“Yes, and I...I hope I’m not going to face it now.”

“What do you mean?”

“Addison, our children are...are new and these times we won’t get back. So, even though you do have a job to go to, I’d still like you to take some time off to be a family, even if it’s just for a couple of weeks.”

Addison gazed at Joanna and then to the children they held in their arms. It had only been a few hours since she’d been introduced to her son and daughter, but in that short amount of time, Addison swore they had changed. Had Robert’s chin been that square earlier in the day? Had Sheridan’s cheeks suddenly developed the tiniest of dimples or had Addison somehow missed them? Were her eyelashes always that long...or her fingers? Addison stared in wonderment at her daughter, and when Sheridan opened her eyes, the palest of blues met the palest of blues. Tears began to well as the emotion rushing through Addison’s body overwhelmed her, and taking a ragged breath, she looked over at Joanna.

“I was thinking months. One, two, six...you name it,” Addison said softly. “It’s time for me to start trusting people. There are quite a few at Kane worthy of handling projects without me and my wrath, as you so eloquently put it, and Fran is at the top of the list. She knows what I do and how I do it, so along with that raise you insist I owe her, she’s going to get a promotion and start pulling a bit more weight. I’ve got a family to think of now, and they come first.”

***

Once the babies were done with their meal, Joanna gave Addison a crash course on how to change a nappy, and Addison’s horrified expression at seeing the goopy poo her daughter had produced caused Joanna to giggle more than once. However, resolute in learning the rights and wrongs, Addison scrunched up her nose and got the job done...eventually.

Shortly after that, with the infants again snoozing in their cots, Joanna settled in for a much-needed kip, and Addison happily returned to the nursery to hover over the babies again. Fascinated by the tiny humans clothed in footed sleepsuits covered in pink and blue bunnies, Addison lost track of time until the ache in her back forced her to straighten. Unwilling to leave her children alone, she looked around, and for the next hour, Addison spent her time memorizing all the instructions on every bottle, box, and jar in the room.

Nearly three hours had passed before Addison returned to the master suite, and sitting on the edge of the bed, she placed a light kiss on Joanna’s forehead. “Time to get up, darling,” she whispered.

A content moan slipped from Joanna’s lips as she opened her eyes. “Are they awake?”