A WEEK LATER…

Elizabeth dropped the kids off at Charlotte's while Jack was working and headed to the local pet shelter. She, in all honesty, missed having a dog around. She also thought having another would be good for Jack and for the kids.

After thirty minutes of playing with the two male puppies that were there, she decided to get them both, hoping Jack would be ok with that. The yellow labs came with names, but Roly and Poly were getting new names, that was for sure.

It was a gorgeous day out so she left them in the vehicle in their cage for about ten minutes while she headed in to buy them some necessities. Ten minutes was enough for the car to smell like dog though. Not a very pleasant smell.

By the time they got home, Elizabeth was ready for fresh air and the dogs had been whining or barking the whole way home so a bit less noise would be nice too.

She put the cage on the ground next to the side fence so she could unlatch it. Then she brought the cage inside the fence and locked it. "Ok, pups! Who has to go potty?" She opened their cage and giggled as they bounded out and immediately sniffed around every inch of the yard. Finally after their sniffers rested, they did their business. "Yay! Good job!" she gave them multiple pets on the head and rubbed their ears. "Wait until Jack sees you two."

She left them in the yard so she could go get their balls, dishes and a large water bowl she had purchased.

….

Just before dinner, Charlotte brought the kids back. "Well, who have we here?" she asked, squatting down by the puppies.

"Doggie!" Fin giggled as she sat down and the puppies licked her face all over.

Joey wasn't as sure about them. He immediately begged to be held so Elizabeth picked him up. "Don't you want to see the doggies, Joe? They're a present for Daddy."

"Dada?"

"Yeah." Elizabeth sat down on the floor with Joe on her lap. One of the pups came over and sniffed him. She lifted his pudgy hand and petted the pup softly on the nose, to which Joey received a lick. "Nice doggie."

"So what are the puppies names?" Charlotte wondered.

"Technically, Roly and Poly, but I thought Jack could name them."

When he walked in a bit later, Fin ran up and grabbed his hand, pulling him into the kitchen. "Dada! Come pease!"

"Ok, Finlea Grace. What's the hurry?"

"Doggies!" She grinned and the pointed. "For Dada."

"For me?"

Elizabeth turned at looked at him, trying to assess his feelings. "Surprise, cowboy."

The puppies were licking Joey's dangling feet under his high chair, making him giggle.

"It is. Two puppies? Why two?"

"There were only two there."

"And you couldn't choose and leave just one," he told her, knowing her very well.

"Nope. He would be lonely." She walked up and kissed him. "What do you think?"

"I think you're wonderful and that I've missed having a dog."

What a relief. She kissed him again. "Time for dinner, handsome."

….

Tom walked in Ned's house after dinner with news. First he removed his tie which he thought would help make a good impression on the owner of Hampton's Nursery, a landscaping business in town.

"Dad! I got an A on my spelling test!" Elisa told him from the couch.

"That's great! Good job, smartie pants!"

"Thanks."

"Where's Katie?"

"Doing dishes."

"Why aren't you helping?" Elisa had been helping Katie dry dishes for the last few months as one of her chores.

"She told me I could have a night off."

He walked in and watched her as she washed the plates and silverware, humming to herself, a stray blond strand of hair falling in her face. She was amazingly beautiful.

He walked up behind her and rubbed her belly with his hands, his lips on her neck. "Hey, baby," he whispered.

She leaned back toward him, her head against his shoulder. "Um, Tom. My dad will be right back." He turned her chin and kissed her slowly, taking the time to enjoy the moment.

"You're so gorgeous," he whispered when he heard footsteps. "Evening, Ned." Tom reached for a plate.

"Tom. Any luck today?"

"Yes, actually." Katie turned, her delicate, pale cheeks pink from his attentions the moment before. "Hampton hired me. Full time. With benefits after a month."

Katie sighed with relief. Things were going to be better.

"That's great, Tom," Ned confirmed. "Todd Hampton is a good man. His employees stick with him."

"When do you start?" Katie wondered.

"Tomorrow. Six am."

"I'll make you a lunch," she said, pulling a container from the cupboard. "Meatloaf sandwich ok?"

"Yes. Maybe an apple too for a snack."

She nodded and made his food, wrapping it before placing it in the container in the fridge. "Ok, all set."

"Thanks, Kate."

….

Later…

"I'm going to apply for morning shifts at the grocery that way I will be here when Elisa gets home from school."

Tom wanted to tell her she didn't need to work. He was finally employed and they would be getting paid weekly and it would be enough to support them. He knew she wanted to help though.

She rubbed cocoa butter lotion on her arms and belly, smiling when the baby kicked her as she rubbed. Then she rubbed some on her legs and finally her hands before slipping under the covers. "Tom?"

"Yeah."

"What is it?"

"Nothing. It's late. I should get to sleep." He set the alarm for five and turned off the light.

"Hey, I was thinking maybe we could continue what we started in the kitchen," she suggested quietly. "I've been missing you." Moving back to Montana and into her father's house again made it difficult to be comfortable showing affection.
They had been back for about a week and before that, all the moving had kept them busy and exhausted.

He rolled toward her and touched her cheek, tucking her hair behind her ear. "I love you, Kate." He kissed her softly as he pulled her close.

"I love you too."

Instead of indulging her, he sighed and rolled onto his back. "I don't think you need to work, hon."

She sat up and looked at him. "Why does it bother you so much?"

"Because you are due in ten weeks, Kate. Standing on your feet for hours on end isn't healthy for you or him."

"I will work four hours per shift, three days a week. If I get tired, I can take a break."

