Thank you for all the wonderful reviews! To answer a question about Jarrick and the girls. Jack didn't want Jarrick to think that having a tea party with them would make him a sissy(William said, guys don't do tea parties).
Chapter 55
The next morning the triplets were sleeping so Beth and Jack stepped out of their room with the monitor in her hand. He gently closes the bedroom door as to not wake them up. They head downstairs for a much needed cup of coffee. Grace and William were at the dining room table already with coffee. Beth sets down while Jack gets them a cup from the buffet. He sets hers in front of her and takes a seat next to her. Grace looks at William then back at them and says, I take it you 2 didn't get much sleep last night. They shake their heads and Beth swallows her coffee and replies, no we didn't. The little ones didn't either. I guess it's a strange place because they've never slept anywhere other than their cribs. They only slept about an hour at a time. We were up and down with them all night. William speaks up and says, it will take time but they will get accustomed to their surroundings. You will be here for 2 weeks. Be patient with them. We always are father. I think Jack has the patience of a saint most of the time. I'm getting there. Jack touches her hand and says, you are a great mother and always will be. She squeezed his hand with her thumb and replies, I hope so Love!
Jarrick comes downstairs and asks, what's for breakfast? I'm starving Nana! She gets up and takes him over to the buffet and lifts the lids off the pans over the warmers. She says, get you a plate and help yourself to what ever you want. Chef had muffins coming up shortly! Jarrick never looks back to get approval from his parents and fills his plate with a little bit of everything. He turns to sit next to her and she asked, would you like a glass of juice? Yes ma'am, Orange please! She gets up to get him his juice but Jack stops her and says, I've got this mother! Grace looks at him then at William. Jack comes around the table and sets Jarrick's juice in front of him. Grace stands and pulls Jack in for a gentle hug! No words were needed. They both knew what the hug was for. He gently patted her back and gently kissed her cheek! She gently kissed his cheek back and whispers to him, I love you Son! He whispers back, I love you too Mother! They parted and Jack Went to his seat back next to Beth.
Just as he went to sit they heard a familiar sound over the monitor. He stands and says,I'll get them Sweetheart! She asks, are you sure you don't want any help? He replies, no you just sit and enjoy your breakfast as he bent over and kiss the top of her head. She brushed his hand with hers as he walked away. As he walked out of the room, Grace stands, puts her napkin beside her plate and says, I believe I'll go help him. Beth says, thank you mother! Your welcome, Lizzy Dear! Up the stairs she went.
As she got to the door she could hear him talking. You know you have the most wonderful mommy in the world. So we have to help her get some rest at night. That means you 3 need to sleep all night like you do at home in your own cribs. Now, I know you're in a strange place but this house is really your house too! Your Grandparents love you all so very much! Now let's get you all changed and dressed.
Grace walks up behind him and places her hand on the small of his back and asks, may I help? He leans his head over and gives her a places a kiss gently on her cheek and replied, I would love for you to help! You take Daniel while I take Charlie. I'll get Beckie in a minute. She's always so patient. These 2 aren't so much! I think they think they are going to miss something. Oh , I forgot to ask mother, did you get the gate for the bottom of the stairs? No son we decided to place the gate in the sitting room. That way they can play in there and not get away from us. There are to many places for them to get into if we had placed it at the bottom of the stairs. I hope that is alright? Mother, that is perfectly fine! That was good thinking on your part! They got the little ones changed and dressed for the day. Jack carried Beckie and Charlie while Grace carried Daniel downstairs to the dining room. Their high chairs were brought out from the closet. Mother you got them matching high chairs to match the dining chairs! Yes, Lizzy Dear. We couldn't have miss matched furniture could we? Nothing but the best for our Grandchildren! I guess not, Beth replies! Grace fed Daniel scrambled eggs and apple sauce while Jack and Beth fed Charlie and Beckie the same except for Beckie's eggs were smoother.
After breakfast everyone went into the sitting room. William push a button next to the light switch and the gate came out of the walls. Jack was impressed! Wow! You can even tell that they were there! No my boy that was the whole idea! We have a gate at the bottom of the stairs. They sat the little ones down to play. Grace went over to a fancy chest in front of the window and opened it up. Daniel spotted it first and went right over and started pulling all the toys out. Charlie heard the noise and joined. Beckie sat at her daddy's feet and watched. All of a sudden he felt a tug on his pant leg. He looked down and touched Beth. They quietly watched Beckie stand. They had a tear in their eyes. They both wiped it away. Beckie wasn't bouncing. She was steady this time. She reached and grabbed her mommy's pant leg and walked down the couch. There wasn't a dry eye in the room including Jarrick. He walked over to the end of the couch and put his hand out to her. She was a little reluctant at first. He kept telling her it was alright and he wouldn't let her fall. Beckie finally took hold of his shirt sleeve. He sat real still as to not make her fall. He put out his other hand and he grabbed on real tight. She turned back and looked at her parents, wrinkling her nose and smiles! They tell her it is ok , you can do it! Beckie turns back and puts one foot in front of the other. All of a sudden she let go of Jarrick's hand and very wobbly walks over to the toy chest! Beth and Jack get up and go to sit next to her and they clap their hands and say, yea! You did it! We are so proud of you! They both kiss her gently on her cheeks! She let go of the toy chest to clap her hands too! Then she plops down. She starts to cry but they both tell her it's ok! She doesn't get back up because there are toys all around her. She just started playing with the toys. Beth and Jack get up and go back to the couch but stop in front of it and Beth wraps her arm around his waist, leans into his chest and says, she finally did it Love! She's finally catching up! Jack kisses her temple and says, yes, yes she is! There is no stopping her now! She can be whatever she wants to be! William and Grace hug one another! William whispers in her ear, I knew it wouldn't be long before she would learn to walk.
