Take me back to the time when we walked down the aisle

The whole town came and our mamas cried

You said "I do"

And I did too

Take me home where we met so many years before

We'll rock our babies on that very front porch

After all this time

You and I

Oh my, my, my, my

I held the baby in my hands. It was a girl. Her birth mother was sweaty and breathing hard in the hospital bed. "What are you going to name her?" she whispered.

I met Chloe's eyes. "Clara," I replied.

The woman held out her arms. "Can I hold her? Just once?"

I gently handed Clara over to her. She held our daughter in her arms. "Hi, Clara. I'm Vivian, your birth mom. I know I have to give you up, and I hate it, but these ladies are going to take really good care of you. They're gonna be better mommies than I could ever be. Come find me sometime, okay?" She gave Clara a little kiss on the forehead and handed her to Aubrey.

I took Vivian's hand. "Thank you so much for our daughter," I said softly. "You can see her whenever you like; just call any time."

She gave a sad smile. "Just take good care of her."

"We're going to raise her the way we wish we'd been raised."

Aubrey came and sat beside me. "Like a family. Gentle, and loving, and caring."

Vivian smiled. "I hate giving her away." She paused. "At least I know she's going to a good family." She hugged us tightly. "Thank you for saving my baby."

"Vivian, you and the rest of your kids need to get out of that house," Aubrey warned. "Your husband isn't going to stop hitting you guys. We'll call the police for you."

She shook her head. "It's too late. The kids would go to the orphanage and I can't bear to lose them. I'll work through it on my own."

I squeezed her hand comfortingly. "We'll help you get through it."

Vivian shed a few tears. "Thank you."

The nurse came in. "Let's just take this little girl's stats, shall we?" She took Clara from me. "We'll bring her back in about an hour."

I nodded and kissed my daughter's forehead. "See you soon, babygirl," I whispered.

Chloe opened the door and I slowly entered the big yellow house. "Here you go, Clara! This is your house, baby." I set her carseat down on the dining room table and lifted her out. "Let's go look around, huh?" I took her into all the different rooms of the house, ending in her nursery. She was starting to close her eyes, so I laid her in her crib and kissed her forehead. "You're my babygirl," I whispered. "We're gonna raise you right." I switched on the baby monitor, turned off the lights, and gently closed the door.

I sat down on the couch beside Chloe. "She's taking a little nap," I told her, handing her the baby monitor.

She sighed, not looking at me. "Did we make the right decision?" she asked quietly. "Are we ready for this?"

I took both her hands in mine. "Honey, I know we're new at this, and I know we're going to mess a few things up. But I also know that Clara is going to be raised by the most loving, caring parents on the planet. She couldn't be in a better household."

Chloe let a few tears leak out. "I'm adopted," she whispered. "I found out last weekend when I was visiting my mom. I found the adoption papers." She paused and took a deep breath. "I know my parents thought they were doing a great thing and that they would raise me perfectly, but look how that turned out. My mother didn't even come to my wedding. I just don't want our girl to end up like that."

I cupped her face in my hands. "Chloe, you are not your parents. You are better than them. You are going to be the best mother the world has ever seen."

"But-"

I kissed her, cutting off her protest. "I love you to the moon and back. And I know for a fact that our daughter will be raised by two amazing mothers who will give her more love than anyone else in the world ever could. She'll be awake in less than an hour, and I'm going to let you feed her. Prove me right." I hugged her tight. "We're mothers."

She burst into tears, both joyful and sad. "We're mothers," she repeated.

I brushed Clara's long, straight brown hair. "Are you excited for the first day?" I asked, squeezing her shoulders.

She nodded with a big grin on her freckled face. "I want to be the smartest kid in my whole class," she replied enthusiastically.

I hugged her from behind. "I just know you will be." I tied her hair into two braids and laid them over her shoulder. "You'll be the smartest kindergartener in the whole school, babygirl." I lifted her and flipped her upside down like she loved and ran out to the living room. I threw her onto the couch and on Aubrey's lap.

