Chapter Four
"She's such a doll," Shannon said looking at the pictures on Drew's phone. "Brianna looks in love with her."
Avery had totally captured her big sister's heart as well as her dads'. The pictures said everything. "She is," Drew smiled. "If we let her, she would get up with her she'd get up with Avery at night. She already reads to her."
"You guys aren't waking her for feedings, are you?" Topher asked.
"No. She's doin' it on her own," Drew said.
The sleep deprivation was something both he and Rick were getting used to. But this, raising a family and everything that went with it was a dream that they had avoided thinking about; because they didn't believe they would ever experience it. Brianna and Avery were meant to be their children. They were worth the wait.
Shannon didn't ask about any visits from grandparents; Jordan taken the liberty of giving her the edited version of how Drew's parents reacted when he came out and then he told them he and Rick got married. Shannon was disgusted but agreed not to bring the topic up to Drew. She barely knew Drew Alister but thought she would love to be alone with his parents for just five minutes. But it wasn't her fight so she left it alone. She smiled later that night when she heard him say that Rick's parents were coming in from Dallas to meet Avery. BrIanna was looking forward to seeing her grandparents again, he said. Shannon guessed that meant Rick's parents accepted their son's sexuality.
All both had ever wanted for Rick was someone who truly loved him; given the fact that Drew had rearranged his whole life in an instant to care for Rick when he lost his leg said "I love him more anything and now I don't give a damn who knows"; Rick's mother had suspected her son was gay almost his whole life and for eight years had suspected Drew Alister wasn't just his "very best friend" because Rick never once said he loved Drew "like a brother." Like he had other soldiers, she was thrilled that the two were able to open about their love now; the men's marriage and adoption of Brianna and now, Avery was sprinkles on the cake.
Olivia Lincoln couldn't wait to see her granddaughter again and meet her new granddaughter. Brianna was such a sweet girl. Both her grandparents couldn't believe she had been passed over for adoption for so long. But in the end, it was good she was or they would never have met her. From the tender way the teenager held her newborn sister neither thought that they would be holding Avery too much.
And that was okay.
The baby was only ten-days-old and they were parents to a ten-day-old Rick, their son barely left their arms. Avery was a dream come true who came to the family totally unexpectedly and no one could believe it. The birth mother had already went in front of a judge to terminate her parental rights. She didn't want her daughter left in legal limbo. The adoption finalization hearing was in four days. Drew had asked his in-laws to attend. The older couple were thrilled to especially since they hadn't got to attend Brianna's. Godmother to both, Syd Jennings wasn't able to be there because she was on shift at the hospital. But she would be dropping by that evening. So only Drew's sister would be there with Rick's parents.
Rick rolled his eyes at the amount of luggage his parents had. Five suitcases.
Two were no doubt held presents for the girls.
"There better be something in here for me," he teased his mother.
"Why didn't you bring them along for the ride?" His mother replied, referring to the girls.
"Because the star of the show is home waking up from a nap and meeting with her stylist getting prepped for your visit."
Picking a pair of jeans and pink smock with the words "Baby Sister" written on on the front. Her matching pink one had "big sister" on the front.
"And nana and papa don't say no. Even to cake for breakfast." She said to her sister.
Drew laughed at the conversation. With Avery in his arms, he followed Brianna to the door when Rick's vehicle pulled up. He knew it wouldn't be long and Avery would just as excited when her grandparents visited.