Here's the second chapter. Hope you enjoy reading about this little family I've created as much as I'm enjoying writing about them. Please read and review.
It was exactly two in the afternoon on Saturday when the front doorbell of the Reid home rang. Little five and a half year old Eliza Reid who had been sitting in the living room eagerly anticipating the arrival of her Aunt Penelope, Uncle Derek and Grandpa Dave quickly answered the door. "Hi. Where's your luggage? Did you go to the grocery store? Is that for us? Are you cooking dinner Grandpa Dave?" She asked enthusiastically her volume increasing with each question as she became more animated clapping her hands and jumping up and down.
"Eliza, calm down. You will wake the babies." Her father who had been upstairs stated in a firm but gentle manner as he reached the last few steps. "Let's take everyone in the kitchen."
"Okay. The babies should sleep til 3. Well maybe not Olivia but definitely Amelia because she's only taking one nap a day now but it's a real long nap. It's hard to tell with Noah. He takes two naps but one is usually shorter than the other. He didn't sleep very well this morning because Daddy was mowing the lawn and then we had a big breakfast well brunch actually. Amelia is sad because Mommy and Daddy are going away so Mommy made us a big brunch because that's Amelia's favorite. We went to the grocery store today too; early though, we had bagels in the car on the way home. Mommy says it's too hard with mine and Olivia's school schedules and Amelia and Noah's nap schedules…." Eliza babbled as she led the group into the Reid's spacious kitchen.
Looking at Eliza, Derek was once again struck by how much she looked like her mother with blonde hair and blue eyes although she seemed to also have her father's intellect and definitely loved to talk. Although he tried very hard not to show it, she was his favorite of the three Reid girls. He put his arm around Spencer and whispered in his ear "her momma's looks and her daddy's brains. Another 10 years and you're going to be damn glad there are guns in this house, man."
Both grinned at the little girl who continued to talk as she began to dance around the kitchen. "for her to do the grocery shopping, at least a big shop without Daddy. Plus with diapers and everything one cart really isn't big enough. I've told Mommy I could push the second cart but the nap schedule is a problem too. Anyway since Daddy came home on Thursday night we've been getting caught up. Well we didn't do too much on Thursday because Daddy was tired, but Daddy you put all the groceries away, right, and you remembered the new pantry system, right?."
"Yes and yes" Her father answered nodding his head as he tenderly placed his hand on her shoulder and ran his fingers through a small section of her hair causing her to momentarily still.
"Good so ok Grandpa Dave don't worry I'll teach you the new pantry system, too. We had a huge disaster last week. See Mommy's let Livy start helping us with baking. Mommy thinks Livy will be less finicky if she's involved in the preparation. Of course, she's only doing the easy things like chocolate chips, raisins and nuts. So anyway, Livy was on her tippy toes reaching for a bag of walnuts. They fell and nuts went everywhere. So we had to re-organize everything so Livy can reach those things."
"Eliza can't Grandpa Dave just leave the food he brought on the counter. It's all for dinner, right?" Spencer asked looking at Dave who nodded in reply.
"Daddy what if Grandpa Dave brought perishables?"
"Oh well yes those we can put in the refrigerator but I don't think we need to teach Grandpa Dave Mommy's new pantry system just for one night."
"I better go ask Mommy." Eliza stated somberly as she quickly walked back down the hallway and headed up the stairs leaving the four adults chuckling at the precocious eldest Reid child.
The grocery bags had been unpacked and the perishables put in the refrigerator by the time Eliza returned followed by her mother who was carrying a bleary eyed four year old Olivia Reid. In Olivia's arms was Theo her beloved stuffed teddy bear. Unlike her elder sister Olivia physically was a female version of her father with brown hair albeit straight and brown eyes. She was tall and almost too thin. She was also the shyest of the three Reid girls. Upon being greeted by her honorary Aunt, Uncle and Grandpa, she squeezed her bear, smiled and blushed.
Seeing the child in her mother's arms, Spencer who had just started a pot of coffee reached for the little girl. "Babe, your back. Give her to me. I'll take her and you serve the coffee."
"No Daddy. Mommy needs to give Livy her snack remember what the pediatrician said about her BMI."