Aubrey shrieked. "Chloe!" she giggled. "Get this wiggle monster off of me!" She tickled Clara, the young girl laughing with a big smile on her face. Aubrey let go and Clara rolled to the floor. "Come on, babygirl, you're gonna be late!" She playfully whapped Clara's little butt. The girl squealed and jumped up. "Let's get you on the bus." She thrust a pink lunchbox into Clara's backpack and zipped it up tight. She stood at the door and waved as Clara boarded the bus.

I came up behind her and locked my arms around her neck, resting my head on her shoulder. She placed her hand on mine. I sniffed and let a tear fall. "Our babygirl is already off to school."

"She'll be all grown up by tomorrow." Aubrey closed the door. She sighed. "What if the kids are mean to her?"

I shook my head. "She's too nice. Everyone will love her," I assured my wife.

She buried her head in her hands. "I mean because of us. Kids can be cruel, Chloe. She's different – she has two moms. I don't want anything to happen to her."

I sat down and put my arms around her. "We've taught our girl to be strong, and we're going to keep doing just that. She'll be just fine."

At the end of the day, Clara came through the door in tears. I rushed to her, Chloe right behind me. I held her tightly. "What happened, babygirl?" I asked.

She sniffed. "The kids at school were making fun of me because I have two mommies," she explained, wiping her eyes. "They all have a mommy and a daddy but I don't."

I guided her over to the couch and sat her down. "Listen, babygirl," I said slowly, thinking carefully about what to say. "Sometimes, kids are mean when they don't understand something. And those kids in your class, they don't understand that some kids have two mommies and some kids have two daddies. We need you to be strong. It'll get better as you get older. I promise." I kissed the top of her head.

She hugged me tightly. "I love you, Mommy." Then she turned and hugged Chloe. "I love you, too, Mommy."

"Push, Chloe, push!" Aubrey screamed. She and I had decided on taking a sperm donor this time, and I'd volunteered to be the birth mother.

"I am pushing!" I snarled. I was four hours into labor and the nurses said the baby was coming. One final push, and suddenly a great weight was missing from my body.

The nurse reached down and picked up my baby. She cut the cord with a smile. "It's a girl," she announced. "I'm just gonna clean her up and get her stats and leave the two of you alone." She took our second daughter away.

Aubrey patted my hand. "I'll go get Clara." She returned a moment later with the nine-year-old in tow. "Clara, your sister's just been born," she said gently.

Clara's eyes lit up. "What's her name?"

I smiled and held out my hand. "We decided that we want you to name her."

Clara thought for a moment. Then she nodded firmly. "I want to name her Maya."

Aubrey sat down and hoisted Clara into her lap. "Maya it is," she said.

After a while, the nurse returned with the baby. "Did you decide on a name?"

Aubrey nodded and took baby Maya in her arms before handing her to Clara. "Clara, I'd like you to meet your sister, Maya."

Clara took Maya and held her gently. She was shedding joyful tears. "Hey, Maya," she whispered. "I'm gonna be the best big sister in the whole world. I promise."

Vivian,

I hate my school. I hate my boyfriend. I hate my life. I can't break up with Luke; he'll get mad. And only I know what happens when Luke gets mad. I have souvenirs all over my body from the last time Luke got mad. I just want to get away from it all. That's all I want. I don't want to die. I don't want to disappoint my moms or set a bad example for Maya. I just want to forget for a moment. So I got Leah to get me some weed. I don't do it much; just when I feel really sad. It makes me forget everything that makes life hard. I hate what I've become. I don't want to smoke weed, but sometimes it's the only thing that keeps me from taking out my razor. I want help, I really do, but I don't want my moms to freak out. I don't want to worry them. That's why I'm asking you for help. My moms told me your husband used to beat you, but you got out. I want your help. I want out. And I want to meet you. I want to know where I came from. I want to know the woman who gave birth to me. Please write back. I need you.

Love,

Clara Posen-Beale

I slowly set down the letter I'd found on my daughter's desk. She never told us that Luke hit her. She never told us she was depressed or that she smoked marijuana. I buried my face in my hands. Was it my fault?

Aubrey knocked gently, and sat down beside me when she saw me crying. "What's wrong, baby?" she asked, holding my shoulders.

I wiped my eyes and handed her the letter.

