A week later, Jack took Brady up to his parent's house, along with Autumn. Brady was going to stay there for two weeks. While they were gone, Elizabeth and Dani went to their second childbirth class while Grace watched Carter.

After class, they went grocery shopping. "It's much easier without little Carter hands trying to grab things off the shelves," Elizabeth laughed.

"I bet."

"So tonight, we will attempt to stick to our budget. I have coupons and I went through the grocery ad to look at the sale items for the meals I want to make. Then I added the coupons to my pouch for those items. You save a bunch of money that way."

"That makes sense."

"Now, you said that you are going to feed the baby formula, right?"

"Yeah, I mean, since I am going to be in school, it would be easier. Is that okay?"

"It's your choice, sweetie. I'm behind you either way."

"Yeah, formula makes more sense."

So they walked down the formula aisle. "I printed coupons off the formula company website for you to use."

Dani's jaw dropped when she saw how much one can of formula cost. "How am I going to afford this?"

"Being a parent is expensive, that is for sure."

"Is this just one more sign that I shouldn't keep her?"

"Sweetie, we are going to make this work. Don't worry." Elizabeth picked up two cans of formula so she could get ten dollars off. "This is a start."

"Wait, I have an idea."

"What's that?"

"What if I did homeschooling? Then I could breastfeed her and save a ton of money."

"I need you to be honest with me, Dani. What kind of student were you?"

"A's and B's. I loved school. Until…" she gestured to her stomach. "Then everyone just decided I wasn't worth talking to or being friends with. I can do this. That way I can be the one to take care of her and no one else will have to."

"I will talk to Jack about it. We will let you know, alright?"

"Yeah."

Elizabeth put the formula back on the shelf and they headed off to get the rest of their groceries.

Jack returned a couple days later with Autumn who had a nasty cold.

"Mommy, I'm sick," she told her, lifting her arms to be picked up.

"Sweetie, you are so big for me to carry."

Elizabeth sat down at the table and lifted her on her lap. "There, how's this?"

"My head hurts."

"I'm sorry." She felt her head and it was hot. "Jack, have you given her Tylenol?"

"No, I didn't have any with me. I'll grab it from the cabinet."

After giving her Tylenol, they gave her a bubble bath and put her in bed to rest.

Dani started cleaning the living room while Jack and Elizabeth talked on the porch.

"She is starting to see how big a deal this baby is going to be. And how expensive," Elizabeth told him.

"That's good. Unfortunately, that means she is going to have to grow up much quicker than most fifteen year olds should."

"Sixteen."

"What?"

"She turned sixteen a week ago."

"Oh, wow. We should make a cake or something."

"Sure. I can do that."

He put his arm around her shoulders and gave her a kiss. "Or we could make it together."

"Really?"

"Mm hm. It could be romantic."

"How are you going to make baking a cake romantic?"

"You'll see."

"Okay. I look forward to it."

"Me too."

"So she saw how much formula cost and decided it made more sense to home school so she can breastfeed."

"That's a smart idea, actually."

"You'd be alright with it?"

"Yes and then she would be taking care of the baby too. It's very smart. I think she should do it."

"Great. I will tell her."

When they walked back in, Dani and Carter were on the couch reading a story. Carter was giggling as Dani made her voice change with the characters.

"Mama!"

"Hi, Carter."

"Mama! Tory."

"Yes, I see."

"After the story, do you want to help me make dinner, Dani?"

"Yes, of course."

Jack let Annie outside and fed her and then went upstairs to check on Autumn.

After dinner, Dani found Jack. "Jack?"

"Yes?"

"Do you have tools?"

"Yes, I have tools. What ones do you need?"

"Whatever I need to put the crib I bought back together."

"I can do that for you."

"Well, could you show me? I'd like to do it myself."

"Sure. I'd love to."

So after he helped Elizabeth with Autumn, he knocked on the guest room door. "Come in."

He walked in to find Dani staring at the crib. "How's it going?"

"Oh, I don't know. It looked so simple when they took it apart."

"Things usually do." He looked at the screws. "Okay you need a Phillips head screwdriver for this."

"What's that?"

He held up both types. "This is a flathead. This is Phillips."

"Ok. So it matches the screw. Got it."

"Yep. So I'll hold these two sides together and you screw it in."

She did as he instructed. "How's that?"

"Good. Let's do the other sides." Once the crib was back up he looked around the room. "Where do you want to put this?"

"I guess right there," she said, gesturing to the wall opposite her bed.

"Did you buy a mattress?"

"No, not yet. Elizabeth said we should probably buy that new."

Elizabeth walked in then with a pile of clothes in her hands. "Hey. I have those onesies for you."

"Thank you. That's a lot."

"Babies go through a lot of clothes. They're always spitting up or pooping on things. This way you can wash the dirty ones and still have clean ones."

"That makes sense."

Dani put the clothes in a dresser drawer and yawned. "I guess I should make my tea so I can get some sleep."

"I can make it for you," Elizabeth told her.

"That's alright. I got it."

"By the way, Dani, Jack and I talked about it and we agree that you should do homeschooling this fall."

"Oh good. Thank you."

"You're welcome."

Dani made her tea, a new feeling of hope in her heart. She had a nice home with nice people. She had a place for her baby girl to sleep. She was learning about budgeting and how to take care of a house. Now, she knew that she was capable of feeding her child without spending extra money. Things were looking up for the first time in years.

