Mike followed Julie's list which was in exact order corresponding to the coupons and aisles. She made things so easy for him.
"Hey, bro!" Jack called from down the aisle.
"Hey." He walked closer and saw Fin. "Hey, Finny."
"Hi!" she said with a wave.
"You got out without the kids. Amazing."
"Grace and William showed up so they're watching them."
"Where's Julie?"
"She's there. Her morning sickness is hitting hard today."
"Wait, she's pregnant? Congratulations!"
"Thanks. I'm surprised Beth didn't tell you."
"Probably sworn to secrecy."
"Uh, dude, I think someone needs a change," he pointed to Fin.
"Seriously? Every time I bring one of them to the store..."
"I better get going too. See you soon."
"Ok, bye, Mike."
"Finny, did you go potty?"
"Ew."
"Ew is right. Ok, let's leave the cart here and go change you. Then we will come back in."
….
Mike returned home with about six bags of items, but he was on budget because of his wife's ingenious coupon system. One of the best buys in his opinion was getting two cans of formula for the price of one.
When he walked in, Grace and William each held a sleeping baby and Julie was missing in action.
"She's asleep," Grace whispered, reading his mind.
He nodded and made another trip to the car. When he came back inside, Grace had already unpacked the groceries and folded up the paper bags.
"Thanks, Grace."
"You're welcome. I just want to say congratulations on the new baby. I'm happy for you and Julie."
"And yourself?" he asked with a smile and a wink.
"Well, yes of course. I couldn't be happier."
"I'm excited too."
Mike pulled out a thawed pork loin from the refrigerator and put it in a roasting pan, adding herbs and spices and some water before sliding it in the oven.
"Dada!"
"Yes, Claire?"
Grace was amazed. The man knew which twin was calling for him without even looking.
Claire had crawled over to him and stood, holding on to his pant leg. He dried his hands after washing them and picked her up. "Hi, sweet pea. Did you have a good nap?"
Apparently she was still tired because she snuggled into his neck and fell asleep again as he continued putting groceries away.
"You're a wonderful father, Michael," Grace said, kissing his cheek.
"Some days."
"Everyday," Julie said as she joined them. "From day one, I have had the best husband and they have had the most amazing father. We are so incredibly lucky."
Mike stared at his wife, her red hair pulled back in a messy ponytail and his sweats hiding the evidence of their new family member. She looked gorgeous. He received her kiss and wrapped his arm around her. "Feeling better?"
"Much. You got a lot of stuff."
"I did, but thanks to you and your coupons we stayed on budget."
"Great!"
William walked in with a whimpering Kendall. Julie reached for her. "Hi, honey. What's wrong?"
"She woke up and realized I wasn't you or Mike," William said with a chuckle.
"Thank you and Mom for watching them. I really needed that nap."
"And it's much much easier to go grocery shopping without two babies, so I appreciate it too," Mike said. "And I saw Jack and Fin at the store."
…..
Jack's first trip in from the car was Fin. She ran to find Joey and her mom as soon as he put her on the floor.
As soon as he heard Elizabeth say hi to her, he headed back out to get the groceries.
Jack brought in his bags and set them on the counter.
"Jack?" Elizabeth had taken the kids upstairs.
"Yeah, babe?"
"Can you watch the kids for a minute?"
"Where are you?"
"In the bathroom. I could use a few less eyes on me at this moment." He laughed and went to retrieve the kids.
"Come on, guys. Want a snack?"
Joey begged to be carried so he carried him and watched as Fin turned around and backed down the stairs. "Good job, baby."
Once she got to the floor, Jack locked the gate and put them in their chairs.
"Hey, Jack?"
"Yeah, hon."
"Mom and Dad leave today and since we didn't get to go out, let's get pizza or Chinese and have a movie night."
"Nemo!" Fin yelled, clapping her hands.
"Nemo for them," Jack agreed, "And then which movie for us?"
"An Affair to Remember?"
"Deal."
Elizabeth thought a romantic movie by the fire, snuggled in Jack's arms, sounded perfect.
….
They said goodbye to Grace and William, promising that during the summer, before their annual road trip, they would make the trip to Madison, and then ordered the pizza for their movie night. An hour later, Fin enjoyed little pieces of breadstick and some fruit that Jack cut up for her. Joey nursed and fell asleep halfway through the movie.
Once the movie was done, the kids were in bed, and Elizabeth had slipped on something comfy, she met Jack in the dark living room for their movie.
Jack wrapped his arm around her and kissed her forehead. "You're not going to fall asleep are you?"
"There is a good chance," she said.
"Maybe we should just go upstairs now."
"I really would like to watch this. I will try to stay awake." He knew her. She would probably be asleep before ten minutes passed. He didn't really mind. Just being with her, in the quiet, was great. It didn't happen all that often anymore. He always had school at night or the babies were up. The alone times were few and far between. "Babe? Are you going to start the movie?"
"I'm kind of enjoying the quiet. It's never this quiet except when we're sleeping."
"That is true."
"Let's just enjoy the fire for awhile." She looked up at him and smiled. "What?"
"I love you."
"I love you too."
…..
BILL AND CHARLOTTE'S HOUSE
The other nights since she had come to live with the Avery's, she started out in her bed, but eventually Aubrey ended up in the closet. This time though, the kittens kept her company.
Mango on one side and Luna on the other. Between the kittens and the Avery's, she was surrounded by love. Aubrey almost didn't know how to handle it. Instead of shutting down though, she voiced her concerns and feelings.
Bill smiled at her after finishing her story. "Good night, baby doll. Sleep well, ok?"
"Pop?"
