Rae took a deep breath and got dressed. Once finished she turned to look at herself in the mirror. She was slowly loosing the weight she had put on with the triplets. Her skin was pale and she looked old and tired. She blinked rapidly. She wasn't even that old....
Shaking her head, she backed away from the mirror and left the room, her mind heavy. She had to do some figuring in her head to remember how old she was, because other than the children, she hadn't really paid attention to the passing years. She had only been nineteen when they had found Ann and Andy five years ago. She sighed. Twenty-four.
She shook her head. Had all that time really passed?
Spot stepped into the hallway just as she reached the bottom of the stairs. "What's wrong?"
She shook her head. "I... it's nothing. Just thinking."
He took her hands. "Come on, Rae...talk to me..."
A few tears formed in her eyes but she shook her head. "It's nothing."
"I know you Rae...nothing never bothers you..."
He put his arm around her. "Come on now... you can tell me."
She sighed. "I was looking in the mirror..."
He had a feeling he knew what was coming, but he let her speak.
"I look so old and sickly..."
"You look beautiful to me," Spot said seriously.
"I don't feel beautiful..."
"Well you are," he told her, kissing her forehead. She leaned against him. He stroked her head gently.
"I hate feeling like this!"
"I know, sweetheart. I know." He could feel her tears wetting his shirt. "Oh Rae..." he said softly. She continued crying. He held her close, stroking her back soothingly. He sat down on the steps, pulling her into his lap.
"I'm sorry," she said.
"It's alright, sweetheart."
She looked up at him.
He gently wiped away the tears. "I love you."
She sniffled. "I love you too."
He kissed her forehead.
"We should see how the kids are doing..."
"Are you going to be alright?" he asked, taking her hands.
She nodded. "I think so."
With her still in his arms, he stood and carried her into the living room, where he had left the triplets on a blanket under the watchful eyes of Kendra, Sam, and Joey. And they were doing a decent job with the babies, surprisingly.
Sam wrinkled his nose. "Robe't smells bad..."
Rae gave a little laugh. "He probably needs to be changed.
Spot set her on the floor next to the babies and picked up Robert. "Come on, son."
"Are you gonna change 'im?" Kendra asked.
"Yes."
"Good.... " She wrinkled her nose.
Rae laughed and tickled the girl, who squealed and giggled. Sam and Joey thought this was funny and Sam tackled her, tickling her. Rae laughed as Kendra squealed again, wriggling. Joey pounced on her as well, and Rae moved Robert and Lizzy out of the way of the wrestling threesome. She smiled, pleased that Kendra seemed to be getting along with the boys, even though they were younger. Kendra finally managed to get free and ran to hide behind Spot, who was just walking back into the room.
Spot laughed. "What's going on?'
"They won't stop ticklin' me!" Kendra said.
He smiled and ruffled her hair.
"Make them stop," she begged, looking up at him with pleading eyes.
He laughed. "All right. Boys, leave Kendra alone."
They both pouted.
Spot smiled. "Sorry kiddos."
He placed Robert on the blanket next to James and Lizzy. "Joey, why don't you go tell Kenneth that he can come join us if he would like."
Joey nodded and scampered from the room. Spot sat next to Rae and Kendra plopped in his lap, glaring at Sam.
"What's with the angry eyes, Kendra?" Rae asked.
"I'm mad at Sammy."
"Why?"
"I don't like to be tickled."
"Ohh, I'm sorry sweetie." Rae kissed the side of her head gently.
"When is my Mommy and Daddy coming back?"
"Soon..."
"How soon?"
"Two more days."
"That's not soon...that's a long time!"
Spot hid a smile. "It will be faster than you think."
"Why did they go away?"
"Because they wanted some time alone."
"Why?"
Spot looked at Rae. "You'll understand when you're older, Kendra."
She huffed.
Spot patted Kendra's back. "Go find the fairy tale book..."
She nodded and skipped off to find the book, already distracted. Joey came back into the room, dragging Kenneth with him. Spot smiled. Kenneth sat down and played with Lizzy's foot. After a moment he got Joey's attention and signed something to the little boy. Spot watched with interest.
Joey turned to Spot. "He wants to know what's wrong with the baby's eyes..."
"She's blind," Spot replied.
Joey made a face. "What's that mean?"
