"I'd like to come to the furniture store with you and the kids if you don't mind," Tobias says after he finishes eating breakfast. Tyler, Tessa, and Teags are crowded around Uriah hoping to sneak bites of chocolate cake while we aren't looking but their honorary uncle knows better than that. Tobias has threatened on numerous occasions to cancel Dauntless cake if he does, and to Uriah that is tantamount to a death sentence. He thinks he would die without his cake. Who knows, as much as he eats, it might be true.
"I'd love for you to join us but are you sure you have time?" I ask. "Don't you have to meet with Zander and the investigators from Erudite?"
"I always have time for you and the kids," he says. "I can take half an hour or so and see what they have."
"If you're sure." I push my half full plate away from me and Tobias frowns.
"Are you okay?" he asks. "You didn't eat much. Morning sickness?"
"No," I say, shaking my head. "I haven't been able to eat much lately and I'm just full." He studies my face, searching to see if I'm telling the truth I imagine. "I feel pretty good this morning. Please don't worry."
"Okay," he says. "What do you have planned for the rest of the day?"
"I'm not entirely sure yet," I say then I lower my voice. "I've thought about the park or the pool but I'm not sure I have the energy for that by myself. I've also thought about dropping in on Ruth. It's been a while. I've also thought about dropping by Abnegation and seeing Mom and Dad."
"Are we going to Grandma and Grandpa's?" Tyler excitedly asks, overhearing our conversation. Tessa and Teags abandon hope of getting their hands on the chocolate cake and come wiggle their way between Tobias and me.
"Gamma?" Tessa asks, wide eyed.
"Gwamps?" Teags asks with a huge smile. They obviously love their grandparents.
"We'll see. They might be busy with Abnegation's initiation," I say.
"Aah," all three of them whine.
"But I'll call them, okay?"
"Yeah!" they cry.
"Excuse me while I make a call," I say as I get up from the table. I walk out of the noisy cafeteria and onto the equally boisterous Pit floor. I search out a quiet hallway and find myself near the dorm rooms. I pull my phone out of my pocket and dial my mother.
"Hello, Beatrice," she answers on the fourth ring. I was about to give up.
"Hi, Mom. How are you?"
"I'm well," she says sounding somewhat out of breath.
"Are you and Dad busy today? The kids would love to see their grandparents." I hear rustling of fabric and a scratching sound like something covering the mouthpiece of her phone. I start to worry but then I hear laughter, no … giggling. What in the world? I've never heard my mom giggle before.
"Stop it," she whispers.
"Mom? Mom, are you okay?"
"Oh, honey, I'm sorry," she says. "I was just, uh, saying goodbye to your father." She moves the phone again and says, "You're going to be late, Andrew."
"I don't care," I hear him say and it dawns on me. I think I interrupted my parents. Oh God!
"If you want, I can call back later," I say trying to breathe through the nausea that decided to make an appearance right now; however, I don't know if it's the morning sickness or the thought of my parents having sex.
"I'm sorry, Beatrice," she says. "I'm being rude. Your father has to work today but I have the day off. Why?"
"I was thinking of taking the kids to the park in the city center and was wondering if you would like to join us. When I mentioned you and Dad, the kids got really excited. They miss you," I say. "I could pack a lunch, and we could have a picnic."
"I would love that," she says. "What time should we meet?"
"How about 10:30?" I ask.
"That would be lovely," she says, seeming distracted again. "I'll see you then, Beatrice. Bye." She doesn't give me a chance to say goodbye but as she's hanging up the phone I hear her say, "Andrew Prior, you're being a very naughty boy."
"Oh. My. God." I stand staring at my phone not realizing I have company.
"There you are," Tobias says, causing me to jump. Seeing my distress, he rushes to my side. "What's wrong, love?" His hands roam protectively over my body.
"I think my parents were having sex," I mutter. "Or were getting ready to." Ugh! I shudder thinking about it. I knew saying those words out loud would put a graphic image in my head that I'll never be able to erase. "She called him a naughty boy." He starts laughing, boisterously. "It's not funny, Tobias Eaton."
"Then why are you laughing?" he asks. He's right, I'm chuckling alongside him.
"I'm embarrassed," I say. I know I have to be bright red right now. "No, I'm mortified. I don't think I can ever look her in the eye again. I almost threw up in my mouth." This admission makes him laugh even harder. I cross my arms over my chest and glare up at my guffawing husband.
"I'm sorry," he says, still laughing but trying to get himself under control. "Come here." He opens his arms, which immediately fold around me when I press my body against his. I feel his lips in my hair, and I automatically feel better. "There's no need to be embarrassed. Your parents love each other."
