Spot hefted the last carpetbag out of the carriage and into the little house that was to be his and his family's temporary home.
"Where do you want these, Rae?" he asked.
She rubbed her forehead and squinted at them. "Uhh..." Finally she just sighed. "Leave them there for now..."
He dropped them and looked at her. "Tired?"
She nodded, glancing around the little house. "It's nice, for Brooklyn," she commented.
He put his arm around her. "Let's go claim our room and then we'll settle the others in."
She nodded and walked with him down the hall. "I'm glad we'll get to spend the last days with Julie... Even though I know it will be hard on everyone... It'd probably be worse if she were at the hospital day and night."
He nodded, holding her close.
"I'm scared, Spot," she whispered.
"I am too... But we'll be okay."
Rae stopped at the first bedroom. "Let's take this one...and Julie can go right across the hall."
He nodded. "All right. I'll let the kids know."
"Bring Sam and Kendra up so I can put them to bed?"
He nodded. "Will do."
She walked into the room and wearily sat on the bed. When Spot brought Sam and Kendra into the room nearly five minutes later she was sound asleep.
He smiled and put them to bed himself.
Kissing her cheek, he left the room to go find the others.
They were seated around a low fire in the living room. "You guys ready for bed?"
"Yes," the twins said.
"All right. Then you get to bed, okay? The first two bedrooms down the hall are off limits, but you can decide who gets which of the next two."
"Will you come tuck me in?" Ann asked.
"Of course I will, sweetheart."
She gave him a quick hug and darted from the room.
"You too, Andy," he said.
Andy nodded and slowly left the room.
Spot looked at Chris. "How do you feel about them bringing Julie to live with us again, rather than at the hospital?"
"I want to be with her Spot. Here or at the hospital."
He nodded. "I know."
Chris rubbed his forehead. "I can't take much more of this."
"It's tough," Spot agreed.
Chris looked up at Spot. "I never have thanked you for everything you've done for me and Julie."
He shook his head. "It isn't a problem at all."
"We've been nothing but a problem since we met."
"How do you figure?" Spot asked.
"My attitude for one thing, Julie's getting sick..."
"Well, your attitude, yes, but Julie couldn't help getting sick..."
"My attitude is what got Julie sick!"
"Now you don't know that!"
Chris sent Spot a desperate look.
"You don't know that," he repeated firmly.
Chris buried his head in his hands and fell silent.
"What you need now is some rest. Why don't you go to bed?" Spot said.
"I can't sleep."
"Well, you can try."
"Maybe in a little while."
"All right..." Spot stood. "I'm going to tuck the twins in and then head to bed. Don't stay up too long."
"We won't," Molly replied as Spot left.
He gave the two a smile and disappeared down the hall. He peeked into the girl's room first. Ann was sitting up, appearing to be waiting rather impatiently for him to come in. With a smile, he entered. "Not asleep yet, Annie?"
"You hafta tuck me in."
He walked over to the bed and she jumped off of it, throwing herself into his arms.
He laughed. "What's this for?"
"'Cause I love you."
He kissed her cheek. "Well I love you too, Miss Annie."
"Tuck me in now?"
"Will do. Then you get some sleep, okay?"
She nodded as he dropped her on the bed and pulled the covers up around her shoulders.
"Good night, Annie," Spot said, kissing her forehead.
"Night Daddy," she whispered sleepily.
Quietly, he left the room and headed to the boys' room, where Andy was sprawled across his blankets, snoring slightly.
Smiling, he woke the boy up enough to crawl under the covers.
"Sleep tight, Andy."
"Night," he said drowsily, falling back asleep again.
With a slight sigh, Spot left the room.
Rae yawned and opened a sleep eye when Spot entered the room. "I was wondering when you'd come to bed," she murmured.
He smiled. "Just making sure that all of our kids are tucked into their beds."
"And? Are they?"
"Chris and Molly are downstairs talking, but everyone else is asleep."
She nodded with a sleep smile. He pulled her into his arms and kissed her. She snuggled in his arms and fell asleep shortly after. He held her close, and only after he heard Chris and Molly walk past and both doors closing at the end of the hall, did he too fall asleep.
The next morning came quickly enough. Ann and Andy bounded into Spot and Rae's room to wake them up for breakfast.
"We're hungry," Annie exclaimed, bouncing on the bed.
"I see that," Spot said sleepily, falling out of bed.
"Julie's coming today, 'member?"
Rae sat up, yawning and having better luck with balance.
