Two months later, September
Livy and Matt walked to their new Toyota Highlander in the parking lot of the doctor's office in Marquette. She came every two weeks to monitor the babies and make sure she was healthy too.
Today though, they found out they were having two boys and a girl and it still seemed somewhat unbelievable to Matt that they were actually having three babies.
Livy took his hand as they drove. "Maybe we can stop for something to eat?"
"You like that Mexican place, don't you?"
"I do, but it gives me heartburn now. I'm thinking a steak or a burger sounds good."
They pulled into the parking lot for Iron Bay Restaurant. He got out and walked around the SUV, extending his hand to help her out. She was quite pregnant now even though she was only twenty two weeks along. Having three inside expanded her waistline a lot.
She felt the babies move and kick and the exhaustion was profound most days. She still worked, but only part time, and in August, she had sold two houses and the commission alone would help immensely with their expenses.
"Hello, table for two?" the hostess said with a smile.
"Yes please," Matt told her.
As they sat, the hostess gave them their menus and told them their server would be there shortly.
A few moments later, their server walked up with two glasses of ice water. "Good afternoon, folks. Would you like anything else to drink?"
"I'll take an iced tea," Matt said.
"Water is good for me," Livy said.
"Can I start you off with an appetizer?"
"Maybe some chips and pico?" Matt suggested. Livy nodded.
"And I'd like the Bell Tower Burger, medium, with fries," Livy ordered.
"And for you, sir?"
"The roasted chicken panini, please."
"Very good. I'll be back shortly."
"Did you see his name tag, Matt?" Livy whispered.
"No."
"Beckett. I love that. Beckett Matthew Flynn."
"Yeah, that's a good name. So we have Amber Joy and Beckett Matthew."
"Yeah."
Ann Arbor, Kayla and Drew's house
Kayla packed a bag for herself and Drew. They were heading down to San Antonio again to see Cole and to finalize his adoption. This would be their third visit and last.
They had his medical records sent to a pediatrician and optometrist in Michigan and his bedroom was ready to go in the outer space theme he wanted.
Three and a half year old Harlow was excited to finally be meeting her new "brudder" Coley.
"Mama!" Harlow said, running in the room.
"Yes, baby?"
"When we go?"
"Soon. Daddy needs to come home from work first." She shut their suitcase. "Lolo, did you pick out your jammies for the trip?"
"Yep!"
"Which ones?"
"Mmm...owl ones and dinosaur ones."
"Okay. Make sure you pack big girl panties too. Three pairs," she told her. "One, two, three," she repeated holding up Harlow's fingers.
"Okay, Mama."
Of course Kayla would double check but it made Harlow feel like she was helping and allowed Kayla time to pack their things.
"Babe! I'm home!"
"Daddy!" Harlow yelled running down the hall. "We go see Coley now?"
"Soon, baby," Drew told her, giving her a big hug. "Are you all packed?"
"Yep. Come see." He put her down and she took his fingers and pulled him down the hall.
"Whoa! It looks like a tornado hit your room, Lolo."
"What that?"
"It just means it's a mess."
"Oh."
He peeked in her pink polka dot suitcase. "Sweetie, you need more than one pair of underwear."
"Mama said one, two, three," she told him, holding all five of her fingers up.
"How many is this?" he asked, holding up the pink panties with rainbows on them.
"One!"
"So you need two more."
He also grabbed a few more headbands and a pair of sandals and placed them in the bag. Then he folded her shorts and shirts and put them inside so they were in order somewhat.
"I think you're all ready."
"We fly in airpane now?"
"Yep, why don't you wheel this out to the kitchen. Mommy and I will be right there."
"Okay." He watched her walk away and headed into the bedroom to change his shirt.
"Hey, sweetheart. All set?"
"Yeah. I think so. I have this bag for you and me and this one for Cole. I don't think I forgot anything."
"If we did, we can just buy it." She nodded and sighed. "Are you nervous?"
"Yeah a little. But I'm ready to bring him home, Drew. I feel weird that he's so far away right now."
"Just a four hour plane trip." Drew pulled a polo over his head and grabbed the bags. "Let's bring our son home, Kay."
About six hours later, they arrived in San Antonio. They dropped their bags off at their hotel suite and then they were off to get Cole.
The next day was their adoption hearing and after that, they would spend time at the zoo.
Drew walked down the sidewalk with Harlow on his shoulders and Kay's hand in his. The more he thought about it, the more excited he became to have a son. It didn't matter one tiny bit that Harlow and Cole weren't blood relations. His heart was filled with love for them and they were his children in the only ways that mattered.
Drew took Harlow down from his shoulders as they walked in the doors of the adoption center.
"Hello," the lady at the front desk greeted.
"Hi, Drew, Kayla and Harlow Shepherd."
"Yes, I'll take you to the meeting room. Today's the big day, yes?"
"Yep. Coley is my brudder now!" Harlow told her.
"That's wonderful, sweetheart," she said with a smile.
Harlow skipped between her parents, holding on to their hands. For Kayla, they couldn't get to the room fast enough. Her son, their son, was there waiting for his new family.
