Rain Rain, Go Away

"Are you sure you'll be back tomorrow? It's pouring over here so I don't know if its even safe for you to be travelling."

"Yes, I'm sure, Annabelle. And you don't need to worry. I'll be fine."

I bite my lip nervously and squeeze the telephone, "I don't know, Oliver. Maybe you should wait a day. Until the weather isn't as hazardous..."

He chuckles into the phone, "Sounds like you're trying to keep me away from the house longer, dollface."

"No, I- I just don't want you getting hurt," I say sincerely. "I'd love it if you got home tonight but with this storm brewing over us, I don't see that happening. It's too unsafe. I'd rather you didn't take any chances in this weather."

He sighs, "I just feel so bad though. I know you hate storms."

I bit harder on my lip, "I've... I've gotten better at dealing with them." He coughs, avoiding a reply. I stamp my foot defiantly. "Excuse me, are you saying I'm still as bad as the first time it stormed while we lived together? I have to strongly disagree."

"Then would you like to tell me the last time you had to sleep through a storm by yourself?"

I pout and sigh into the phone, "Never." There hasn't been a single time in the past several years when it's storming outside and Oliver wasn't by my side. It's not like he went out of his way to keep it that way. I've just been lucky enough that he always happens to come home early or the storm fades by nightfall. But I believe I've truly gotten better at handling things. I am twenty-five for Christ's sake. And I have kids, so I can't be cowering and let Oliver calm them all down by himself. Though I have to say I love watching him do it. It's adorable.

"That's what I thought."

"But I have gotten better. And it's not even storming that badly."

"If it's not storming that badly, then I should just come home then."

"No, no-"

"Which it it, Annabelle? Is it so bad I shouldn't travel in the storm, or is it so small that I don't have to worry about you tonight?"

"Both?" And with my luck, a clap of thunder makes me jump and drop the phone. "Damnit," I hiss, but slap a hand over my mouth and look around the room. No one in the room, but more importantly, no kids. I pick up the phone and can already hear Oliver shouting my name in panic. I curse the storm outside before trying to ease my husband over the phone, "Oliver! I just dropped the phone. Nothing to worry about."

He groans, "And why did you drop the telephone?"

"Because some thunder startled me," I admit. "But in my defense, it was quiet outside for a while. It had nothing to do with what we were just talking about. Anybody would've jumped at the noise. Even you." He coughs. "I promise I'll be fine tonight. And so will the children."

"I'm surprised I don't hear them running in the background. Are they in the guest house with Jane, Teddy, and Molly?"

"They're inside the house with us. And Jimmy and Lily are here too. The kids are napping."

But I spoke too soon. "Roxy! Come here girl! Come to me, please!" Ollie comes running in after my dog. But stops when he sees me. "Mommy! Who are talking to on the telephone, Mommy?" The hyper five year old pulls on my skirt, reaching up with his other arm for me to pick him up.

"It's your father. He called to check on things."

"He's coming home tomorrow, right, Mommy?"

I try not to frown, "Well, it's storming outside, so I don't know if it's safe enough for him travel. And we don't want him getting hurt, do we?"

He droops his head. "No."

I squat next to him and play with his messy black hair, even twirling his cowlick that reminds me so much of Oliver's. "It'll only be an extra day. Then he'll be home again." He nods without looking up. I feel bad for him, so I kiss his temple then cup his chin, "Want to talk to him on the phone?"

This peps him back up, "Uhuh!"

I speak into the phone, "Hey, Oliver. Ollie's awake after all. Do you have enough time to talk to him?"

"Yeah, of course. I was planning to ask to talk to the kids anyway. Go ahead and give him the phone."

I smile at my son and hold out the telephone, "He wants to talk to you." I hand over the phone, and muss his hair really quickly. "Hey, I've got to go to the kitchen. Will you be okay for a second?"

He nods, making his hair bounce. "Yes, Mommy." I peck him on the head again before standing up and walking out of the room. All I hear from is, "Hey, Daddy!" And he starts going off about his day.

