Behind Closed Eyes

Summary

 Isabella Evans, I’ve called you ten times, it’s time to come down! Now is not the time to be late on the first day of school...

With a determined step, Maggie crossed her daughter's room to open the shutters and let in the morning light. She let in the cool air which immediately enveloped the small room, pushing Bella to get up. It was barely seven o'clock and the house was already buzzing with shouts, complaints and bickering.

 Have kids! Maggie growled.

 Stop, you love it! replied her husband who had heard her.

 I especially love it when they’re not there!

Unmoved by her mother's unpleasant words, Bella stomped down the stairs. She wanted to sleep, not listen to her parents tease each other early in the morning about the appropriate or inappropriate presence of children in a family. She knew that Maggie was complaining, her father was right, she loved being surrounded and her three daughters filled her with happiness. She wouldn't have been against a fourth baby, especially a boy, but life was tough – every dollar had to be counted. They had discussed it with Bill, he too would have been tempted, but the future baby would not see the light of day, the future remained too uncertain.

The couple already had to finance the studies of Bella who had just celebrated her sixteenth birthday. For Lila and Georgie, they still had time to save: at twelve and eight years old, the little ones' main concern remained the color of their favorites. Right now, they were focusing on who would have the most honey cereal in her morning bowl.