~~~Question of the Chapter~~~

How do you love someone without getting hurt?

-Yani

Feel free to answer :)

XoXo Yani.

(NB!! The last two chapters might need to be edited.  I will do that tonight or tomorrow. No need to point out errors. Enjoy!)

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Raelynn's POV

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The week went by at a slow pace as the kids and I got settled back into our routine.

I have been avoiding Quinn out of fear of Ethan showing up with her.

When I spoke to her earlier in the week, she had told me that after Ethan had followed her home, they had a heart to heart discussion and she realized how much they really do love each other.

She said she wouldn't be the one to tell him about the triplets but thinks the secret is becoming a little too much to hide anymore.

I couldn't agree more.

It's taking a toll on me, wondering everyday if I will open my door to the sight of Bryce or his brothers since they all now know where I live.

I trust Quinn but I really can't expect her to let this ruin her chance at love and true happiness.

I also can't expect her to keep us a secret if she plans to be with Ethan because it wouldn't be fair to keep her apart from the kids to avoid a run in with Ethan.

I know I need to come clean and tell Bryce but I just don't know how to. What if he decides to take them away or give me ultimatums?

What would I say?

Oh hey Bryce! Remember me? The girl you had drunk meaningless sex with once? Well ummmh yeah We made three babies that night and oh by the way, they are 5 Years old.

Yeah right!

I need coffee to get me through the last day of the work week, the weekend can't seem to get here fast enough.

All week I have been dealing with James or should I say Mr. Dawson trying to take me to go on a date and hitting on me.

Every time I walk by him he finds the need to rub his arms or shoulders against me.

Funny part about this situation is that we work on different floors in different departments but for some reason he's always on my floor.

I walk into the break room which is empty and quiet. I see that there is still fresh steaming coffee left, so I pour myself a cup.

Only one more hour to go until 5 p.m. then I can go and pick the kids up from after school care.

"Oh Raelynn, I have been looking for you everywhere! I have a family emergency to attend to but I also need to be at a meeting in the conference room on the 28th floor right now! I need you to go and sit in for me and take notes. I trust you the most to get this done for me." Mrs. Livingston, the head of my department said all frantic before running out the door.

She didn't even give me a chance to ask her a question or reject her request.

I take the coffee back to my desk, grab a notepad and a pen and head down to the 28th floor.

I hope this meeting helps time to go by faster because I don't want to be late picking the kids up because we had planned on having a date night.

Walking off the elevator I follow the arrows that read conference room.

It doesn't take me long to locate it because it basically takes up the entire 28th floor.

I heard a lot of talking coming from inside and assumed I was late. I rushed inside and sat in the first vacant seat trying not to draw attention to myself.

I guess I was successful as everyone seemed to still be carrying on with their conversations.

"Why are you here? This is the head of all department meeting." The person next to me said in an all too familiar voice.

I looked to my right and sure enough I just happened to have taken the seat next to Mr. Dawson.

He puts his hand on my knee and I slap it away.

"Mrs. Livingston had a emergency and wasn't able to attend so she sent me on her behalf." I quipped.

I have been wanting to report him for harassment because of all the uncomfortable advances that he had been making.

But he holds such a powerful position here that I can only see myself getting fired for making such an accusation.

I really need this job but sometimes I have to wonder if its worth it.

I sat there doodling on my notepad willing the time to go by and this meeting to be over with while everyone else complained about how long they have been waiting, wanting to start their weekend and what an inconsiderate bastard the boss was being by having us all wait so long.

Mr. Dawson kept rubbing his arm and hands against me at every given opportunity and I kept batting it away.

The guy at the other side of the table then goes on to tell everyone about his wife and how he left the toilet seat up and she fell in for the umpteenth time and got stuck. Only this time he had to detach the toilet seat, still stuck to her butt to get her out. He then had to pour baby oil all over her butt to help pull the seat off.

She sounds like an idiot to me.

How about you look before you sit?

