Chapter 3 - Parenting, or Something Like It
Joey, Sven and Maisy had done the grocery shopping, picked up a few new things for Tyler and Evie and then had lunch before picking up the big kids at the bus stop on the way home. They could have walked, but as they were driving past anyway, it was silly to not pick them up.
They found Nathan at the house talking to the beasts. He hugged his kids and asked about their days, told them all about Tyler and how he was doing. When Maisy showed him the tiny outfit she had picked out he cried a little, the kids joined in, but after a few more rounds of hugs they perked up and were able to settle down to homework and playing. Nathan stayed a little longer, having a snack and packing some to take along, before he had to head back. Arthur was there with Evie but visiting hours were over very soon and he'd be heading back to be with the kids for dinner.
Joey was so tired, she was hiding in the upstairs bathroom when her phone chirped at her. It was Penny checking in to see how she was. She called her back. "Penny! How's things?"
Penny's voice was a welcome distraction, "Hi Joey. Everything is good here. How's your sister doing?"
"She had the baby, his name is Tyler. He's a little small and needs a little oxygen but he's doing really well. Evie should be able to come home tomorrow, but they don't know how long Tyler will need to stay." Joey's voice cracked a little, "Evie's dads are here now, they're putting the kids to bed and I'm hiding." She laughed a little at that last bit.
"Ok, well I'm glad everything is going well. See you soon?" Penny asked.
"I'm set to work next Monday night, so I know I'll be back before then for sure." Joey told her, adding, "I hope I can have a little time to get some stuff done at the apartment, I still have so much to unpack. I guess it depends on how much help Evie needs."
They hung up and Joey shambled off to bed, feeling like a zombie. Sven caught her sneaking past Maisy's door and winked at her before turning back to the book in his hands.
Nathan brought Evie home around noon on Tuesday, Maisy was over the moon, but Joey reminded her to be gentle, since she had just had a baby. Evie just sat on the couch and held Maisy, tears running down her face. Leaving Tyler at the hospital was tearing her up. Joey sat down next to her and rubbed her back in small circles, Evie leaned over until she was nearly holding the both of them up. "Maisy, let's take mama upstairs so she can take a shower and a nap. Look at her eyes, she's so tired." Joey handed a small bag to Maisy, "Why don't you take this up and put it on mama's bed. Then we can go check on that laundry we started earlier okidoki?"
After they left Evie to shower, Joey and Maisy went to the laundry room, Maisy chattering along quietly about how excited she was that she wasn't the baby anymore and that Tyler was going to need her help with learning how to do all the things. They folded some clothes, put a new load in and went outside to play with the dogs. Nathan found them sitting on the porch swing, Maisy asleep and nestled into Joey's side.
"You look beat." He joked. "We know you're a night owl, so we appreciate you coming out to be with the kids right now."
Joey scoffed. "Pah, sleep. Family is much more important silly." Her face darkened with remembered sorrow, "I gotta take family while I can! You know Sam is graduating this year?"
Nathan scowled, "No. She's just a few years older than Gwen right? She can't be that old already? Right?"
Joey laughed at the look on his face. "You've got time yet. Don't get your pants in a bundle. Having kids has fried your brain. Cody graduated last year, remember!"
Life resumed fairly normally in the Archer house. Evie was up to get the kids ready for school, Nathan was going to work for a few hours, Maisy was going to preschool with Sven and Joey slept in until they came back. She found Evie napping on the couch still hooked up the her pump.
She nudged her to wake her up, "You want me to turn that off?"
Evie groaned. "Oh yeah." She lifted a bottle and grimaced at the scant amount of milk in the bottom. "Usually my milks coming in at this point. What am I going to do Joey?"
Joey sat down next to her, "You know I know next to nothing about babies and milk and stuff, right?"
Evie laughed at her expression. "The doctor said my milk may take longer to come because Tyler was early. She said to pump every few hours anyway, just to let my body know that I need the milk now. I have to go back to the hospital before the kids get out of school to nurse Tyler and check in with him. I hate leaving him there!" She wailed, throwing herself into Joey's arms.
"Aww honey." Joey murmured, she had no idea what to say to make Evie feel better, so she just hummed a little and held her while she cried.
Joey was sitting at the bus stop when Gwen and Zach stepped off the bus. "Hey guys." She smiled and waved. The kids rushed over to hug her and ask about Tyler. She reassured them that Tyler was fine and that Evie was at the hospital with him, but that she'd be home for dinner and did they want tacos or beef broccoli for dinner? Super aunt and supreme distractor ahoy!
Homework was done and the week passed in much the same manner. Joey helped Evie during the day, then managed dinner while Evie and Nathan visited with Tyler in the evenings. Zach was a little upset about not getting to see them in the evenings, but between the grandpas and Joey, he was kept too busy to complain much.
By Friday when Joey said she really did need to head back home, the family had settled down to a rhythm and were doing alright. They were expecting Nathan's parents in a few days so they would be ok. She left with hugs and kisses, promised to be back for Maisy's birthday party next month and then she was gone.
Traffic was a bear, but she had some good tunes and snacks, so she managed just fine. She was exhausted when she finally pulled into the parking lot at 2311 N Los Robles and just wanted her bed. She had asked Penny to leave her key in her mailbox, which she had done, so she grabbed it and headed straight up to bed. There was a neat pile of mail on her kitchen island and the boxes Penny had intercepted for her were stacked neatly nearby. All was good and her bed was there to take her to slumberland.