"Yes, we remember"
"The sooner we eat the sooner she can come."
She smiled. "Trent will bring her when SHE is ready to move, so that might not be until this afternoon."
Annie pouted.
"There's nothing you can do to change that, hon."
"Alright," Ann sighed.
She climbed out of bed as Spot clambered to his feet. "Well, off to make breakfast, I guess. What do you two want?" Spot asked.
"Fried taters," Andy said.
"Fried taters it is.... if we have any, that is."
"Trent said the pantry was fully stocked," Rae said.
"Doesn't necessarily mean we have potatoes. I mean, I doubt we don't... but you never know."
"Why don't you two go look while we get dressed," Rae told the twins.
They nodded and ran off. Rae quickly dressed and sat down to brush her long hair.
Spot dressed as well and stood next to Rae. "Ready for Julie's homecoming?"
"As ready as one can be, I guess."
He smiled a little. "Well, I guess I'd better start breakfast before those kids start a riot."
She nodded and lifted her face for a kiss. With a smile, he kissed her and headed down the hall.
Rae finished braiding her hair as Sam woke up. He sat up and groggily stared at her for a full minute before holding his hands up to be let down from the bed. She crossed the room and picked him up, kissing his forehead.
"Morny Momma," he said.
"Morning, little man," she said, laying him on the big bed to change his diaper.
"Hungry..." he told her.
"Daddy's cooking breakfast."
He clapped happily.
Rae changed his clothes and sat him on the bed. "Be still for Momma while I get Kendra up."
He nodded solemnly.
"Time to wake up, sunshine," Rae said, gently shaking Kendra.
She mumbled sleepily and squinted at Rae.
"Rise and shine sweetheart."
She nodded with a little yawn and slid clumsily out of bed. Rae changed the little girl's clothes and brushed her hair.
"What's Daddy making?"
"Fried Taters," Rae answered.
She jumped. "Yay!"
Laughing, Rae hefted Sam off the bed and led Kendra to the kitchen.
Shortly after, there was a knock on the door.
Biting her lip, Rae went to answer it.
Trent nodded. "Morning Rae."
"Good morning," she replied.
"Julie is in the carriage. Is it okay that she's here now?"
Rae took a deep breath and nodded. "Her room isn't ready yet, but she can rest on the couch in the living room while I make the bed."
He nodded. "All right. I'll bring her in."
Rae held the door open as he carried Julie into the house.
Julie smiled weakly, pale-faced, as she passed Rae.
Spot walked into the living room. "I wondered if you were here."
She smiled again at him. "Hello Spot," she croaked.
"How about some water?" he asked.
She nodded, thanking Trent when he set her down on the couch.
A moment later Spot handed her a glass of water. "Here ya go, sweetheart."
Taking it in shaking hands, she thanked him as well
"How is she doing?" Rae asked as she saw Trent to the door.
"Not too good," he replied, tucking his hands in his pockets.
Rae sighed and leaned wearily against the wall.
"I really wish there was more I could do."
"We all do."
"I'm sorry," he said, truly apologetic.
"What do we need to watch for?"
"Fatigue...pain..."
She nodded slowly. "All right."
"Rae...tell me honestly. How are you feeling?"
She sighed. "Stressed, from all this. Tired... a little woozy, I guess."
He nodded. "I know it will be rough, but try to get some rest. If it keeps up, come see me."
"All right. Thank you Trent."
"Your welcome. If you need anything, just send for me."
"I will."
After he left Rae went into the kitchen. Immediately, Spot handed her a plate of potatoes.
"Thanks," she said, sitting down. "She resting?"
"Yes. I'm about to see if she wants any breakfast."
Rae nodded. "I'll go make her bed when I finish."
"All right." And he skirted out the kitchen and approached Julie with some potatoes. "Hungry?"
"A little," she whispered.
"Would you like some fried taters?"
She gave a weak smile. "Sure."
He placed the plate on her lap. "Hot off the pan."
"Thanks. Where's Chris?"
"He should be down soon. I think one of the twins went to wake them up a few minutes ago."
Julie nodded and bit her lip. "How is he...really?"
"Well, he's pulling through it. I think he's hiding more than he's letting on."
She sighed. "I thought so."
Spot squeezed her shoulder.
She leaned her head wearily against the pillows on the couch.
Chris walked into the room and spotted his sister on the couch. "Julie! You're here already?"
She forced herself to smile. "Hey big brother."
He crouched next to her worriedly. "Are you okay?"