"Parents aren't supposed to have sex," I mutter. He clears his throat, and I look up at him.
"We are parents," he says. "Does this mean we stop having sex?"
"That's not what I meant," I say. "My parents are not supposed to be acting…"
"Like we do?" I sigh, loudly. "Believe it or not, I understand what you're saying. No matter what, two things are true. First, as a child, we never want to think of our parents having sex. Maybe, just maybe, they did it once or twice to conceive us but then they discovered they were content with celibacy or better yet we convince ourselves that they never had the desire to have sexual intercourse, and we were made in test tubes." I can't help but giggle at that.
"And second?"
"As a parent, we never want to think of our kids having sex," he says and I grimace.
"Don't go there," I groan.
"See? Tris, love, I'm sure your mother is just as embarrassed as you but the facts of life is everyone has sex."
"That doesn't help," I mutter as I bury my head in his chest.
"What can I do to help?" He kisses the top of my head again as his fingertips graze my back.
"You're doing it," I murmur.
"We should probably go," he says after he holds me for a few quiet, uninterrupted minutes. "I left the kids in the cafeteria. Don't be surprised if they've talked Uriah into a bite or two of cake. He was looking weak when I left to come find you."
"It is hard to tell them no all the time," I chuckle.
"So, have you decided what you're going to do today?" he asks as he escorts me back to the cafeteria.
"I'm meeting Mom at the park," I say. "We'll have a picnic lunch and watch the kids play."
"That sounds nice," he says. "Your dad won't be able to make it?"
"She said he has to work but luckily it's her day off," I say.
"Mama, Mama," Tessa says as she comes running up to me.
"I think you're going to have to yell at Uriah," I say to Tobias, seeing a telltale smear of chocolate frosting on our daughter's chin.
"Uriah!"
"It's not my fault," he says. "I turned my back for one minute and they got into my plate."
"Is that true, little one?" I ask as I lift her into my arms.
"Yeah," she says, smacking her lips together. "It good."
"No more cake for breakfast, Tessa Beatrice," Tobias firmly says. "That goes for you, too, Tyler Aaron and Teagan Grace. Cake is not a breakfast food. You can only have cake for dessert after lunch or supper. It's not a main dish." He fixes his eyes on Uriah as he continues to talk to our kids.
"Yes, Daddy," Tyler says.
"Otay, Dadda," Tessa says.
"Sowwy, Dadda," Teags says.
"Why does it feel like I just got scolded by my Dad?" Uriah mumbles under his breath.
"'Cause you just got schooled, brother," Zeke says. "What happens when you and Mar decide to have kids? You gonna feed them boatloads of sugar for breakfast?"
"I'm sorry, Four, Tris," he says. "I won't have cake for breakfast anymore." I raise my brows at him. "If the kids are around," he amends. That makes more sense.
"I for one would appreciate it, Uri," I say then turn my attention to my kids. "Guys, are you ready to go shopping?" The kids all excitedly nod and squeal with delight.
"Down," Tessa says so I set her on her feet next to her sister and brother. They walk between Tobias and me all the way to the furniture store. Before we enter, Tobias kneels in front of our brood to go over the rules.
"There will be no running, jumping, or roughhousing of any kind while you are in the store. You will use your indoor voices. There will be no arguing or fighting. There will be no climbing on the furniture. There will be no sitting on the furniture unless Mommy or Daddy says it's okay. Do you understand these rules?" They all nod.
"Okay then. Let's see if we can find Tessa and Teags big girl beds," I say. Tobias must see that I'm a bit choked up because he drapes his arm over my shoulders and pulls me close.
"I know it's hard seeing them grow up."
"It really is," I softly say as we head to the children's section. We look around for a few minutes, nothing really jumping out at me. Suddenly, the girls are oohing and aahing all over the place. When we see the set they're standing in front of, I smile. It's absolutely perfect except for one thing, it's a full-size bed. We need either bunk beds or twin beds.
"May I help you?" a friendly voice says from behind us.
"I get big giwl bed," Tessa says.
"Well that's fantastic," the sales clerk says. "Is your baby sister graduating to a big girl bed, too?"
"I not bebe," Teags sullenly says.
"Oh, pardon me. I am so sorry. I can see you are not a baby," she good-naturedly says with a friendly smile.
"We're looking for bunk beds or twin beds," Tobias says, reading my mind. "It seems the girls and my wife really like this set here. Do you have anything similar in what we're looking for?"
