Sweet Mischief’s Rollercoaster Romance

Upstairs, Andre's voice rang out suddenly. "Mia, can you come up here for a sec?"

Nora shook her head anxiously and moved closer to Hansen on the couch. "Dad, are you going to protect your kids?"

Hansen shook his head and slid a little farther away from his daughter-in-law. "Nope, not getting involved."

Cradling his hiccupping, red-faced son, Andre called down again, louder this time. "Mia! Henry just peed on my desk! I can't deal with him-get up here!"

Everyone in the living room-young and old-turned, craning their necks to stare up at the little culprit on the stairs, his pants clearly soaked.

Hearing his dad announce his embarrassment to the whole family, Henry cried even harder.

Mia rushed upstairs. As soon as she took Henry from Andre, Henry clung to her neck, sniffling and tattling in his tiny voice, "Daddy hit your baby~"noveldrama

Nora raised her eyebrows. "Andre hit my baby? Well, then my baby peed all over his daddy's office, didn't he?" The words were a little too much for Henry to follow, but he was dead set: his dad hit him.

Andre hurried off to clean his office while Mia hauled Henry away for a bath.

Catching each other's eye, Molly and Aimee exchanged a silent look. Jade glanced upstairs, and without a word, the two moms each grabbed a toddler and headed up as well.

Downstairs, Hansen was bragging. "Seth, you know, my grandson always manages to be at the center of every bit of chaos. Back in the old days, they'd have called him a little hero."

Freshly bathed and in clean pajamas, Henry was carried out. Andre came out of his office too, but when they met, Henry just turned away and hugged his mom even tighter.

Andre could only sigh in defeat.

After dinner, the women herded the kids into the play area, then slipped off to chat somewhere out of sight.

Andre didn't even bother asking where they'd gone-Cedillo family security was tight these days. There was no way the women were sneaking out again.

Jared, now thick as thieves with his two cousins, was fighting Wayne for a toy. But when Henry wandered over, he just grabbed the toy and waddled off with it.

The two younger boys chased after their brother on all fours, with Chad standing off to the side. "Andre, do you think my little sweetie is growing up too slow? He still can't walk."

Andre shrugged. “Henry started

walking early-probably because we had to chase mm around all day.

Ever since He'd been a few months

old, he and Mia had been in @daily

battle of wits with their son.

Bruce got home from work, bent down with an armful of plastic balls, and joined

the chaos, playing with the three little ones.

By nine, the three women returned, each scooping up a sleepy toddler and carrying them off to bed.

Hansen and Seth lingered in the living room, holding hands and reluctant to say goodbye. "You're leaving already tomorrow? It feels too soon. There's so much more.I wanted to show your Hansen said e bit misty-eyed.

Seth gave his friend's hand a squeeze. "Patrick's not home, so someone has to keep the house running. Next time we'll have more time. Our families should definitely keep in touch."

"Absolutely, you can count on it."

Back in the bedroom, Mia slipped off to shower while Henry rolled around on the bed. Andre scooped him up, but Henry still looked grumpy, nursing his grudge. "Give Daddy a kiss," Andre coaxed.

Still pouting, Henry reluctantly gave his dad a peck on the cheek. Andre chuckled. "You little troublemaker, always up to something."

Settling onto the couch with Henry in his lap, Andre's voice softened "C'mon tell Daddy a secret-where did Nora take you yesterday you a whole bag of treats if you tell me."

Henry replied, "Mommy wine, boom-"

"She had wine?"

“Uh-huh~" Henry chirped, his baby voice full of mischief.

Andre tried again, "Where did you sleep last night?"

Henry blinked, not quite getting it.

Andre rephrased it, using baby talk, "You and Mia-where did you go night-night?"

Henry blinked again, then answered, "Bumped~"