I walk into the kitchen to find just what I came for. Jane always makes cookies when it storms. She's just pulling them out of the oven now. The rest of her family is in here too. A now fifteen year old Molly is actually the one taking out the cookies. She waves at me as she sets the metal sheet on the counter. Jane is talking to Lily, Jimmy's wife, at the table. And Jimmy and Teddy are sitting around the island, playing cards. I love how we're all still so close still, even though Jimmy moved out after getting married. Molly walks over to me, "Annie, where'd Ollie go? He was chasing poor Roxy around the place a minute ago. Did he finally get her?"

"He's talking to Oliver on the phone."

"Ah." She tosses the towels she had in her hands onto the counter and joins her brothers. "Can you guys let me play?" They both say no. She smiles mischieviously, "Oh, Lily. Did you ever hear about the time that Jimmy accidentally fell in some-?"

The twenty-two year old jumps from his stool and covers his little sister's mouth. Lily and Jane are looking at them. Jane glaring at her son, Lily standing up and walking over. She uncovers Molly's mouth. "Don't do that to your sister, James." She brings Molly over to her side, and smirks, "I want to here the story." She fits in the family perfectly. Then again, she is Camille's youngest sister.

Jimmy grimaces, "That's just great."

"It's your own fault, so deal with it. If it makes things fair, we can hear a story about Teddy too."

Teddy reaches over and punches Jimmy's arm. "Thanks."

He shrugs, "Hey, it's only fair."

I'm laughing along with Jane as the brother glare at one another. Molly and Lily are giggling at them, and soon enough, Ollie's calling out for me. I excuse myself and the kid's holding the phone out to me. As soon as I have it in my hands, he runs off again. "So, what did my men talk about?" I ask Oliver.

"Nothing really. Just... five year old stuff."

This makes me suspicious. "Oh, really?"

He laughs, "Yes, really." I roll my eyes. "So, I'll be home tomorrow though I would prefer being home tonight with the storm and all."

"I can handle one little storm by myself," I snap. "And you really shouldn't be travelling in this weather. I've already said that." I can imagine his eyes rolling.

We both sigh. "Well, I have to go. It's the last meeting of the trip. So I'll see you tomorrow."

I rub my temples. "I'll see you tomorrow." I smile, "I love you, Oliver."

"I love you too, Annabelle." I can hear his smile.

We hang up and I take a moment before turning around, but when I do, I nearly have a heartattack. Everyone in the household is at the opening, looking at me like I'm some cute little pet. I blush shyly. "We were heading in here, but didn't want to interrupt the conversation," explains Lily.

I narrow my eyes, "So you all instead just eavesdrop for the rest of the conversation and then make faces like that? Why not go back to the kitchen like normal people?"

"All the way to the kitchen?" she whines. "And miss the I love you's? Never."

But they all come come in and find places on chairs. Ollie runs over to me and practically tackles me to the ground. Or he would've if there wasn't a chair behind me. He wriggles his way into my lap and into my arms and I loosely wrap them around his waist. Lily kind of does the same thing with Jimmy, but obviously not the same manner. They've already forgiven one another for the minimal bickerings in the kitchen. Teddy's by the radio, trying to listen for a good station at the time, and Molly's on the other side, telling him he's passed a dozen already. And then there's Jane, sitting in the corner, just looking over all of us as a mother always does. Even Roxy joins us, sitting in her favorite spot by the fireplace, despite the lack of fire right now. Everything's just perfect.

***************

"I can handle this. I can handle this. I can handle this. I can handle this." It's ten at night. Everyone is in bed in their own house- well, Jimmy and Lily are staying the night, but in Jimmy's old room in the guest room. The kids are tucked in and said their customary goodnights, which happens to be the same as the Russells'. And of course, of course, the storm had gotten worse since I spoke on the phone with Oliver. I just know Mother Nature is playing around with me. She must be. She always does this to me. When I least need this to happen, she always brews up some storm just to scare me.

Well, I'm not scared this time. Take that Mother Nature.