"Actually, if you would follow me, I think I have something that will work for you." She turns around and heads into the next room. We follow. I immediately see what she wants to show us and it's perfect. It's nearly identical to the larger set but not quite as ornate. It would let the mural be the focal point. "This is considered a convertible set, which means it will grow with the child from toddler to teenager by adjusting the height of the mattress."
"Pitty," Teags says as she runs her hand across the matching toy box.
"Do you like it, too, Tessa?" Tobias asks.
"Yeah," she says, her eyes wide and bright.
"What do you think, Tris?" he asks. "Is it okay for what you're wanting to do with their room?"
"Yes, I think it is," I say. "The beds can be along the far wall and murals can go on the side walls or maybe even on all three vacant walls. I'll discuss it with Gunner."
"Do you just need the beds?" the clerk asks.
"We'll take two beds, two toy boxes, three nightstand, two desks, one wardrobe, and one vanity," I say.
"Is there enough room for all that?" Tobias asks.
"The vanity can go in the bathroom," I say. "Everything else will easily fit. Their room isn't much smaller than Tyler's and think of how large his furniture is."
"True," he says.
"Do you have a rocking chair that matches?" I ask, knowing that my girls still love to be rocked almost on a nightly basis.
"There isn't but I'm sure the carpenters can easily design one for you."
"That would be great," I say. "I'd like to add that to the order."
"Well, guys, I have a meeting to go to," Tobias says. "Come give me hugs and kisses." Tyler gets to him first, throwing his arms around his neck and hugging him tightly before giving him a kiss goodbye. After Tyler releases Tobias, the girls practically attack him almost knocking him over. He gives them big hugs then peppers kisses all over their faces until they're both laughing hysterically.
"You better calm down," I say, although I can't keep the smile off my face.
"Sorry, love," Tobias says. "I hope I didn't rile them up too much."
"They'll be fine," I murmur. "Have a good day, baby. I'll see you when you get home. I love you."
"I love you, too," he says as he leans in and gives me a soft kiss, which sets off a giggling fit in our kids. "I better go before I get us in trouble." I give him another quick kiss then usher the kids towards the front of the store. Before we reach the register, something catches my eye. It's a beautiful antique-looking rocking horse in a distressed soft white that would match the girls' room perfectly.
"Guys, I need you to sit right here and don't move," I say. I line them up on a padded bench just out of earshot of the register.
"Is that the only rocking horse you have?" I quietly ask the clerk, trying to bring any unwanted attention to it. She glances in the direction I'm looking and nods.
"Unfortunately, it is; however, that is a special-order piece," she says. "You may order two, and you may also make it to any specifications you like."
"Or animal?"
"Yes," she says.
"I'd like to add two unicorns to my order," I say. "I need them to be identical though or they'll fight over the 'cute' one."
"Of course. I understand. My sons are close in age," she says with a smile. "Like I said, that's a special-order item so it will take at least six weeks."
"That's perfect," I say. "That's just in time for Teagan's second birthday. How long for the other furniture?"
"It will take two to three weeks to have it all shipped from Amity," she says. "The rocking chair will probably also be six weeks. Perhaps longer since they will be designing the piece from scratch."
"That's just perfect," I say. I'll call Gunner and have him start on the mural I'm thinking of.
"I'll call you when your order arrives and set up a time for delivery," she says.
"Thank you very much for your time this morning. I appreciate it," I say. "Come on, guys." I look at my phone and see that we still have plenty of time before we have to meet Mom in the park so I take the girls to pick out their bedding. Of course, Tessa wants purple and Teags wants pink so, with their help, I pick out the lightest pastels the store has for each of the girls.
"Mommy, can I get something, too?" Tyler asks. I can tell he's feeling a bit left out.
"You want new sheets for your bed?" He doesn't really need them but he's been remarkably good today and deserves a little something, too.
"Sure," he says. "Can I pick them?"
"Of course," I say.
"Hewe, Ty-Ty," Tessa says handing him a package of lavender sheets with little white butterflies all over them. He wrinkles his nose at his little sister.
"I don't want butterflies," he says, sounding indignant. She looks at the sheets and frowns.
"They pwetty," she says holding them back out to him, obviously confused as to why her brother doesn't want them.
"I don't like them, Tess. I want to pick out my own sheets."
"Otay," she pouts. He looks at every single set of sheets on the counter and finally picks a camouflage set. I guess they'll go with his room.
"Tessa, you need to put those back," I say.
"No." She has a death grip on the package. "Want these." After looking at them again, I guess they would go with the pale lavender quilt.
