One String Attached

72.

.James.

First thing Saturday morning, Riley and I woke up to the loud noise of music, laughter and shrills of excitement from downstairs, but it wasn't the usual kind we would hear from Aaliyah and Asher when they'd barge into our room unannounced and jump onto the bed for a cuddle.
Instead, it was more noises filled with enthusiasm and thrill. 

I look at the bedside table, groaning as I look around in search of the time but the moment my eyes land on the digital clock, I see it had only just gone 9 a.m. Usually the kids would have woken up about an hour later, not this early. 

"What is going on down there," I say groggily as I lay beside Riley, shirtless with my hair in a state, but Riley just sighs, turning her body around to the side to reach out for Autumn.

But that was before she suddenly flinches and slams her hand down on the bed, jumping up with her upper body but remaining sat on the comforter.
"James," she exclaims worriedly. "Where's Autumn?"

"What do you mean where's Autumn?" I begin to panic just as much before I look down to where our daughter's cot was, but all that was inside was her blanket.
"Where's her bunny?" Riley asks, looking at me, but the moment our eyes meet, it only takes a moment before she shakes her head, exhaling and then falling backwards to rest her head against my chest. 

It takes only a couple more minutes of listening to the voices emanating from downstairs and up through the walls and staircase that I catch onto what was going on myself, and I sigh, stroking through Riley's soft locks.
"Well I guess Bianca's made her appearance," I say, citing Ri's mother, which causes her to glare at me before she closes her eyes and breathes out once again.

"God help me," she mutters under her breath, remaining curled up by my side.

It took less than thirty minutes for Ri and I to get out of bed, put on some clothes and make ourselves look presentable before we appeared downstairs to find Autumn in her grandmother's arms, her eyes wide-opened with a smile just as large on her face, and that was a rare sight to see. 

Asher was curled up beside his grandmother on the sofa, snacking on a bar of chocolate whilst Aaliyah was sat at the dining table eating freshly-baked pancakes, but there was a stereo positioned on the counter as well, solidifying where the music was coming from.

"Mum? What's going on? Do you know how much noise that thing is making?" Riley snaps the second we reach the landing of the bottom stairs.
As Autumn rotates her head and then begins to babble in her mother's direction, putting her arms out and wriggling her fingers, asking to be picked up, Ri heads over and takes her out of Bianca's arms to hold her firmly against her chest whilst pressing multiple kisses against the top of our little girl's head.

"Autumn was crying when you and James were still asleep so I thought I would comfort her for a while. Then a little while later, I decided to wake the kids up and get them something to eat. It's not healthy for them to be having such a long lie-in, you know," my mother-in-law responds, causing Riley to shake her head, narrowing her eyes whilst I stand there rather awkwardly.
Things between Bianca and I had never been totally smooth. It was very on-and-off between her and I.

"Okay, but why is my son eating chocolate so early in the morning?" Riley continues to argue, heading over to Asher and taking the chocolate bar out of his hands before walking over to the kitchen and setting it down on the top shelf in the sweets cupboard.
"Mummy!" Asher wails, but with the quick shake of his mother's head, he comes to a halt and begins to pout from where he was sat in the corner.

"Chocolate gives the kids' energy, Riley. You should know that by now. Oh, and I really don't understand why you still allow Asher and Aaliyah to share a bedroom. Liyah's a growing girl," she continues to ramble, only making Riley roll her eyes.
"She's seven, Mum. When we get a bigger house, sure. But not right now."

"Oh, and I also think it would be beneficial if you got the children to start learning how to wash their plates now. All you have to do is buy a small stool for them to stand on and then teach them how it's done, I always did that with you.
Plus, to stop Autumn from crying so much in the night, you should really start taking her out on night drives before she's about to head to bed. And don't put her to sleep first thing, you should put her in the cradle when she's about to fall asleep, then it encourages her to sleep on her own," she rants.

Riley shares a quick look with me and I give her a look of empathy as I shrug my shoulders, sighing. It was always like this whenever Bianca was around. 

She always thought she knew better than Riley, which she probably does, but begins to take the kids under her wing, treating them like they're her own.
She's been doing that ever since Aaliyah was given birth to and the main reason at first was because she felt Riley was too young to know and understand how to parent properly. But now we're on child number three and it seems old habits really do die hard.

"The children are still kids," Ri breathes out, tapping Autumn's nose softly and trying her best to smile down at her and make it seem genuine.
"I'm not going to force them to do chores just yet, just because you taught Em and I to do those sort of things at an early age. And Autumn prefers walks not drives. And the best way to get her to sleep is by singing her a lullaby and kissing her, which after a while sends her into a doze. I know my children."

"Okay, what are you doing with them today then?" she asks, looking between both Riley and I. I watch as Riley raises an eyebrow, staring at her frustratedly whilst I decide to speak up.
"We were going to take them to the studio for the day since our team has Nationals coming up and Ash and Aaliyah love helping out there," I say, but immediately, the idea gets thrown out the window.

"Nonsense!" Bianca squeals, then bends down to the kids' height, making them look up at her curiously. "I doubt they'd want to sit around dancing all day like your father, Riley. Why don't we head to the theme park instead? Then we can head down to the beach and get some ice-creams and go to the pier-" she starts to suggest, before Asher cuts her off by jumping onto his feet.
"Ice-cream!" he yells.

"It's not even ten o'clock yet!" Riley seethes, but it seemed to be no use since all her mother seems to do is urge the kids to go and get ready, whilst Ri continues to rock Autumn in her arms. 

She sighs, waiting for the children to head upstairs so they were no longer in ear-shot of the conversation, then Ri shakes her head.

"When are you going to learn that I know how to handle my own children, Mum? I know you're their grandmother but you can't just show up and change all of our plans," she tells her in the most firm and fairest way she could muster.
But the look on Bianca's face said it all.

"I'm just having a little fun, baby. Learn to loosen up a bit sometime," she states, walking over and pressing a light kiss against Riley's cheek before calling for her two grandchildren.
"Oh, and I can keep Autumn for the day too," she says, making Riley roll her eyes but not utter a single word.

Some things never change . . .