"Yes?"
"I feel funny."
"What do you mean? Your tummy?"
"No. Well, maybe a little. You told me that you want me here. You buy me things. You kiss my forehead and read me stories. Now I have two kitties."
"All those things are true."
"Why me? Why are you doing those things?"
"That's how people show love. I think all these things are things you need. You need clothes for school. You need kisses so that you know that I care about you. The kitties…well, I thought you needed a friend or two."
She didn't know why for sure, but she had seen Charlotte wrap her arms around Pop and say she loved him. She didn't know if she loved him yet but she felt like she needed to say thank you so she slowly got up on her knees and wrapped her arms around his neck.
Bill fought his tears and gently hugged the little girl back. Then she pulled back and kissed his forehead. She didn't use her words but he knew that her rare demonstration of affection meant she was grateful.
"Goodnight, baby doll," he told her again, once she was back under the covers. "See you in the morning."
She nodded and turned on her side.
Bill walked into the hall, leaving her door partway open for the kittens to escape and then went to make his and Charlotte's tea.
"Bill?"
"Yeah."
"What's keeping you?"
"Aubrey. I read her a story and then she just started asking questions." He turned and looked at Charlotte. "She hugged me, Char. I don't know if she knows exactly what she wanted to tell me with the hug, but I felt like we had a breakthrough, you know?" He quickly blinked his eyes, to clear the tears from his eyes. "I already love her, Char." She nodded and hugged him.
"I know. I do too."
"She belongs here. With us. And those crazy kittens." He chuckled.
"She certainly does."
….
January 2
Aubrey was dragging her feet. She was nervous about school. She hadn't been to school in about a year so she was in first grade, instead of second. She didn't know any of the kids.
"Baby doll, we need to leave in about ten minutes. Are you finished eating?" Pop asked.
"Yeah."
"Ok, why don't you go brush your teeth and get your coat and boots on?"
She walked slowly into the bathroom and did as he asked. She knew he would make her go and that she needed to be brave, but she didn't feel brave.
Luna meowed at her feet, rubbing against her leg. She would miss her kitties while she was away but at least they had each other and Charlotte.
"Aubrey, you ready?"
"No."
"Nervous?"
"I don't think I am ready to go to school. Maybe I should just stay home."
"That's not an option, sweetie, but we can talk while we go. I will sit in the back while Pop drives."
Aubrey stared out the window as he pulled out of the driveway a few moments later. "What if they don't like me?"
"Someone would be crazy not to like you," Pop said from the front.
"What if I get scared?"
"You will be ok." Charlotte held out her hand for Aubrey to take. "I am going to walk with you to your classroom and make sure you are comfortable before I leave."
"Promise?"
"Of course."
And she did. Charlotte walked with her to the classroom, showing her where the bathroom was on the way down the hall. Then she walked up to the teacher and introduced herself and Aubrey. Then she walked her to her table where her seat was and showed her where to hang her coat and bag.
"This is a nice room, don't you think?" Charlotte asked her.
"I guess."
"There is even a reading corner."
"I don't read good."
Charlotte knelt down in front of her. "Honey, listen. You will get better and Mrs. Ramsey will help you if you get stuck. Practice helps. Maybe at night before you sleep, we can practice and then you will get better."
Aubrey looked over at the rest of the kids who were all finding their seats. She didn't know them. They were all strangers.
Charlotte pulled her into a hug. "Have a good time, ok? I can't wait to hear all about your day."
"Pop is going to bring me home?"
"Yep. I love you, sweetheart."
Aubrey hugged her tighter and then walked over to her table to sit down.
…..
Julie left to go to work, grateful she didn't feel sick. She was far enough along where it should be easing a bit.
It was hard to leave them, knowing they weren't feeling good. Claire was cutting a tooth on the top and Kendall's ear was bugging her. They were whimpering and begging to be held when she had to leave. Mike promised to keep her apprised of how they were doing.
Instead, about an hour after the doctor's office opened, Mike called. She could hear both girls crying in the background.
"Babe, what's going on?"
"I think maybe I should bring them in. Both of them are pulling on their ears and they wont stop crying."
"Well, Dr. Shepherd has one opening but it's not until 1pm."
"We will take it."
"Ok, see you then."
Mike was struggling with his emotions. It was very hard to see both babies in pain and miserable. He had taken their temperatures and both were elevated, but not overly concerning. They were congested though so it could be a cold and ear infections.
Their appointment wasn't until 1 which was three hours away, so he gave them each a dose of tylenol and a bottle and rocked them to sleep.
Julie worried about them but kept telling herself they were with their dad who was an EMT. He knew how to take care of them.
By the time 1 o'clock rolled around, she took her lunch so she could help Mike with the girls. As soon as he walked in the door, both girls wanted her. She held out her arms and took them. "Oh, sweeties. You feel warm."
"They've been upset." His tone suggested irritation. Her guess was he was overwhelmed. This was the girl's first illness and he was their daily caregiver. It was bound to get to him.
"Michael," she said quietly. "They're ok."
"I'm sorry," he told her, kissing her softly. "Its hard."
"Claire and Kendall?" Daisy, the nurse, called, opening the door for them. "Oh, Julie, they're gorgeous."
"Thank you."
When they were settled in an exam room, Julie put them down on the exam table but they whimpered. "Its ok." She took two blocks out of the diaper bag Mike was carrying and handed them to them to play with. "Let's play with these."
She turned to him and held her arms out to hug him. "You ok?"
"Yeah."
"Ok," Dr. Shepherd said as he walked in. "Let's take a look at these beautiful girls of yours, Julie."