Doesn't seem that complicated since she's fell in before. You would think she would know better by now.

When he mentioned how embarrassed and mimicked her voice and body language showing us how she asked for a divorce I couldn't help but to laugh along with everyone else.

But my laughter was cut short when I heard my name.

It wasn't hearing my name that made me swallow my giggles, it was hearing the voice that said it.

"Raelynn?" I looked up and I am sure my eyes would fall out of my sockets if not attached correctly.

It's Bryce! What the hell is he doing here?

I felt like I was about to hyperventilate until I saw the shock turn to a deadly scowl directed at the pervert next to me.

But I couldn't take my eyes off of Bryce in case they were playing tricks on me.

Why is he here?

"And you are?" I heard him ask in voice that made me flinch.

No I have two questions.

Why is he here and why is he so mad! Did he find out about the kids and come here to confront me?

I need to get out of here. I'm not ready to tell him yet! But then again there will be nothing to tell if he finds out and takes them away.

It seemed most people knew of him because they were whispering "omg it's the Radley brother's, omg that's Bryce Radley." Thats how I became aware that his brothers were here as well because my eyes were still trained on him waiting on him to disappear and for me to have been hallucinating.

"Mr. Radley, it is great to have you with us again." I heard a woman say.

"Linda! Thank you." He responded in a softer more sincere tone.

So it seems its no coincidence that he's here.

He looks back at me and realize I am still staring at him.

He then breaks eye contact walk to the head of the table and sat in the huge chair dominating the entire room. I saw Ethan and Evan sat on either side of him.

I thought the owner of this company is an older man, Mr. Tully? Mmhhh maybe Bryce is here for something else.

"For those of you who are not aware, I am the present owner of World Market financial and have been for the past year since my grandfather George Tully retired and handed the company over to me. I am sure you all have seen my brother Ethan here come and goes as he handles the business here and reports back to me as well as my assistant Linda. My main office in LA, is where I am located, all major business decision are made and corporate meetings held. But I will be here in this office for maybe two weeks starting today. This meeting is adjourned. We will resume on Monday, everyone is free to go except Raelynn."  He said all too seriously.

They all got up and left but not before glancing at me skeptically.

Ever since Bryce yelled at Mr. Dawson he became quiet and still. I hope he stays that way forever.

Ethan and Evan were the last to leave. Both nodding at me on the way out.

I sat looking in front of me to avoid looking at him so that he would not see the worry in my eyes.

He came and sat next to me in the chair Mr. Dawson occupied just minutes ago.

I still don't look at him but all too soon I am facing him as he spins my chair to face him.

"Raelynn?" He said after I just kept staring at him.

But as soon as he said my name I panicked. I know I shouldn't because then I would look suspicious. My breathing became more labored.

"So you have three children?" He blurted out as if its been sitting on the tip of his tongue. Oh no. He knows!

He can't know! I started to shake my head in disbelief.

What am I going to do? I need to escape now.

"Oh gosh! Oh gosh! I have to go!" I fully freaked out, jumped up and ran out of the  conference room as fast as I could not even checking if he's chasing me.

I took the elevator to my floor, ran and grabbed my purse and keys and left the office.

As soon as I got into my old beat up SUV I relaxed my lungs. Catching every bit of oxygen possible.

Driving to the kids school I kept looking in my rear view mirror to see if he was following me but gave up after I realized I had no idea what he would be driving.

After 47 minutes of the hustle and bustle of New York city rush hour traffic, I pulled up outside the school.

I walked to the other building to the side to get the kids from the after school program. A program that gives extra study study, snacks and entertainment until the parents are able to pick the children up.

Upon walking inside its quiet and I notice the triplets are the only ones left.

They have never waited this long, I am normally on time.

I collect them from the teacher on duty and shuffle them all in the car.

"No one is talking to mommy today?" I asked starting the ignition and heading towards home after failed attempts of trying to talk to them.

I see all three heads shake no!

I smile to myself.

I know they want to talk so bad but are trying to be mad at me for being so late.