This thought is followed by a carefully timed lightning strike that makes me jump and my heart stop for a moment. I groan and plant my face in my hands. "I. Hate. Storms," I mumble into my palms. Another lightning strike. "A lot." I'm in my bed, in a cocoon of sheets, on my side of the bed. I feel like I have an acre of space with my husband gone. I already don't sleep well when he's not here. Though I never tell him that because then he'd feel worse. But this storm is just making my night a million times worse. On a normal lonely night, I'd just lay in bed until I fall asleep. On a normal stormy night, I curl up next to Oliver while he has his arms around. Right now I'm trying a combination of both methods. The pillows typically on his side are lined up vertically in the bed and I attempt to snuggle into them. But just laying here until I drift isn't working so much. "Jesus Christ, can I please got to sleep sometime tonight? Before one of the kids wake up would be best. I would like some rest. Please? Is that too much to ask for?" His response is yet another lightning strike. I glower, "Yep, it's too much. My life is too perfect right now. A night of misery will balance things out right?"

For an hour and a half, I'm rolling around in my bed, trying to block out the noise progressively getting louder. A couple times I tip toed into both children's rooms to make sure they're sound asleep. Thankfully, miraculously, they are. But it's been about half an hour since I've checked, so maybe now is a good time to get up again. So I unwrap my body from the sheets and droop my head and rub my eyes. But my door creaks open and my head snaps up to see my son standing at the opening. "Mommy, are you okay?"

"Yes, why wouldn't I?"

"Daddy said I needed to take care of you if it's storming. I fell- I fell asleep and forgot, but now I'm here to protect you, Mommy."

"Awe, my little hero." I get up and go hug him. "I feel safer already."

"I'm suppose to watch you until morning. Daddy's orders. I'm glad I didn't sleep til morning. He said I can sleep on his side."

I pick him up and carry him to the bed, and with one arm, move the pillows back into place. "Hey, it's your side too." I sit on Oliver's side. "This side belongs to anyone whose name is Oliver Hastings."

"My name's Oliver Hastings!" he chirps excitedly. "Oliver Lewis Hastings... Jr."

I giggle, and nod, and peck his cheek. "I know, Ollie. I named you that on purpose." I turn around on the bed so I can lay him down and pull the sheets over. I kiss him on forehead twice. "Good-"

"No!" He kicks off the sheets.

His exclamation makes me jump higher than I do when I hear thunder. "What?! What, what what?!"

"We can't go to sleep yet, Mommy! Not yet!"

"Why not?!"

"Because, Mommy. Because..." He looks like he's coming up with an excuse, scratching his head, tilting it, going "Ummm... because..."

But then an excuse pops up for him. I hear the cry of a two year old. His face lights up as he points at the door. I sigh, "Looks like I won't have as much space on my bed as I thought." Which is definitely not a bad thing. "Let's go, Ollie." The five year old and I get out of my bed and down the hall to the girls' room. I press my ear to the door to make sure she hadn't fallen back asleep. And she hasn't- she woke up the other one by the sound of it. I open the door and find both of my girls sitting on the same bed, holding each other.

"Mommy, Mommy," they both squeak.

Ollie and I walk over to them and I squat to their level and stroke their hair. "What's wrong, Maddie? What's wrong, Jenny?" They both point to the window where you can see the storm still raging through the drapes. "Is the storm scaring you?" They both nod. I frown, "Don't worry, it's okay." I may be trying to convince myself.

But here come's Ollie to save the day, "Don't worry. Daddy said to protect Mommy, I can protect you too, okay?" They both nod. I ruffle his hair, and he smiles up at me. "Can we go back to your room?"

"Sure, let me just..." And I pick up both girls, on in each arm- a skill I had to learn very quickly- and Ollie leads the way back. He climbs up on his own and I place them next to him, then climb up myself. I half smile, "Better?" Jenny and Maddie nod, but also lean forward to press my cheek. That may sound strange, but it's something they do all because of Oliver. I laugh softly, "Yes, I only have one dimple."

