Addy was out of bed early. It was still dark out but she just couldn't stay in bed any longer. Quietly she crept into her parent's room and stood beside her Dad's side of the bed. "Good Morning Adelaide." He made her jump when he spoke. He had heard her in the bathroom already, she was anything but quiet in the mornings or at any time of the day really.
"Good Morning Daddy."
Alfie peeled one eye open and smiled. She was clutching her echidna to her chest; her hair was a mess and her pyjamas were askew and she melted his heart. "Yes?"
"Daddy, is it my birthday now?" She whispered hopefully.
"Oh, I think so." He snaked his arm out from under the covers and grabbed her arm, pulling her close for a kiss. "Happy Birthday darlin. I'm so happy you were born."
She giggled quietly. "If my baby is borned today, we can have two cakes."
"Bubba is not coming today." They still had three months to go but Addy couldn't wait, they had a countdown calendar on the fridge and marked it off every day and despite that she had no concept of time and was willing it to go quicker, even crossing off two days at once recently to help things along. She'd been devastated to learn that it was not how things worked.
It hadn't been a smooth pregnancy, they never made it to Australia. Their Doctor strongly suggested that Quinn didn't fly such a long distance once she had a bleed at sixteen weeks and Addy was devastated but they did promise her that they would make the trip later and she could take her baby back to see her country and that appeased her a little.
It was a terrifying few days and had every one on edge but it was only one small bleed and all the tests showed that the pregnancy was still progressing although flying to the other side of the world wasn't a great idea and Alfie didn't want to risk anything and neither did Quinn. She did suggest that Alfie take Addy by himself but he didn't want to be that far away from her if something went wrong. He'd done that, been on the other side of the world when MiMi had her stroke and he never made it back in time. No way was he leaving Quinn now.
Addy had gotten over it, although it did come up occasionally but she had far more important things going on, like the baby that was 'taking forever to come.' She had asked Lola, because 'she's a Doctor' if the baby could just come a little bit quicker. When Lola asked her how quick she wanted it Addy replied instantly that she wanted it for her birthday, three months early and she was disappointed to know that the baby would be too little and sick if it came too early and would have to spend lots and lots of weeks in hospital. She decided it could wait until after her birthday instead. Adelaide lacked patience.
"But you get cake today." Alfie closed his eyes again.
"Daddy?"
"Yes Adelaide."
"It's my birthday."
"I know Darlin'."
"Do I get a present?"
"Of course you do." He pulled her into bed. "And lots of cuddles and kisses." Letting her climb over into the middle Quinn rolled over sleepily and smothered her with kisses as well. Addy loved kisses and cuddles, she was such a sweet girl who loved affection, either giving it or receiving it. They never left her in any doubt that she was loved and adored.
"Good Morning birthday girl. Happy, Happy birthday."
Addy had thrived since the wedding, with her getting a 'mum' and a new baby on the way she had exploded. They were amazed by her every day, she was gaining confidence at school, was strong and independent, made friends and loved her family. She loved school and wanted to learn everything all at once. She loved going to work with her Daddy and learning about animals and Alfie loved taking his little shadow with him. The security the wedding and her adoption gave her was incredible but she was still as crazy as ever and made them laugh constantly.
Occasionally she still called Quinn by her name but it was rare, she was her Mum now and like Alfie rarely got anything but Dad it had been the best thing they did for her. She still knew she had two Mums but Quinn filled the roll in her life that Addy had craved.
"How many presents will I get?"
"Maybe just one."
"Oh." She was a little disappointed with that. When it was her Dad's birthday and he got lots of presents. Sure a lot of them came from her, she had nagged Quinn to take her shopping to buy her Dad presents. "Because I love him so much."
"Addy, it doesn't matter how many presents you get Daddy, it's the love and cuddles that he wants the most."
It didn't stop her though.
For the longest time Birthday's weren't really celebrated. MiMi and Pops always tried to make them special but he always felt a little sad on his birthday, it was just another year and they were even further in his rear vision mirror. Lola and Mae were a little the same until they had partners and children. Addy and Quinn had changed all that for him too; he was swamped with presents from Addy, all personally wrapped including the socks individually wrapped and he loved every one of them. Her excitement was infectious.
