The admission.

William saw how eagerly they waited for him to speak. He was sorry to disappoint them.

“Your mother is in the house,” he started with, and their smiles widened. “But she’s asleep. She’s still sick and she needs a few more days before she becomes better.”

Andrew and Andrea pouted, both of them not pleased by the turn of events.

“But we want to see her, just for a little bit,” Andrew whined, and his sister nodded emphatically. “Please, Daddy. Can we see Mommy? Please.”

“Please, Daddy,” Andrea added, causing William to feel like he was being ganged up on.

The pressure piled up on him was too great and he couldn’t bring himself to refuse his children even for a second.

“Very well.” He sighed, to which they both cheered at their father’s acceptance.

Now he could acutely say to Anna that he knew what it felt like to be unable to say no to his children, he thought with a wry smile.

“Can we go now?” Andrea inquired innocently, still holding her teddy.

“Just for a second, alright? She’s still