"Darlings, have you missed me?"

Nicole eagerly extended her arms as she entered.

Zoya bounced down the stairs and leaped into Nicole's embrace.

"Miss you so much!"

"I miss you too, darling!" Nicole fervently kissed Zoya.

The other kids descended from upstairs.

"Darlings, your mommy is still busy, so I came to take you to the restaurant first."

"Hurry, get in the car."

Nicole jingled the car keys in her hand, and the kids hopped into Nicole's ...