"Where is it?" Maddie asks, her big blue-gray eyes curious.

"Yeah, where is it?" Jenny agrees, playing with her braid of light brown hair.

I shrug, "I don't know girls. Someone else must be missing a dimple too. But..." I point to Jenny's right cheek and Maddie's left, "I know where yours went. You have each other's, right?" They both start giggling and playing with the other's cheeks like they're in a mirror. So in other words, they are identical twins. And they are in a way the opposite of Ollie. Instead of having Oliver's hair and my eyes, they have his eyes and my hair. But something else they both have in common with me is a single dimple. Oliver always tells them they have each other's because they always ask why they only have one. But that leads to questions about me and it's always the same answers. To me, though, those dimples were the only way I could distinguish the difference bewtween these girls when they were younger. I was so scared when I had them because I had no idea how I would know which one was which if something called for me to know. Thankfully nothing like that's happened. But by now, I can just tell with a single look, with or without a grin.

"Mommy?" Maddie crawls into my lap. "When is Daddy coming home?"

"Tomorrow, honey."

Jenny joins her sister in my lap. "Why can't he come home now?"

Ollie steps up tp answer this one, "Because he's at work, but he'll be back tomororrow. Until then I can protect you Jenny." She smiles at her big brother, but he quickly adds, "You too, Maddie. And of course you, Mom."

"My hero," I croon. I ruffle his hair again and lean forward to peck his forehead. "Your father will be so proud of you." I rub my hands together. "Okay it's bed time, kids. It is way past bed time actually."

"Wait!"

"Why can't we go to sleep yet, Ollie?"

"Because..." And he's trying to come up with an excuse again.

"I'm sorry, but it really is bed time. It's past midnight. Don't you want to be nice and rested when your father gets back tomorrow?""

"But-"

I raise an eyebrow, "Oliver." I'm being serious when I call him by his real name.

"Yes, Mom."

We try to center ourselves on the bed before getting under the covers. I wanted it so the girls would be in between Ollie and I but they both want to cling to me so I place a pillow on the edge and tuck it tight so it won't fall out and so Jenny won't fall off. Maddie is between me and her brother.

"Night, night, sweet dreams, love you, Mommy," Jenny and Maddie say in unison.

"Good night, sweet dreams, love you, too, girls." I kiss the tops of their heads. I reach for Ollie's hand, "Good night, sweet dreams, love you, too, Ollie." He doesn't answer back immediately, "I know you want to stay up later, but we can't. Or rather, we shouldn't."

"I know. Good night, sweet dreams, love you, Mom."

But with the storm outside he's getting his wish. And I'm realizing how terrible a mother I must be for still being afraid of something so senseless. With each loud sound coming from outside our walls, the girls cringe into my sides, whimpering. The whole bed shakes. I hug them closer, trying to soothe them, "It's going to be fine. It's just a little storm. We're safe in here. It can't touch us while we're inside." Roxy eventually ventures into the room and manages to hop on the bed. She curls up in a ball at the end and I tell them we're even safer now because of our watchdog. But I admit, she not much of a watchdog now. She's about eleven years old now, but still as loyal as she's was when my father gave her to me, maybe more. What gives me the biggest jolt though is when I hear the front door slowly creak open. Is someone breaking in? Did I lock the front door? I thought I had. But then who could be coming into the house this late at night? For some stupid reason, the first thing that comes to mind is a mobster. Why would I do that to myself?

"I'll go see who it is, Mommy."

"No, Ollie. Just stay here watch your sisters. I'll check." But he kicks off the sheets and runs out of the bedroom. "Ollie," I whisper loudly. "Ollie," I groan. "Get back here." I ease the girls off and tell them to stay here. And I go running after my son. I'm starting to panic because I don't hear him now, so the words come out rushed. "Ollie, I told you to stay in bed. I have no idea who that could've been. It could be a stranger for all I know and they can hurt you and I can't see you get hurt because that would mean I'm a horrible parent... Please come back!" I get all the way to the foyer and still see no sign of my son. My heart plummets. "Ollie, where are you? This isn't funny. Where are you?"

