“Care to stay here while I get the kids ready for bed?” I asked.
“No, no, no. I’m fine,” Emma said.
“Suit yourself. I’ll show you where the kids will be sleeping.”
I escorted her back through the kitchen and down the hallway. We walked through the living room as the night sky poured through the massive windows that looked out over the entire city of San Francisco. My bedroom was the first door on the left in the small alcove in the corner and the room where the kids would be sleeping was across the hall. There were two full-sized bunk beds and a lone full-sized bed with a sheer canopy blanketed over it.
You know, for Zoey.
My princess.
“Wow. This really is a room for the kids,” Emma said.
“I have it here specifically for them,” I said.
“And you sleep across the hall?”
“Do you want to know where I sleep?” I asked with a grin.
“Just a question, Mr. Aaron.”
“You
really should call me ‘Ryan’. It sounds so good in your voice.”
She shot me a look and I buried the grin trying to escape along my cheeks.
The kids were jumping around on their beds as Emma and I walked around the room. I tucked the boys in while Zoey talked to Emma underneath the sheer canopy, and I could tell their resolve was weakening. The boys were wondering when they were going to get to go home and I had a feeling Emma was fielding the same questions with Zoey.
I just didn’t think Benjamin would be brash enough to ask.
“What happened to Mom, Uncle Ryan?”
“Yeah. We know she’s not okay,” Hunter said.
“Is Mommy coming over tonight?” Zoey asked.
My eyes connected with Emma and I could see the pain running through them. She really did care for these children, and though she was a hardass at the school I knew the kids were lucky to have someone like her.
“You know how when you guys get sick, Mom practically locks you guys in your rooms and disinfects everything?” I asked.
“Yeah. It always smells like lemon. It’s gross,” Benjamin said.
“Is Mommy sick?” Zoey asked.
“She is. And right now, you guys are with me because the whole entire house has to be disinfected before you guys go home. Otherwise, you’ll get sick too.”
“But sometimes we’re sick for a long time,” Hunter said.
“Which is why you guys are with me. However long it takes for your mother to get better is how long you’ll be here. But don’t worry, because we’re going to have a lot of fun.”
“Promise?” Zoey asked.
I watched Emma brush my niece’s hair back from her forehead. A tender motion that tugged at a part of me I didn’t usually indulge.
“I promise, my princess.”
Zoey smiled at me and I saw the surprised look that Emma gave me. I kissed the boys’ foreheads before I headed for the door and watched Emma do the same with Zoey. She followed me and I turned out the light, then I closed the door and escorted her back into the living room.