Fifty-four.

Ed took long strides around his apartment, preparing for Olivia's imminent arrival. His home was never embarrassingly in disarray, and Olivia had seen it far messier than it was now, but there had been something about the tone in her voice on the phone call that enticed him to make the place extra tidy.

He swapped the bathroom hand towels for a fresh set, hastily wiped down the mirror in wide, sweeping strokes, and caught a glimpse of himself. Even with his face flushed and his hair in need of a trim, Ed decided he looked, at best, not bad, especially in his long-sleeved distressed blue t-shirt and jeans. Even though the sight of one another in casual clothing was not the novelty it had been a year ago, he and Olivia still gave each other approving, suggestive glances when they wore something other than work attire.

When Olivia arrived, she was, as expected, in her usual blazer, blouse, and pants. She kissed Ed hello and happily accepted the drink he'd poured for her. Relieved his subtle hint they'd been going overboard with alcohol hadn't swelled into an argument or awkwardness, Ed touched his glass to hers and leaned in for another kiss before they took their next sips.

Olivia grinned and shook the blazer from her shoulders, revealing her toned, smooth arms. "I have jeans here, right?"

"Yeah. I washed 'em for you. Not the sweater, though...I didn't know if it went in the machine or not."

Her smile grew. "It does."

"Oh."

The single syllable nearly made her knees buckle. His tone-innocent yet flirtatious-and his expression, sycophantic yet sassy, took her breath away. "I'm going to get out of these clothes," she said, cocking an eyebrow, "Come help me?"

Ed's mouth watered and he swallowed. Hard. "Yeah, sure," he took her outstretched hand and followed her to his bedroom.

Had they been at her place, Olivia would have quietly closed the door, but here, with no chance of an interruption, the door stayed open. Ed tugged at her white blouse. "Need help with this?" He rasped into her neck.

"Mmmmm…"

"Guess that's a yes."

Olivia curled her fingers around the back of his head as he kissed and sucked at her neck. Spring had slowly been revealing itself, and the days were lasting longer. Early evening dull sunlight streamed in through the windows and cast a yellowish glow over the stark white walls, Ed's mission-style furniture, and his simple, charcoal sheet and comforter set. Olivia wondered how they looked together, in this light, her head angled backward, her left hand full of Ed's shirt and her other hand holding his head to her body. In a few minutes she would get impatient. She would arch her back so she could feel him. At that point she would have to sacrifice one of her hands so she could loosen his belt, unbutton and unzip his jeans and bite her lip as she glanced down at him, clad only in boxer briefs, throbbing and ready to love her.

"Mmmm," she droned again, "God I missed you today."

"I missed you, too," Ed replied with his lips still on her skin. "I always miss you."

"I woke up thinking about you."

Ed met her eyes. His danced with jestful excitement. "Oh yeah?"

"Yeah," she replied just as sassily.

"How much were you thinkin' of me?"

"A lot. But, then...a call...it was getting late...and...I made up my mind I'd see you later."

"And now it's later."

"It is."

A clear, starry night blanketed the city when Ed and Olivia finally gave in to a pleasant exhaustion. They lay wrapped in twisted covers, trading kisses and smiling lazily at one another. Ed played with her hair, her fingers, and, in between, he traced patterns on her cheek.

"Aw, Liv," he sighed, "I am so…"

After a too-long pause, Olivia prompted, "...so...what, Ed?"

"I am feeling so lucky right now, Liv. So, so lucky." He gave her kisses between each "so."

"I don't want to leave this bed."

Ed inched closer to her and slung an arm across her body. "So don't." Catching himself, realizing that literally staying in his bed was impossible, he rephrased, "I mean...let's, uh, think about, not being apart."

"I think it's time...to do that," Olivia smiled, "Do you want to start...tonight? I have the day off tomorrow and all I want is to...well, when I get up with Noah, I want to know you're there."

"I wanna be there, Liv."

Olivia planted a firm kiss on his lips. "Where are those jeans?"

"On the dryer. With the sweater."

"Thank you for not putting it in the washer. That was very thoughtful."

"You're welcome."

