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The front door had barely opened before the noise hit them.
Not unpleasant noise.
Home noise.
Children shouting over each other. Dogs barking somewhere deeper in the house. Someone laughing loud enough that it was almost certainly Anthony. The unmistakable sound of something falling over followed immediately by, “It wasn’t me!”
Benedict sighed fondly. “We’ve been home for all of three seconds.”
“And already regretting it?” Sophie teased weakly as she adjusted Violet against her chest.
“Never.”
He kissed her temple before taking the nappy bag from her shoulder. Sophie still looked tired, understandably, but lighter now they were finally out of the hospital.
The boys had spent nearly two weeks at Aubrey Hall with Anthony and Kate and they’d brought them, plus the dogs back after Benedict called to say Sophie and Violet had been given the all clear to come home
Two weeks without their mum however meant they had returned absolutely feral.
“MUMMY!”
The twins came hurtling down the hallway at full speed.
“NO RUNNING,” three adult voices barked simultaneously.
Anthony from the kitchen.
Kate from somewhere upstairs.
And Sophie instinctively, despite holding a newborn.
Charlie and Alex skidded to a halt anyway, socks sliding on the wood floor.
Will toddled behind them considerably slower, holding Lottie’s hand with all the seriousness of a tiny businessman escorting royalty.
Lottie, equally curly-haired and stubborn, marched alongside him clutching half a breadstick.
The sight nearly made Sophie cry on the spot.
“Oh my boys,” she whispered.
Will’s face lit up.
“Mama!”
He abandoned Lottie immediately and barreled into Sophie’s legs before remembering at the last second she was holding the baby.
“Gentle,” Benedict reminded softly.
Will looked up at the bundle in Sophie’s arms.
“Baby Vivi?”
“Violet,” Alex corrected importantly.
“That’s what I SAID.”
Before another argument could begin, the dogs arrived.
Apollo appeared first.
Sophie’s golden retriever trotted calmly around the corner, immediately slowing when he spotted the baby in Sophie’s arms. His tail wagged steadily but he stayed back automatically, sitting politely beside her without being asked.
“Good boy,” Sophie said warmly, scratching behind his ears.
Apollo leaned against her leg with a soft huff, eyes fixed attentively on the tiny bundle.
Then came Calli.
Calli launched herself into the hallway like a furry missile.
“Oh God!”
“CALLI,” Benedict snapped.
The golden retriever ignored him completely.
Calli skidded across the floor, nearly crashed into the umbrella stand, recovered magnificently, and bounded straight toward Sophie.
“Calli, sit,” Sophie said calmly and there was immediate obedience.
Calli planted her backside on the floor so fast her paws slid forward.
Benedict looked offended. “You couldn’t do that for me?”
Calli did not spare him a glance.
Anthony appeared in the kitchen doorway holding a mug of tea. “Still not learnt from your greatest humiliation, brother, she didn’t listen seven years ago when she pulled you into the river did you think she’d listen now… Sophie’s the one who gives her treats, hence she listens to Sophie
“I live in hope she might remember she was mine first… ”
Behind Anthony trotted a short-legged corgi with enormous ears and the expression of a Victorian man deeply disappointed in society.
Newton.
Newton surveyed the chaos, sighed visibly, and wandered over to sniff Benedict’s shoe.
“Newton doesn’t care about your new baby,” Anthony announced.
Newton sneezed.
Kate descended the stairs carrying Milo on one hip while Neddy trailed behind her trying to balance two toy dinosaurs on his head.
“There she is,” Kate said softly, immediately smiling at the sight of Violet.
The entire hallway somehow grew even more crowded.
Apollo remained perfectly seated beside Sophie like an honour guard.
Calli, meanwhile, was vibrating with excitement despite technically following instructions.
Her tail smacked repeatedly against the wall.
“Can they see her?” Charlie asked.
“They can sniff her gently,” Sophie corrected.
Calli was first this time, because despite all the chaos, she adored Sophie beyond reason and therefore adored anything Sophie loved.
She approached cautiously, nose twitching delicately near Violet’s blanket.
The second Violet made a tiny sleepy squeak, Calli froze.
Completely froze.
“Oh no,” Kate whispered knowingly.
“She’s attached now,” Anthony agreed.
Calli looked up at Sophie with wide emotional eyes before immediately pressing herself against Sophie’s legs protectively as though this baby was her own baby.
Apollo finally stood and sniffed Violet carefully too, calm and steady as ever.
Then both dogs positioned themselves on either side of Sophie instinctively.
Like bodyguards.
Like Violet had always belonged there.
Will stared at them seriously.
“Doggies love baby.”
“They do,” Benedict said softly.
Lottie wandered closer holding out her soggy breadstick toward the carrier. “Baby snack?”
“No, darling,” Kate laughed gently, rescuing the breadstick before it entered Violet’s face.
Neddy leaned over dramatically. “She’s smaller than Will was.”
“That’s because Will came out built like a Victorian farm child,” Anthony said.
“Anthony,” Kate sighed.
“It’s true.”
Milo poked Benedict’s arm. “Can she play dinosaurs?”
“Not yet.”
“Tomorrow?”
Benedict smiled tiredly. “Maybe give her a week.”
The twins had now crouched directly in front of Violet, speaking at full volume despite repeated reminders.
“I’m gonna teach her football.”
“No, space.”
“Football.”
“SPACE.”
Will looked into the carrier again, curls falling into his eyes.
Then very carefully, very gently, he touched Violet’s tiny foot.
Mine, his expression seemed to say.
Not possessive.
Protective.
Sophie looked around the hallway then.
At her boys.
At Kate trying not to laugh while Anthony unsuccessfully attempted to stop Newton stealing someone’s dropped biscuit.
At Apollo sitting faithfully at her side.
At Calli staring at Violet like she’d discovered the meaning of life.
The house was loud.
Crowded.
Chaotic.
Perfect.
Benedict slipped an arm around her waist carefully.
“Ready?” he murmured.
Sophie smiled down at the tiny sleeping girl in her arms.
“Yeah,” she whispered. “Now we’re home.”