Lori strolls through the Kings' County grocery store aisles filling her cart with basic items plus French wine, steak, shrimp, and bacon. Her destination wedding was everything she envisioned. The white sand beaches and historic French architecture provided the perfect background for the wedding photos submitted to 'The Gazette' for publication. She watches for register 2 to open before making her way to check out. Everyone knows she is the gossip switchboard. "Hey Ms. Pearl," she greets while unloading her cart.
"Lori, well honey, how are you? I haven't seen you in a while."
She pushes her left hand toward the middle-aged woman, "I just returned from my wedding in the exotic island of St. Barts. Maybe you saw the pictures in the paper."
"Oh my, that is quite a ring. If I remember you married that Walsh boy."
"Yes, Captain Walsh with the new private security company here in town. He is responsible for the amazing success and growing expansion. We're going to move into the new luxury development on the edge of town."
"Well, congratulation. I know your mother would be proud," she responds and continues scanning her items.
"Yes, mother raised me to have the best things in life and now I do. Please be careful with that bottle. I fell in love with French wine while abroad and this store has such a limited selection," she is cut off by the cashier's exclamation.
"Deputy Grimes!"
Lori whips her head to the left. Standing behind her is the man of her dreams. Rick is dressed in a black, V-neck t-shirt, faded jeans, brown boots with a matching belt. His sunglasses are hanging from the collar. "How you doing Ms. Pearl?"
"I'm doing simply fine. How are your babies doing? You know your mama has the whole church praying for them."
He smiles wide, "Michonne and I thank you all for your prayers. We brought them home last week. They are growing like weeds, so I came to get a couple cases of formula and distilled water."
"Hi…hey Rick," Lori stammers.
"Hey Lori."
She opens her mouth to start a conversation, but she is cut off by the cashier, "Well the Lord does answer prayers. Did you hear Lori and Shane got married?"
His brows raise, "Congratulation, I am sure you will be happy together." His phone buzzes. He looks down to read the text. "Ms. Pearl can you hold my cart. I need to check for more preemie nipples."
"Take your time honey." Lori watches him walk away. "He is such a good man with the loveliest wife. You must have met her at the courthouse," Pearl carries on. "You paying cash or card today?"
Lori tosses her hair over her shoulder, "American Express Black card," she swipes quickly. She makes her way back to her car and waits for Rick to exit. She pretends to load her groceries in the trunk so she can watch him load the boxes and gallon jugs of water into the trunk of his SUV. Unconsciously she slides her hand into her blouse rubbing her nipples humming softly.
Aaron waits patiently in the school pick up line. He spots his daughter walking out of campus. She is dressed in a purple top, jeans with a rip at the knee and lavender platform Chuck Taylors. "Hey Daddy," she greets jumping into the front seat. He freezes. She has never called me anything other than my first name. Judith busies herself with fastening her seatbelt. "Guess what?"
He clears his throat, "What?"
"I do not have to take the math quiz on Friday because I have an A in class. Isn't that awesome!"
"Way to go. How do you think we should celebrate?"
"How about icees…can we have chili dogs for dinner? I'll call Dad and see if he wants an icee too." He nods along trying to keep his tears at bay. Our next family court hearing cannot get here fast enough.
Rick enters his home through the kitchen door. He places a case of formula on the counter and turns to retrieve the rest of the formula and distilled water from the car. He stops with his hand on the doorknob when he hears the cries from the family room. He picks up his pace further into the house as the cries increase. "Hey, what's going on?"
Michonne is sitting on the floor between their daughters' seats feeding them simultaneously. Their hazel eyes with blue flecks blink contentedly. His son is red faced and wailing. "Your greedy butt son finished one bottle and is now screaming for a second."
Rick kneels to unfasten the security belt and lifts RJ from his seat. "Shh…I got you," he stands bouncing softly. They make their way to the kitchen. He fumbles a little fixing the bottle but successfully places it in the warmer. "Listen up son, your sisters have to eat too," he cradles his head while he waits. He walks toward the back of the house. He moves his son from his shoulder to cradle him in his arms. "This is the backyard. You have swings, a pool and a bike trail. You and the girls are going to have so much fun. I promise…I will do everything I can to give you the best life. You can thank me later for getting you the best mom in the world. She is way smarter than me, patient, kind and her hugs feel like love." The timer sounds and he returns to the kitchen.
"Don't forget to test the milk on your wrist," Michonne calls out.
He shakes his head. "Yes Mama." He joins his family taking a seat on the couch. He watches his wife burping his daughters. He reset the thermostat to accommodate the babies, but the tiny beanie hats are necessary to tell them apart. RJ wears green, Grace Anne, or GG wears yellow; and Heaven Leigh is in orange.
Each girl is perched on one of their mother's shoulders. Michonne pats their backs. One after another they let out burps inconsistent with the size of their tiny bodies causing their mother to burst into laughter. "Way to go precious," she rubs their backs in slow circles.
Late night
Rick exits the shower towel drying his hair. He grabs the plush robe from the hook on the back of the door. He walks over to his wife's side of the bed. She is in a dead sleep with a burp towel clenched in her left hand. He gently pushes the locs that have fallen across her face behind her ear. He bends at the waist and kisses her forehead. He turns to the foot of the bed and checks each bassinet. He smiles at each small bundle, "Ladies, you should be asleep." He scoops a baby into each arm and lowers himself into the club chair. Both girls are dressed in a draw string gown. "I think I can tell you apart. Heaven, you have a small brown mole between your eyebrows and GG your mole is on the lower corner of your right eye. What I know for sure is that you are just as gorgeous as your mother." He smiles from his heart. "You are never going to date. Nope, never…you will live here with me and your mother forever," he speaks softly in a sing-song voice.