Daniel is at the gate in the doorway. Dada, out he says as he's standing in his tiptoes, trying to open up the gate. Everyone laughs and Jack says, ok son just a minute. As everyone headed to the doorway Charlie takes off to Daniel. Just as Jack went to pick up Beckie she stood and started wobbling towards the gate. Jack walked behind her as to make sure she didn't fall and hurt herself. She made it to the gate just fine. William reaches up and pushed the button to open the gate. Daniel and Charlie take off. Everyone is laughing at them because they have no idea where they are going. Jarrick runs up in front of them. He says, this way Daniel! Daniel runs as fast as his little legs would take him. Jack says, don't open the door Bud. Yes sir, he said. As everyone got to the door, Jack said, ok Bud you can open the door now. Daniel started to dart out but Jarrick grabbed his hand and said, whoa there little man! He walked him over and helped him down the steps. William picked up Charlie and took her down the steps too.
Jack, Beth, and Grace stood at the top of the steps watching Daniel and Charlie run around playing with Jarrick and William. Laughing at William running after them! Beckie stood next to Jack holding his pant leg. Jack bent down and asked her if she wanted to go play? She just backed up behind his leg. He reached to pick her up. He held her against his chest. She laid her head on his shoulder. He walked down the steps and sat down in the grass. It was luscious thick carpet grass. He placed her between his legs on the grass. She giggles and says, tick dada! He stands her up but she just leaned into him and held him around his neck. He asks, do you want to go play? She just shakes her head back and forth. She sat down on his leg. He looks up at Beth and shrugged his shoulders. Beth says, just give her time, Love! Beckie slid down to the grass and pulled her knees up. Jack got an idea. He leaned over and took her shoes off and sat them beside him. Beckie started giggling real loud! Beth and Grace started laughing and Beth says, the grass tickles her feet! Jack shakes his head up and down! He reached down and stood her up. She picks her feet up as to not let her feet touch the grass. Jack laid back in the grass and put her on his belly. She giggles uncontrollably and says, dada, dada no tick! He rolls over on his side but turning her gently to sit on the grass. She stood up and leaned back on him. He picks a blade of grass and tickles her leg. She giggles and says, no dada no! She brushed his hand away. While she wasn't looking he did it again. She screams NO DADA NO while laughing! She brush his hand away again. Just as he was fixing to do it again, she caught him and wobbled away! The grass was tickling between her toes. She kept saying, NO DADA NO, NO DADA NO, NO DADA NO! MOMMY NO DADA! Beth replies, run sweetie run! She tried to move faster but her legs gave out and she fell on her bottom. She giggles and stands up again. Jack is on his hands and knees chasing her very slowly! She turns to look at him and falls on her bottom again. She giggles and stands up again. This time she don't look back. Her little legs gain momentum and she was able to walk a little faster. Steady saying, NON DADA NO! Jack steady telling her he was going to get her. He was right behind her when she went to look back and falls on her bottom. He leans over her and lifts her shirt, blows raspberries on her belly. She wiggles and giggles!
Daniel, Charlie and Jarrick came over to them. Daniel lays down and pulls his shirt up and says, me dada me! Jack gives him raspberries, then Beckie. Switching back and forth between them. They were laughing and giggling! All of a sudden Jack looks at Charlie standing there laughing and giggling at them. He reached over and grabbed her gently and gave her raspberries too! She screams, NO DADA NO, NO BWOWIN! They all laugh at the 4 of them! Jarrick jumps on Jack's back and blew raspberries on his cheeks. Jack flips him over and blew raspberries on his belly! Jarrick screams, STOP DAD THAT TICKLES! Jack replies, that's the point Bud!
