Mom

Chapter 14

Miranda

I impatiently shift from foot to foot. I narrow my eyes at one of the employees. "What is taking so long?" I hiss annoyed. I was not the type of woman to wait. The smell in this place was making me sick to my stomach. I needed coffee but I wouldn't dare touch that machine in the corner.

"She will be done soon." The nurse answer.

I scoff and turn away dramatically. Piper is getting her yearly check-up and she wanted me to come along. However, since I wasn't her legal guardian I couldn't go into the room with her. I pace back and forth. I know doctor appointments is important but Piper deserve the best.

I look around the clinic disappointed. This wasn't the best. I hear a giggle and when I turn around I cannot control the bright smile that light up my face. Piper rush toward me with a blow pop in her mouth and a bandaid on her finger.

"Are you okay sweetheart?" I pull her in a hug before pulling her up into the air and in my arms. She pulls the sticky candy out her mouth and pout, "It hurt." She shows me her wounded finger that is wrapped in a spiderman band-aid. "But, I was brave and only cried a little."

I kiss both of her cheeks and she giggle and wiggle in my arms. "That's my girl." I say to her. I put her back down and the doctor walk toward me with a gentle smile. She is tall and her brown skin glow along with her bright smile.

"Your daughter is a big girl. Very brave." The doctor say. "You don't have to stand out here. Next time you should come inside."

"I'm not the legal guardian." I whisper as I watch Piper pull a pair of plastic gloves onto her hand. I chuckle at her wild antics. They were obviously too big. "I'm working on it."

"Well. I am Dr. Barnes and Piper is healthy." She throw out her hand for me to shake. "I cannot release any personal details but you have nothing to worry about. She is strong."

"Thanks."

Piper and I head to the car and I strap her into the seat. She speaks about her visit to the doctor and how she is excited to see the twins. "It's been forever." She pouts. "But, I've been patient."

"Yes, you have. I'm proud of you." I tell her. It's only been seven days but each time is harder than the last.

I hate letting her go.

We finally make it to Joy house and Piper hurry out her seat before jumping out the car and running through the grass toward the door. "Slow down." I shout after her. I grab her Adventure Time bag and make my way toward the door. Piper is knocking her small fist onto the door. I shake my head because she couldn't control her excitement.

"What is taking so long?" Piper ask with a pout on her lips.

I laugh and run my fingers through her hair. The door finally open and Piper eyes light up before she frown in confusion. "What are you doing here?" Piper questions before I can speak myself.

Diane smile but greets me instead. "Hello Miranda."

I narrow my eyes and look Diane up and down. She gives me a polite smile but she look as confused as me. "Where is Joy?" I ask.

Diane softly call for Joy and the other woman come to the door and say, "Miranda. It's a surprise to see you."

I arch my eyebrow. "I text you two hours ago."

Piper pull on my pants leg and she huff impatient.

Joy blushes embarrassed. "Sorry. I haven't looked at my phone. I've been busy..." She trails off her face turning a dark shade of red.

I roll my eyes, "Where are the twins?" I change the subject.

"Oh." Joy smiles. "Rose has them." She explain. "They should be back soon..."

"Don't worry about it." I cut her off. "I will pick them up and they can sleep over at my place for the night."

Joy face light up and Diane smirk as her eyes become darker. I pull Piper closer and roll my eyes in disgust. Piper wave them goodbye and I help her back into her seat. She sigh sadly and I cannot control the chuckle that leave my lips. I run my fingers through her hair again. "Your hair is getting long." She continues to pout. "What's wrong?'

"We are wasting time. We spent most of it at the hospital." She explains in a rush. "We have to hurry."

"There is no need to rush." I tell her. "We have all weekend."

"That's not nearly enough time to play." She whines and throw her hands in the air as if I wasn't understanding what she was saying. "You told Austin that time is important and not to waste yours."

I almost snort. "Yes, sweetheart you're right. But, you don't need to stress about time right now. Okay?"

I kiss her forehead and make sure her straps and booster seat is secure. "You will see the twins soon enough. Think about what you want to eat tonight."

I shut the door softly and walk around and get into the driver seat. "Chocolate for dinner." Piper blurts two seconds later. I press down on the gas softly and laugh accelerating forward. "Real food Piper."

"Chocolate is real food." She furrow her eyebrows in confusion. "Sam said so."

I swallow. I haven't spoke to Sam in days and I knew it was best this way. I sigh. "How about chicken breast and broccoli?"

"Ew. That's not real food." Piper gives me a fake puke. I chuckle and Piper hum along to the music as we cross town to pick up the twins.

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Piper knock on the door before I have a chance. We don't have to wait long before Nathalie is opening the door with the twins peeking curiously around her body. The three girls shriek with excitement and Piper small body moves around Nathalie and she pull the twins into a hug. They fall to the floor in giggles and laughs.