I try again. "So..I guess we're not going to have mommy, Ry, Rush and Ray date? I guess we'll all stay home tonight, eat veggies and go to bed early!" All three heads snap in my view in the mirror at the same time.

They look shocked as if how could I dare mention something like that.

I laugh out loud.

"So are we talking to mommy now? I said I was sorry." I poke my lips out giving my funny puppy dog face.

"OK mommy we not mad anymore." Rush speaks up and Rayin nods chiming in "yeah mommy".

"What about you Ryder?" I ask my problem child knowing I would have to bribe him. "How about a scoop of chocolate ice-cream? Will you forgive me then?" He loves chocolate ice-cream.

"Yayyyyy! We love you mommy" All three yelled considering I only offered Ryder.

I laugh again at them again. Their love for me is store bought it seems. They are so funny.

All thoughts of Bryce have been forgotten at the moment.

We get home and I change out of my suit while the kids change out of their uniforms.

Once we were all done, we shuffled back into the car and I head to the movie theater.

"What movie would you like to see guys! How to train a dragon or spiderman?" I ask them.

"Spiderman!" Ryder pipes up.

"No! No! We have to watch how to train a dragon, we just have to mommy. I need to learn how to Train a dragon." Rush argues.

Oh no why didn't I just choose instead of asking them.

"OK let's see what your sister wants to watch." I say looking at Rayin hoping she would break the tie.

She looks are Rush who looks at her hopefully and then at Ryder who looks like he wants to poke her, then looks back at me all sad and bows her head.

She's too sweet. At this age she thinks of her brothers feeling or maybe I am just stupid, and what really happened is that she doesn't want to piss Ryder off fearing he will torment her or Rush fearing he won't play with her.

Wow. I never considered how hard her life was.

OK I really want to laugh at them.

I think Rayin would more like how to train a dragon so that's what I will choose.

"One adult and three children for how to train a dragon at 7:25 please."

Rush claps excitedly, Rayin smiles and Ryder groans.

He'll be fine for now as soon as I get some fruit snacks and popcorn.

"Are they triplets?" I nod in confirmation and smile at her. "They are so adorable!" The lady at the ticket counter says as she hands me my change.

"The nice lady said you are all adorable. What do we say to her?" I ask them.

"Thank you!" They turned and told her with angelic smiles plastered on their face.

Yeah right.

One hour and forty minutes later I leave the movies with two satisfied children and one who keeps reminding me that he will not be satisfied until he gets his ice-cream.

I stop at the McDonald's down the street from home and order a grilled chicken sandwich meal for myself, and three kids meal with nuggets and three cones of chocolate ice-cream for the kids.

Now I guess we can go home.

The kids meal are forgotten as they eat the ice-cream and make a mess of themselves and their booster seats with the melting ice-cream that's running down the side of the cone because of the heater on in the truck.

Ice-cream in winter time. Weirdo's!

We get out of the truck and go inside the house.

"Go wash your hands and come straight to the dining table to eat your nuggets!" I instruct as I lay all the food out on the table in front of their respective seats.

We all sat and ate and they told me about their day at school.

"Mommy can you take me to the park tomorrow?" Ryder asked.

"Just you? What about your brother and sister?" I questioned.

"They can come too!" I couldn't help but to roll my eyes discreetly.

I wasn't going to take him to the park and leave the other two at home by themselves.

The mind of a five year old.

"Mommy can we go and see the dinosaur's?" Rush asked.

I thought about it for a minute. As far as I can remember  the American Museum of Natural History at central park does have fossilized dinosaur bones and an indoor playground.

Perfect  because its still a little too cold outside for Rush to play at the park all day.

"We can do both! But only if you guys go get in your pajamas and go to bed now!" I challenged since they were finished eating.

They all jumped up from their kiddie table and raced down the hall to their rooms.

Well that was easy.

I know it won't be as easy to bribe them when they get older, I will probably have used up all my bribes by the time they turn sixteen.

~~~Author’s Note~~~

Did you answer the chapter question?

Yes? (Hugs)

No? (;-p)

lol

I didn’t have a quote or a song so I just asked a question I read on a site and didn’t have an answer to myself. Figured you guys could answer it being so smart and all ;)

Anyways!!!!!

I wish Raeylnn would stop running and tell Bryce already!!!

Sheeesssshhhhhh I just want to punch the author already.

hahahhahhhahaha!!! ;-p