The next morning, Dani heard Carter making noises in the nursery so she decided to go change his diaper, which she had never done before, and take him downstairs to make him eggs.

"Hi, buddy!" she said with a smile. "How are you this morning?"

"Hi!" he said, standing up in the crib. "Egg?"

"Sure thing. Let's change your diaper first though, okay?"

Elizabeth listened in her bedroom over the baby monitor.

"Now, I need you to cut me a break here. I've watched your Mama change your diaper, but I haven't actually done it myself."

Elizabeth smiled, but prayed that Carter wouldn't pee all over her or anything.

Annie barked downstairs. "Doggie!"

"Hey, don't squirm. I don't want you to fall off."

"Doggie bark!"

"I know. We will let her out when we go downstairs. You can even help me. How does that sound?"

Then Elizabeth heard it. "AHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" Elizabeth knew immediately what had happened. "You peed on me, bud."

Elizabeth got up and headed into the nursery. "Morning, Dani."

"Mama!" Carter said, squirming to get to her.

"I wanted to help you this morning," Dani told her, wiping off her face and shirt with a wipe. "I guess I made more work for you instead."

"You did help, sweetie. You just had a shower in the process."

"You heard that?"

"Baby monitor."

"Oh."

"Why Dani yelled?" Autumn asked from the doorway, rubbing her eyes.

"Carter peed on her."

Autumn giggled. "Ew."

"Yeah. Dani, why don't you go take a shower? I'll get the kids' breakfast."

Autumn threw up right on the carpet. "Mommy!"

"I see, baby. Alright, I guess you need a bath too."

"I will take care of Autumn," Dani suggested. "Come on, sweetie." Dani took Autumn into the kid's bathroom and ran a warm bubble bath for her. She carefully removed her clothes and helped her in. "I'm sorry you don't feel well."

"I feel…yucky."

"I know. Poor thing. After this, what if I get you some juice and we read some stories while you lay in bed?"

"Three stories?"

"As many as you want."

"I want…ten."

Jack walked into the bathroom. "Bath this morning?"

"I throwed up...Daddy."

"Oh, poor pumpkin. First a cold and then you throw up."

"Yeah. Dani is gonna…read to me."

"Is she?"

"Ten books!"

"Really? That's a lot."

"Maybe Autumn can help me pick a name for my baby."

"Elsa!"

Jack laughed. "Be prepared, Dani. She likes all things Disney, especially princesses." Jack walked away still chuckling.

Once Autumn was clean, Dani wrapped a towel around her and took her into her bedroom. "Let's get into some pajamas and then I will get you juice."

Dani walked in the kitchen to get Autumn juice and found Elizabeth and Jack hugging. "Sorry, I was going to get Autumn some juice. Do you know which kind she likes?"

"There's apple in there," Elizabeth told her, giving Jack a kiss. "Have a good day, hon."

"You too. Love you."

"Love you."

"Thanks for helping with Autumn, Dani," Jack told her.

"She's an amazing little girl."

"She is." Jack gave her a quick hug around the shoulders. "I'll be home around four."

After Jack was gone, Dani blushed. "Sorry for interrupting."

"It's fine. We were just saying goodbye."

"Egg!" Carter yelled from his high chair.

"Another one? You had two already."

"Egg!"

"How about some fruit? Want a banana?"

"Nanana." He nodded and smiled.

"Okay." Elizabeth noticed Dani watching her. "What's up?"

"Nothing. I just…I guess I want to be a good mother like you."

Elizabeth grabbed a banana and gave her a hug. "You are sweet."

"I'm lucky to learn how to do this from you. I can't imagine a better person."

"Oh boy! If you were Brady, I'd ask you what you wanted me to buy you," she laughed.

"I don't need anything. I have more than I've ever had before."

Elizabeth watched her walk up the stairs after closing the baby gate. "Mama! Nananas!"

"Patience, my love."

That afternoon, Jack came home around four and everyone was sleeping except Elizabeth. She was working on her next book in the Princess Autumn series she was writing.

"Hey, babe," he said as he walked in the door.

"Hi. I didn't realize it was four already. I haven't even started dinner." She got up and shut her laptop.

"What did you want to have? I can make it."

"I thawed out some hamburger and there are some French fries in the freezer."

"We can barbecue the burgers and eat on the deck. It's a beautiful day."

"Perfect."

Once he had the patties made, he washed his hands and grabbed the cake mix from the cupboard. "Hey, babe. I think since everyone is sleeping, we should make Dani's cake."

"Good idea."

She grabbed the eggs from the fridge and the oil and he grabbed a bowl. As he mixed she sat on the counter and watched. "You look pretty cute in that apron."

"Yeah?"

"Mmhm." She pulled him over in front of her, wrapped her legs around his waist and her arms over his shoulders. She gave him a slow, deep kiss.

"What was that for?"

"Following orders," she said, poking his apron that said "Kiss the cook."

"Maybe I should wear this more often."

"Maybe you should."

"Mama!" Carter yelled from upstairs.

She sighed. "Maybe if we are really quiet he will be too."

Jack laughed and resumed his exploration of her neck.

"Mama!"

"Yup, didn't think so," Elizabeth muttered. "Maybe we can continue this later."

"Sounds good."

"Oh and maybe we should plan a date night before Dani's baby comes," she suggested. "It's been way too long."

"Yes it has."