"Be careful." I say. I kiss Nathalie on the cheek. "Hello, sweetheart."

"Hi." She smiles brightly.

She turns around and say, "Piper. You're forgetting something."

Piper looks up and hurry and tackle Nathalie into a hug. Nathalie pick up her and squeeze her tightly before swinging her around. "Be careful." I say again. I place my bag down on the chair and command. "Girls. Go get your things. You're staying with me tonight."

Lily smile and stand before heading into the other room. Delilah however questions, "Why? Where's mommy?"

"She's working." I lie. "Go get your things."

Delilah is satisfied with that answer and she stand before running behind her sister. I can hear Rose screams of displeasure before she is walking out into the main room. "You're here to get the brats?" She questions.

"Yes." I answer. "Joy is busy. They will be at my place tonight."

"Awesome." Rose grin and stand close to Nathalie. I roll my eyes. It wasn't my plan to give everyone free time with their significant other. I just wanted to make Piper happy. Delilah and Lily comes from the back room with their identical bookbags.

We all head to the car leaving Rose and Nathalie behind. The girls sing and talk as I drive toward the condo. It doesn't take long before the girls is in the house running around the living room and accidentally breaking my favorite vase. "I'm sorry." Piper tells me her voice soft and vulnerable. I can't bring myself to be upset with her but I place all three of them in time-out.

"Ugh." Delilah whines with her arms folded. "It wasn't our fault."

I roll my eyes. Lily and Piper were already separated. One in the guest bedroom and the other in the living room'. I open the door to my bedroom and ask, "Who fault is it then?"

"Gravity duh." Delilah replies. I give her a pinch on the shoulder and she hiss. I run my fingers through my hair in frustration. "Ouch." Delilah pouts. "I wanna go home."

"You're staying here." I tell her.

"Why?" Delilah cries.

"Because I said so." I tell her. I then cock my head to the side curiously. "Why are you being so difficult today?"

Delilah walks away and kicks the wall. I sigh. I remember Joy explaining to me that Delilah sometimes need time to herself. To think and figure out her emotions. I give her time but I don't leave her alone. I busy myself with folding towels and cleaning around my bathroom. I grab my makeup bag and open it before sorting through old and new products. "What's that?" Delilah peeks around me curiously.

And.. that is how it starts. I'm walking about with bright purple lipstick and eyeliner around my lips. I watch Delilah closely as she tries to apply mascara to Lily face. "Gentle." I coach her. She gives up soon enough and pass the mascara to Piper. Piper grins widely and she takes her time. She then picks up the eyeliner and does that next before grabbing pink lipstick and applying it to Lily lips. She steps back and throw her arms out and say, "Ta-da!"

I nod my head in satisfaction. "Not bad." I tell her. "Alright time to clean up."

The three girls groan and pout but they hurry and grab their nightclothes to avoid time-out again. Piper bathes first, then Delilah, and lastly, Lily. I cook Chicken Breast and Broccoli. They all clean their plates even though they protest and complain the entire time.

Lily pulls on my pants leg as I'm washing dishes. "I like broccoli." She whispers. I laugh at that and we all head into the living room to watch a movie.

I relax into the couch and thirty-minutes into How to Train A Dragon (Delilah choice) and the girls are asleep. I carry them one by one to the guest bedroom. I then turn on the hall light and crack the door before heading to my room. The condo was finally silent but I couldn't relax as much as I wanted to. I pull out my phone and scroll through pictures of me and Sam.

I roll over and cry myself to sleep.

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The next morning someone is pulling on my hand. I open my eyes and blink them a few times before noticing it is Delilah. She walk around and crawl into the bed with me. Soon enough Lily and Piper is crawling into the bed. I wake up around noon and Delilah feet is in my face and she is laying spread out across the mattress. Lily was buried into my side and Piper was on the other side of Lily turn the other way.

I move Delilah small feet out my way and head into the bathroom before taking a shower. When I come from the bathroom the twins is up and watching cartoons in the living room. "Did we brush our teeth?" I ask them.

They nod their head not paying me any attention. The animation had their full attention. The twins eat breakfast and lay around the living room watching cartoons all morning. I catch up on some work and when I'm done they are begging to go to the swim park.

"Please." Piper hold the word dragging it out. She's too adorable. I cannot tell her no. Delilah grins mischievously as if her evil plan is working.

We head to the local kid-friendly swim park. I open the door and the three girls hop out the car. "Slow down." I tell them. I had my dark shades on and my hair was falling at my shoulders. I had on a black one-piece bathing suit with appropriate cuts on the side underneath a white cover-up with a pair of Michael Kors sandals.

I open my phone and take pictures of the girls before sending it to Sam. I couldn't help myself. She immediately replies and I cannot control myself and I invite her to come. She agrees and I lean back in the chair with a satisfied smirk on my lips.