She had made him a cake too, she was a little heavy handed with the food colouring and it was iridescent green, apparently to mimic grass and loaded with plastic animals and sprinkles. He loved it especially when it turned everyone's teeth green at dinner. Addy had been so proud of herself and still talked about it.
Walter always sent Addy something for her birthday and Christmas to keep her link to her Indigenous heritage. He would send her a message, in her native tongue and Addy loved it even if she didn't understand it or speak it. It was a special thing for her that none of the other kids got.
They were having a family dinner tonight for her birthday and she was excited about that and couldn't wait to see them all and tell them it was her birthday. Not that anyone was likely to forget, she'd told everyone often enough. On Sunday she would have a few friends come to the zoo with them and she was so excited they had to rein her in, she wanted the whole class to come, cutting it down to three was like pulling teeth.
They had all learned that lesson from Sam. Lola and Riley had been shocked and more than a little embarrassed when they found out that Sam had invited his whole class, and half of Addy's to his birthday party. All thirty five of them. They had let him invite ten and until they started getting RSVP after RSVP they hadn't realised what he'd done. Sam had been hysterical when they told him that they all couldn't come and wanted to 'not have a party at all because they are all my friends.' so they reluctantly had twenty eight children in their backyard, once they included Addy, Poppy and Billy. Fortunately some parents, who weren't in Sam's class declined the invite. He had a ball, it was insane and Lola had roped Mae, Iris, Alfie, Quinn and Colton into the madness. George managed to somehow be out of town for the event and Mae was pretty sure he did it deliberately and she didn't blame him, it was horrific.
"It's still dark out Addy, perhaps close your eyes for a few more minutes." Alfie urged her, although it was more like begging on his behalf. Quinn had been tossing and turning all night, keeping both of them awake.
She did, and lasted about a minute. "I can't sleep."
"Have you tried?"
"Yes."
"Really?"
"A little bit." She tossed her echidna around. "Is it Ed's birthday too?"
"If you want it to be." Technically she hadn't got Ed when she was born, she got him when Alfie came into her life but that hardly mattered to her. "I think Ed is sleepy still."
"No he's not. He woke me up. He said Happy Birthday Addy." Addy wiggled around and leant in close to Alfie's face. He was used to opening his eyes and having Addy staring at him. Personal space and Adelaide were mutually exclusive, she was clueless. "Daddy, maybe bubba can be borned just a little bit today. Just until after I have my cake, then it can go back."
"Adelaide, there will be no baby today. Once it's born it can't go back so it needs to still grow bigger in Mum's belly but if you are lucky they might kick you to say hello and happy birthday." God love her for trying though. She was doing everything in her power to get her baby.
There was no stopping her. She was wide awake so they let her get up and Alfie reluctantly followed her. He groaned as he kissed Quinn and rubbed her belly and said good morning to his bubba. "Next year Bubba, you get to enjoy this crazy too."
Quinn closed her eyes again. "You are such a good Daddy. Leave me alone."
"You weren't saying that last night." He nipped her neck playfully and Quinn pushed him away.
Addy screeched a little when she saw the balloons and streamers decorating the dining room and Alfie cringed, how she got her voice so high concerned him. The decorations were a Hollister tradition, you got the whole shebang for the whole day. It was your day, the world became a better place that day because you were now in it and that was worth balloons and streamers. They had stopped it in those early years when nobody wanted to celebrate another birthday without their Mom and Dad but had had bought it back for the kids and they loved it.
In the middle of the table was one present that she was allowed to open. It was the present from Walter and it was a little hand-painted boomerang with a story that he helped Addy read.
Quinn finally came down and she opened a few more presents. Clothes for her dolls, who seemed to multiple by the week and far too much craft stuff, she was always making pictures for people and Gus and Rhiannon popped over before school to give her their present. She loved dressing up right now and always wanted to wear jewellery so they gave her her own jewellery box packed to the gills with gaudy necklaces, bangles and rings and she loved it.
By the time she got home from school Nanna Meg and Pappy Joel would be here and she couldn't wait. They had already called her to wish her a happy birthday before she went to school. She got messages from Lola and Mae and Iris had sent her a video of her and Colt singing her happy birthday. Colt look completely unimpressed, probably because they were still in bed and it looked like he had just woken up but Iris was in her element. They were so funny together, like chalk and cheese but they were crazy in love and adored each other.
