Hold My Tear, I’m Getting My Wife Back!

The next day dawned crisp and clear, a perfect slice of autumnal bliss, and Leanne was off duty.

At seven on the dot, as reliable as ever, Betty came bounding in to deliver her wake-up call. She could manage nights without Leanne, but mornings were a different story - she needed to see her parents first thing to soothe her longing heart.

Having stayed up late, Leanne struggled to open her drowsy eyes, only for a gentle kiss to land on her eyelids.

"Sleep a bit more," came a deep, soothing voice coaxing her back to sleep. "I'll take care of her."

Leanne's eyelashes fluttered but sleep ultimately reclaimed her, her eyelids closing again as she murmured a sleepy acknowledgment.

Curtis slipped out of bed and opened the door, where Betty awaited, impatient as a little sparrow: "Mommy! Mommy!"

Once the door closed again, Curtis whispered, "Let's not wake Mommy."

"The sun's up high!" Betty protested.

"Sunshine is good for you," Curtis persuaded her with his playful logic, lifting her in his arms as their footsteps faded down the stairs.

Leanne snoozed for another hour or so before descending to find Curtis and Betty playing soccer in the lawn.

out in a white tracksuit, her hair in two little buns, while Curtis wore a black half-zip

was more of Betty running around clutching the ball than actually playing soccer, even when

whopping 11:0 victory that left Betty sulking at his feet like a koala clinging to a tree, in

teased, "Throwing a

"A little dirt-lover, huh? Guess Mom's cleanliness

ran into her arms, her face full of protest

use tattling to Mommy," Curtis, plucking leaves from her hair, smiled lazily. "Daddy bullies Mommy

on his shoe,

also stamped on his shoe:

their point, they took

giving them a head start, "Go on. I'll give you ten seconds." Leanne scooped up Betty, and their game of chase turned Betty's pout into shrieks of delight as Curtis followed in

the sounds of their laughter up to where Larson stood, watching the family from

Larson found a

of familial love. Sent abroad at fifteen, he navigated a sea of "friends," but the lively parties left him feeling

alone than ever.

like something out of a fairy