeping son and carefully slid from the bed. He ushered Alex quickly out of the room.
“I can see you three had fun while I was gone.”
“Fun … no … well, yes but it was a necessary sacrifice to save myself.” Rick grabbed Alex and kissed her passionately.
“Uh, that’s not going to work. This time you clean up the mess.”
Rick shrugged “I guess I’m losing my charm,” he sighed and looked as pathetic as possible.
“No you haven’t. I’m just wise to your scheme now.” Alex snuggled into his embrace. “They are so beautiful. Like little angels.”
“Yeah, but only when they are sleeping. What are we going to do, honey. They’ll be three next week, does that mean the terrible twos are going to end?”
“I have a feeling this is going to last for eighteen years.”
The two headed back to the family room and the mess that awaited them. They picked up toys, put cushions back and straightened out lampshades. When they were finished, Rick and Alex collapsed back onto the couch.
Rick kissed her forehead. “Promise you’ll never leave me alone again.”
“I promise I will never leave you alone.” Alex crawled into his lap, unbuttoned her favorite flannel shirt and kissed his chest.
“That works, too. I accept your apology.”
Alex made and indignant grunt and left the couch.
“Wait, what did I say?”
Alex looked at him over her shoulder and rolled her eyes. She returned with the bags from her shopping trip.
“Great, I could use some presents about now.”
“I got some stuff for the birthday party. I just wish they had more friends to invite.”
“Honey, they’re three and we are pretty isolated out here. My parents are inviting the grandkids of everyone they know and we have little Alex and Rose coming. I can’t believe Thane and Elena had Rose so quickly after Alexander,” Rick said.
Alex leaned in and kissed his cheek. “Can you keep a secret?” She asked.
“You know me.”
“Yes, I do blabber mouth. Elena may be pregnant again and if you say a word I will hurt you.” She pointed an angry finger at him. Last time, he had told Thane about the pregnancy before Elena had.
“Well, we need to be informed of these things, too and sooner better than later. Uh oh, I think I hear trouble.” Rick bolted from the couch and ran towards the bedroom.
Alex put her feet up and closed her eyes. Her life the last four years had been a whirlwind of emotions and events. She had rediscovered the love of her life, her soul mate in Rick and together they had produced beautiful, fraternal twins, Alyse and Brock. They had battled through potty training and were trying to survive the terrible twos. Even though there were two adults and two children they still felt outnumbered most of the time. Maybe that’s what it felt like having kids in your forties. Alex sighed and drifted off to sleep, content in the fact she had faced her fears and conquered most of them.