She was excited that her Mum and Dad both picked her up from school and they stopped on the way home for a milkshake. It was about to get crazy and they just wanted to spoil her a little and spend some time alone with her before all hell broke loose. Addy was having 'the best birthday ever.'
Her grandparents had bought her a bigger tepee for her bedroom, she adored that thing and she was keen to set it up right away but not until she had opened her last present from Mum and Dad.
Alfie got her to close her eyes and keep them closed. Joel was videoing the whole thing because they wanted to capture her reaction and it was as perfect as they thought it would be. He placed a box in front of her. "Happy Birthday Adelaide."
She cried. She covered her face with her hands and then peered out between her fingers like she didn't really believe it.
Sitting in the box, staring up at her was one of Petal's slightly terrified kittens. "Is it mine?"
"Yes it is." Alfie rolled his eyes when he looked at his wife who was in tears too. She was such a softy at the best of times, never mind now she was six months pregnant.
"Can I hold it?"
"Of course you can." Gently she reached into the box and picked up the little chocolate brown kitten and snuggled it. "What do you think?"
"Oh I love him. What's his name?"
"Well it's a little girl." Meg stroked the little kitten as Addy hugged her. "What would you like to call her?"
"Kitty." Addy blurted out without thinking, she was in heaven. Had she thought about it the name would have probably been sunflower or sparkles or something equally ridiculous. Kitty seemed tame by comparison. The poor cat was in a state of shock but Meg had got it used to be handled and Addy soon settled down and there was no way she was letting her go, even trying to talk to her about the rules was a struggle. Kitty wasn't allowed to sleep in her room, she had to sleep in the downstairs laundry and that's also where she was to eat. Alfie believed that animals, any animal needed a routine and she would soon learn hers. Addy, on the other hand was going to be a challenge. She tried to re-negotiate the sleeping arrangements, there was even a brief mention that Ed might get the heave ho but it was to no avail.
They made it perfectly clear to her that they had to be strict because they didn't want the kitten to think she could sleep with the baby when it arrived as that was dangerous for the baby. Addy promised that she would make sure it didn't sleep with the baby or go into the baby's room but Alfie wasn't budging. They had some tears but she soon got over it and got back to playing with her kitten.
The rest of the family, who obviously knew about the new arrival were giving her all the paraphernalia they would need, which worried them because going overboard was a well-known Ruzek Hollister tradition. It had a bed coming, toys and scratching post. Addy wouldn't care that the presents weren't for her, nothing really mattered right now, they could have given her a bag of coal and she wouldn't care.
Addy couldn't wait for everyone to arrive so she could show them Kitty. She asked her Mum to call Mae and check if they were coming. Since she had started ballet classes with Poppy they were joined at the hip. They were hopeless, utterly un-coordinated and sounded more like herd of baby elephants than graceful ballerinas but they loved it. They also looked very cute in their leotards and little skirts. Poppy wasn't in Addy's age group but they had classes at the same time and were always practising at home together. Addy was often prancing around the house in her ballet outfit and Poppy usually turned up wearing it if she knew she was going to see Addy.
Both Alfie and George had been in the dog house after laughing at the girls trying to be ballerinas at the end of term 'production'. It wasn't pretty, none of the girls were much chop and it was hilarious to watch them try and remember what they were supposed to be doing and just made up whatever they wanted. Poppy went rogue, much to George's amusement and Addy's horror. Addy was such a stickler for the rules and Poppy had way too much of her mother in her to care.
"Poppy, Poppy, Poppy." Addy was bouncing up and down waiting for Poppy to come inside. She had heard them pull up and could hear Poppy telling her Mom to hurry up and get Max out. "Come look, I got a kitten, come look, quick." As expected Poppy was wearing her leotard although Mae managed to get some boots and a jacket on her, which looked ridiculous but it was the best she could do.
She dragged Poppy by the hand to show her Kitty. "Her name is Kitty and she's so cute. She's my kitten."
The poor kitten was startled by the two squealing jumping girls, not a hint of grace between them. Addy let Poppy hold her briefly until Alfie told them leave her alone for a little while. "Remember she is just a baby, like Max is a baby and needs to be left alone to sleep too."
