Amanda received an interesting round of visitors the next morning.
Judge Donnelly. Colonel Kemper. Both Junior and Ellington. Even Donatella Bianchi, from the main crime family on Staten Island. She came bearing presents for all the new babies and their parents. After that whirlwind, Amanda had no idea what to expect. But at least she knew her family was loved.
Thank heavens for the nurse informing her of the Cabots' wish for a visit. Normalcy.
At least... this family's version of it.
The Cabots arrived quickly.
Amanda and Carisi lit up when they entered, but their expressions quickly turned to confusion. Two babies?
Carisi furrowed his brow. "Did we miss a memo?"
Alex laughed. "Nope. We had no idea until the last second that Diana is a twin."
"No one in this family can do anything small. Even the babies. Wow." Carisi beckoned to the newcomers. "Please come closer."
Olivia pushed Alex's wheelchair up to the bed. It didn't escape either matriarch that their friends were kidless.
"Where are your little ones? The nursery?" Olivia asked.
Amanda nodded. "Yes. A nurse will be bringing them soon. Jesse is at Blue's."
"Then would you like to meet our babies in the meantime?"
Amanda sat up and held out her arms. "Totally. I'm happy to hold whomever."
"Alright." Olivia eased one baby into her detective's hold. "This little sweetheart doesn't have a proper name yet, but we've been calling her Treasure."
"Because she certainly is one." Amanda helped the infant get comfortable. "Amazing."
The littlest Cabot had been very squirrelly all morning so far, but the cure was being with somebody new. Amanda's melodious tone had her captivated.
Olivia took Diana from Alex, handing her to Carisi. "This is our dear Diana Pearl. She was born first. Why don't you hold her?"
Carisi beamed. "I would love to."
He took her into his arms with such east that the baby was relaxed almost at once. Diana drifted into a doze very fast.
Olivia and Alex watched the scene unfold. They felt like their heart were melting.
It was already an established fact that Amanda and Carisi were Diana's godparents. Both had been deeply honored to accept this duty months ago. What Olivia and Alex found impressive was their friends' ability to take the surprise of a second godchild in stride so well.
It actually made a certain choice easier.
Alex's voice filled the quiet void after a beat. "Amanda, what's your favorite gemstone?"
"Hm?" the younger woman said in surprise. "That'd be sapphire. It's also my mom's favorite, even though both of us have April birthdays."
"You do?"
"Mhm. I missed being born on her birthday by an hour. She's never let me live it down." Amanda clarified. "Beth Anne and I love sapphire because it's the closest gem to our original family name—Blue."
Alex nodded in understanding. Then she looked up at Olivia with an imploring look.
So began a silent conversation of their own.
In a word, it was endearing.
"Then that's that." Olivia finally said aloud to the other couple.
"What's what?" Amanda and Carisi chimed together.
Olivia motioned to the baby in Amanda's arms. "We settled on a name for Treasure, but we wanted to wait until we were here to try it out. Can you blame us?"
Amanda shook her head. "No. Her appearance must've sandbagged you both."
"Yet one more way to describe Treasure's creativity…" Alex muttered.
Olivia kissed her on the top of Alex's head so as to keep her anchored. She heeded the message. Clearing her throat, she tried again.
"A name came to us about an hour ago. You're going to like it." Alex told the younger woman. "Say hello to Amanda Sapphire Cabot."
The detective's heart skipped a beat. After all she'd been through in the last twenty-four hours, an announcement like this put her in yet the biggest loop.
"You named her for me?" Amanda felt like she was going to cry.
Olivia bobbed her head. "Yes. We love you so much. Our family wouldn't be who we are without you. I mean… the bond you have with Sophia…"
"It's magnificent. Sophia is lucky to be loved by you." said Alex. "On top of that, we now have a sapphire to go with our pearl and our diamond."
"All three of your baby girls go together." Amanda mused.
"Yes, and your mother loving sapphire is perfect. We're using it as a tribute to her." Alex gave a shaky sigh. "Sophia wouldn't even exist if your mother had never let your father go."
"That is just crazy to think about." Amanda shook her head in wonder. "All of us have been bonded for a very long time."
"We have." said Olivia. "So we chose to name our dear little surprise for you, in honor of yours and your mother's favorite gem. Everything is full circle now."
Amanda's heart was overflowing with emotion. "Thank you both so much."
Her words were still hanging in the air when there came a knock on the door.
