You More Than Anything In The World

After changing into fresh clothing, Arissa had only just come out of the walk-in closet when she saw Benjamin and the kids waiting for her in the room.

She smiled. Her gaze lingered on the kids and their father. The kids were already dressed in uniform, and they had their backpacks slung over their shoulders, too.

“Are you guys ready?” she asked. She didn't think they would get ready in the short time she spent washing up.

Jasper grinned. “Yeah, Mommy. We've been waiting for you for a while now.”

“Mommy, it's time for breakfast,” Tim prompted.

Gavin, Danny, Zachary and Jesse were all beaming at her.

“Okay.” Arissa walked up to them and rubbed their heads lovingly.

Benjamin carried Jesse in one arm and reached for Arissa's hand with his free one. “Let's go,” he said, leading her out the door.

Arissa smiled and responded with a hum, then called out to the other kids, “Come on, boys. Let's have breakfast together!”

The boys rushed forward and took the lead, but they occasionally glanced back to make sure Arissa and Benjamin were following them.

Arissa's eyes were filled with tender warmth as she looked at the kids. When she noticed them looking over their shoulders, she reminded, “Eyes forward, Sweethearts. I don't want you to trip!”

“Hehe!” The boys chuckled sheepishly and looked ahead, then made their way carefully down the stairs.

Benjamin glanced at the five children, and upon seeing how cautious they were in going down the steps, he smiled.

When they reached the hall downstairs, the kids set their bags aside. Jesse wanted to walk on her own, too, so Benjamin bent down to put her on the ground.

“Wait up!” Jesse called out after her brothers as she tried to catch up to them.

“Hurry up!” Jasper turned around and said to her.

Danny and Zachary stopped in their tracks to wait for her. “We'll wait here, don't worry.”

Delighted, Jesse giggled and bounded up to her two big brothers. She eyed them with admiration as she said appreciatively, “Thanks, Gavin and Danny!”

Danny even reached out to take her bag for her. “Come on, I'll bring this over for you.”

“Thank you!” Jesse said gratefully, flashing her adorable dimples.

Danny beamed. “Don't mention it!” He stared at Jesse's little face. She's so pretty.

Gavin was charmed by her as well. He tousled her hair and said, “You're really pretty, Jesse.”

This made Jesse giggle even more. At that moment, she looked like a little cherub, so beautiful and bright that it was hard to take one's eyes off her.

“Will you guys hurry up?” Zachary had put his bag aside at this point, and when he saw Gavin and Danny grinning at Jesse like id*ots, he could not help calling out to them in good humor.

On one side of the room, Benjamin and Arissa waited patiently for the kids. There was no hiding the love in their eyes.

Arissa urged, “Put your bags away before we have breakfast.”

The kids quickly did as they were told, then ran up to her and reported, “We're done, Mommy!”

“To the dining room, then!” Arissa declared gently.

The kids turned and headed into the dining room obediently.

Benjamin held Arissa's hand and led her to the dining room. There, the family sat down at the table and dug into their breakfast.

Just then, an uninvited guest started making noise at the front door.