Sam was the one they were worried about. Addy made sure Poppy followed the rules and just sat next to her makeshift bed and watched her sleep, she had no such luck with Sam. Sam kept poking her to wake her up. "Don't Sam, she's a baby." Addy was desperately trying to get him to leave her alone. "Daddy will take her away from me." She cried. "Please stop."
"She likes it." Sam waved a toy in her face and Kitty swiped at it. "See."
Addy completely forgot about leaving her alone because suddenly she was awake and started playing with them. They were all on the floor calling her, rolling toys at her and trying to catch her. Even Billy was fascinated although Addy wouldn't let him touch her. Billy was too silly still and nobody had forgotten what he did to Emu, especially Sam who reminded Addy and sent her into a tizz when Billy got too close thinking he was going to pull her head off. The poor kid was never going to live that down.
"Okay." Alfie swept in and scooped her up. "It's time for dinner. Go wash your hands." He had been very specific with Addy about handwashing and not touching her litter tray. He explained to her that she had to be careful because of Quinn and Bubba and that was enough for Addy to be pedantic about it and he had to laugh at listening to Addy lecture her cousins about washing their hands and using enough soap. He dreaded to think what the bathroom looked like.
He held her up in one hand and looked at her cute little face. "Sorry little lady. It will get less hectic I promise." He swore he saw a look of relief on the little kitten's face.
They did let Addy cuddle her when they sang happy birthday to her and she tried to get Kitty to help her blow out the candles. It was very cute and getting Addy to calm down enough to go to sleep was a huge task. "Daddy, this is my best birthday ever."
"Ever?"
"Yep. I love Kitty so much."
"I figured. You are a very lucky lady."
"I get a kitten and a Bubba soon."
"Yes you do." He tucked her in and kissed both her cheeks. "See you in the morning."
"When I get up can I play with Kitty before I go to school?"
"Not until you have eaten breakfast and gotten dressed ready for school. Then you can play with Kitty." He knew if she was given carte blanche they'd never get her moving.
"Night Night Daddy Alfie, I love you. Thank you for my kitten." It was the same every night. For some quirky reason, known only to Addy she always said the same thing when she went to bed. He was always Daddy Alfie at bedtime.
It was no surprise to find the kitten curled up on Quinn's belly when he came down. "You know apparently this is how Lola got the Leopard because Dad bought one home to hand raise and it used to sleep on Mom's fat gut."
"I can see why? She seems to like it."
"Addy will be jealous."
"How was she?"
"Twired." Alfie squeezed in beside her and patted the little bundle of fur, he took a photo to show Addy in the morning. "She's one happy little girl. I think we made her year. Best Birthday ever apparently!"
It was ten to six when Alfie peeled open his eyes to find Addy dressed and by his side. "I got dressed already." Her skirt was on backwards and her hair was a mess. "Can I go see Kitty?"
"Oh Adelaide." He sighed.
"Please Daddy." She bounced a little as she begged.
"Off you go. Please try and be quiet, Nanna Meg and Pappy Joel are probably still asleep."
Meg heard her come downstairs and start talking to Kitty, it was probably the excited squeal when she opened the laundry door, so she got up. They adored Addy and were so grateful that Alfie had welcomed them into her life. He wanted them to be involved in her life and appreciated that they had filled the grandparent role in her world. Alfie never made them feel like they were intruding or not welcome in their life and into Addy's, she was their granddaughter in every sense of the word but the moment those papers were signed Alfie made sure they knew that they were now officially grandparents. They called her weekly and she loved telling them about her week at school. She would ring them when she did well at school and would invite them to come down for her assemblies, ballet shows or soccer games, which she had started playing with Sam.
In much the same vein as she was with ballet, Addy lacked talent at soccer too.
"Nanna Meg, look Kitty loves me." Addy was cuddling the little cat and Kitty was licking her neck.
"She does. Please don't let her lick you." Alfie had already told her that she wasn't allowed to let cats lick her, especially up around her face. "She's made a bit of a mess in here." There was litter from her tray all over the floor. "Why don't you take her into the lounge with some toys while I clean up in here?" Addy was more than happy to skip out on the work but she did remind her grandmother to make sure she washed her hands because of the bubba.
