Strings of Destiny

Chapter Six

Ellie finished cleaning her room before getting her things ready for her weekly bath. She put in milk, honey, flowers, a bath bomb, oils and bubble bath.

She climbed inside the tub and sank down deep with a huge sigh.

She'd already washed her hair and taken off her manicure and now she was bathing all the dirt from the week away. She laid there, listening to music from her phone on the sink vanity and watched the shadows of the candles flickering against the walls.

She felt peace for a moment in time.

After a full five minutes, she began scrubbing at her newly "shaved" (Nair) legs first, really getting her feet. Then she moved upwards until she reached her neck. She finished and soaked more.

Knocking sounded at the door. "Mommy!"

Ellie glared at the tap. "Yes, gumdrop?!"

"What are you doing?!"

Ellie almost laughed. "I'm taking a bath!"

The doorknob jiggled. "I want a bath!"

"Your bath is in a little while!" Ellie hoped the doorknob stayed. The bathroom door at their last house didn't.

Lene began crying.

"What's wrong, sweetie?!"

"I wanna be with you!"

"Why?!"

"Mommy!"

"Here I come, Lene!" Ellie wasn't surprised. Lene hadn't gone down for her nap yet (which was the reason she'd timed her baths for this specific block) so Ellie was unsurprised Lene wanted attention.

Lene didn't respond.

Ellie let the water out of the tub then rinsed off with the shower. She got out and cleaned out the tub before blowing out the lights of the candles. She set them back so no one would disturb them then picked up her phone to unlock the door after throwing on her robe.

Lene was sitting on the floor.

"Are you done?" Ellie monotoned.

Lene brightened and shot up. "Mommy!"

Ellie raised an amused brow but picked up her daughter. "You miss Mommy?"

"Yeah." Lene nodded as Ellie went down the hall to their bedroom.

"Yeah."

<<<

After Lene's bath, Ellie shut herself up in the bathroom once more to straighten her curly hair. It took an hour but it coincided with Nick needing to take his bath. She left the humid room and went to put Lene to bed.

The little girl dropped off quickly (like always!) so Ellie gathered her manicure supplies and left with her phone. She went downstairs and began painting her nails. It was a crazy Halloween themed manicure.

As she did it, she watched classic cartoons on TV with Kel and Emmanuel "Manny" Jackson, who'd take their baths later.

Eve came downstairs, wet up, from giving both Nick and Holly baths before putting them to sleep. "Okay, come on, Manny. Bath time."

Manny groaned before getting up.

"Wash behind your ears!" Eve had run his water for him.

Manny was silent as he walked upstairs.

Eve came to sit down as a new cartoon short came on. "I'm so tired."

"I believe it." Ellie blew on her fingertips.