…

Ed woke up and, in his sightline was Olivia, conked out with her mouth half-open. Farther across the room in the alcove, Wyatt and Noah were propped up against the wall, cushioned with pillows, cuddled together with the iPad. Wyatt's head rested against Noah's shoulder and the tiger Wubbanub hung from his mouth. Given Noah's stillness, Ed guessed they were watching a video with the sound muted. Sensing their Daddy's eyes on them, Noah and Wyatt both turned toward him at the same time and their faces broke into smiles.

Placing an index finger on his lips, Ed crept out of bed. Even though he was careful to make the least bit of movement, Olivia stirred and her eyes fluttered open. Ed leaned over on his elbow and kissed her. "Sleep," he whispered. "I got 'em."

Ed slung Noah over his shoulder, but before he could get a grip on Wyatt, the little boy flopped onto his stomach and bopped his sister in the nose. "Wayup, Magg," he said, his voice slurred by the pacifier which he now only used at bedtime. "Wayup!"

Eyes closed, Maggie grimaced like she was going to sneeze. Wyatt gently smacked her cheek. It wasn't a move of violence; judging by his face, it was rooted in curiosity, as if Wyatt couldn't quite understand why his sister didn't want to get up and join them. Maggie opened her eyes and jolted up when she saw Ed with Noah. Wyatt smiled and rolled off the mattress. He knew his sister wouldn't want to miss any possible early morning fun.

Noah waited to talk in a normal voice until they were in the kitchen. Ed filled the sippy cups and handed them over to Maggie and Wyatt. Maggie made a beeline for the patio door and banged her cup against the glass. "OUT! OUT, Dada!"

"One minute, Maggs."

Ed didn't love the Kuerig, but it was faster so he compromised. He took his coffee and the kids onto the porch. The morning sky was hazy and he could tell they were in for a hot, humid day. Wyatt rolled his cars across the glass tabletop, faster and faster, until they flew off the side and under the loveseat. Ed reached for it and sent it back.

Wyatt yelped with delight. "G'juh, Dada!"

Noah giggled. "Wyatt's tellin' ya good job! He thinks you're a good driver, Daddy!"

"You think I'm a good driver, bud?"

"Yep! Hey! Maggs! Daddy, Maggs is going down da stairs!"

"Maggie," Ed called over to her in a tone slightly more stern than usual, "Come here, Maggs." Ed looked around for something to lure her over. He grabbed the rings from their ring toss game and threw one at the pole. "C'mere, play with Daddy."

"Dah! FROW!" She ran over and Ed grinned at her bedhead and her flower-printed pajamas, a set Sarah traded for another she'd purchased. That pair featured a large cat on the chest and Maggie refused to wear it.

"Daddy," Noah held out his thumb, "Got somethin' in my finger."

Ed peered at the hand. "Does it hurt? Looks like a sliver."

"No, it just got in dere when I got Wyatt's car from under the chair. Ha!" Noah grinned, "I rhymed!"

"Yeah, you're a poet and don't know it."

"Dat's what Gramma says!"

Ed worked at Noah's thumbnail but had no success at dislodging the tiny piece of wood. "No, stay out here with Maggs and Wyatt. I'm gonna go get the nail clippers." Ed hustled into the downstairs half bath and found the clippers even though he hadn't been positive they were there. Ed sat Noah on the outdoor kitchen countertop and got to work. Noah watched with his tongue wedged in the corner of his mouth.

"This might hurt a little, bud."

"Kay," Noah replied bravely.

Within seconds, Ed had the shard between this thumb and forefinger and flicked it away. "Ya know what pal? While we're at it, let's check everyone's nails." He sat Maggie and Wyatt next to Noah. "Lemme see your hands. Time ta clip."

"KIP!"

"KIPkipkipkip!"

The three sets of legs swung back and forth as Ed worked slowly and carefully on their fingernails. The twins' hands still looked so miniscule in his, and he felt a twinge of sentimentality as he remembered the first time he held those little fingers. He finished with Maggie, growled, and gnawed at her fist. "Gotcha, Maggs!"

Maggie growled back. "Gosha, DAH! GOSHA!"

Wyatt raised his arms as if he were flexing his biceps and, fists balled, he bellowed loudly, mimicking the sound his Daddy and sister had just made. Noah laughed.