"Okay. You can have those instead of these," I say. Her eyes light up and she bounces up and down. So much energy. I wish she'd let me borrow some. "Let's go."
"Mommy, are we going to Grandma and Grandpa's?" Tyler asks after we pay for our purchases.
"No, we're not," I say and his face falls. "Grandpa has to work today, buddy, but Grandma is meeting us at the park for a picnic."
"Really?" he squeals with delight.
"Yep."
"Can we go now?" he asks.
"We need to take our bags home, and I have to pack a lunch then we'll go," I say.
"I can't wait," he says and his sisters agree. After that awkward phone call this morning, I wish I could say I'm excited to see my mom but I just can't. My face flames bright thinking about what I interrupted. I sigh and try to shake it off.
"Do you all have a good grip on your bags?" I ask as we start our way up the path. My hands are by far the fullest but the kids each insisted on carrying their own set of sheets in separate bags of course. "Try not to drag it behind you, Teags. Can you pick it up?" She hefts it up then pouts a little.
"It hebby," she says with a huge frown. "You cawwy." I should have known. I take her bag, and her brilliant smile returns.
"Well hello, guys," Avery says as she rounds a corner onto the path. She has a basket of laundry balanced on her hip.
"Hi, Avey," the girls say.
"Hi, girls."
"We going to the park to see Grandma," Tyler says. "You wanna come, Avey?"
"I'm not doing anything today, and Callen is at work," she tentatively says. "If it's okay with you, Tris."
"You are more than welcome to join us," I say. "Meet us at my place in about half an hour. I still have to pack our lunch."
"Can I bring anything?" she asks.
"Just yourself," I say.
"Okay," she says. "I'll see you soon." We part ways at the turn toward her apartment then continue up to ours. Once we get home, the kids seem tired. All the walking must have worn them out.
"I need you guys to rest while I make lunch but please don't fall asleep," I say.
"Okay, Mommy," Tyler says. The girls yawn widely. Uh-oh. This might not be good. I pull my phone out and dial Tobias.
"Hey, beautiful," he says, answering on the first ring.
"Hi yourself, handsome," I say, the stress I was just feeling melting away. "Can you do me a favor? Can you bring the car to the Pire for me or have Purple-Hair or Snake-Tattoo do it? The kids look like they're on their last leg. I don't think we'll make it to the garage."
"I'm in a meeting with Zander but I'll be happy to have Simon or Tony move the car for you," he says.
"I'm sorry," I say, guiltily. "I didn't mean to interrupt."
"It's fine," he says. "We needed a break anyway."
"Have you learned anything new?"
"Nothing of importance," he says. "I'll fill you in later."
"Okay. I'll let you get back to Zander," I say. "Sorry again."
"I said no apologies are necessary," he says. "Love you."
"I love you, too, Tobias," I say. "See you later."
"Bye," he says.
After hanging up, I quickly pack the picnic basket with an easy lunch of sandwiches, chips, cut raw vegetables with various dipping sauce, and plenty of cold water and head into the living room where I find two little girls who are fast asleep and a little boy who looks well on his way. I kneel down beside him and run my hand through his hair.
"Please don't go to sleep," I say. "I won't have any way to get you to the car if you do."
"I not sleepy," he says, his lids drooping. Just then the doorbell rings.
"That's probably Avery," I say, Tyler perking right up.
"Can I get it?" he asks, already heading toward the door.
"Sure," I say, following behind him just in case it's not who we think.
"Avey!" Tyler squeals when he opens the door. He definitely looks wide awake now but more than likely will conk out the minute I get him in the car. She leans down and heft him into her arms.
"Hey, buddy," she says. "I am so glad I get to spend the afternoon with you."
"Me, too," he says, his arms around her neck, hugging her tightly.
"Come in, Avery," I say, stepping to the side to let her in. "We'll leave in just a few minutes. Four is having a car moved out front for us. Tessa and Teags fell asleep, which doesn't surprise me. It's a long, tiring walk to the Pit for me. I can only imagine what it's like for them."
"Okay," she says, lowering her voice, knowing what hellions my girls are when they're woken early from a nap. We go into the kitchen and gather the remaining items we need for the picnic, and I jump when there's a knock on the door.
"Who here, Mommy?" Tyler asks, looking worried.
"I don't know," I say as I head toward the door. I'm surprised to find Purple-Hair and Snake-Tattoo on the other side.
"Hi, Tris," Purple-Hair says. "Four sent us to help you get the kids in the car." It's funny to see such a big, strapping man look so nervous.
"That was so sweet of him," Avery gushes. That's my husband. Tough as nails on the outside but just a big ball of goo on the inside.