"I'm going to be making good money. Enough to pay for insurance and stuff for the kids and to pay rent to Pop."

"Fine. I won't work. What am I supposed to do then?"

"What do you mean?"

"I'm bored. Everyone goes to work and school and I have nothing to do."

He hadn't thought about that. "That's the reason you want to work?"

"One of them. The other is that I think I should be able to help you care for our family when I'm able."

"You do. You cook and clean and care for us every day."

She rolled away and turned off her light.

"Kate."

"Its late, Tom. You get up early now."

"Please don't be upset."

"I'm not." She was but she never yelled. She was calm and quiet and sweet and that's one of the main reasons he fell in love with her so fast.

He moved up behind her and wrapped his arms around her and their son. "I love you. I just want both of you to be ok."

"I know." She turned her head and kissed him. "Goodnight."

"Night."

….

At five, the alarm on Tom's phone went off. He laid still for a moment before getting up and getting ready. The first day as a landscaper. He didn't have a lot of experience but Hampton told him he could be taught. Tom planned on doing anything and everything possible to be successful and provide for Katie and their kids.

After he was ready, Tom walked over and kissed Katie's cheek. "Love you, Kate. See you later."

"Tom." Her eyes opened and she grabbed his hand. "I'm sorry. Last night…thank you for worrying about me. I love you."

"Its ok, sweetheart. You don't need to apologize." He kissed her lips, lingering a moment. "I love you."

"Don't forget your lunch."

"Thank you," he said quietly as he walked out into the hall.

Elisa opened her door. "Bye, Daddy."

"Bye. What are you doing up?"

"I'm gonna go see Mama."

"Ok." He knelt down in front of her. "You ok?"

"I just want to sleep in the big bed."

She kissed his cheek and then walked to his and Katie's room and opened the door.

"Mama?"

"Ellie bug? What are you doing up?"

"I want to sleep with you. Can I, please?"

"Sure. Climb up." Elisa carefully climbed over Katie and snuggled up next to her. "Did you have a bad dream?"

"No. I just want to be with you."

"Ok. Well, let's close our eyes. We still have time before we need to get up for school and your baby brother makes me tired."

"What's his name, Mama?"

"I don't know yet." She and Tom agreed to not make a final decision on names until they saw his face.

"I think his name should be Easton."

"Oh yeah? Why is that?"

"I don't know. It just seems like that's his name." Elisa kissed her belly, laying her head there for a moment. "Night Easton."

….

Julie was awake. It was about six o'clock in the morning and all she thought about was who would take care of the babies starting in the fall when Mike was at class during the day and she was working. He told her not to worry. His classes weren't going to be every day. Just twice a week and one evening a week but she still worried.

Starting in June, when his school term was up, he would be working two jobs again because she would be on leave.

"Jules? What's wrong?"

"Nothing. Go back to sleep." She sat up and then got up to head in to the bathroom. Might as well stay up now.

Mike walked in as she was washing her hands and brushing her teeth. "Honey, you're worrying."

"Yes, Michael, I am. I cant help it."

He walked up behind her and looked at her gorgeous face in the mirror. "Have you talked to Beth or Charlotte about watching them?"

"No. I've been trying not to worry like you said but…I don't know what we are going to do."

He sighed and slipped his hands over her rounded tummy. "This is a switch. You worrying instead of me." He kissed her shoulder. "Trust me, babe. We will work this out. I have one year to go and you won't need to work as much, if at all. I'll work as a nurse, with benefits and enough money to make ends meet and you can be with our girls."

"So I need to be patient."

"We both do, Julie. This is going to work out just fine."

Julie stepped into the shower a couple moments later and Mike went to prepare two bottles for the girls as he did every morning. Honestly, he loved being a stay at home dad. They were amazing and smart and beautiful and he tried never to take a moment for granted that he spent with them.

….

Tom arrived back to Ned's home about four o'clock with Elisa in tow after he picked her up from Bill and Charlotte's.

"Dad, can I get a kitten? Please?"

"Not while we live with Grandpa Ned. He is allergic. But when we move to our own house some day, we will talk about it, ok?"

When they walked in the house, they smelled chili cooking on the stove. "Mmm chili!" Elisa said, running into the kitchen. "Hi, Mama. That smells really good!"

"Thanks, sweetie. It should be ready in about thirty minutes. Why don't you do your homework and by the time you're done, we can eat."

"I did most of it already. I just gotta read a chapter in my book and then I'll be done."

"Ok, well might as well get it done." She honestly wanted Elisa in bed early so she and Tom could spend some time together.

Elisa put her bag down and ran over and kissed her tummy. "Hi, Davey."

"Davey? I thought it was Easton."

"It was. I like Davey way better." She smiled and kissed her forehead.

"You're something else, Ellie bug."

"Thank you!"

Tom walked in a few minutes later, fresh from the shower.

"Hey, Kate," he greeted, kissing her hello.

"Hey, honey. How was your first day?"

"Long but good. I learned a lot."

"That's good." She gazed at him and then looked away, her cheeks turning pink.

"What?"

"I was thinking maybe we could spend some time together tonight," she whispered.

"Ok. What did you have in mind?"

"Maybe a bubble bath?"

"With your dad here?"

She could see he was uncomfortable with the idea but she missed him so much. "Please? It's been so long, Tom. I miss you."

He couldn't dismiss the pleading in her voice or the look in her eyes. Of course he wanted to spend time with her. "After he goes to bed." She nodded and kissed him.

"Hopefully he will go to bed early."

Tom hoped so too. He also made the decision to talk to Bill about getting started on the house as soon as possible.