"Sounds like a buncha bears!" He said, then, in a split second, he froze and his eyes grew wide. "Daddy? There bears in Del'ware?"

Ed stopped what he was doing and reassuringly held Noah's face. "No bud," he said firmly and sincerely, "No bears here."

"Yeah...Bears don't like da beach. S'too hot and they're really furry."

"That's right."

Ed continued clipping. Maggie and Wyatt babbled. When everyone's impromptu manicure was complete, he put the twins back on their feet and helped Noah jump down.

"Daddy?"

"Yeah, bud?"

"Do da guys with hair right here," Noah slapped his chest, "Do they get super hot?"

Ed couldn't help but break into soft laughter. "Not too much, pal. At least, I don't think so."

….

Sarah had been trying to hide her despondency since the flight from New York to San Juan. Rather than play along, Justin tried his best to be reassuring and to stop Sarah from blaming herself. Nevertheless, her reaction to the doctor's report had sent her into an downward spiral Justin had never seen before, and it scared him. In the face of adversity, Sarah always steeled herself and soldiered on with an optimistic attitude. But processing infertility threatened to break her.

On their second full day, they awoke to sunny skies and perfectly warm temperatures. After a morning run on the beach, they showered and set out for breakfast, sightseeing, and shopping in one of the city's open air markets. Sarah seemed better. She held Justin's hand as they strolled around, and, though she was quiet, she was smiling and compulsively snapping pictures.

In the market, they stopped at most of the booths. Craftsmen, bakers, and artisans sold everything from freshly made bread to wall-sized oil paintings. Sarah made small talk with the locals and made several purchases, mostly for Noah, Sofia, and the twins. She was particularly intrigued by a case of child-sized bracelets. They were made of brightly colored thread and clearly handcrafted. No two were alike.

"I love these," Sarah said to Justin. "Help me pick out four."

"That bright pink one," Justin said, "That's Maggie's."

"For sure."

Sarah chose three more and the clerk put all four into a small plastic bag. On the bag was a sticker printed with a cross and an image of St. Monica. Sarah glanced at the booth's placard-the artist's name and the label didn't quite add up.

"The children from 's orphanage make these," he explained, "I sell them here and they use the money for their school."

"Oh...wow...that's kind of you," Sarah said. "They're beautiful."

"The orphanage is right around the corner," he replied. "If you can find it in your heart, they are always hurting for cash donations."

Assuming this was some sort of shakedown, the more streetwise Justin tugged on Sarah's elbow. "Ready?"

"Yeah, sure," Sarah mumbled to him and turned her attention back to the clerk. "Around the corner? In which direction?" She listened to the instructions, thanked him, and she and Justin continued on. After they'd circled the entire market, Justin suggested grabbing a drink on the beach, but Sarah wanted to find the orphanage first.

Justin looked at her skeptically.

"Let's just walk by," Sarah said, "Maybe one of the kids will be outside and I'll tell them we bought their stuff."

"Alright, but keep your wallet in your bag."

"Jus! You think a little kid's going to mug me?"

He shrugged. "You never know. You don't have to go far here to be in a rough neighborhood."

Sarah hugged his arm. "I have you to protect me."

Justin grinned and gave her a kiss. "Yeah, you do."

Sarah had been expecting a stately, imposing building like something out of the Annie movies, but the "orphanage" was, in reality, nothing more than a one-story cinder block church annex surrounded by a sandy field. A bright new play area stood out in stark contrast to the weathered, drab surroundings.

Justin and Sarah stopped to read information on the gate, and they were just about to continue on when a woman on a bicycle pulled up next to them and asked if she could offer any assistance.

"No," Sarah said, "We just bought a few of the bracelets-"

"-Oh!" The women thanked her profusely and asked if she'd like to meet the children who made them.

"Um, sure." Sarah heard Justin groan and she made a point of tightening her grip on her bag's strap and then shot him a good-natured glare.

They followed the woman into the yard, and, seemingly out of nowhere, children burst through the main doorway and onto the playground. A few older kids immediately started a soccer game. Boys and girls hung on the monkey bars, chased one another across the woodchips, and pumped their legs on the swings. Trailing the group were three adult employees leading a group of toddlers into the play area. Four of the little ones clambered for a turn on one of the two ride-on fire trucks.

