April.

"Joe!  You're up from your nap." Arvilla smiles.
"Why are you making that face?" She laughs.

"You want away from sissy, don't you?
  Well come to mama.  We can get some snuggles in before she wakes up."

Arvilla takes her baby to the couch and smiles down to him.

"You're so handsome!"

Joseph smiles and coos.
"You know you're handsome, don't you?" Arvilla giggles.

She then kisses his head and softly pats his bottom.

Joseph giggles making his mother laugh.
"Is mommy spanking your booty making you laugh?  You're so silly, Joe! Oh gosh, I love you so much, little boy.  You're my favorite little man on this planet!"

Once again Joseph giggles.

"Stop it, I can't take those sweet giggles!" Arvilla laughs.

**

Later that day.

"Mrs. Holden! We're here!" Alan says as he and Miguel enter her house.

"We're having diaper changes, we'll be right in sweets! You make yourselves comfortable and grab something from the kitchen!"

A few minutes later Arvilla comes down.

"Hi boys!" She smiles.

"Tia Villa! Hi babies!"

"Say hi guys!" Arvilla says in a high pitched tone.

"We washed our hands!" Alan smiles and takes Heidi from her mother.

"Good boys!"

"I'm ready to hold him!" Miguel says as he takes his seat on the couch.

"Okay, here you go!  Be good, Joe." Arvilla kisses his head.

"Say I'm always a good boy, mommy!" Miguel baby talks.

Arvilla takes this time to sit down and relax.

"Are you tired?" Alan asks.

"I'm exhausted!  They are SO much work!"

"These little buddies?  They're just babies, Tia!"

"Miguel, babies are hard.  You were horrible." Alan says.

"Aww!" Arvilla laughs. "He was just a baby!  All babies are tough work.  Especially on your own."

"Our mom was on her own." Miguel says.

"Your momma was a very strong woman."

"Just like you!" Miguel smiles.

"You're the sweetest!  Thank you, honey."

**

"She's asleep, want me to put her down?"

"I'll grab her.  Wow Alan, you're good with her!" Arvilla takes the baby and places her in her bassinet.

"Heidi usually takes forever to get to sleep."

"My mom said I have the magic touch with babies."

"You'll make a great father some day." Arvilla smiles.

"Thank you!"

"Joe is still awake, but you can take him." Miguel says.

Arvilla laughs and walks over to take Joseph.
She kisses his head and lays him beside his sister.

"He's looking at me like he's wondering why I'm not holding him." She laughs. "I'll be right back, Joseph.  I need to grab something for our friends!"

Arvilla then walks away and he starts crying.

"Uh oh!  Uh oh!  Don't wake her up, she'll scream!" Arvilla quickly picks him up and bounces him softly.

"This way, boys."

"What's up?" Alan asks.

Arvilla guided them to the kitchen.
"I have groceries for you."

"Mrs. Holden, you do not have to buy us stuff. This is too much!"

"You're my boys, and I want to take care of you." Arvilla smiles. "If you need anything else just let me know."

"How much do I owe you?"

"Alan, stop that! You don't owe me anything! Just take it."

Alan wraps his arms around her and kisses the top of her head. "Thank you, Mrs. Holden."

"You're welcome, honey."

"I love this cereal! Alan didn't buy me the red box the last time! He gave me the nasty white box."

Arvilla chuckles. "I'm glad I found something you like."

"Say thank you, Miguel."

"Thank you!"

"You're welcome, boys!"

Arvilla loved those two special boys. She loved them like her own and wanted to help them out as much as she possibly could.

***

May 10th.

"Hello?"

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY BOBBY!"

"Thank you, Arvilla! How are you doing?"

"I'm doing well. My babies are three months old today so I'm a little emotional, but other than that I'm great!" She laughs.

"Three months already? Wow that was fast!"

"I know." Arvilla pouts.
"We miss you so much!"

"I miss you guys too!"

"I won't keep you from having fun, I just wanted to call and wish you a happy birthday. Go out tonight and party! Have some fun and. Let loose!"

"I'll try." Robert laughs. "Thank you, Arvilla."

"You're welcome, love!"

***

May 20th.

"Carol, Margene, Alan and Miguel, thank you all so much for taking me out to lunch.
My first birthday without my Joe so far has been difficult, but you sure do know how to make a girl feel special.
I just can't believe I'm forty one years old!"

"You don't look a day over twenty five!" Alan says.

"He's right! We love ya, Arvilla!" Margene smiles.

"I love you all too!" Arvilla tears up.

"Aw honey, don't cry before we get a picture of you and the babies! Your makeup will ruin!" Margene says.

Arvilla chuckles and dabs her tears.

"Stand right there with the twins and you all give me a big smile!"

"Look at auntie and smile, babies! Show off those beautiful shiny gums!" Arvilla giggles.

"Neither one is smiling." Carol chuckles.

"They actually look pretty miserable." Miguel says.

"It's okay!" Arvilla laughs. "They're still cute."

"They sure are!" Margene takes Joe and kisses his cheek.  She then take Heidi and does the same thing.

"Oh now they're smiling!" Arvilla says.

"Woo hoo!  They love me!" Margene dances with the babies.

Arvilla laughs and takes their picture.

