The More the Merrier

“Mommy, we’ll wash our faces on our own. You should wash yours too and have breakfast with us! And you can take some rest after that!” Zachary urged.

“That sounds great!” Arissa replied with a smile.

After the kids headed out, she trotted to the bathroom to wash up.

Returning to their room, the kids closed the door tight and started their discussion.

“Mommy stayed up all night because she was searching for clues about our missing brother,” Zachary commented.

A frown formed between Gavin’s brows. “Why don’t we tell Mommy the truth?”

Oliver bit his lip and nodded in agreement. “I think we have to tell Mommy. If not, Mommy’s body won’t be able to take it if she continues to skip on sleeping.”

“But I’m sure she won’t be able to handle the truth if we tell her now.” An insurmountable worry surged within Jasper.

Jesse’s eyes were brimming with tears. “Our brother is such a poor thing. Mommy will be hurt if she finds out about it.”

The five kids were shrouded with worry as they mulled over the problem.

to find out the truth someday. She could endure it for

wanted to continue hiding the truth from her, but learning that she had been staying up to look for clues overnight, he felt his heart sink

tell Mommy

now will hurt less than in the long run. Mommy will find out one day anyway. The later she knows, the longer she

his hand in full support. “Me

and Jasper were the only ones who had yet to voice

turned to

his three other brothers, who all had the same

and would follow her brothers, she had no

Jasper had

later. We’ll tell her after breakfast.” Oliver was

and Zachary thought the same way

that’s so, why don’t we tell Mommy after she gets some sleep?” Jasper proposed another idea he reckoned

we don’t say it later, Mommy will surely continue to rack her brains over this matter. There’s no saying when she’ll take time to

Jasper sighed dejectedly.

Mommy will come looking for us soon,”

go.” Oliver gestured and headed into the bathroom with Jesse first, while Gavin, Zachary, and Jasper

brushed their teeth, an idea flashed across Jasper’s mind. “Why don’t we tell Mr. Graham, then get him