Xavier and I sat opposite the kids, staring into space and thinking of a solution to our mounting problem. These kids’ presence in our lives at this very moment will change a lot of things, and now we are stuck deciding who will take the kids along. We can’t leave them alone in this huge house. We dreaded the thought of leaving them alone, because right in front of us, a flower vase has broken, and it was Elizabeth who broke it. Now she is putting the blame on the twins, and they’re having a big fight.
“You broke it! Stop lying,” Elizabeth exclaimed, running around the sofa like a merry-go-round while the twins tried to catch her to get her to admit she did it.
We just sat there, watching them, disoriented from all of Nicole’s drama unfolding before us, more like chaos.
“Stop, Elizabeth! You’re going to hurt yourself!” Harper shouted, exasperated.
“I didn’t break it! Hayden did!” Elizabeth protested, dodging her sister’s grasp.
Hayden’s face reddened. “I didn’t touch it! You’re always breaking things, Elizabeth!”
Xavier and I exchanged a helpless glance.
“This is insane,” I whispered and slumped my back on the sofa.
Xavier rubbed his temples, finally coming to a conclusion. “We can’t leave them alone, Sarah. They’ll destroy the house.”
I nodded in agreement. “And what about your conference? You can’t miss it.”
Xavier sighed and buried his face in his palms. “And after the conference, I am going to the hospital… and you have exams.”
The argument escalated, swallowing the sound of our conversation. Elizabeth was now hurling a cushion at Hayden.
“Okay, that’s it!” Xavier stood up, his voice firm. “Enough!”
The children froze, startled by Xavier suddenly yelling.
“We need to figure out who’s taking care of you three,” he announced. Before he could continue, Harper or Hayden spoke up… gosh, I really have to get their names right.
“Mom said you’d take care of us, Daddy.”
Xavier’s expression softened. “I will, sweetie. That’s if you’re really my child.”
“Xavier, stop being in denial. It’s obvious. They look just like you,” I interrupted him, flashing him a wry smile.
He nodded and whispered so the children wouldn’t hear, “I’ll accept them only after the DNA test…” Then he turned to the kids. “I have a conference to attend, and Sarah here…”-he pointed to me-“has an exam to ace, so whoever takes you out, you will promise that person you will behave.”
Then he tilted his head, turning to me. “Have we decided? I know they are now my responsibility but I can’t take them to the hospital, I have a lot on my plate.”
I opened my mouth to protest, but Xavier’s pleading gaze silenced me.
“Please, Sarah. I’ll owe you one.”
I sighed. “Fine. But you owe me big time because these kids…” I trailed off, pointing to the children who had already taken their seats, staring at us.
“I have just one course, and I know who can help me watch over them on campus while I write.” I muttered, placing my hand on my head. Great, I get the kids-unlucky me…
Without warning, Xavier grabbed my waist and kissed my lips softly. “Thanks, Sarah. I know this is a lot for you. I’ll pay you back tonight, okay?”
I forced a smile and nodded. He returned the smile and kissed my lips again, his eyes filled with gratitude, and it made my heart flutter.
“I love you, and I know this is a lot to take in. Many girls might not accept this and I don’t know if you’ll…”
“Do I have a choice? You also don’t have a choice…” I sighed, hesitating to let the words I dreaded come out of my mouth. “We will take care of them together once we confirm you’re their father.”
He didn’t respond or smile; his gaze slowly dropped to the ground as his expression turned thoughtful. I could guess what he was thinking at the moment and felt a pang of empathy.
My smile grew wider as I pulled him in for a hug. “I won’t leave you, Xavier, because of the children, if that’s what you’re afraid of.” I said as my grip around him tightened. “I’ll stay, and we will go through this together, no matter how hard this is.”
I pulled away and kissed him back. “I’m sorry you had to go through this because of your crazy wife, but look on the bright side.” I chuckled and pointed at the kids. “You now have a family… of course after confirming it.”
We burst into laughter, and the kids chimed in, laughing. I attempted to roll my eyes at them, but this time I just couldn’t help it. They seemed sweet-no, scratch that-they’re chaos, but they won’t be so bad…. I hope.
******
As Xavier rushed to prepare for his conference, I faced the challenging task of managing three rambunctious children. I had to cook more food because what Xavier prepared wouldn’t be enough for the three of them, and I motioned to change their clothes but discovered that Nicole didn’t even bother to bring their things along with them. I turned the box upside down and found nothing else apart from a scrabble of papers to prove they were Xavier’s children, apart from Elizabeth. It seems Nicole plans on pushing that girl’s responsibility over to Xavier too, and it makes my blood boil.
“Okay, pack up kids, we are going out,” I announced, clapping my hands, and surprisingly, they obeyed and hurried to the exit. I attempted to hang my purse but noticed it had gone missing, so my eyes trailed to the kids.
“Over here! I just wanted to help you! Oh, you’re welcome!” Harper smirked, hanging my purse and cat-walking out the door.
I sighed and tried not to roll my eyes. I had been doing both since this morning, and I’m tired of it.
I followed behind them and carefully ushered all of them into the back seat, struggling to keep Hayden and Elizabeth from fighting over who got to sit by the window while Harper claimed the middle seat and refused to budge.
As if that argument wasn’t enough to make my head explode, they began arguing over whose turn it was to control the air conditioning vents.
I almost pummeled my head into the steering wheel in frustration.
What kind of mother would abandon not one but three children just for some personal reasons she refuses to disclose? I was afraid their presence would put a strain on I and Xavier new relationship.
“My head is spinning,” I muttered under my breath and started the engine. Little did I know, this was only the beginning of our chaotic adventure.