"They love dancing!  Your dada loved dancing too, babas!"

"He sure did!  Your daddy was fun!"

Arvilla smiles and unlocks her car to put the babies in.

"Gosh these giggles are too much!  You two are cute!"

"They're cute now.  Watch them scream when I put them in the car.  They hate the car!"

"Aw poor babies don't like being strapped in!" Margene pouts.

Arvilla's smiles and baby talks to Joseph.
"Well tough cause you gotta get in!"

She kisses his chubby cheek and puts him in his car seat.

"WAAAHHH!"

"There's one." Arvilla's smiles.

"Come here, Princess.  Say bye bye!  Thank you for lunch!  I'll get to enjoy those sweets later when I eat from mommy's boobies!"

Margene laughs and Arvilla buckles Heidi in the car.

"They don't like it." Miguel nods.

"They don't.  They'll calm down in a little while."

"Would you like some help?" A man walks up to them.

Arvilla gasps and runs to the man.
"ROBERT!" She hugs him tightly and lifts her feet. "What are you doing here?!"

"I wanted to wish you a happy birthday.  HAPPY BIRTHDAY!" He smiles.

"Thank you!  Oh my gosh, you're so sweet!  Did you two know about this?" Arvilla asks Margene and Carol.

"We did!"

"Oh my gosh!" She laughs.

"I called to ask if they could watch the twins tonight so I could take you to a birthday dinner."

"A birthday dinner?  Oh wooow!" She smiles.

"Yep! And they said yes.  What do you say?"

"I don't know, I've never left the twins before."

"I'm only asking for a few hours.  I head back tonight."

"Oh!  Well.."

"Carol is great with babies, and I'll be there for support!" Margene says.

"Okay, I'll go!" Arvilla smiles.

"I can't wait!"

**

On the drive home.

"This isn't a date babies.  Joe, this isn't a date!  He's just my friend, I swear!" Arvilla looks up.

"He's a really great guy, and I love him.
.. As a friend of course!"

Arvilla took a little nap with the twins before getting ready for dinner.

Carol and Margene showed up an hour before Robert arrived.

"I have a ton of milk pumped and in the fridge.  They do take a bottle, they just hate it.  So good luck with that!" Arvilla smiles.

"Joe is a better sleeper so he should be fine until I get back.  Heidi isn't so great so she'll keep you busy until I'm back.  Please call me if you need anything!"

"We will!"

"Okay.  Kisses and snuggles, little ones!
  Muah!  Muah!  MUAH!  Mommy loves you!  I'll be right back, okay?  I won't be long.  You two be good for your aunties."

Soon Robert picked her up and they were off!

"Wow.  It's so weird being out of the house without the twins.  I haven't been away from them Ever!  They even go to the bathroom with me!"

Robert laughs. "They say privacy is gone once your become a mother."

"It's true!  I don't have a moment alone! But I love them so it's okay." Arvilla smiles.

"You're an amazing mother, Arvilla."

"Aren't you sweet?  Thank you, Bobby."

Robert smiles and looks down.  He was so in love with this woman.

**

"Well that was delicious!"

"Wasn't it?"

"Yeah.. So.. have you found out where you're headed to next."

Robert sighs. "Yeah.. I was gonna bring that up."

"Where is it?"

Robert takes a deep breath. "London."

"What?" Arvilla's eyes slightly widen.
"London?" She felt her heart break.

"Yeah.. I didn't want to go that far."

"Man, that sucks.  I mean, that's great that you get to travel so much with your job.. but I'm sad now." Arvilla pouts.

"I don't want you to be sad."

"How long will you be there?"

"One to two years."

"What?!"

"I'll visit!"

Arvilla starts crying and says, "I hate that I'm crying right now, but I can't help it!  My hormones are all messed up from pregnancy, and now I'm losing my best friend!"

"No, you're not losing me, Arvilla!  I promise you I'll visit.  We'll talk everyday on the phone. Trust me, you're gonna get sick of me!"

"I don't think I ever could. I was just hoping maybe they'd send you somewhere closer. It's stupid of me to get this upset.."

"No it's isn't! Trust me, I'm upset too! I didn't want this.."

After an amazing dinner, Robert drove Arvilla back home.

"You really have to head back tonight?"

"I'm afraid so.." Robert sighs.

"Oh. Well it was a fun few hours. Thank you for dinner! Thank you for coming to see me on my birthday! That was really sweet of you. I feel bad I didn't go to Texas for your birthday."

"Don't worry about it! You have the twins. I just wanted to see you. I miss you like crazy."

"I miss you too.." Arvilla sighs and looks down for a short moment. "I hope you enjoy yourself over there. Maybe you'll meet a girl there that you'll fall in love with.."

"Heh! Maybe.." Robert smiles softly.

"Don't forget about me, guy." Arvilla smiles softly.

"I could never. You're a special lady, Arvilla Holden."

Arvilla smiles and kisses his cheek before hugging Robert.

"One to two years, huh? Try to pick up an accent while you're over there, I really think it would fit you."

Robert laughs and holds her tighter.
"I love you so much!"

***
I've missed writing this story, and there's so much I want to get to! I hope you're liking it.

I can add in some drama if you'd like. Just let me know what you all think. 🤗💙