Chapter Four

Parenthood was a permanent state of exhaustion, laughter, frustration and funny memories that the couple had became used to. Daily routines with a few messes or hitches in between had become a science with their four-year-olds. It was taking some tweaking with Casey in the mix now. But for the moment everything seemed to be adjusting as it should. And all without hiring a nanny. Something a lot were subtly suggesting.

Drew and Rick even managed to still have a sex life, despite the intimacy being brief. Life with three kids was a lot like keeping an entire army platoon alive their dads joked. For Rick, being a stay-at-home dad allowed him the chance to know his children better than he was working. He enjoyed teaching Davey and Shaye things too. The siblings already knew how to count to twenty, in English and Spanish, how spell their names as well as their colors and the alphabet. An evaluator from the school "couldn't believe" the children's vocabulary and ability to hold conversation. The two definitely didn't need preschool or any early intervention, she said.

She told the dads "whatever you're doing, keep it up!"

Rick and Drew wanted her to tell their "trick" was simple but one too many parents didn't do enough of these days, spend time with your children. If that was something that was a chore then these parents were in trouble. After a stressful shift, being with his family-even Casey-was the best therapy. Their chatter was soothing over the sounds of the ER. Davey Alister-Lincoln had hid dad Drew all to himself today and was loving every second of it. His sister Shaye and other dad Rick were a half hour away in another town where Shaye had a soccer game. Davey played soccer too but he still was recovering from an ear infection so he couldn't go. His aunt Claudia had taken his baby sister for the day it was just him and daddy Drew. The morning was filled with cuddles because daddy had worked three nights in a row. Davey had missed him and had told his other dad so.

Drew was soaking up posted every bit of this. He adored all of his children but having one-on- one time with each was special. He wasn't supposed to work three nights in a row but he had been called in with the overflow of patients with a series of accidents. Father and son didn't do anything special: they played on the floor with Davey's dinosaurs, built a fort in the living room and bought ice cream from the ice cream truck. They made tacos for dinner just the rest of the family returned home. Shaye had scored a goal in her soccer game and was given a special ribbon because there was a point in the middle of the game when a player from the other team tripped and fell and Shaye stopped playing to help the player up. This, more than the goal (that Rick took a video of) made Drew very proud. The child exchange was noisy but fun. When Rick had picked up Casey she was happy to see him even though she was not quite a month old. She was asleep now having been fed by her aunt. The four talked about their day during dinner. Rick offered to give the older children their bathes afterwards while Drew played with Casey. The dishes could wait. When Rick was tucking Davey into bed he told his dad today was "the best day ever."

"I bet it was, buddy," Rick said. He had enjoyed it being just him and Shaye. They sang,

danced and played games in the car. This was the first time Shaye had had been outside of San Antonio, other than Galveston. She had been excited to see the tiny town of Hondo even though there was not much to look at.

While with her aunt, Casey had a photo shoot. Claudia was known for buying her nieces and nephew toys and clothes without asking. Claudia had sent all the photos of Casey in different outfits, poising with new "friends" a.k.a. plush toys and wearing over-sized sunglasses while hanging out at a coffee shop (next to an espresso), to both dads' phones entitled "my busy day."

"You had a full day, too." Drew said snuggling the baby's nose.

"How is our super model?" Rick said, smiling at his husband and baby on the bed.

"As happy as ever. Glad we are together again, I think, though." Drew said.

"Me too."