"How about if Uncle Derek takes Livy? Then Daddy can serve the coffee and Mommy can get Livy her snack." Derek said as he took the child from her mother's arms. "We don't want Mommy to hurt her back."
"Actually Mommy's back has been fine recently. She hasn't had to use the heating pad since the other time she and Daddy went to the inn." Eliza reported causing both her parents to blush crimson. "Mommy did you empty the washer and dryer?"
"Yes dear." She said with a laugh as she attempted to regain her composure. "Livy, for your snack, how about a glass of milk and a piece of cake? We have hummingbird and carrot."
"Carrot, please." Livy replied.
"Very nice manners, Livy. Mommy may I have a slice of hummingbird cake. The potassium in the bananas is good for me. Auntie Penelope, Uncle Derek, Grandpa Dave would any of you like cake with your coffee?" The men both decided to have cake as did Spencer. While her parents were serving everyone, Eliza began looking at the various foods which had been put on the counter while she was upstairs then she peaked in the refrigerator and freezer. Finally she said "spaghetti Bolognese, garlic bread, salad, and cheesecake. Did mommy say that was ok because Noah might need a bath if he is too messy? Oh and Mommy did you unload the dishwasher?
"Yes Eliza I unloaded the dishwasher and Grandpa Dave called me about the menu yesterday while you were at school. I told him it was fine but reminded him Noah can be messy." Her mother replied as the sounds of a newly awake Noah Reid began to come through the baby monitor on the counter.
"I can give Noah a bath if he gets messy, Eliza."Penelope said to reassure the child.
"I'll finish with everyone's snack, Babe, if you want to go get him." Spencer offered, his wife readily agreed and quickly headed towards the stairs to fetch her youngest.
Several minutes later, as the others were finishing their snack, Noah clutching a blue blanket entered the kitchen in the arms of his mother. Like his sister Olivia, he had his father's brown hair and beautiful brown eyes. He was a confident, boisterous child like his eldest sister, Eliza. Unlike the girls, he was at the top of the charts for both weight and height. Uncle Derek was already envisioning them going to many basketball and baseball games when the boy was in high school and perhaps college. Noah began waving his arms and saying "Dada" when he saw his father clearing the dishes from the kitchen table.
Hearing the child, Spencer turned and opened his arms to the boy. Noah easily made the transfer from his mommy to his daddy. "Honey, could you give him a snack while I go back upstairs? I need to finish packing and change our sheets."
"Sure, when you've finished packing I will bring our suitcases down." Reid said as his wife once again headed upstairs.
Forty-five minutes later, the sheets on the king sized bed in the master bedroom had been changed. One garment bag and two medium sized suitcases had been put in the back of Spencer's SUV. And 2 ½ year old Amelia Reid fresh from her nap was now the one having a snack at the kitchen table. Like her siblings, Amelia was a combination of her parents in her own unique way. Like Noah, she had her father's curly brown hair. Like Eliza, she had her mother's beautiful blue eyes. Weight and height wise she was somewhere in the middle. She was not as tall and thin for her age as Olivia, but not as short as Eliza, and more delicate in appearance than Noah. Unlike Olivia she was quick to speak her mind and prone to an occasional crying jag when she didn't get her way.
"I think is about time for Mommy and me to go now." Spencer said quietly waiting for the reactions of his four children.
"Kisses" Eliza quickly shouted as she lifted her arms. Her parents both began hugging and kissing their children. Olivia and Eliza received some quiet words of encouragement from both parents and in response to those words Eliza nodded vigorously.
Amelia gave her daddy a hug and in a sad voice with her lip quivering said "I love you." Hugging her mommy good-bye proved to be just too sad for the little girl and several tears cascaded down her face.
"'Melia, oh baby it's alright. Aunt Penelope, Uncle Derek, and Grandpa Dave are all staying tonight. Grandpa Dave is going to make dinner and you can watch movies as soon as Daddy and I leave."
"Puppies?" The little girl asked as she dried her tears.
"Oh you know I love puppies." Penelope enthused as she picked up Amelia. "Derek, you grab Noah. Let's all go out to the garage and watch mommy and daddy leave and then we can start doing funny stuff."