"They've just had lunch," the woman explained. "Wait here. I'll ask the art teacher to send over the kids."

She was gone for a while, and some of the children gave Sarah and Justin curious looks. One of the toddlers, a little boy whose dark brown hair curled around his ears the way Wyatt's used to, rode up to them and came to a skidding stop. In Spanish, one of the adults admonished him for riding away and bothering the guests.

"He's not bothering us," Sarah crouched down and greeted the boy. He grinned but didn't respond when she asked about his name. Sarah noticed the incongruity of his attire-threadbare cotton shorts and tank top but on his feet were fresh white socks and brand new Nikes.

The second woman introduced herself as Marta and the boy as Anthony. She spoke English with no accent and Sarah guessed she was a volunteer or member of a nonprofit organization from the United States.

Sarah shook her hand. "You work here?"

"Not exactly. I'm a nurse. "My team and I are here once a week to check in on the chronic ones and do routine exams on the others. Are you here for an adoption?"

"Adoption?"

"Oh," she smiled apologetically, "I was asking because we've had at least three couples be approved in the past few weeks."

"No, no, we just...we were at the market and one of the men was selling their bracelets...told us we could...come by and maybe make a donation."

"Well, those are always welcomed."

Sarah pressed her lips into a straight line. The tone of the woman's reply indicated she was more enthusiastic about finding permanent homes for the children than about money. Nevertheless, she ticked off a list of ways a cash donation, big or small, could help.

While they were talking, Anthony abandoned the truck and slowly circled Sarah and Justin. At one point he tugged at Justin's fingers and pointed at the swingset. Speaking Spanish, Justin asked him if he wanted to swing and Anthony eagerly nodded.

"That okay?" He asked Marta.

"Sure."

A few minutes later the first woman returned alone and with an apology. The art teacher wasn't around and the kids she asked had no idea about the bracelets. Sarah wondered if the man had been lying and was merely trying to make a sale. Maybe Justin was right-it was all a ruse to get people to come here and give more than the few dollars they'd paid for the braided thread jewelry.

"Well, I, uh, my husband and I should be going," Sarah said. Feeling weird about handing over a handful of cash, she asked for a website or donation envelope. The woman excused herself to run inside for a business card and left Sarah with Marta. Sarah made eye contact with Justin and waved him over.

"Anthony likes him," Marta said. "He doesn't usually take to people that easily."

"Why's he here?"

"The storm," Marta replied. She was talking about the previous summer when the island took yet another direct hurricane hit. The storms was not as severe as those they'd endured in 2017, but areas with shoddy construction were devastated. "He and his sister were found in what was their house, nothing more than a shack, really, in La Perla." Marta paused and looked at Sarah to see if she recognized the name of the slum.

"I've heard of it."

"According to neighbors who survived, he lived there with his mother and her boyfriend, but both of them have been missing since then."

"Swept away?"

"Who knows? Maybe. Maybe they left ahead of the storm."

"And left the kids?"

"People get desperate…" Marta trailed off.

"Which one is his sister?"

"Oh, she's inside," Marta said. "Her name's Mari. That's the only word he says...he's got to be almost three-years-old, but that's the only thing he's ever said. Mari."

A lump formed in Sarah's throat. She coughed it down and smiled at Justin. "You, um, you ready?"

Justin looked longingly at the little boy. He waved and said goodbye. Sarah thought Anthony might burst into tears, but he merely stepped back, toward Marta, and offered a wave of his own. The resignation on his face broke Sarah's heart, and by the time she and Justin were back on the road and headed toward the beach, tears were streaming down her face.

….

Olivia closed the bedroom door and leaned against it, watching Ed wrestle with the collapsed air mattress. It had arrived in a compact, flexible plastic case-packaging that was apparently impossible to recreate. Ed rolled it, folded it, and finally tried to simply cram it in there in one clump, but, no matter what he tried, the case wouldn't close.

"How about we leave it here for now?" Olivia stood behind him and rubbed his shoulders. She leaned down, kissed the top of his head, and caught a whiff of sunscreen. After lathering the kids and himself, he always ran his hands through his hair.