When they walked in, they expected him to smile and wave like he did the other times. Instead, he was laying on the couch, hugging the stuffed lion they brought to him last time.
"Is he alright?" Drew asked his caregiver, Jenny.
"He has a headache today."
That concerned Drew even though he knew that Cole was susceptible to headaches. He walked over and knelt down, running his fingers through Cole's hair. "Hi, bud. How are you?"
He looked at him and then sat up, holding his arms out. Drew picked him up and cuddled him.
"My head hurts."
"Well, after we sign some papers, we can go back to the hotel and rest."
"Okay."
Drew sat down on the couch still holding him while Kayla brought Harlow over and sat too.
"Is he sick, Mama?" Harlow asked, watching her new brother.
"He has a headache. So that means we need to be a little quiet around him today."
"Okay."
After a bit of rest, they signed some paperwork, grabbed Cole's belongings and headed to the nearby hotel.
Drew closed the curtains to make the room darker as Kayla laid Cole down on one of the beds. She took off his glasses and laid them on the side table. "Your glasses are right here next to you, okay, sweetheart?"
"Jenny said you're my Mommy now."
"That's true."
She bent down to kiss his forehead. He reached up and touched her face with both hands. "I'm glad."
"Me too. Now you close your eyes and try to sleep."
Drew helped Harlow in the bathroom and then they walked back out. "Lolo and I are going to get us food for dinner and to get some Children's Motrin. We will be back in awhile." He gave Kayla a kiss. "I love you."
"I love you too."
Drew and Harlow walked through the grocery store. The first thing he picked up was a small box of Cheerios, because he knew they were Cole's favorite. "What kind of cereal do you want, Lolo?"
"Loops, Daddy!"
He grabbed a small box of Fruit Loops and headed to the pain reliever section next.
After that, they headed to the checkout. He found a pair of sunglasses that would fit over Cole's glasses. "This should help him when he's outside, don't you think, Lolo?"
"Yep. Can I have pink ones, Daddy?"
They were a low price and she didn't ask for much. "Sure, baby. What do you say?"
"Please."
When they arrived back at the hotel, Kayla was asleep next to Cole so Drew took Harlow into the kitchenette and dished out her chicken nuggets and french fries.
"Mmm, chickies!"
He grabbed his salad and sat down. "Let's say a blessing, Lolo."
She folded her hands and he smiled, closing his eyes. "Dear, God. Thank you for this food and please help Cole to feel better soon and thank you for the blessings of our children. Through Jesus' name, Amen."
"Aaaamen," Harlow said, putting a piece of chicken nugget in her mouth.
Cole walked in the room and climbed up on a chair. "Hey, bud. How's your head?"
He shrugged, still half asleep.
"Hi, Coley," Harlow said with a smile.
"Hi."
"We got chickies," she told him, handing him one of hers.
"Yum," he said, taking a bite. "Thank you."
Drew handed him a plate with his own nuggets and fries. "Do you like ketchup?"
"Yeah," he said so Drew opened a little packet and squeezed it on to the plate. He took a bite and then looked at Drew. "Tell me about my new family again?"
"Okay, you have two Uncles, Ben and Matt. And then you have three Aunts, Ava, Livy and Sophia, who is my sister. Then, you have Grammy Elizabeth and Papa Jack and Grammy Faith and Papa Carson, who are my parents."
"Wow!"
"Yeah and then, you have a cousin Kinsey and Aunt Livy is having three babies in just a few months."
"Can I have a dog?" he asked, switching subjects as he covered another fry in ketchup before stuffing it in his mouth.
"I'm not sure. Mommy and I will need to talk about it."
"Did I hear someone say Mommy?" Kayla asked from the doorway.
"Can I have a dog, Mom?" Cole asked her.
Kayla looked at Drew. At this point, she wanted Cole to have anything he wanted. "What do you think, Drew?"
"We do have a big yard, with a fence."
"I think that's a yes, Cole."
"Yay!"
Up North, the cabin
Livy leaned against Matt's shoulder as the movie went on. She loved this one but sleep was overtaking her body once more. She kissed Matt's cheek. "I'm going to bed."
"Its only eight o'clock."
"Yep. My bedtime." As she sat up straighter, she stretched her back muscles. "Wanna join me?"
The look on her face conveyed that maybe, just maybe, she wanted something else before sleep.
"I don't know if we should, Liv."
"Why not? I asked the doctor."
"You did?"
"Yep. She said at this point, we don't need to limit our intimacies."
He shot up off the couch and grabbed her hand. "What are we waiting for then, Mrs. Flynn?"
She laughed and squealed when he swept her up into his arms. "You are going to hurt yourself."
"Nah, you're light as a feather."
"I've gained nineteen pounds, babe."
He climbed the stairs easily and walked into the master. "See? Nothin to it."
He put her down and lifted her shirt up and over her head. His eyes caught on her tummy. "Wow."
"I know. I'm huge."
"No. You're beautiful." He lowered his head and kissed her tummy. "You're perfect."