"Do you want to grab the girls?" I ask. The look on their faces tells me they would rather eat glass than have to touch my daughters. "Fine. Grab the picnic basket and items off the island. Avery and I will get the girls. Tyler, buddy, you're going to have to walk." Within five minutes the car is packed, the kids are buckled in their car seats, and I'm pulling away from the curb.
"I hope you don't mind that I invited myself along today," Avery says.
"You didn't," I say with a chuckle. "Tyler invited you."
"Yeah, I guess he did." She laughs jovially.
"I know I see you nearly every day but I feel like I haven't really gotten the chance to talk to you in ages," I say. "How are things going?"
"Things are pretty great between me and Callen," she says with a sappy grin on her face. "I love him so much." She nervously hesitates and looks over her shoulder into the backseat, which makes me glance in my rearview mirror. Sure enough, all three kids are out like a light so we can speak freely. "I am having a difficult time getting him to be more adventurous, if you know what I mean."
"Taking it out of the bedroom?" I ask.
"Yeah," she murmurs.
"Has he given you a reason?"
"He refuses to talk about it, Tris. I've tried, multiple times," she says. "He shuts down on me each time I bring the subject up, and he kind of disappears into his head for a couple days. During that time, he will hardly look at me let alone kiss me or touch me." Pain transforms her face into a sad frown. "It's our only problem. My dad is even starting to come around to the fact that I'm 'living with that boy' as he puts it."
"That's great," I enthusiastically say.
"Yeah," she murmurs. "I was beginning to think he expected me to stay a virgin for the rest of my life."
"You won't like this but I can kind of see his point of view." She opens her mouth to argue but I interrupt. "I'm a mother now, Av. I hate the thought of my kids growing up, and I especially can't think of them having sex … ever." A shudder moves through my body. "Believe me, I'll have my work cut out for me when the girls really start to notice boys. It'll be a full-time job keeping Four from throwing them into the chasm." We both giggle at the thought. "Hell, he already gives poor little Liam the evil eye every time he's around Teags, and he's only two!"
"I can understand that – well not Four terrorizing a 2-year-old – but everything else. I certainly don't want to think about my parents being intimate."
"You know I think I interrupted my parents when I called them this morning," I say, still feeling mortified. "I wanted to die it was so embarrassing. My mom called my dad a dirty boy when she was hanging up." I feel my face heating with each word. I'm sure I'm the color of a ripe tomato. "By the way, she's going to be at the park."
"Ugh! Now I have a mental image that I can't get rid of," she sighs. "Thanks for that."
"I thought if I had to suffer so should you," I say with a chuckle. "But seriously, I have an idea for you and Callen. It might help open the lines of communication and you'll both have lots of fun while you're doing it." I take a deep breath and blow it out. Thankfully, I know my secrets are safe with Avery. "Four and I play a little game every once in a while that has really helped us to get to know each other on a deeper level, emotionally and sexually." I stare at the road as Avery stares out her window but I can tell her ears are wide open. "I came up with it on our honeymoon. We call it naughty Candor or Dauntless. It basically works the same way regular Candor or Dauntless works except for one thing, there's no out. You have to do the truth or dare."
"Okay," she quietly says, nervously drawing the word out. "So how does it work?"
"Get a large bowl and a couple pieces of paper, set a time limit of 10-15 minutes, and write out questions you want answers to such as would you like to tie me up during sex or something physical you want to do such as make out with me for two minutes, no tongue, in the living room."
"That seems easy enough," she says.
"It really is and, like I said, it helped Four and me get to know each other better. This was a way to ask for things without coming straight out and saying it, which was very difficult for us in the beginning. Being raised in Abnegation didn't help our sex life at all. I think this game took the pressure off."
"Was there anything you didn't want to do?" she asks.
"There was one thing that was really difficult for me to do but he helped me through it. He also gave me an out, told me that if I didn't want to do it we could just make love instead. I wanted to please him – it was his dare after all – so I pushed through my fear and did it."
"I can't believe that anything would scare you after hearing you had sex on the Ferris wheel," she says with a nervous chuckle.
"I wasn't exactly scared," I say, "I'd just never done it before and I was really nervous. But let me tell you after he watched me … touch myself," the words are barely above a whisper, "we had some of the best sex off our lives."
"Hhm. I wonder if I could get Callen to play."
"Put something sexy on and wait for him in your bedroom since that seems to be the place he's most comfortable with," I say. "Tell him you have a way for the two of you to get to know each other even better. Then take it slow. We asked more questions the first time then actual dares. Also, instead of going for the kill of let's say having sex in public," her face goes bright red and her breathing becomes shallow, "maybe start with an orgasm in the living room or kitchen. Adding food is always fun."