William climbs back up the steps and takes a seat next to his wife. He says, that is a perfect site, Lizzy! I know father, she replies! He's a great daddy to all 4 of them! He takes time with each one of them. I thought there would be some jealousy between them because he put so much time in with Beckie but it's like they understand! Now with her walking he can play with all of them at the same time! The maid brought out homemade lemonade for everyone. The little ones even had sippy cups of lemonade. Grace says, thank you Lila! You're welcome, ma'am! Beth stands up and walks to the edge of the steps and says, hey Love, want to bring them up for a drink or want me to bring it to them? You can bring it down because I don't think they want to come up yet! Grace sat all their drinks back on the tray and stood to carry it to her. Beth says, thank you mother! You're welcome, Lizzy! She stepped down the steps Nd walks over to them. Jarrick reached a took his and Jack's glass while Jack took Daniel and Charlie's and hand them to them. Beckie says, me dada, me dada! Jack laughs and says, ok Princess as he reached for hers and handed it to her. Beth took hers and sat down next to them. All of a sudden Daniel and Charlie puckered their face and shook their bodies. Beth, Jack, and Jarrick laughs! Jarrick says, it's sour to them! Beth says, I know they've never had real lemonade before! They've only had Country Time! After they got through puckering Daniel just looks at his sippy cup and shakes his head and says, no good mommy, no good. Beth takes his cup and says, I'm sorry Sweetie. Mommy will get you something else to drink. As she gets up Charlie hands her her cup and says, me mommy, me. Beth takes her cup. She stands then looks back at Beckie. Beckie is is sucking hers down with no problem. Jack says, she takes after me on this one! I bet she'll love to eat lemons too! Beth goes into the kitchen and rinsed out the cups and placed them in the dishwasher. She turns to Lila and asks, where do you keep the sippy cups? Daniel and Charlie didn't care for the fresh lemonade! Lila got 2 more cups from the cabinet over the dishwasher. Beth said thanks and looked in the fridge to see what was available for them to drink. There was milk, tea, and orange juice. She didn't want to give them milk because they might get to hot and vomit. They were to young for tea and she didn't give them juice except at breakfast. She closed the door and asked, is there anything else to drink? Lila replies, yes ma'am there is kool aid in the pantry. Lila goes to the pantry and brings back 3 different flavors. Beth says, perfect! Lila asked, would you like for me to make a pitcher of one of them? Beth replies, yes thank you and hands her the strawberry. She asks, can you make it weak so it isn't as sweet? Yes ma'am. Instead of 2 scoops I'll use just 1. Perfect, Beth says! Beth waits for Lila to finish and pours it into their cups. She thanks Lila again and walks back out to Daniel and Charlie. They reach for their cups and she hands them to them.
Beckie pulls up on Jacks arm. She stands there holding on until she felt stable enough to let go. Jack put his hand out to catch her if she was to fall. She says, non dada no! He lowered his hand just a bit and replied, ok Princess, just be careful. Me do, she says! She held his shirt as she started walking away until she had to let go. She wobbled all around the yard, falling a few times on her bottom. She'd just get back up. Beth says, there is nothing going to stop her now! A tear fell down her cheek as she watched Beckie go! Jack kisses her cheek and says, I truly had my doubts but she is a very strong little girl! She has been from the start! I'm so proud of how far they have come! I know, Love! I am too! I thought I would be toting her on my hip for a very long time. Jarrick got up and walked over to Beckie, not to close so she didn't fall. He knelt down on his hand and knees. He walked next to her as she walked up to the swing. She looks at him and asks, up Bubba? He looks back at his dad and says, SHE CALLED ME BUBBA! They were all excited! He picks her up and hugged her and says, Bubba loves you Beckie! Love Bubba! He kissed her cheek and sat her in 1 of the baby swings. He gave her a slight push. She started laughing and giggling every time she swung past him! He would say boo every time! Daniel got up and walked over to the swing. Charlie follows. Jarrick stepped in front of him so he wouldn't walk into Beckie's swing. He picked him up and sat him a baby swing. He gave him a slight push. Then he picked Charlie up and put her into the last baby swing. He gives her a slight push. Jarrick stands in front of them giving them a little push when their swing stopped. Beth slid into Jack's arms. He gladly wraps one around her while balancing on his other. A lot of firsts have happened up here! Yes they have Sweetheart, yes they have!
Julie and Viola came out on the porch. They sat down with their parents. Julie was quite as usual but Viola says, that is true love! I hope to have that one day! Grace touched her hand and says, you will dear, you will! William chuckles and says, not any time soon I hope. I'm enjoying still have you and Julie at home with us! Give a daughter away is like giving part of your heart away too. Grace wipes a tear from her eyes. Julie speaks up and says, I want to see the world before I settle down! William says, we are going to be going on a 3 months vacation next week! Oh father! Where are we going? It's a surprise, little one! He's always called Julie little one ever since she was born because she was so tiny. Julie loved to hear him call her that! Viola and Julie both asked, will it be cold or hot where we are going? William and Grace laughs and William replies, both! Oh we must go shopping father, Julie said! Go and have a good time! Take the limousine so George can help you with all your packages! They both run back into the house and up to their rooms. William calls George and has him bring the car around. George replies, yes sir. Be right there. Will, you spoil those girls to much! I know Gracie but I love to see the joy in their eyes! Will, where are we going? Around the world, Gracie! We are going to fly down to Acapulco, New Mexico. Then take a cruise around the world. We'll be stopping at a lot of ports. I've planned ahead for this trip! Will? Yes, Gracie. How can you take that much time off? Well Gracie, I've put Lionel in charge. He's been with me for many years. He knows the business inside and out! I've left him in charge every time we go down to Lizzy's. He'll be fine. I've told him that there is to be any deals made until I get back. Gracie, we need this! The girls need this! Ok Will! When do we leave? Next Friday at 10:00 am, he said. Have you told Lizzy yet? No, not yet. I'll tell her before they leave next Wednesday.
