Chapter Two

One person the two did trust with both their kids was Syd Jennings. With the nursery furniture delivered but not assembled, the former army major offered to look after Avery while the men got to the task.

"I'm assuming that two men can get the job done quicker," Syd teased.

Avery's big sister picked out many different colorful wall stickers of fish and dolphins for an "under the sea" theme for her room. She and Riley made scenes with them on the walls before Drew and Rick moved in and started to put together the furniture. Even if the nursery was set up by the evening Avery wouldn't be sleeping there. Until she outgrew her bassinet she would stay in her parents' room. Both sisters had fallen asleep with their dads that previous night, Avery on Drew's chest and Brianna hugged into Rick. It was a moment in time they never thought they would experience, let alone together. Out of the blue Rick laughed.

"What?" Drew said.

"A year ago I never thought we'd be dads. Now we have two daughters at totally different stages of life."

Drew laughed then. "We're in for quite a ride."

When they met Brianna they prayed every day for the lung transplant that would save her life even if it wouldn't cure the horrible disease that ravaged her body. Everyone feared time would run out for her before the teen's adoption could be completed. Life with her in the past year had been an experience; it had been an adjustment for all three but happiness was the prevailing emotion. Brianna being so welcoming of the idea of a newborn who hadn't come from the state system took her dads by surprise. Her desire to name the baby after her late foster mom was a sign she was coming to terms with her grief. A framed photo of Brianna and Avery was on the wall in the girl's room. Drew and Rick encouraged Brianna to talk about the woman whenever she wanted, something she was starting to do more often.

Then there was little Avery herself. Drew never dreamt that when the baby landed in his hands that a day later he would be her dad. He indeed told her mother she was a very pretty baby before he was called to see a cardiac arrest patient. There was no time to think about the birth in the ER until shortly before his shift ended. Drew thought the woman just wanted to thank him and maybe have him hold the baby for a photo; many parents did that. The words "would you adopt my baby?" came as a shock. It was a good thing he wasn't holding Avery at that moment. Rick was taken back by the news, intrigued but only open to the idea if Brianna was.

This led them back to Brianna's reaction, "Are you kidding? Why would I mind? That would be so cool!" She wasn't surprised the woman had asked Drew to adopt her child; both her dads were the greatest. She always wanted a sister, too.

Rick's parents Trent and Olivia known as "papa" and "nana" hadn't met their new granddaughter yet. Both had the flu, knowing Brianna had to avoid germs and viruses they waiting till they were in the clear. FaceTime and Skype were the greatest gadgets. Seeing Brianna hold and fuss over Avery was heartwarming. And their son and son-in-law? They were over the moon for the second time in a year. They looked to be handling the needs of a newborn well for a couple who had no prior experience, or warning for that matter. When Brianna wasn't present they asked what the mom told Drew. Outside of the fact the woman moved to Texas from Alaska, didn't know who the father of Avery was and intended to place the baby for adoption "even before the stick showed two lines" he knew nothing. She had kept her pregnancy mostly a secret but had sought prenatal care and didn't drink or smoke throughout he was told by the social worker. According to her records the pregnancy was uneventful. Avery was healthy, had a good appetite and as her grandparents saw was very alert.

"Whoever thinks tough military men can't good care for tiny babies should think again," Trent said when the FaceTime call ended. Just because her dads had big hands used to working didn't mean Avery was taken care of very well. Her dads and sister couldn't stopping giving her kisses.