"Alice come downstairs for dinner!" Josh hollers. Alice comes running up to Josh. "What are you doing up there?" He smiles at her.
"Playing with my toys daddy," she smiles back.
"Did you clean up your mess? Or are you gonna do it after dinner?"
"After dinner daddy," she nods.
"Alright, let's go eat," Josh says and sets her down.
I walk over to the table and put plates on the table and sit down. "Thank you mommy."
"You're welcome Alice," I say. "So, Alice are you glad to be back where you belong?" I ask her.
"Yes," she replies. "I knew I wasn't in the right home. Carter beat me and told me you were a bad mom to me. That's why he took me from you. But you weren't a bad mom. I new you weren't. I just couldn't voice it as a baby."
"How are you so smart?" Josh asks.
"Mrs. Melanie said I pay attention to more than I'm supposed to. I have over activity in my brain. I'm not ADD or ADHD. I'm just really smart," she explains.
The rest of dinner is quiet. Alice goes upstairs and cleans up her room and then I help her bathe and put pajamas on. She crawls into bed and I notice a bruise on her neck that runs down her back. It changes color every day as it fades. "Alice where did Carter hit you often?" I ask her.
"My back," she replies.
"Sweetie I'm so sorry," I tell her.
"It's okay mommy," she says and hugs me. I kiss her head. "I love you mommy."
"I love you too Alice," I smile. "Goodnight."
"Goodnight mommy," she says.
I leave her room and walk downstairs. "She asleep?" Josh asks me. I nod. "Good, how is my baby boy?" Josh asks as he kneels in front of me.
"Doing just fine," I grin. "He's been very active since Alice came home."
Josh kisses my belly, "I love you so very much," he whispers. "And your mommy and your sister."
I run my fingers through Josh's hair. "I'm gonna go to bed, I'm sleepy," I say.
"Okay, goodnight," Josh says and kisses me.
"I love you," I say.
"I love you more," he winks at me. I can't help but laugh.
I walk upstairs and put my pajamas on and lay in bed. I start to fall asleep. One hand resting on my belly, running back and forth to get Joseph to calm down.
I'm on the verge of a deep sleep when a hand is slapped over my mouth and I'm yanked from my bed.