Amanda's nurse was there. She had pushed two rolling basinets with her, each one containing a new Carisi child. The nurse had a moment of pause as she assessed the new situation.
"I see you've got visitors, and in more ways than one." she quipped.
Carisi cheerfully provided an explanation, indicating the Cabots in turn. "These are Trip's and Billie's godmothers. Olivia is our boss. Her wife Alex is our bureau chief. Our little gems here are their new babies, Diana Pearl and Amanda Sapphire."
"Many happy returns." the nurse told the Cabots. "Would you like to hold Trip and Billie?"
"Yes, please." Olivia and Alex answered in unison.
Alex took Billie. Olivia held Trip.
"Hey, little guy." Olivia whispered to her godson. "Welcome to the world. I'm your Auntie Olivia. Just say the word, and I'll get you and your sister anything your hearts desire. That's a promise."
Trip responded by stretching out, yawning, and then curled up into a fetal position. Going from the nursery to his mother's room had worn him clean out. Olivia watched in fascination as the little boy fell asleep. He was absolutely content.
Even Billie fell asleep when she held her. Olivia was enchanted.
How she loved her life.
There was downtime after the Cabots parted ways from Amanda and her kin.
Alex used it to talk Olivia into getting something to eat. The lieutenant went. Eventually.
It was after that meal that a things livened up.
How? Through a phone call with Beth Anne.
"Hi, Olivia." Beth Anne greeted her when she picked up the phone. "I take it there's news from home?
"Yes," Olivia confirmed. "But first—has anyone been keeping you and your husband in the know?"
"Mhm. Harper called last night to introduce herself. She told me about the babies whom she met."
"She would have told you of Trip, Billie, Agnes, and Esme." said Olivia. "What do you think?"
Beth Anne grinned even though Olivia couldn't see her. "We're overjoyed, and we can't wait to meet everybody. Everything happening is a dream come true."
"Alex and I are with you on that one. We're pinching ourselves."
"Then what's the news on your little one?" Beth Anne asked curious.
Olivia laughed nervously. "The universe kind of blindsided us. It happened that our long-awaited miracle was hiding an identical sister until the last second."
"Crazy. How are you and Alex?"
"Elated. Over the moon. In love with our family. Confused. We're adjusting, though."
"Good." approved Beth Anne. "Let us know if or when you get something like a registry made. We'll help."
Olivia turned red. "Beth Anne, I couldn't. You just brought three babies into the world."
"And you're just like Amanda—sometimes needing a hard nudge." Beth Anne's tone was firm. "Benoît will want to help. And Kim. I also know that Novaks will chip in if given the chance."
"All of that is correct. Thank you." Olivia was immediately humbled. "I'll make sure you'll know when we have something."
"Okay, then." Beth Anne's tone turned soft again. "Please tell me about your baby girls."
"We named our first for Wonder Woman; that was our favorite comic when we were kids. Her middle name is for the pearl gemstone. Another favorite. So that's our Diana Pearl."
"How lovely. I see that you and your wife are continuing the gemstone them." Beth Anne observed. "Sophia told told me about Serena Diamond awhile ago. Did you have Diana's name picked out when Serena showed up?"
"We did." Olivia said. "Our little Diana Pearl. Her twin is named Amanda. For yours."
Beth Anne's heart caught in her throat. "You and Alex love my daughter that much?"
"We do." Olivia said sincerely. "Amanda is as important to us as the rest of our children, grandchildren, and even Harper are. God only knows where we'd be without her. Amanda is our unofficial eldest."
"I can't begin to tell you how much my own heart is doing jumping jacks. Did anyone ever tell you that I named Amanda after my baby sister?"
"Yes, and that's incredibly sweet. Our Amanda's middle name is Sapphire. We learned today why you like that gem. Now our youngest is named for your first daughter, and for your favorite gem stone." Olivia exhaled noisily. "Alex and I wouldn't be who we are without her. Or you. There wouldn't even be a Sophia Rose."
"Wild. Just wild." Beth Anne mused. "Have Sophia and Casey met your twins yet?"
"No. It's on the agenda," confessed Olivia. "But Alex made come down here to the cafeteria so I could get something to eat."
"Great minds think alike. I just did same thing to Benoît and Kim. The babies are even in the nursery at the moment."
"How are your little ones?" Olivia asked politely.
"My baby boy and my baby girls have to stay here for a few days. A major reason is because things can happen when you have kids at an older age…"
Then she paused. Olivia could tell that her friend was choosing her words very carefully.
"What is it?" she finally asked.
