Chapter 18

"Brian, hand me a Phillips' screw," Paul instructed as Michael read off some directions to the crib they were all putting together.

Brian stared blankly at the pile of screws. "Which ones are those?"

Leif rolled his eyes and picked one up. "These, Dad. Geez." He handed it to Paul.

"Do you even remember doing anything like this before the boy here came along?" Paul wondered.

"No, everything of Leif's came already put together."

"We should have known," Leif shook his head.

"Just go over there with Mikey and help him hand us stuff," Brian replied.

"Hey guys?" Mariah called up the stairs.

"No disasters yet, Mimi," Paul called back down.

"Well, good, but I wanted to let you know I'm going out for a bit to pick up a few things for dinner. If you need anything, Montana's still here and Mac just showed up."

"Okay, Mom," Leif said. "Be careful. You're getting pretty big now."

"I think I know that, smarty pants," she laughed. "Just don't give any of these girls a hard time. That goes for the rest of you too."

"Should she be going out by herself like that?" Leif asked.

"Your mom should be fine, buddy," Paul replied. "She's not due for another three months yet."

"Uncle Spanky," Michael pointed out. "That isn't where that goes."

"Not quite, Dad," Leif added. "That's the leg."

"Maybe we should just let your papi over there put this shit together," Brian said half jokingly. "He has more experience, after all."

"Smart ass." Paul raised an eyebrow. "But maybe me putting it together might not be such a bad idea after all. Mikey, give me those directions."

Meanwhile:

"Where's the guys?" Mac asked.

"They're upstairs putting furniture together for the twins' nursery," Montana answered. "I agreed to keep an eye on things while Mariah did a couple of errands and picked up things for dinner."

"Oh boy, this should be fun," Mac laughed.

"Don't worry, your dad, Leif and Michael are up there to prevent any potential disasters."

"I don't know what Mikey can do, but the rest sounds reassuring. What did they end up getting anyway?"

"Two cribs and a whole room of furniture. I'm presuming they're working on the cribs now."

"Wow. Could you imagine if you and Papi had twins?"

"No thanks; having Michael and then Naomi was enough."

"Yeah, good point. One of Mikey is enough to drive even the sanest person crazy."

"Honey, I wish you and your brother would get along better. He's only ten."

"He's an annoying little brat, worse when Leif is around. At least Naomi stays out of my stuff and minds her business."

"Michael's at the age when boys are getting curious, Mac. He'll grow out of it."

"I sure hope so. He's driving me nuts."

Leif and Michael bounced downstairs, making a bee line toward the refrigerator for sodas, directing an "Ewww, GIRL!" comment toward Mac's way.

"See what I mean?" Mac rolled her eyes. "Annoying little shits."

"Oh, honey, they're just teasing. Boys that age usually do."

They were interrupted by a loud thud coming from upstairs.

"Uh oh," Leif said.

"You thinking what I am?" Michael asked.

"Yep. We better go back up there and check it out. Something tells me it involves Dad."

Paul then came down with a look of disgust on his face. "Oquela."

"Left Dad alone, didn't you?" Leif asked.

"Jesus, I can't even leave for two minutes to take a shit without him screwing up something," Paul grunted. "I told Spanky not to touch anything."

"Yeah, like he would start listening now," Montana shook her head, trying not to laugh.

"What happened up there?" Mac wondered.

"I told dumb ass not to lean against anything, that we weren't finished yet. What does he do? Lean against one of the cribs. Now I have to put the whole fucking thing back together."

"Just make him do it," Mac suggested.

"Oh brother," Leif rolled his eyes. "We'll be up there all night in that case."

"Well, come on boys," Paul said. "We better head back up there before Spanky decides to sabotage something else."