She read it, her face falling into a sad, self-blaming expression. "It's not our fault," she said, more to herself than to me. "It's Luke. She was so happy before she met him. He beats her. She says she wants out, that she doesn't like the weed. It can't be permanent."

I sniffed. "We have to help her. I won't let our babygirl end up like this." I grabbed her hand.

Aubrey sighed. "Chloe, I have to tell you something." She hesitated. "The surrogacy succeeded. I'm pregnant."

I threw my arms around her. Then I put a hand to her stomach. "Hi, number three," I whispered. "I'm Chloe, your other mama. I can't wait to meet you."

Aubrey rested her hand on mine. "And I promise that your big sister will be all better by the time you get here."

I was tired, damp, and in a hell of a lot of pain. "You're right," I gasped, gripping Chloe's hand. "It's fucking painful."

She chuckled. "Well, at least we got a beautiful baby out of it."

The nurse came back, but her face wasn't happy this time. It was sad. She handed me my son. He wasn't moving or making any noise. "I'm so sorry," she whispered. "He was a stillborn. There was nothing we could do."

I cradled my son in my arms. My only son and I would never know him. He never even got to take his first breath. I burst into tears. "Julian," I whispered, my voice cracking.

There was a knock at the door. I turned to see a face I never thought I'd see again. "I heard it was going to be a boy this time," my father said. "Looks like you finally did something right." He looked around and mine and Chloe's tear-streaked faces, the unmoving bundle in my hands, the heavy silence in the room. He sighed and came to the side of the bed.

I handed him the blanket. "He was a stillborn," I managed through the tears and the shock of seeing my father.

He sighed. "I'm sorry, Aubrey."

I hesitated. "Why now?" I asked. He looked confused. "Why did you wait until I was having a boy to come back? Were two granddaughters not good enough for you?"

He ran a hand through his hair. "You know boys are preferred to carry on the Posen name."

I glared at him. "Posen-Beale," I corrected him. "Clara and Maya have wanted to meet you, but you never answer my calls or letters or Christmas cards or anything."

He gripped my hand. "I'm sorry, Aubrey. If it's all right, I'd like to meet your daughters."

I didn't speak to him. Chloe leaned closer. "Would you like to come back to our house for dinner, Mr. Posen?" she asked softly.

My father looked like he was going to say something harsh, but he stopped. "That sounds lovely," he forced himself to say.

After a few hours, I was finally discharged from the hospital. Clara was at home watching Maya. I slowly opened the door, and the girls came running. "Girl or boy?" Maya asked.

"Name?" Clara added.

I bit my lip to stop the tears and shook my head. Chloe held my hand. "He was a stillborn," she told them softly.

The girls wrapped their arms around me. My father cleared his throat. I sighed. "Girls, this is your Grandpa Posen."

"Hi, Grandpa!" Maya said cheerfully.

Clara said nothing; just glared at him.

My father awkwardly came inside. "So, uh, Claire and Mia-"

"Clara and Maya," Clara corrected him coldly.

He nodded. "Clara and Maya. How've you been?"

"Why did you come back?" Clara demanded. "You kicked my mom out of your house because of who she loved, and you have the nerve to come back here and sit in her house and talk to me?"

My father sighed. "Look, Maya,"

"I'm Clara!"

"Sorry, Clara, I'm a different man now."

She snorted. "No one can come back from what you are." She turned and went to the stairs. "Let me know when he's gone." She hurried up to her room and locked the door.

My father turned to me. "Aren't you going to talk to her?"

"No. She's right. All these years you hated me, even before you knew about Chloe, and now you suddenly come back because you thought I was having a son?" I was pissed. "You told me to get out of your house once. Now it's my turn."

My father looked up at me. "Aubrey, I-"

"Get out." I pointed to the door.

He stood up. "You promised me a son."

"She promised you nothing," Chloe snapped.

He left the house and I slammed the door behind him. I sat down on the couch, unable to speak. I felt numb. "I don't know what to say about today," I told my wife.

Chloe sat down beside me. "You did the right thing. Your father should have no part in our daughters' lives after what he did to you."

I nodded. "And what about Clara? Do you think she's better now?"

Chloe sighed. "I think we've set her on the right track, and that's the best we can do for now."