Chapter Eleven

"So, the kids are going to be with grandma and you're making up for a belated V-day, with Nachos and wings and a movie on the couch," Drew said to Topher. "Did you forget beer?"

"What's wrong with it?"

"Nothing. If you were trying to impress me or Rick or any guy in Texas, your night would be great. But dude, you're trying to impress a woman! Ask Jordan or Shannon but you're so off base here."

Even Shannon, who wasn't into sappy romance asked Topher if he was spending the night with his wife or another man.

"Marriage really is where romance goes to die," she said.

"You're joking, right?" Jordan said to Topher. "Have you even met your wife? Drew should use your idea!"

At least Drew's belated Valentine's Day (or night) with Rick included chocolate-covered strawberries.

Olivia made a note to buy more sets of magnetic letters and numbers for Cori. The four-year-old was learning much using this simple tool. Plus spelling "Allister-Lincoln" required more letters. She never questioned her son's or Drew's parenting abilities or the two take the time to teach Cori things before she entered the school system but just how her learning had been attended to, made her proud. Lessons wasn't scheduled, both dads would seize a moment a few times a day. That way Cori stayed interested.


"She's perfect. Just like her sister," Olivia told her son of Cori.

"I bet you two are glad you checked out the situation with her." Trent said.

"Yep. Makes me sick that she was passed over so many times but hopefully we can make that up with the rest of her childhood," Rick said emotionally. He told them that according to the child's rheumatologist Cori hadn't ever referred to past foster fathers as "dad" or "daddy" before. "She said we must be 'special.'"

"Well, not many couples would, without a second thought, adopt two children with such needs and see them as children first, their needs second. That is unique, son. We're very proud of you both."

"Thanks, dad."

The night shift on Valentine's Day was nearly as crazy as Halloween or New year's. A guy who who had been married all of a month was bought in with two swollen black eyes and broken jaws–after his wife came home to surprise him, only to find with two other women.

And another man.

Said man had managed to pull the wife away from her husband's "family jewels"—she had grabbed a corkscrew, while cops and paramedics were summoned by the women. The patient required surgery on both jaws.

"As bad as this guy did get it," Topher aid to Drew as they operated on the man, "I bet he'd take this over the corkscrew injury. I would."

"Yeah. You might say," Drew replied. "I bet he thought he was in for the night of his life. I doubt it included a trip here."