"My children are going to be on feeding tubes for awhile." Beth Anne told her. "The why is complicated, but it won't be forever. We've also been assured that the children will be fine. What's happening now is the beginnings of an extra boost."
"I understand." Olivia said softly as she thought of Noah, Sophia, and Harper. "There are crazy issues in this part of the family. It's also complicated, but I do understand your feelings."
Beth Anne hadn't been expecting anything along these lines at all. "Wow. Thank you for telling me. I feel better..."
Her words trailed off as she ruminated for a beat. Olivia waited.
"Benoît and I have a secret." Beth Anne said at length. "Promise me you'll tell no one but your wife."
Olivia sat up straighter. "I promise. Go for it."
Beth Anne let out a breath she hadn't realized she was even holding. "This has already been something we've been thinking about for over a year, but the events of our visit to New York really gave us perspective. It's official. All of us are going to move to New York City."
Olivia found herself taken aback. This was literally the last thing she had been expecting from this woman.
"Wow." she said. "I know you've considered it in years past, but it's actually going to be a reality now?"
"Yes. My husband and I are getting old. Even Kim is feeling it."
Olivia ran her fingers through her hair. "I know the name of that tune."
Beth Anne changed gears. "Do you remember what my husband, my brother-in-law, and I do for a living?"
"I do. Your husband is the president of Penguin Publishing, and Zoltan is his VP." Olivia recalled. "Soph said you do the books?"
"More like I'm the main chief of the finance department. I really love it. Best job I've ever had." Beth Anne elaborated. "Without boring you with office politics, let's just say that positions will be opening up that my husband I will fit to take over."
"I'm really happy for the two of you." Olivia said sincerely. "Am I right in presuming that you'll be local?"
"Yes." Beth Anne confirmed. "Our only stipulation is that Queens is a no-go."
Olivia guessed, "Because you want to give Amanda, Dominick, Trip, and Billie their space?"
"Precisely. Our scene is the Upper West Side, anyway. Isn't that where you live?"
"Yep. Us, the Baileys, the Novaks, and Sophia and Casey. Maybe you'll be neighbors with one of us."
Beth Anne continued to be honest. "We would really love that. New York has also been a priority because that's where all of our living family is. Amanda and her kin, Blue and hers, you and yours. None of us down here like being so far from everyone."
Olivia nodded. "I bet you also want Junior, Eden, and Haven to know Amanda."
"Bingo. If all goes according to plan, we should be visiting in July to look at real estate. Our hope is to be moved in before the weddings. Do you think everyone will be surprised?"
"Very much so. You have mine and Alex's best wishes." Olivia said kindly. "I'm also proud of you."
"Why?" Beth Anne said in surprise.
"I know that your relationship with Amanda hasn't always been the best." Olivia explained. "So much effort goes into even trying to repair something like that. I understand that from firsthand experience. Look at things now—you're getting ready to move your life across the country to be in the same area as your firstborn because you made peace with her."
"I did. And it took making friends with Sophia to realize that I had to even try. Now I pinch myself when I realize how things would be if our daughters had never come to be."
Olivia gave a shrug. "I would've had a normal job, like a literary professor."
"Who knows on my part?" Beth Anne sighed. "But that's alright. Sophia changed my life by reminding me to be gentle, and also by reminding me that second chances aren't always a bad thing. I'm a better person for knowing her. And you."
Olivia's heart bloomed with affection. "That is the sweetest thing…"
"I speak the truth. And I've been meaning to say it for awhile, anyway. Guess I got shy."
"I'm just pleased you could say it. Words like that take a lot of courage." Olivia took some steadying breaths. "Amanda reminds me a lot of myself, and she brings me so much joy. We've even saved each other many times. Even for just that, I've always loved your daughter like my own."
Beth Anne spoke familiar words for the umpteenth time. "Thank you. For everything."
Olivia's return was just as familiar. "You're very welcome."
"Go kiss your family now."
"Okay." said Olivia. "Go kiss yours. Catch you later, Beth Anne."
"Good-bye, Olivia."
Each mother hung up.
Olivia had only just finished pocketing her phone and what was left of her meal when a text came through from Alex.
What's your status?
Just finishing up a meal, sent Olivia.
Perfect. I've just had word that Sophia & Casey want to see us, came Alex's response.
Olivia quickly disposed of her food wrappers and tray. She even made it as fast as she could to the elevators without running. A response was put out to her wife when the lift was on the move.
I'm heading your way now. See you soon.