Addy had never eaten her breakfast so quick, Alfie actually had to tell her to slow down or she would make herself sick she was shovelling it in so fast. He did wonder how long this enthusiasm would last. It was a long painful goodbye when they left for school. She gave her grandparents a long list of things to do to make sure Kitty was okay and asked them to take some photos of her through the day.
"Do you think she will miss me Daddy?" Addy hopped up into his truck.
"I am sure she will. It will be very quiet at home today, she'll get lots of rest."
"I could stay home?"
"Ahhh, No." Alfie shut her down quickly. "You will have all weekend with her. She will still be there when you get home this afternoon. Remember Mum is picking you up today."
"And Sam?"
"Yes, and Sam too." They always had Sam on a Friday afternoon as Billy was in day care and Lola and Riley were at work and Quinn didn't work Fridays. It was cute the mischief those two would get up too. Sam had befriended Addy the day she arrived in the country and they were as thick as thieves. He looked out for her at school when she started and people laughed at her accent, she had a curious mix of Australian and American words and sometimes she sounded very Australian. It reminded Alfie of how he struggled a little when they first came back to America. It was nice that Lola's son was looking out for his daughter, it felt right. Unlike Mae though, who hit some boys for picking on him Sam just made sure people knew that she was his cousin. Sam had a bold personality that made him popular at school. He was very much like his great grandfather, he was a leader and Pops would be proud of how he looked after his girls.
Sam had read his Dad the riot act one day when Riley and Lola were having a bit of a spat. He told his Dad off for not being nice to his Mom and how much it hurt his Mom when Daddy said mean things to her. It was just a little married couple spat about nothing in particular, they were both tired and had been working all week but Sam wasn't standing for it.
Sam had taken Addy under his wing when they lost Pops, desperate to make her happy and protect her and they never looked back. Addy was his 'BFF'.
Addy skipped out of school towards Pappy Joel and her Mum. "Did you have a good day?" Quinn went to take her bag but her Dad wouldn't let her. Their over protectivness annoyed Quinn some days but Alfie was happy with their work.
"How's Kitty?"
"She's waiting to see you. Did you have a good day?"
"I did." She was jiggling around waiting for Sam who never hurried out of class. He was typically the last one out because he was always talking, making friends and organising playdates. "Can I go get Sam?"
"He'll be here in a minute."
"He needs to hurry up. He's such a ditherer. Maybe I can go home and you can wait here for Sam?" She told her grandfather.
"We came in one car Adelaide. Just hold your horses."
"Sam" she screeched at him when he finally appeared. "Jesus Christ Sam, hurry up for god's sake." Quinn just cringed as everyone turned to look at them. Addy's voice really carried across the playground and did nothing to make Sam move any quicker.
Fortunately Kitty was asleep when they got home and once Addy had woken her up she was ready to play. The screams, squeals and laughs that came out of the lounge room were very cute. Addy and Sam loved her and Sam decided he wanted a kitten too. "Just ask your Dad, I asked Alfie, lots of times, just keep asking and then maybe you can get one too." Addy was coaching him on how to get a kitten and it was hilarious. "Nanna Meg will let Petal have more babies and you can have one of them. Maybe she already has one you can have."
"But Mom will say No because Billy will pull its head off." Sam still found Billy quite tiresome lately, he had developed a wild personality. He had suddenly become a tornado, he took after his brother but Sam didn't see it like that. He had broken Sam's train set and to say Sam was impressed was an understatement, he actually pushed Billy out of his room and slammed the door. All hell broke loose and Billy was carrying on like he'd been shot and Sam was distraught that his train was broken and that he got in trouble from his Dad for slamming his door in Billy's face. Of course Sam bought up the Emu Slaughter again, it was a barely healed scab for Sam and every time Billy even looked in Emu's direction Sam lost it.
"Just be really annoying, I was really annoying and then I got a kitten."
Meg got dragged into it unwittingly. "Nanna Meg." Sam sidled up to Addy's grandmother when Kitty finally passed out from exertion. She did love how all the kids called her Nanna Meg. Never in her wildest dreams did she expect to be enveloped by this family like they had been. "Does Petal have other babies?"
"She does, they are all living with their new families now, like Kitty is."
"Oh." He thought for a minute. "Is she going to have more babies?"
"Hopefully one day."
"Oh good. Then I can have one too?"