"It's pissin' me off," Ed grumbled, still trying to compact the dark blue mass.

"Ed?"

"Huh?" She had taken her hands off him, so he looked back and saw her slowly peeling off her tank top.

"Leave it," she repeated.

Ed ran his hands up and down her upper legs. Kneeling in front of her, he pressed his forehead to her waist and breathed deeply. Olivia tickled him behind the ears. "We've been waiting all week…"

"I know. I'm nervous."

"You are?"

"Yeah."

Olivia grinned and laughed softly.

"I'm serious." Ed started kissing her inner thigh.

As much as Olivia was enjoying the sensation of his lips on one of the most sensitive spots of her body, she knelt in front of him. "Why are you nervous?"

"I dunno," he said, "Got a little shaky all of a sudden. Maybe I'm worried it's not gonna be as good as we think."

He looked pathetic and Olivia stuck out her lips sympathetically. She wondered if his inability to tackle the air mattress was somehow emasculating. "Ed Tucker, it's always as good as we think. You...are...so good."

"We haven't gone this long...in a while."

Grinning shyly, Olivia stroked his cheek. "So let's get back on track." She kissed him passionately and smiled when she felt his hands on her back, pawing at her bra clasp. However, before he could go any further, they both froze at the sound of children's footsteps slapping at the hallway hardwood floor.

"What are they doin?" Ed whispered. He kept his lips on her skin, hoping he hadn't actually heard what they heard.

The sound was getting fainter, but voices had been added to the mix. "They're going downstairs," Olivia whispered.

"Little shits."

Olivia threw on a t-shirt and followed Ed. He opened the door without making a sound and he and Olivia tiptoed out into the hallway. Wall sconces lit the space, but neither the children nor their shadows were there. They stopped and listened. From what they could tell, the three kids were already downstairs.

Deciding the trio was a little young to scare, Ed and Olivia made sure to make their presence known before they flipped on the lights. Maggie saw them first, her eyes widened, and she pointed at her brothers.

"No! No! Snack!"

"Whaddya doin?" Ed asked.

Noah peeked around the pantry door. "We're hungry!"

Wyatt, woozy and looking like he'd been roused from sleep to join his siblings in their late-night clandestine activities, struggled to keep his balance. Olivia picked him up and he laid his head on her shoulder. She soothingly whispered to him as Ed handled the other two.

"Alright, bud, one quick snack. Then bed. And no more gettin' up. Got it?"

"Got it." Noah stood on his tiptoes and plucked the container of Oreos from one of the shelves. "Small sister, you want dese?"

"O-ree-O! O-ree-O, NO!"

Wyatt's head snapped up. "Ooo! Oreo!"

Without having to be asked, Ed poured three cups of milk and set them on the table. He and Olivia helped Maggie and Wyatt dunk their cookies.

"Justy doesn't like it when dey get mushy," Noah said, "He only likes five seconds. Sare Bear likes eight seconds, but I like ten!" Noah held his Oreo in the milk and counted ten seconds. "How many seconds you like?" He asked with his mouth full.

"I like a quick dunk," Ed replied.

"I'm with you, sweet boy," Olivia said, "Ten seconds."

"Wow," Noah said, "It's eleven-six!"

"Eleven-thirty," Olivia said. She lowered her voice and pretended to be stern, "Very late for little people to be up."

"Late for big people, too!"

"Oh yeah?"

"Yeah," Noah said, taking another bite, "I told Maggs and Wyatt be quiet 'cause Mommy and Daddy were sleepin!" He shrugged, "But I guess we woke ya up."

"That's okay bud," Ed said with a mischievous glint in his eye, "But we're really tired so we're goin' back to bed after this cookie. And so are you three. And no comin' out of the room until it's eight o'clock. That's when the little hand is on eight and the big hand is on twelve."

"Daddy," Noah said, "We have da other kinda clock in da bedroom!"

"So then, eight, the dots, and two zeros. Got it?"

"Got it. But…" Noah scrunched up his forehead. "It's us'ally seven or six when we get up in da mornin!"

"You owe us," Ed replied, "For the cookies. Sound good?"

Noah nodded. "Sounds good."

…..

#Tuckson