Baby Chase. Hannah Bernard

      Tomorrow came all too soon. Predictably, the twins woke her up at seven. Yawning off the dreams she refused to acknowledge she remembered in detail, she got up, fed them as quietly as possible so they wouldn’t disturb Nathan and was off to the indoor swimming pool by eight. As she had suspected, the lure of underwater pictures was enough to cure the twins of their fear of getting water in their faces.

      The day passed quickly and they were home at four, just in time for their mother to arrive and pick the boys up.

      “Thanks for having them,” her mother said, shooing the twins out to her car.

      The boys were out of earshot. “I would appreciate it next time if you’d ask me first, Mom. I could have had other plans.”

      “I don’t think it’s too much to ask that you watch your brothers once in a while,” her mother snapped. “After all the sacrifices I made for you kids. You know how important it is for me to keep the shop open on Sundays.”

      Inwardly, Erin sighed. “I don’t mind having the boys over, you know that. I would just appreciate it if you’d call first, so I can be prepared. Sally’s brother just came into town yesterday, so I’m not alone in the house.”

      “Oh?” Her mother’s interest was piqued. “The photographer? I’ve never met him. Perhaps I should say hello.”

      “He’s not here now, but he’ll be staying a while. There will be plenty of time to meet him.”

      “Will he be staying for Christmas? Perhaps he would like to come along with you kids.”

      Erin’s stomach turned. This was it. The annual Christmas tug of war had begun. They had tried to be fair, to stay with each parent every other Christmas, but neither their mother nor their father could accept that, forcing their children to divide their time equally between the two households, but never making either one of them happy.

      “Perhaps Thomas and Sally prefer to stay in their own home this time, as they have a visitor.”

      “We’ll see,” her mother replied. “But you will be there, won’t you?”

      The twins leaned on the car horn, saving Erin from having to reply. Her mother turned around and made an angry gesture at the car. “We’ll talk about this later, Erin. Thanks again.”

      Erin waved to her brothers, then entered the house again. The place seemed so quiet after two days with a couple of noisy little boys. Walking around, she straightened out the mess they had made, then threw herself on the living-room couch. Children were a lot of work, but they were worth every minute. She could hardly wait until she had one of her own.

      Tomorrow.

      Her stomach clenched in nervous anticipation. Her whole life would change tomorrow.