New Years Eve
Jack and Elizabeth sat in front of their fireplace, sipping wine and talking about the future and reminiscing about their life thus far.
They had been married for six and a half months now. In those months, they had honeymooned in Cabo, moved to a small town, almost completely refurbished a home, adopted one child, a puppy, and were fostering twins.
In addition, Jack had registered with the state of Maine so that he could officially open and run his business, Thornton Construction and Refurbishing, LLC and hired Jesse Flynn as his employee.
Elizabeth had sent her first book off to be published and continued to write for Tabletop Magazine.
"These are all amazing and wonderful things, but I'm hoping things slow down for a while, Jack."
As the clock was about to strike midnight, Jack took her hand, led her over to the light switch and flipped it off, leaving the Christmas tree as the only source of light.
"It has been amazing and wonderful, you're right," he acknowledged. He wrapped his arms around her waist and smiled. "But, with three children, I'm not sure it will slow down."
"I'm good with that. I'm just happy you're here with me."
"No where else I'd rather be." He leaned down and claimed her lips to ring in the new year. "I love you."
"I love you more."
They spent a bit more time by the fire and then shut off the Christmas lights and climbed the stairs to bed, knowing the kids would be up in a few short hours.
….
Jack got up first, setting up his and Elizabeth's little plan for Autumn.
When Elizabeth and all three kids emerged from bed, ready to eat, he also had blueberry and banana pancakes ready.
"Pancakes!" Autumn said, a huge grin on her face.
"That's right, pumpkin. Get in your chair and I'll get you some, alright?"
She climbed up and watched as Elizabeth secured each twin in their high chairs. "Mommy?"
"Yes, baby?"
"Pancakes for….babies too?"
"Yep, pancakes for everyone."
"Good."
"Mom texted, hon. She wants to know if I can come help her pack and move," Elizabeth told him.
"When?"
"Next week. I would go early in the morning and stay overnight and come back the next night. I thought it might work because you don't start work until the 10th."
"Sure. I think that's a good idea."
"Are you sure? You'll have all three kids for two full days and one night."
"I'm capable."
"Of course you are. You're an amazing Dad."
"Then I think you should go."
"Okay. I will."
After breakfast, they all went into the living room.
"Ok, pumpkin. Mommy and I want to try something new with you."
"New?"
"Yeah." Jack showed her a dry erase board.
"Autumn name!" she pointed at the top.
"That's right. This is your reward board."
"What that….mean?"
"When you do something good, you put a sticker on the board. When you have seven stickers, you get a prize."
Elizabeth pointed. "This one says, sleep in your room all night."
"Autumn….Autumn like to sleep with Mommy….and Daddy."
"I know but you are a big girl. Big girls sleep in their own rooms."
"Scared."
"If we're scared, what do we do?"
"Talk to…God."
"Right," Elizabeth told her, pulling her onto her lap. "We thought something else that might help is this." Elizabeth handed Autumn a little pink bag. "Open it, sweetie."
"Light?"
"Yes. It has a pink lightbulb so it will make your room pink when its dark in there."
"And we will leave the hallway light on too and your door open just a little so you can see it," Jack told her.
"So if you sleep all night in your bed, you get to put a sticker on the board."
They told her the other things on the board were make her own bed, put toys away, and help Mommy or Daddy with something.
Jack could see she wasn't sure. "Do you understand, pumpkin?"
"Yeah."
"This will be fun. You'll see."
That evening they tried it out. After getting ready for bed, going potty, and brushing her teeth, Jack prayed with her and read her a story.
Then, he plugged in her nightlight and gave her a kiss. "I love you, Autumn Lynne Thornton. To the moon and back."
"Love, Daddy."
Jack put her glasses on the side table and her doll Grace in her arms and left the room, leaving the door open a few inches and the hall light on.
While Jack took Annie outside and put her in her crate, Elizabeth rocked the twins with their sippy cups of milk and put them to bed too.
Around two in the morning, Jack heard their door open. He looked over and saw Autumn sneaking in with Grace.
"Pumpkin, what are you doing?" he whispered.
"Autumn want Daddy….and Mommy. Please?"
"Sweetie, you need to sleep in your room."
Then she did something completely out of character for Autumn. She cried. Big tears and everything.
That of course woke up Elizabeth. She sat up and gave Autumn a hug and a kiss. "I love you so much but Daddy needs to take you back to bed."
"No, please," she begged. "I don't….want the prize….I want….Mommy."
Jack picked her up and carried her back to her room. "Shhhh, Autumn. You're gonna wake up the babies." He rubbed her back and swayed back and forth to calm her down. Eventually she did, so he laid her down and went through the routine again.
"Dear God, please help Autumn to be brave. Please help her to know she is not alone and that Mommy and I love her so much. Through Jesus' name, amen."
"Amen." She reached her arms up for him. "Daddy! Stay….please."