"As well as I can be."
He gave her a wavering smile. "I see you're having some breakfast."
"I can't eat all of this. Wanna share?"
After a moment, he nodded. "I suppose I could.
She patted the couch next to her.
Sitting down, he watched her until she took a forkful and ate. "Glad to be home? Well... I mean, sort of?"
"I know, Chris." She nodded slowly. "Yes, it's nice to be with everyone again."
Chris fell silent as she continued to eat.
"How are you and Molly?" Julie asked with a faint smile.
He blushed slightly. "Good."
She smiled and poked him a little with her fork.
He poked her gently in the ribs.
"You're going to marry her one day, I'll bet anything," she teased.
"We'll see."
"It would be so romantic," she said with a dreamy sigh.
He smiled and put his arm around her.
"I remember when no one really got along with her... It's hard to believe she's the same person."
He kissed her cheek. "You're a doll."
She smiled and rested her head on his shoulder.
Rae entered the room a moment later. "Julie, your room is ready. Would you like to go lay down now?"
Julie nodded. "Yes please."
She called for Spot and he came and carried her down the hall to her room. "It's good to have you back, Julie."
"Thank you Spot," Julie whispered.
"You're welcome," he said with a faint smile.
Spot sat Julie on the bed and stepped away so that Rae could tuck the girl in.
"Sleep well, Julie," Rae said quietly.
"Can you stay a minute, Rae?" Julie asked softly.
She nodded and sat down on the edge of the bed. "What do you need?"
Julie took a deep breath. "It's about Chris...."
"What is it?"
"I think he may do something stupid when I..."
She nodded. "Like what?"
"I think he might try to run away...But he needs you and Spot."
"Why do you think he'll run away? Has he said anything to suggest it?"
"No. But I know him, Rae. He tried to run away when Momma died."
She frowned a little. "All right. We'll try to keep an eye on him."
"Thanks Rae."
With a nod, she stood. "No problem." Julie leaned back against the pillows. "Sleep tight," Rae whispered, pulling Spot out of the room.
Once out in the hall, Rae turned to Spot. "What are we gonna do?"
He shook his head slowly. "I don't know... I just don't know."
She wrapped her arms around him and rested her head on his shoulder.
"We just have to go day by day, I guess."
"Spot?"
"Hmm?"
"I love you."
"I love you too," he said quietly, hugging her tightly. "How are you feeling today?"
"Okay right now. Worried more than anything."
"Let me know if you start to feeling bad, alright?" he said, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.
She nodded. "I will, I promise."
He kissed her forehead. "Let's go check on the kids."
She nodded and together they headed into the little dining room. Molly was settling an argument between Ann and Andy and Kendra and Sam watched, enraptured.
Spot whistled. "What's going on?"
"They were arguing over who got the last fried taters."
Molly explained.
"If I need to make more I can. Stop arguing."
They glared at one another but fell silent. Molly sighed and sat down.
"Thanks Molly."
She nodded, rubbing her forehead.
"Want something to eat?"
She nodded. "That sounds good."
Rae turned to the twins. "Go play quietly in your rooms, cause Julie is trying to rest."
With a sigh, they nodded and left the table. She sighed, resting her chin on her arms. "I wish he would talk more about it..."
"Just don't give up on him."
"I'm trying not too..."
Rae sighed and looked wearily at the plate of food in front of her.
Spot came out a moment later with a painful of fried potatoes. "Anyone want anymore?"
"Nah," Molly answered for them both.
* * *
"So," Duchess said, tapping her fingers together, "You say you saw Spot return to Brooklyn?"
"Yes'm," said the boy standing before her.
She gave an agitated sigh. "I TOLD him what would happen if he came back!"
"He had a bunch of kids with him."
She stood up quickly. "He couldn't keep this quiet, so naturally the whole town must know that Spot Conlon isn't dead. And there goes my reputation, down the drain. How could he do that?... Wait, what am I saying? Of course he'd do that. He's Spot... Arrogant Spot Colon!" And she growled in frustration.
"That doctor went to the lodging house a lot...and this morning he took some girl to this house where Spot and all those kids moved to."
"I'm going to have to visit him and give him a piece of my mind... He had better have a VERY good reason for 'returning from the dead'...."
"I guess you want me to keep watching him, huh?"
"Until I go down there... let me know if he moves anywhere else."
He nodded and slipped from the building. Duchess sighed, pacing to the window. This would be the last time Spot Conlon made a fool of her!