"It means she can't see."
"Oh..." he said, turning back to Kenneth and signing his reply.
Kenneth nodded, understanding.
Rae looked at Spot confused.
"He can't hear," Spot explained.
"Oh..."
He squeezed her hand.
Kendra ran into the room with a book in her hand. "I'm ready to read!"
He opened the book as she plopped on the floor. "This is an A..."
"A," she repeated. Moments later, Sam and Joey crowded around them.
He showed them the various letters while Rae played with the triplets. Robert was starting to roll over and James would soon be doing the same.
----------
"We're home!" Andy called cheerily, as the boys entered the house.
Rae and Spot exchanged a glance. "That sounds good..." Rae said.
Spot smiled. "Indeed it does."
Andy ran into the room. "Hello Momma, Daddy," he said, kissing Rae's cheek.
Rae smiled. "Hello sweetheart. You seem awfully cheerful."
"School was actually kinda fun today."
Spot smiled. "Did you get into any fights?"
"Nope..."
"Wonderful!" Rae said, giving him a squeeze.
"Go we go fishing?"
"Got any homework?" Spot asked.
"Just a little," Andy said.
"Homework first."
He groaned.
Spot sent him a look.,
He sighed. "Yessir."
Rae pulled a tin from the cabinet. "Tell the others to come get a snack."
Andy nodded and raced from the room. "Hey! It's snack time!"
Spot laughed and looked at Rae.
She smiled. "I'm glad he enjoyed school. Those boys being there must have helped a lot."
"I'm sure it did," he said, kissing her forehead.
Andy bounded back into the room. Rae put plates on the table with slices of a cake that she had made earlier. The boys scrambled over and devoured the cake hungrily
Kendra dashed into the room. "Mr. Spot..."
He looked up. "Yes, Kendra?"
"Sammy and Joey are playin' with Pape's kitties..."
He sighed. "All right, let's go get them."
Kendra ran after him.
"Boys!" he called. "You'd better not be playing with those kittens!"
By the time he and Kendra reached them, they had already withdrawn, clutching their hands.
"Pape scratched us!" Sam wailed.
"You shouldn't have been playing with her kittens," Spot said, kneeling beside them.
The boys sniffled.
"Come on...let's go clean up those hands..."
"Yes sir," they chimed
He helped them to their feet and led them downstairs.
"What happened?" Rae asked, when they entered.
"They were playing with the kittens," Spot said, lifting one and then the other onto the counter.
"And Pape didn't like that, I suppose?" she asked.
"Nope. Where is the salve and bandages?"
"In the cupboard behind you."
He opened the cabinet and pulled out the supplies he needed.
"Will it hurt?" Sam asked
"Maybe a little...but it will make it better."
He looked a little worried at that.
Rae kissed his forehead. "Don't worry Sammy..."
He nodded. "I'm tryin'."
Spot took his hand and carefully spread the salve on the cuts.
He winced and whimpered.
Rae brushed the hair from Sam's face. "It's alright, sweetie."
He sniffed. Rae leaned over and kissed Joey on the forehead as well. Then, it was Joey's turn to get the stinging cuts tended to. He leaned up against Rae and closed his eyes, while Spot doctored the cuts. Rae smiled, stroking the little boy's head. Spot gently wrapped a bandage around Joey's hand. "All finished."
His eyes popped open and he grinned. "Yay!" And he hopped down.
Rae laughed as she watched him grab a cookie.
Spot laughed as well. "Now you two leave the kittens alone, okay?"
They both nodded.
"C'mon Joey! Let's go!"
Sam exclaimed, tugging his hand. They ran from the room
Spot smiled. "They're going to be our troublemakers, I can tell."
She agreed.
----------
Kendra raced around the house, shrilling, "They're coming home, they're coming home!"
"Kendra!" Rae snapped, holding her head.
She gave a squeak and fell silent.
"I know that you're happy they're coming home, but my head hurts and the babies are trying to sleep."
"Yes ma'am," she whispered.
Rae sighed and sank into a chair. She continued to skip around, but she only whispered, "They're coming home!" to herself now. She suddenly stopped and fell silent. After a moment she ran to the window. "Is that them?"
Rae looked up. "Do you see the carriage?"
"I see some horses...and a wagon..."
"That could be them."
"Can I go out to the porch and see?"