It was killing Jack to say no. He just wanted her happy. On the other side of the coin, he missed sleeping with just his wife, no little body between them. Eventually this would accomplish that.
"Goodnight, baby. I love you." He kissed her twice and left the room.
He heard her sniffling and that hurt his heart even more. "God, give me the strength," he prayed.
In the morning Jack went downstairs and made waffles with chocolate chips and then cut up fresh fruit. Then he made a big tray which included sippy cups of milk for all three kids and coffee for him and Elizabeth.
As he walked past Autumn's room, he peeked in. "Morning, Pumpkin. When you are awake, come to Mommy and Daddy's room for breakfast."
When he walked in to their room, Elizabeth was changing the twin's diapers.
"Dada!" Aiden said, clapping his hands and grinning.
"Hey, buddy."
"What do you have, Daddy?" Elizabeth asked.
"I have breakfast for all of us. Who's hungry?"
"Me!" Elizabeth told him. "What about Autumn?"
"She should be in very soon."
Elizabeth placed the twins on the bed and they immediately started jumping.
"Sit, guys. You can't eat if you're jumping."
Elizabeth removed the comforter so they wouldn't get syrup and butter and fruit all over it.
Autumn walked in the room, her hair standing up all over, but she was smiling.
"Hi, pumpkin. Are you hungry?" She nodded and raised her arms for a hug. He picked her up and held her, realizing he had missed her. "Guess what? You slept in your bed all night. You get a sticker!" It was true, she had come in their room, but all her sleeping happened in her own room. He was proud. "Only six more and you get a prize."
Elizabeth smiled and clapped her hands, prompting the twins to do the same. "Good job, Autumn!"
All in all, the next week was a success. Each night, she tried to come sleep with them and each night, Jack took her back to bed. Finally on Saturday, she didn't come in. When they woke up to check on her, she was sound asleep in her bed, Grace by her side.
When she put her seventh sticker on the board, Jack told her that Mommy was going to take her shopping for a special toy.
Elizabeth and Autumn headed off to the store while Jack watched the twins.
"What are you gonna get, sweetie?"
"Friend….for Grace."
"Oh, Grace needs a friend, huh?"
"Yes. Grace lonely."
"She is?"
"Yes."
"Are you lonely?"
"Miss Joy…and Ellie."
"Do you? Maybe we can visit them after school one day soon."
"Visit."
"And what if Sierra slept over one night? Would you like that?"
"Yeah!"
Elizabeth didn't know why she hadn't thought of having Autumn's school friend over. She resolved to be more sensitive to Autumn's needs in the future. She didn't want any child of hers to get lost in the shuffle.
Back at the house….
Jack dressed the twins in their winter coats, hats, boots, and gloves and took them outside.
"Dada!" Aiden said as they stepped outside.
"Yeah, bud?"
"Sissy?"
"Autumn is with Mama. They'll be back soon."
"Mama."
"Yep. In the mean time, let's go sledding."
He knew they didn't know what it was but he felt like telling them what they were doing would teach them more words.
He retrieved the toboggan from the shed and put it on the ground. Then he put each of the kids on it and started pulling them around. He couldn't help laughing when they giggled as he ran around the yard.
"Dada! Poop!" Addy announced and then giggled.
"Did you poop?"
"Poop!"
"Okay. We will go back inside." He pulled them over to the shed and helped them off. He could smell her from a few feet away. "Oh boy. You sure did poop."
He helped them back inside and took them to the nursery upstairs. He took her boots and coats and hat off and then her pants. "Oh, Addy. I guess you need a bath now."
He cleaned her up and then took both of them in the bathroom and filled the tub.
In town…
Autumn picked out a friend for Grace, a little black doll and named her Mercy which brought tears to Elizabeth's eyes. She still had moments of missing that gorgeous little girl that had stolen her heart.
Now they were headed to eat lunch at Vera's.
Vera walked over to the door as they walked in. "Well, if it isn't the Thornton girls."
"And Mercy!" Autumn said, holding up her doll.
"Well, isn't she sweet?"
"Mommy buy…for Autumn."
"Did she now?"
"Yeah. Autumn sleep….in own room."
"That definitely deserves a prize, I agree. Now let's find you two a seat."
"What can I get you ladies to drink?"
"Milk!" Autumn said.
"I'll take a Pepsi."
"Be right back. "
Elizabeth took her phone out. "Say cheese, sweetie."
She snapped a picture and sent it to Jack. "Her new doll Mercy."
"So sweet." He sent back a picture of the twins laying on the couch, watching Finding Dory on the TV.
"Tuckered out?"
"Yeah. Went outside, then right back in because Addy had a big poop. Then bath time and now movie and nap."
"Wow! Busy day."
"Yeah. We all miss u though."
"After we eat, we will b home."
"C U soon then!"
"Love u."
"Love u too."