"Umm, I'm not sure sweetie. That's for Mommy and Daddy to decide."
"But we can tell them that Petal is having more babies and that one would love to come live with us. Then Kitty could come play with her. Billy will be good, I promise." Sam was begging, being egged on by Addy.
"Kitty would love it; they could have sleepovers." Addy contributed from the couch where she was sitting with Kitty on her lap, sound asleep and Meg was feeling a little ganged up on and decided her best option was to walk away after reminding them that Petal wasn't even pregnant.
It didn't stop them though. Addy whispered to Sam. "I will ask my Dad to talk to your Dad but you can come see Kitty all the time until you get your own kitten."
"I think I will talk to Billy, tell him not to be an idiot around Kitty and maybe they will think he's grown up enough."
"He's still a bit silly sometimes isn't he?"
"Yeah, your bubba might be silly too."
Addy rolled her eyes dramatically. "I hope not. I don't have time for that. It's very tiring."
"Billy is such a bother." Sam agreed thoughtfully. "Can I hold her?"
"Sure but be careful, she's a baby." Addy handed Sam the little sleeping kitten. She was tiny and barely stirred and Addy didn't move far away from him so she could still pat her.
Alfie wasn't surprised to see them both on the couch when he got home. "Well I can't say I'm shocked." He laughed. He kissed Addy and Sam's heads and tickled Kitty. "How is our little Djinda?"
"Sleepy."
"Okay, how long have you two been sitting here?" Addy admitted that they had been playing with her since they got home from school. "Right, it's time for her to have a break. Pop her back in the laundry Addy and leave her be for a while."
"Why?"
"Because you are not just sitting here for hours on end." Alfie pointed to the laundry. "When she is sleeping you can go do something else, go and play. When she is awake you can play with her. Simple."
Addy did as she was told, reluctantly.
Quinn followed him upstairs while he had a shower. "Are you joining me?" he winked.
"I like your persistence." She leant on the counter; her hands tucked under her cute little bump. "How was the rest of your day?" They always talked at some point during the day.
"I shovelled shit for a lot of it."
"So glamourous. Just so you are prepared there was a conversation going on about Sam getting a kitten."
"Fuck, Lola will kill me."
Quinn nodded with a cheeky smile. She was looking forward to that conversation a little later. "Yes, yes she will."
"Who started it?"
"I am not really sure, but your daughter was certainly up to her neck in it and she told Sam to just be annoying because that worked for her."
Alfie laughed. "My old man used to call us crackheads, those two and Poppy are crackheads. The other's soon will be too."
"My baby is not going to be a crackhead." She rubbed her hands over her belly.
"Oh honey, it's got Hollister blood in its veins born out of Ruzek, it's a lost cause already."
Lola was set upon the moment she arrived. She had picked Billy up from daycare and he was grumpy after a long day so she wanted to get Sam into the car and get home. Billy needed a bath and some dinner and she wanted to sit down with her feet up and chill out with Riley when he got home. They had a rare night off together. She was greeted by two overly excited five year olds. "Nanna Meg said Petal will have more babies and I can have one." Sam blurted out.
"What?"
"I can have a kitten too."
"Sam loves Kitty and he'll be really good and we will teach Billy to be good and then he can have a kitten and they can have visits and play together all the time when we are at school." Addy being a good wingman, she did not even draw breath. "Petal will have some more babies soon so they will be like sisters because they have the same Mumma. Can Sam please have a kitten too? He will be really really good. Please."
"I will, I promise and I will teach Billy to be good too. Please." Sam was begging. He looked so much like his grandfather and namesake at the moment it made Lola breathless at times.
"Alfred." Lola hissed at her brother through clenched teeth. "I knew this would happen."
"Don't blame me. I am just making my daughter happy, if you can't do the same for your son well then, that's your problem."
"I will cut you."
"Oh, settle down." He laughed, which only served to annoy Lola even more. It had been a long day, she didn't need this. Sam was like a dog with a bone when he got his mind fixed on something.
"Riley will want to talk to you." Lola warned him. "It will not be pretty and I will not save you."
It didn't help that Addy disappeared and came back with Kitty. "See, she's so pretty." She handed her to Sam. "She loves Sam too, see."
Alfie just shrugged, which annoyed Lola. He had a lot to answer for, he always did.
