Fulfillment Golland, M. (best classic literature TXT) 📖

or dare, which one?” I successfully diverted her pendingquestion.

“Dare,” sheanswered excitedly.

Nate quicklyjumped in again. “Fart.”

“Nate!” Iexclaimed. Charli let off another one. “Geezus, Charli!” Howdoes she freakin’ do that?

Bryce waslaughing hysterically while looking between me and the kids. Iplaced my head in my hands, amazed at Charli’s now apparent talentfor breaking wind on cue.

“My turn.”Nate shuffled on the spot. I had the urge to demand he fart, butthat would only detriment us all in the long run.

“Alright,truth or dare?” I asked him.

“Truth,” hereplied confidently.

Excellent,I may just like this game yet. “Did you eat that Brusselssprout, or did you give it to Bryce when I wasn’t looking?”

He quicklyglanced at Bryce and answered “Noooooo,” in a very drawn out, slowvoice. I turned in Bryce’s direction, catching him franticallymoving his head from side to side and telling Nate to say ‘no.’

“Liar!” Charlishouted and pointed to Nate. “You have to do it again.”

Natehuffed.

“Okay.” Ilooked at Bryce and squinted my eyes with a silent message that hewas about to get found out, then I looked back at Nate, opening myeyes wide with warning that he better not lie. “Did Bryce say thatDanny could drive you to school in the limo?”

Nate’s openeyes broadened then he screwed up his face.

“Nate?” Iprobed.

He closed hiseyes then nodded twice.

I pointed toBryce. “Ha, I knew it. I knew it.”

He tried tograb my finger in an attempt to bite it then winked at Nate. “Myturn and I choose truth this time.” He looked directly at Charliwith a knowing smile.

She didn’thesitate and quickly jumped in, asking the question she attemptedmoments ago. “Are you going to ask Mummy to marry you?”

“Yes,” hesnapped out before I even had a moment to break their alliance.

“When?” sheblurted out quickly.

“Soon,” heanswered, just as fast.

“Howsoon?”

“Charli!” Iinterrupted. Nate laughed.

“Soon, soon,”Bryce continued.

“Bryce!” Ipoked him. He is just as bad as both of my kids.

“Are you goingto have a baby?” Charli continued. Whoa! Okay, gameover.

“I thinkthat’s enough of truth or dare for tonight.” I switched my tone ofvoice to the game’s-up-I’m-now-serious one.

“Awww,” theyall whined.

“Maybe. Wouldthat be okay?” Bryce continued to answer Charli’s question,ignoring my request that we end the game before thebaby-in-my-uterus cat was let out of the bag.

“Yeah. Thatwould be awesome,” Charli added. “I love babies, but only if it’s agirl baby. Boys are crap sometimes.” She poked her tongue out atNate. He responded by throwing his dirty socks at her. “See what Imean? They are disgusting. Yuck!”

“What aboutyou Nate? Would that be okay?” Bryce queried my son. Oh Shit! DoI want to hear this answer?

“I guess...butaren’t you too old, Mum?”

“No. I’m nottoo old, and anyway, it’s bed time. Come and give me a kiss thenhop back into bed.”

Both Nate andCharli climbed onto our bed and gave me a kiss. Charli even climbedover to Bryce and placed a peck on his cheek then bumped fists withhim, in a modern high-five gesturing kind of way. I shook my headat the realisation that he had successfully been able to infiltratemy children’s brains in order to have them side with him and gangup on me. I shot a baffled smile at him, turned off the light andsnuggled into to his chest.

He wrapped hisarms around me, lightly kissed my neck then whispered into my ear.“I had a really great time today, thank you for sharing your familywith me.”

I smiledalthough I knew he couldn’t see it. “What’s mine is yours,remember?”

His griptightened.

***

Lying in bedthe following morning had me thinking about what Bryce said beforewe had drifted off to sleep. I realised that the reason he’dconfessed to having such a great time the day before was because hehad missed out on having similar family experiences himself. WhereI took our family gatherings for granted or saw them as everydayevents and not giving them much emphasis, he had thrived onthem—enjoying that contented feeling he’d never had the privilegeto be surrounded by.

I hugged himincredibly tight, loving him for being in my life; loving him forhaving such a great relationship with my kids; loving him forloving me, and loving him because he deserved it. My tightsqueezing stirred him from his sleep, filling me with joy at beingable to stare at him as he returned to the conscious world—usuallyit was the other way around. I thoroughly enjoyed watching himwake, watching his face come to life when his eyes met mine.

“Hey, Mr.Clark. Fancy helping me be an Easter Bunny?” I whispered.

“Sure. As longas we can breed like one?” he whispered back.

I giggled. “Wealready have.”

He smiled withhis eyes closed. “Mmmm.”

“Come on,you.”

We snuck outof the room to help hide all the Easter eggs that Mum, Jen and Ihad stashed away. Jen artistically hid foil covered chocolatebunnies in potted plants, on chairs and under tables. Jake arrangedtwo chocolate bunnies on top of each other in a compromisingposition, and Bryce and I tossed handfuls of little foil coveredchocolate eggs out onto the lawn. When we were all satisfied thatour Easter Bunny duties were complete, we sat down at the diningtable with well-earned cups of coffee and tea, then waited for thesleeping children to wake up.

“Why is itthat on Easter, Christmas and birthdays our little rascals sleepin?” Jen huffed. “I might as well go back to bed.” And on cue thetwins started crying. She stood up and stretched. “Ahhh, they arejust like clockwork.” She turned to Bryce and smiled at him,raising her eyebrows. “Bryce, do you want to give me a hand?”Jennifer, don’t you dare do anything stupid. I shot her awarning look.

“Sure,” hesaid.

Steve grinnedand leaned back on his chair, glad he had been let off the hook.“Sweet,” he uttered, happily.

“Don’t tell meyou breastfeed too, Bryce,” my smartarse brother teased. I grabbedan apple from the fruit bowl and launched it at him. He caught it,and laughing, took a bite. “Thanks.”

I looked toBryce. “Whatever you do, don’t change Jack.”

“Who saidanything about changing them?” he answered, appearing to now regrethis acceptance.

“Come on.” Jenput her hands on his shoulders and ushered him toward the waitingbundles of cuteness—and their inevitable soiled nappies.

Moments later,Jen returned to the room, smiling and holding the ‘blue one’. Brycefollowed shortly after, his face half displaying adoration of