"In here, Mommy!" he chirps from the living room. But it's followed by someone shushing him. Who is that?

While now I am thoroughly frightened, I have to find out what on God's green earth is happening and who is with my son. So I march back down the hallway and into the living room which is now lit with a single candle. I know for a fact Ollie didn't do that, and neither did I. The light is very dim so I can't see much. "Ollie, where-?" My eyes grow wide when I see him. "Oliver?!" And I'm not calling my son's name. My husband is sitting on my couch, arms on the back of the chair and laying back, drenched, with our son in his lap. "But how did you-? But you said that you weren't-! Tomorrow! You said tomorrow! And the storm outside!" I keep spitting out incomplete sentences, totally lost at the sight of him here.

Ollie climbs out of his lap and Oliver stands up and walks in fron of me. I can't do anything but stare because I am so confused. I'm happy but confused. He speaks. "So, after my last business meeting, I rode a train for four hours. I took two taxi cabs to the city and then had to pay another taxi cab double who had just gotten off his shift and didn't want to drive in the storm anymore, just to get here. And now here I am." I still don't move. His expression flattens. "I can really feel how much you missed me these last two weeks, Annabelle. It's good to know-" And I fling myself onto him. He wraps his arms around me to hold me up. "Now that's more like it, dollface."

"But you said you weren't going to come home until at least tomorrow." He opens a watch to show me the time. But even without looking at it, I knew it's past midnight. Making it tomorrow. "That again?"

"Some of our biggest moments happened after midnight. Plus I wanted to surprise you."

"I told you not to come until the storm passed. You could've gotten in an accident." I hug him tighter. "I'm glad you didn't listen." I smile and gesture to our son. "But I have to say, Ollie was doing just fine holding down the fort with you out of town." Ollie beams up proudly. "He kept me and his sisters safe from the storm in our bedroom."

"Good job, buddy." I drop my legs and he leans down. "I knew I could trust you to do that for me. And I knew you wouldn't tell your mother about our conversation." So this is what they were talking about? "Now why don't we all head back to the room?" Ollie takes off for the room, and Oliver's about to follow, but I pull him back.

"Hold on just a second there."

"What?" But all I do is pull him in by the the face for a nice long kiss. "Annabelle, I'm soaked and I'm getting you soaked too," he mumbles against my lips. "Annabelle... you hate getting wet... Annabelle..." But I don't care. I smile triumphantly when his hands slide around my waist and pulls me closer, sending that familar tingle throughout my body. When I finally let him pull away, he has a smirk on his lips. "It looks like my plan worked."

"Oh, yeah." I kiss him again, but it's a short one. "You really have no idea how much I love you right now."

"Oh, I think I can imagine how much."

And I yank him into the bedroom where Maddie and Jenny cling to his legs. "Daddy's home!" We both lean down and pick one up, me grabbing Maddie, Oliver getting Jenny. They kiss him on either cheek and wrap their little arms around his neck, wanting more of their father. "We love you Daddy, we missed you so much!"

He kisses them both on their foreheads. "I love you too, girls."

I yank away my twin and make a suggestion. "Okay, why don't we let him shower first, we'll change into some new clothes since we're all wet, then we all can go to sleep?"

And within ten minutes we've all climbed into the bed. Though I'm not tucked into Oliver's chest as I always am when it storms, I'm pretty satisfied with the position I'm in. Jenny is curled into Oliver and he his arm lightly over her. Maddie is clinging to me, and I have my arm holding her close. Ollie is in the center of everything, and I've got my hand on his shoulder. And under the pillows, Oliver and I are holding hands. Now, it's not the storms fault I'm not sleeping. I'm too hyped up from pure joy to rest my eyes. I'm just can't help looking over my little family and smiling, over and over again. I catch Oliver doing the same. And everytime our eyes meet, I blush, we both smile, squeeze the other's hand and, despite our temporary distance, we know we're closer than ever.