Forgiveness came quickly with little Miss Ellie and soon I was knee deep in Barbies as Maddie pinned another barrette in my hair, there were at least twenty more already accenting her creation. “So, how’s my style coming Maddie?”

“Almost done,” she said grabbing an orange flower barrette and pinning it by my ear, “There, that’s perfect.”

Stepping back she admired her work before giving me a huge grin that melted my heart, I loved making them smile. “We should start picking up our mess girls, you have to get in bed in a few minutes,” I said glancing at my watch. 

We were putting the last Barbies into the bin when Kevin walked into the room and smiled warmly at the girls. “Ladies, time for bed.” His gaze turned to me briefly and his lips tightened into a straight line signaling he was not pleased…he did however struggle to remain composed when he caught sight of my hair. “Nice hair.” He mused his shoulders shaking as he chuckled.

“I did it Daddy!” Maddie bragged giving Kevin a huge grin.

“It’s beautiful Baby Girl,” Kevin said scooping her up and giving her a hug before sending her to the bathroom to brush her teeth.

“Can CeCe read us a bedtime story?” Ellie asked putting on her best puppy dog eyes.

Kevin somehow resisted. “No sweetie, CeCe has homework she needs to do,” he said giving me the not so subtle hint to get to work, “But I could read you a story.”

Ellie’s lip jutted out in a pout, “You can’t do it!”

Kevin cocked a brow, “I can read.”

“Not like CeCe does,” she countered, “She does voices and sometimes she even acts it out.”

I smiled with pride before interrupting, “I would love to read to you baby girl but your daddy is right, I have gobs of homework to do, how about tomorrow night?”

“Promise?”

I nodded my head, “Promise.”

A huge grin spread across her face, “Ok, Daddy you can read to me tonight and Auntie Cee will read me the good one tomorrow.”

I snickered and quickly said my goodnights before slipping back to my room. It took nearly ten minutes to remove all the barrettes from my hair and I had just begun on the massive stack of makeup work when Kevin walked in. His body language immediately screamed at me as he entered the room and crossed his arms over his chest. “Don’t get upset, I will get it done.”

Kevin’s brows furrowed, “Oh I know you will.” He said his tone sharp, “I thought I was clear when I said no playing until your homework was finished.”

I let out a sigh, “I had to play Kevin, I promised them and I don’t break promises.”

“You just break rules.” He added, “What makes you think you have the right to pick and choose which rules to follow CeCelia?”

“I don’t think that…I just …I couldn’t handle disappointing Ellie.” I explained. “I don’t know how you resist that puppy dog face of hers.”

Kevin let out a sigh, “Get your work done CeCelia, we can discuss your lack of listening skills later, lights out by ten.”

My eyes shot to Kevin’s in horror, “Ten?! Are you serious?”

“Do I sound like I am kidding?” he questioned sounding irritated.

“But…I never have a bedtime.” I whined.

“While you are here you do. Ten o’clock, I want lights out and that homework done.” He said turning on his heels and walking out of my room.

The next hour and a half seemed to fly by and it wasn’t long before Kevin appeared again, now in sleep pants and looking slightly less intimidating, that was of course until he caught sight of my still very steep pile of makeup work.

“Ten minutes till lights out, is your homework done?” he questioned walking over and leafing through my pile of work that was still yet to be finished.

“No” I said quietly bringing my eyes up to Kevin’s that narrowed into a glare. “I’m sorry, I tried but there was more work than I thought, even if I hadn’t played with the girls I wouldn’t have been able to finish by ten.”

“How much more do you have?”

I leafed through my remaining stack of homework mentally calculating how long it would take me to finish. “Two…maybe three hours?”

Kevin’s jaw tightened as he visibly clenched his teeth together in frustration. “Tomorrow after school, you come straight here and get that work finished.”

I nodded immediately in acknowledgement “Yes Sir.”

“I mean it CeCelia,” Kevin said, his voice sharp, “if I catch you on your phone or playing with the girls or even so much as taking an extended bathroom break before that work is finished you and I are going to have a big problem.”

“I understand.” I said letting out a sigh of relief and giving Kevin a smile.

Kevin cocked a brow before folding his arms across his chest, “I wouldn’t be smiling, you’re not off the hook yet. You and I are still going to have a discussion tomorrow about your lack of listening skills. Joe and Nick may run things differently at home but in my house if I tell you to do something I expect you to do it. You do not get to pick and choose which rules you want to follow.”

My smile quickly faded at the prospect of having a ‘discussion’ with Kevin…I could never quite determine if he meant an actual discussion or if he was talking in code, either way he was disappointed with me which just sucked.

Kevin cupped the back of my head and placed a kiss on my forehead, “Good night, get some rest, I’ll see you in the morning.”

I smiled again suddenly feeling comforted, “Good Night.” He returned a small smile before walking out of the room. Even though I knew he was upset with me I felt comforted and safe in my brother’s house. The very fact that he imposed a bedtime somehow made me feel more secure. Clicking off the desk lamp I stumbled through the dark room to the queen size guest bed and let out a sigh of content as I let my body sink into the pillow top mattress, moments later I was asleep.

Chapter End Notes:

It has been forever, partly because my laptop did a fantastic impression of a rock and partly because I felt a little rebellous ...sometimes i get tired of people telling me what to do and I rebel, especially when it pertains to my creative outlet SO I may or may not have been hoarding this chapter till I stopped getting emails demanding that I update. Inspiration makes me write and when I get no feedback other than UPDATE NOW! I start to get inspired to do the opposite. I love and appreciate my loyal readers and for those of you who have been with me since the beginning and always give me feedback and inspire me, thank you...this little speech is not toward you...for the others...consider this a verbal spanking :P