"Your face is as red as mine feels," she says.
"Sex will never be an easy topic for me," I say.
"Why do you think it's so hard?" she says but part of me thinks she's talking to herself more than to me.
"I can't answer for you why it's difficult but for me I'm convinced it's the Abnegation that's still ingrained in me. It will never go away even though I'm definitely more Dauntless now."
"I can't even fathom a guess," she says. "Both my parents have always been very open and honest about sex. Dad's education was more clinical since he's a doctor and Mom's advice leaned towards the emotional side of things. I think it was more embarrassing than anything."
"I would probably drop dead if my dad talked to me about sex," I say with a shudder. "It was hard enough talking with Mom – although, I should say listening to her because the conversation was entirely one-sided."
"Hey, is that my mom and dad's car?" she asks as we approach our favorite play area in the city park.
"It sure is," I say as I park in the usual lot. I see most of her younger brothers and sisters playing on the play equipment. "This will make Tyler happy. He's been wanting to see Zane."
"Can we not bring up our conversation in front of my Mom?" Her eyes are pleading with me.
"You forget that my mom is on her way here as we speak." That information makes her smile. Neither one of us would intentionally embarrass the other. Now if Christina were here we might have to worry.
"Hi, Tris," Stella says as she approaches the car. "Avery? What a surprise!"
"Hi, Mom," Avery says as she rounds the front of the car and hugs her mother.
"Fancy running into you here," I say. "The kids will be ecstatic to see each other."
"Zane was just asking this morning when he could have Tyler over," she chuckles.
"Mommy?" Tyler sleepily says from the backseat. "Can I get out? I wanna play with Zane." How? I swear he was asleep seconds ago. He must have a sixth sense about when his best friend is around.
"Sure, buddy," I say. "Let me help you. Your sisters are still asleep, and we don't want to wake them."
"Okay," he whispers. I carefully lean over Tessa and unbuckle the restraints holding him securely in the seat then help him maneuver around his slumbering sister's feet and out the door. "Can I go now?"
I make sure no moving cars are around and say, "You sure can."
"Thanks, Mommy," he calls out over his shoulder as he takes off running.
"Do you need help, Tris?" Stella asks. "You look like you have your hands full."
"Please," I say. "I appreciate it." Avery and I get Tessa and Teags out of the car while Stella gets the picnic basket and blanket out of the trunk. Once we're under the veil of oaks, she spreads the red and white checked blanket down near a massive trunk, and we lay the girls down and sit beside them. I rub Teags' back while she whines and she quickly goes back to sleep.
"Hello, Beatrice," I hear my mom say from behind us. "I'm sorry I'm late." I flush thinking about why she's probably late.
"Hello, Mrs. Prior," Avery says, a blush stealing across her face as well. "It's nice to see you again."
"Oh please, Avery, call me Natalie," she says. "Hello, Stella."
"Good to see you, Natalie," she says. I get to my feet and wrap my arms around my mother. No matter how embarrassed I may be, it's good to see her.
"I didn't know we were having company this afternoon," Mom says as we sit down on the blanket.
"Well, Tyler invited Avery to come along. We don't see enough of each other," I say. "And Stella and the kids just happened to be here when we got here."
"Tyler looks happy," she says. "All the kids do. I'm a bit surprised to see my granddaughters sleeping though."
"I wore them out this morning," I say. "We had breakfast with our friends in the cafeteria then bought furniture for their room." I tell them all about my vision for the girls' room while we watch the kids play.
"So, you're finally moving them out of the nursery, huh?" Stella asks.
"Yeah," I say. "Tessa crawled out of her crib this morning. It's a good thing her sister was asleep or I'm sure she would have tried to climb out of hers, too."
"It's definitely time for toddler beds then," Mom says.
"Mama!" Tessa calls out as she rubs her eyes.
"It's okay, little one. Mommy's right here." She rolls over and looks at me and gives me a breathtakingly beautiful smile.
"Hi," she says as she sits up.
"Hi, yourself. Did you have a nice nap?" She nods as she looks around, and when she sees my mom, she launches herself into her open arms.
"Gwamma!" I'm about to tell her to quit down but Teags' eyes pop open at her sister's squeal, and she promptly starts crying.
"Come here," I say as I lift her into my arms. She lays her head on my shoulder and whimpers. "You're okay. Mommy's got you, my sweet girl." She finally lifts her head, tear tracks trailing down her cheeks and I kiss them away.
