Worried the other children might get jealous, Arissa stroked their heads and said gently, “Sweethearts, Daddy can't carry all of you. So, I'll hold your hands, okay?”
“Okay!”
The four children grinned and wrapped their fingers around hers. “Mommy, you have to be careful too!”
“Okay!”
Pleased with their behavior, Arissa walked down the stairs while holding their hands.
Benjamin, too, was comforted that the children did not care too much about such things.
If not for her reminder, it would have slipped his mind.
“I'll carry the four of you downstairs the next time,” he offered.
However, Gavin tilted his head and cast Benjamin a glance. “I don't want you to carry me. I want Mommy to do it.”
Arissa was elated to hear those words. “I'll carry you later!”
Grinning, Jasper piped up, “Me too, Mommy!”
“Okay!”
“Not you too. Mommy can't possibly carry you after carrying Gavin,” Oliver teased Jasper.
Jasper gave a snort and pouted. “Mommy can carry me on her back!”
As the children trotted down the stairs with Arissa, Zachary laughed and swept his gaze across his brothers. “Well, you can let Mr. Graham do it instead.”
Hearing that, Jasper sneaked a peek at Benjamin and snorted haughtily. “I like being carried by Mommy on her back. Besides, she hasn't done so in ages.”
Arissa gazed at her children affectionately as she cooed, “Okay, okay. I'll carry you on my back. Then, I'll carry Zachary and Oliver later, all right?”
“Okay!” Oliver crinkled his eyes in a smile.
“Humph. How could you tease me when you obviously like being carried by Mommy on her back too!” Jasper poked Oliver's face grumpily.
“It was Mommy who offered it. I wasn't the one who pestered her for it. Hehe!” Oliver grinned smugly.
“You're annoying!” Jasper harrumphed while Oliver swayed his head triumphantly.
Their petty squabble amused Arissa.
When they reached the first floor, she lowered herself, and Jasper happily climbed onto her back, wrapping his arms around her neck.
“Hey, not so tight!” Arissa supported his body to prevent him from falling.
Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: The More the Merrier
When are you going to up date this novel? Or can you tell me where I can finish reading it....