Our Lives
After my family was torn apart, an angel stepped in with an incredible offer.
I placed dinner on the table and listened to the excited chatter as everyone talked about their day.
My eldest, Selena, 11, was telling everyone about her school project, while her sister, Alivia, nine, was full of the latest goings-on in the playground, and the twins, six-year-olds, Mason and Xzavier, were debating the merits of monster trucks.
Over their heads, I caught the gaze of my husband, Shane, and I knew we were both thinking the same thing. How lucky are we!
And we really were.
When Shane and I met, I was a divorced mum to my two girls. We’d made a decision to try for one more baby together, but at our 13-week scan, we got a surprise.
‘Twins!’ I’d gasped.
Now we had the perfect family — two boys, two girls — and a noisy, wonderful home.
We were so content that I’d opted for an operation on my womb to treat heavy periods, which prevented me from carrying any more children.
‘I don’t need another,’ I’d told the doctor.
Instead, I was devoted to the four children I had and every night, over dinner, we’d sit at the table and talk.
I loved watching their personalities evolve.
While Selena was a tomboy, Alivia was a girlie girl who adored nails and hair bows.
She was a real mother hen too, and doted on her little brothers. Mason, meanwhile, was a gentle soul, while Xzavier was a daddy’s boy who loved the outdoors.
The twins were shy like me, whereas Alivia adored everyone she met.
‘Stop saying hello to everyone,’ I’d laugh as she greeted strangers in the street.
Really, though, I envied her confidence and I couldn’t wait to see what she’d do with it as she grew.
Next morning, after Shane left for work, I sneaked a cuddle with Xzavier before the alarm went off, ready for the school run.
Alivia was already up and dressed. She was usually the last, but she couldn’t wait to get to school that day as the class was building a bridge with sweets.
As the others got ready, Mason tried to decide which set of dog-tags to take with him.
‘Mummy, which one do you like better?’ he asked.
‘That one,’ I said, pointing to one with a cross.
‘Can we go now?’ Alivia asked, her mind on those her ers’ sweets.
Selena was off school because she had a doctor’s appointment later, so I told her: ‘You watch from the window and I’ll be out in a minute.’
The school bus stopped just over the road.
As usual, Alivia left the house holding her little brothers’ hands.
I was going to grab a hoodie and then follow them out, but as I walked into my bedroom, I heard ear-s