"Lub 'ou, Mama," she says.
"I love you, too," I say. "Look who's here. Grandma, Stella, and Avery." She turns around and beams.
"Hi, Gamma," she softly says. She's always clingy and shy when she's woken early from a nap. At least she's not crying anymore.
"Hello, my precious," Mom says.
"Mama, I pay?" Tessa asks.
"Sure, you can go play but please be careful," I say.
"Me, too?" Teags asks.
"Yes, you, too." Tessa climbs out of Mom's lap and I set Teags on her feet then they both sprint off to the slides. Thankfully there are two small slides so they don't have to fight over them. I would hate for one of them to attempt a taller one.
"How have you been, Beatrice?" Mom asks. "Have you been busy with initiation?" While I catch my mom up on everything that's been going on with Tobias and me except the pregnancy – we want to tell her and Dad together – Avery and Stella talk quietly. After about an hour of the kids playing hard, I call out telling them that lunch is ready, and they all come running without one complaint.
"What's for lunch?" Zane asks. "I'm hungry."
"Me, too," Tyler says and his sisters nod in agreement.
"Sandwiches, chips, and veggies," I say.
"Did you bring any dessert, Mrs. Four?" Zane asks.
"I might have," I say. "But all of you need to eat before there can be any dessert."
"Okay," they all say at once, even the older kids. Apparently, they all like my chocolate chip cookies.
"What are you doing tonight, Tris?" Stella asks me after we get done eating. The kids each ate a cookie and are now back on the play equipment.
"Four and I don't have any plans," I say.
"Zane has been bugging me for weeks for Tyler to spend the night. Can he come over?"
"Definitely," I say. "He'll love that."
"How about sending the girls home with me?" Mom asks. "It's been a while since they spent the night just the two of them. Caleb and Cara are coming over for supper tomorrow night. Why don't you join us?" Hhm? A whole night and day just me and Tobias alone.
"If you're sure you don't mind," I say. "I guess I'm lucky I packed Teagan's bear in the diaper bag."
"I have an identical one at home now," she says. "I bought it at the redistribution center. The clerk looked at me funny when I set it on the counter." She chuckles at the memory. "I guess she's not used to Abnegation members buying cute little pink teddy bears. I told her it was for my granddaughter who just couldn't sleep without it. She seemed to understand."
"That's really thoughtful of you," Stella says.
"I love my grandkids," she says. "That's for sure."
"I can tell," Stella warmly says.
"I didn't think I would get to be involved in Beatrice and Caleb's lives once they left Abnegation. I'm so thankful that the city is loosening up its restrictive ways. Faction before blood has its usefulness but what's the harm of keeping in touch with family? I miss my mother to this very day. It makes my heart hurt that I never saw her again after I left Dauntless. I, of course, had to do what was right for me and I don't regret my choice … I have a great life … but it could have been so much better if my children had gotten to know their grandparents."
"Oh, Mom," I say as tears gather behind my eyelids. I wrap my arms around her and hug her tightly. "I'm so thankful that my kids have you. And they love you and dad so much. They are so lucky."
"I'm the lucky one," she says, returning my hug then patting my back and releasing me.
"I'm going to go tell them all the news," I say as I get up, "but first I need to use the bathroom." Hopefully nothing happens like the last time.
"You want some company?" Avery asks. She must sense my nerves.
"How did you know?"
"I know you, Tris," she says.
"Let's grab the girls and see if they have to go."
"Do you have to go potty, Tessa, Teags?" I ask as I approach them. Teags shakes her head but Tessa thinks about it then starts dancing around like she forgot she had to go. "Come on, little one." I scoop her up and ask Avery to bring Teagan.
"No gots to potty," she pouts.
"Did you go in your pants?" I ask. She's wearing a diaper but she's been doing very well with the potty training. She shrugs. "Try to go for Mommy, okay?"
"'Kay," she mutters. Even though she said she didn't need to go, Teagan's diaper is dry and she uses the toilet after Tessa does.
"I tell you what, Miss Teagan," I say as I squat down in front of her, "I'm very proud of you. One night this week you and I will go to supper just the two of us and then to the boutique and pick out big girl panties. How does that sound?"
"Fo me?" she asks.
"Yes, panties for you. No more diapers." She throws herself into my arms and kisses me sloppily. "I take it you like the idea."
"Yeah," she squeals excitedly then she rests her forehead against mine. "Lub 'ou, Mama."
"I love you, too, Peanut," I softly say and she grins. "You're becoming such a big girl."
