woke up. She smiled as she realized Daniel was still holding her. Peeking through her sleepy eyes, she met his with a cheeky grin.
‘Hi,’ she said.
‘Hi,’ he replied. ‘I think your kids might be awake.’
Sarah groaned. No matter how much she missed them, the novelty quickly wore off when the hard work kicked in. She snuggled into Daniel, basking in his presence for one last time, before forcing herself out of bed to go and get Megan and Bea.
Sarah pulled a dressing gown off the back of her door and wrapped herself up in it. She looked up at Daniel hesitantly, not sure if she should invite him down for breakfast.
‘Hmm, I probably shouldn’t let my kids know you slept in here…’
‘Don’t worry,’ he smirked. ‘I’ll stay up here - probably best if I don’t intimidate your kids this early in the morning.’
‘OK,’ Sarah replied.
She opened her heavy wooden door and snuck out into the hallway. She poked her head around Megan’s door, with a grin on her face.
Megan jumped out of bed, full of early morning energy, and ran into her arms.
‘Mommy, Mommy. I love you Mommy.’
‘I love you too sweetheart,’ Sarah replied, hugging her tightly.
Sarah took her slender hand and walked to Bea’s room. Bea slept in a cot, and when Sarah entered she was still lying down and hugging her teddy.
‘Mommy, I thought you were asleep Mommy,’ Bea said in her cute baby voice.
‘I’m awake now little one,’ Sarah said.
Sarah let go of Megan’s hand and stretched out her arms for Bea as Bea clambered to her feet, her duvet and teddy falling by her side. Sarah lifted Bea out and she gave her a snuggly hug.
‘Big hug,’ Bea said. Sarah hugged her even tighter.
‘I love you sweetheart,’ Sarah said to Bea too.
‘Oatmeal’ said Bea.
‘I want Krispies,’ said Megan.
‘What do you say?’ Sarah asked, the frustration instantly kicking in.
‘Please can I have Rice Krispies Mommy,’ she said reluctantly.
‘No!’ Said Bea, ‘Oatmeal.’
‘Mommy,’ said Megan - whining.
‘You can both have what you want,’ Sarah said, trying to maintain patience.
She wondered what Daniel thought of their typical morning exchange. She betted he could hear everything they said with his super vamp hearing.
Sarah sighed, and walked downstairs holding Bea tight. Her diaper was overfull but dealing with that could wait until after breakfast. Megan ran down the stairs ahead.
She made them their breakfast while they squabbled over toys at the table. They were finally quiet when she gave them their food, so she started to prepare her coffee and oatmeal. She stirred in some raisins and jam, and tucked in, leaning against the counter while she waited for her coffee to be ready.
She thought about the following days of staying in and shuddered. She already felt restless at the idea. She was brimming with energy and wanted to walk in the woods, to let Megan run riot between the trees. That idea was out though - somehow she didn’t think Daniel would classify that as safe.
Maybe she could drive to her parents and let Megan and Bea play there for a little bit. Or she could visit her friend Melanie who had three kids - it was even more chaos than at Sarah’s. It meant she was an easy person to see though; very understanding of life with kids. There was also Megan’s school - they would call if she didn’t turn up.
Sarah rolled her eyes at herself; she couldn’t believe she had nearly overlooked school - maybe she wasn’t coping as well as she’d thought.
‘Megan, hurry up with your breakfast - we need to get you ready for school!’
What followed was an hour of running around getting ready, Sarah trying hard to control her temper and to be patient with her children. When she returned upstairs to get dressed Daniel was up and fully clothed. He was wearing his black jeans and shirt from the previous night. He looked like he had already showered as his hair was wet and messy. He looked hot.
‘Sorry about all the noise,’ she said, laughing at herself.
‘Don’t worry, it’s a nice change,’ he called in a hushed voice, as she was already in the bathroom - hurrying to ready herself. She could hear Bea starting to whine downstairs and she wondered what they were up to.
Daniel poked his head around the door as she was brushing her teeth, not yet fully dressed. She blushed instantly, and wished she was made-up and looking sexy. He didn’t seem to mind though; he was looking at her