She smiled and nodded. "Just stay there, okay?"
"Yes ma'am," she said, running from the room.
Kendra bounced onto the porch and watched the wagon, bouncing eagerly on the balls of her feet.
"Momma!" she yelled as the wagon stopped in front of the house. Once the wagon stopped, she sprinted across the yard.
Molly scooped Kendra up into her arms and held her close.
Kendra hugged her tightly. "Momma, Momma, Momma!"
Molly laughed. "Did you miss me?"
"Yes!"
"What about me?" Chris asked as he unloaded the luggage from the wagon.
Molly put her down and she ran over to him, wrapping her arms around his good leg.
He laughed, reaching down and ruffling her hair.
"I missed you Daddy."
"I missed you too, kiddo."
"Are we gonna live at the new house now?"
He laughed. "Yes, but it will probably take a few days to get everything set up."
"Can we please stay tonight?"
"Not tonight, little bit."
She pouted.
He ruffled her hair and limped through the door with the luggage.
"Can I help?" she asked.
"Sure." He handed her the smallest package he carried.
She grinned and followed him inside.
Molly smiled as well, bringing in her carpetbag.
"Have a good time?" Rae asked as she walked up the patio steps. Molly looked at Chris and blushed. Rae smiled.
"Can you sleep with me tonight?" Kendra asked Molly.
Molly nodded and put her arm around Kendra's shoulder. "Of course sweetie."
Chris cleared his throat.
She looked up.
"What about me?" he asked.
She smiled. "What about you?"
He limped over and whispered something in her ear while Rae giggled.
"What?" Kendra demanded. "What? What?"
Molly blushed and hit him. Chris just grinned.
Rae laughed. "Take your stuff upstairs and behave."
"Yes ma'am," Chris said, leading the way.
She smiled as she watched the three of them walk up the stairs.
Spot emerged a moment later. "Kendra looks excited."
Rae smiled at him. "She is."
"Did they have a good time?"
"I think they did."
Spot put his arm around her. "Remember the trip after OUR wedding??"
"Do I ever."
"And now, that obnoxious brat Chris has grown up and gotten married.... I can hardly believe it."
She sighed and leaned against him. "I just wish that Julie could have been here..."
He frowned a little and nodded, rubbing her shoulder. "Yes..."
Lizzy cried loudly.
Rae sighed with a faint smile. "Someone wants attention."
He kissed her forehead. "Want me to go?"
"It's all right. I'll do it."
She started to walk away, but he pulled her back and kissed her gently.
"I love you, Rae."
"I love you too, Spot."
He followed her in.
Rae bent over and picked up Lizzy. She stood back up and fought to keep from blacking out. "Spot..." she whispered.
He hurried to her side. "What's the matter?" He asked, taking her elbow.
She leaned against him.
He stroked her hair gently. "What happened?"
"I got dizzy..."
He held her tight. "Do you want to lay down?"
"Yes."
He led her to the couch and took the knit throw that had been carefully placed over the back of the couch, draping it over her.
"I'm sorry," she whispered.
"What are you sorry for?"
"About this..."
"It's not your fault sweetheart."
She sighed and closed her eyes. He stroked her head gently. Lizzy began protesting again. Rae sighed. He placed Lizzy in her arms. "Shhhh, baby," she said soothingly.
He bent down and kissed Rae's forehead. "You just rest. I'll be back in a minute."
She nodded.
He walked into the kitchen where Noelle was baking cookies with Sam and Joey's help.
"What do you need?" Noelle asked, looking over her shoulder.
"Rae's not feeling too good...would you mind making sure the boys stay quiet when they come home from school?"
She nodded. "Of course."
"Thanks. I'm gonna see if I can get her to rest."
"Tell her I insist."
He smiled. "I will." He left the room. Rae was barely awake when he walked back into their room. Carefully, he pulled Lizzy from her arms. He placed Lizzy back in the crib and knelt beside Rae. She was fast asleep now. He brushed the hair from her face and watched her, worried. But she slept peacefully, without so much as a shift in weight.
Robert woke and began babbling happily. Spot scooped him up. "Quiet you," he whispered with a smile. "Your momma is trying to sleep." Robert babbled some more, waving his arms and legs. Spot laughed quietly. "Come on." And he carried the boy from the room.