"I big giwl," she repeats.
"Yeah you are," I say. I set her on her feet and take her hand then lead her out of the bathroom as Avery helps Tessa. When I step out into what should be the fresh air, a familiar scent I can't quite place swirls around my head, nauseating me. Ugh! "Do you smell that?" She sniffs the air, causing Tessa and Teags to do the same.
"No," she says. "I don't smell anything."
"Gotta love my acute sense of smell," I mutter, breathing evenly through my mouth trying to avoid losing my lunch. The medicine Zander gave me has been helping with the nausea up until right now. "I'll be right back." I drop Teags' hand and turn around and go into the bathroom. I enter the first stall and promptly get sick. After I'm sure I'm once again all right, I rinse my mouth out then step outside. Strangely enough, the odd smell has luckily dissipated.
"You, otay?" Tessa asks, grabbing on to one leg. Teagan promptly grabs the other one.
"Yeah, I'm fine," I say, lovingly running my hands over their heads. "I smelled something funny."
"Babies make you sick?" Tessa asks.
"Bad bebes," Teags pouts.
"Remember our secret?" I ask. They both nod. "No more talk of babies. We'll tell Grandma and Grandpa tomorrow night at supper. How would you like to stay at their house tonight?" They let go of me and start dancing around. "You girls are so silly." God, I love my monsters.
"What about Ty-Ty?" Tessa asks, halting their celebration.
"He's going to stay with Zane tonight."
"All right!" Tyler says, overhearing me. "I didn't know that."
"Me neither," Zane says.
"Your mom asked if it was okay," I say. "I think it was supposed to be a surprise."
"Well, it's an awesome surprise," Zane says. "Are Tess and Teags coming, too?"
"I go Gamma's," Teags says.
"Me, too," Tessa says. Tyler loves this news but if I'm not mistaken, Zane seems a bit disappointed. I wonder what that's about. I check my watch and see that it's nearly 4 o'clock. No wonder I'm tired. I've been going nonstop since early this morning.
"I'm going to go home," I say. "I'm pretty tired."
"I'm going to stay with my mom," Avery says.
"What about you, Mom?" I ask. "Do you want me to take you home?"
"There's no need for you to go out of your way," she says. "The girls and I will grab a bus. They loved it the last time they rode with me."
"Okay," I say. "Come here, guys." Tessa and Teagan sit in my lap and I hug them tightly and kiss their heads. "Daddy, Tyler, and I will be over tomorrow night to get you. You know the rules."
"Yes, Mama," they both say.
"Be good for Grandma and Grandpa," I say. "I love you."
"Love you," Tessa says.
"Lub 'ou," Teags says. After more hugs and kisses they get up and Tyler sits down.
"You be good for Stella and Zander," I say as I wrap my arms around him.
"I will," he says. "I'm a good kid." I can't help but smile.
"I know you are. You're one of the best," I say. "Have fun with Zane." He gives me a big hug and kiss then goes back to playing with his best friend. "What time do you want us tomorrow night, Mom?"
"I told Caleb and Cara 5:30," she says.
"Can we pick Tyler up at 5:00?" I ask Stella.
"That would be great," she says.
"We will see you guys around 5:30 then, Mom," I say. "Four and I both will have our phones on if you need anything. The diaper bag has PJs and clothes for tomorrow. Thanks for taking them. I love you, Mom."
"It's my pleasure, Beatrice," she says, hugging me tightly. "I love you, too."
"Thanks for inviting me along," Avery says and then she lowers her voice. "And for the advice. I'm definitely going to take it. Thanks for being such a good friend."
"I hope my advice helps," I say giving her a hug.
"Zan and I plan on taking the kids to the pool before lunch tomorrow, Tris, just to let you know," Stella says as I step away from Avery.
"Well, Four and I will just be a phone call away if you need us for anything," I say. "We won't leave the compound but we might go out. Like I said, we don't have set plans." Not yet anyway. "Thanks for keeping Tyler. He's really excited. I hope he's no trouble."
"Tyler Eaton is never any trouble," she says. "Have fun with your husband tonight and try not to worry about the kids."
"I'll try, on both accounts," I say with a chuckle, blushing. After Stella offers to bring the blanket and picnic basket back with them, I go to my car and roll down the windows. Even though it's not too terribly hot outside, the interior of the car is sweltering. I start it and open the air conditioning vents so they're blowing on me. It's probably not the best idea for me to be in this car for too long at this temperature. Once the air is breathable, I back out of my parking spot. As I pull away, my arm out the window waving at everyone, I swear I smell that familiar nauseating scent again.