[][]

"Enjoying yourself?"

I'm not sure how much time has passed but I lift up quickly. I hear Sam light laugh and it makes me snatch off my shades. The sun blinds me before it settles on Sam. I swallow. She's not even in her clothes. She's wearing sandals and a two-piece bright red bathing suit. Her red hair is pulled up in a messy bun. "What are you doing?" She ask.

It takes me a few seconds to get rid of the naughty thoughts that is running through my head.

She did this purposely. I scream in my head.

But, when I look at Sam and that contagious bright smile I knew she was clueless to her beauty and affect on others.

I was in love with a total idiot.

"What are you doing here?" I question her instead.

"Um." Sam rub the back of her neck embarrassed. She blush and clear her throat. "You invited me."

"Right." I start.

"Are you okay Miranda?" Sam ask with concern in her eyes.

The girls luckily save me and they jump out the pool once they notice Sam. "Sam!" They scream jumping up and down. "Come swim." They try to drag her out.

"Girls girl." I say. "Calm down."

I'm completely ignored because they continue to scream. "You have to watch me." Delilah say loudly. "I can hold my breath the longest."

"She cheats." Piper say.

"No I don't." Delilah argues.

"Yes you do." Piper roll her eyes. "You come up for air. I saw."

"You can't see underwater. You have no real proof." Delilah fold her arms in confidence. "Case closed."

"It's not!" Piper scowl. "You're not a real lawyer."

"Better lawyer than you." Delilah scream back.

"Girls." I say.

"Shut-up." Piper screams. "Stupid."

"Piper." I say sternly.

Delilah bawl her fist. "You're the stupid one. I know my numbers."

Tears build up in Piper eyes, "You're not my friend anymore."

"We were never friends!"

"That's it." I say lowly. "Stop it now. Get your things. We're going home."

Delilah huffs and storm off toward the chairs and grab her things. Lily squeeze Piper hand and say, "She didn't mean it." But, Piper wasn't hearing any of it. She snatches her hand away and run into my arms tears falling down her face. Lily chew on her bottom lip and walk off toward her twin sister. Piper cries into my neck and I place her down.

"Hey hey." I say to her. "No tears."

Piper wipe her face and sniff. "I wanna go home."

My heart stop. I couldn't believe she wanted to go back so early. Piper wrap her arms around my neck and say, "I wanna go home, mom."

I freeze in shock and Sam watches closely. She smiles brightly and walk away to give us privacy.

Sam tries to say goodbye to Piper but Piper only bury her face into my neck. Her feelings hurt. We head to the car and I place her in the car seat before strapping her in. I close the door softly and make my way to the twins.

"I'm disappointed in the both of you Delilah. You and Piper shouldn't be fighting." I say.

.

"You're choosing her over us!" Delilah voices.

"Lower your tone." I hiss. Delilah look toward the ground and twist her feet. "You're going to get into the car and I don't want to hear a word from any of you."

Delilah and Lily hurry into the car and I look to Sam and say, "I'm sorry. You drove all the way out here."

"It's okay." Sam smiles. "You have a handful."

"I do." I agree with a chuckle. "I'm going to get them back. They're probably hungry and exhausted."

"Do the two of them fight often?" Sam questions curiously. "I figured they would be best-friends."

I laugh. "Delilah is use to getting what she want without being question. Lily usually let her get away with anything but Piper challenges her. Delilah doesn't like that. She defend herself in anger."

"Wow." Sam replies her eyes widen. "You're all in for this."

I almost blush. Sam has never seen me in mother mode. Not to this degree. "I was serious about adopting Piper, Sam."

Sam blushes embarrassed. "I know. I just..." She pause. "I'm sorry. I just don't know where to start and you're perfect at this."

I laugh again. She had to be joking. "Yeah. I deserve mother of the year award." I shake my head. "Not after what I did to Nathalie. I'm not perfect at this Sam. No one is.."

Sam nod her head. She then pull me in a hug and kiss my forehead. "You're nothing but perfect in my eyes." She then step back and my heart is accelerating. "I can bring pizza tonight. Maybe a extra hand to watch the kids and give you a break."

"You don't have too..." I start.

"I want to." Sam smiles. "I'll see you later."

I smile as I watch Sam walk away. I head to my car and the ride back to the house in silent. Piper rushes ahead the twins and when I let them into the house. She sprints to the guest bedroom and slam the door shut. Delilah and Lily sit on the couch and watch TV. I grab some apples and peanut butter and begin to slice them some snacks before Sam bring the pizza. But, when I come from the kitchen Delilah and Lily is fast asleep. I give them a blanket and head to the guest bedroom to see Piper fast asleep.

I stand there and watch her before sitting on the end of the bed. I run my fingers through her hair. She called me mom. My heart beat against my chest. I pull the covers back and cuddle behind her. "I love you." I whisper in her. "I love you so much."