In the midst of this chaos, I was still recovering from surgery and took it easy for a while before returning back to work. This gave me time to spend time with the kids while Michael was away on tour.

"Mama?" said Chrissi, we were sitting on my bed while I was braiding her hair.
" Yes, baby girl?"
" Why does daddy seem so sad? He looked so upset when he left for the tour. I've never seen him like that."
" Oh dear," I said, thinking of the right words, " Let me ask you this. How would you feel if you trusted someone and the turned around and disrespected you? How would you feel if someone did something to hurt you just for their own gain?"
" Oh, I would be upset."
" Your daddy trusted someone who ended up just wanting something from him. And he is very very hurt by it. He's still processing his feelings, which is all normal. And he's trying to take careful steps to make things right again."
" That sounds like a lot, mama."
I sighed, " Sure is. Just be patient with daddy, alright? He'll come around. He loves you and your siblings so much."

"Incoming!" Grace yelled, and Kodzovi pushed open the bedroom door and began to throw pillows at the two of us.

" Hey! That isn't fair! You never warned us so we could prepare." Whined Chrissie.
" The key is to always be on guard no matter what, daddy taught me that." giggled Rawiyah.
" The chef said that lunch is ready, just so you guys know."
" Thank you, Grace. We'll be down in a second, okay?"
" Okay, so are you gonna let Chris do it, mom?"
I frowned, " Let Chris do what?"
Chris made a face at Grace, and Grace widened her eyes, " Oh, you haven't told her yet? Sorry, Sorry....Um we'll leave you two and see you in a little bit I guess!" Grace lead the pack out of the room to the dining room.

"What was that all about?"
" Oh, its not a big deal I promise."
" Go on, then..."
She let out a big sigh, " Ive been thinking about my hobbies, what I like to do and stuff and..well....I really do like to sing, mama."
" Is that so?"
" But Im scared."
" Scared? What of?"

She paused," because I feel like Im not gonna sound like you or daddy and it sounds like a lot of pressure."
"Oh, Chris. Don't be ridiculous...your daddy and I have had over 30 years
of practice. And we didn't start knowing everything! We worked very hard to get where we are, and you can too if this is what you want to do. If anything, you're asking the right people. And you know what? We would never be absurd enough to expect you to sound like either of us. That would be so silly!"
She giggled, " Yeah you're right."
" I wanna be there for you, and I know you father does too. So don't be afraid of asking, okay?"
" Okay. Thank you, mama!" She gave me the biggest hug.
" We can talk about it more when he gets home from the tour, alright?" I kissed her forehead, " now come on, lets wash up for lunch."