The car rolled to a stop at Roxanne's doorstep.
Thinking about the little ones at home, Roxanne reluctantly gathered her thoughts, beamed at Larry, and said, “Thanks for the trouble.”
He nodded and saw her out of the car. He then said in a deep voice, “Please consider what I have said.”
She froze for a moment and inclined her head warily.
After she watched him leave, she adjusted her emotions before turning over to open the door.
Just as it opened, she heard the commotion in the living room. The children were having fun with Madilyn.
Hearing their voices made Roxanne feel inexplicably better. The smile on her face grew wider.
“Mommy!”
Archie saw her first. He immediately broke away from the play and ran to hug her on her legs.
Benny was still playing around with Madilyn. They paused and rushed over after hearing Archie's excited exclamations.
The children clung to her legs, one on the left and the other on the right. Roxanne laughed and patted them, “Have you been good?”
Archie and Benny nodded vigorously and exclaimed, “We have been very good!”
Madilyn smirked and teased, “You have caused such a ruckus! Also, you guys were clamoring to get my phone just now.”
They looked at her grumpily, “Mommy wasn't home yet, we wanted to call her!”
Madilyn made a silly face at them.
When they asked for her phone earlier on, she knew what they wanted. At the same time, she heard the sound outside the house and knew that Roxanne was back. She became playful and wanted to tease them.
Roxanne's heart melted as she observed their squabble, “Just a night and you miss me so much?”
She smacked their foreheads lightly and remarked, “As expected of your sons, these two are just as witty.”
The two children went over to her and held her hands innocently, “But we will also take a good care of you. Aunt Madilyn is the second best in the world!”
Without having to ask, it was easy to know who was the best in the world to them.
Roxanne's smile grew wider.
As night fell, she suggested, “Let's eat out tonight! What would you want to have?”
Benny raised his arm and answered, “BBQ!”
Despite being raised overseas, Archie and Benny couldn't get enough of it after Madilyn brought them over a few times.
Roxanne smiled and agreed, fetching the three of them out for a meal.
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