"Mama and daddy is here!" Ben hollered, jumping off the couch and running across the room. "I am so happy I am squealing like a little pig!"
Lindsay caught him in her arms and hugged him tightly, showering him with kisses while Colton ran past them and into Adam's arms. Both boys were almost buzzing with news and proclamations of how much they had missed their parents. After a little while they swapped, starting their stories over again.
"Sissy, mama and daddy is here! Are you comin'?"
There was a shriek from Sarah's bedroom, and it wasn't long before Avery's feet came pounding down the hall.
"Mama!" she shrieked, bursting into tears. "My mama!"
"Oh, come here honey."
"She's very tired," Ben commented, reaching over to rub Avery's back. "She did not sleep at night."
"You didn't sleep, baby?"
"Wait for you come home," Avery explained, wiping her eyes. "Want my mama."
"I missed you too sweetie. So did daddy."
"Oh daddy!" Avery wailed, reaching her hands out for him. "Miss so most!"
He held her close and she buried her face in his shoulder, hiccupping and sniffling.
"I think someone needs some tips on how to convey emotion," Lindsay chuckled as Ben pulled her towards the couch.
"Mama, come stare at Dunner. His arm is all hurt."
"I know."
"Hey Aunt Lin," Junior greeted, his words slurred because of the pain medication he was on. "See my cast? I got red because of the Yankees."
"What about the Red Sox?"
"It's a cast, not a sock."
She smiled and leaned down to kiss his forehead.
"How'd this happen, guy?"
"Well first I was up… and then before I knew it I was down."
"I will translate, mama. We were at the park and Dunner climbed a tree higher than Isa and then he sneezed and losted his balance. He landed on the ground all fine and then he had so much glee in him that he runned for his skateboard and he jumped on it and falled off and that's when we had the problem with his arm."
"Poor little man," Lindsay said, brushing his hair back. "Will you ever play baseball again?"
"Yes, the doctor said so. Will you sign my cast Aunt Lin?"
"As soon as I think of something good to write on it. You rest, okay?"
"Yeah but first gimme a kiss on my cheek like you do for Binyin."
"You won't let me give you a kiss on your cheek," Austin chuckled, bringing him another blanket.
"You're my ma. Kids get maked fun of for kisses from their ma."
"Oh, but it's okay from your aunt?"
"I don't make the rules, ma."
Austin laughed and tucked him into the couch while he fell back to sleep.
"I've got the kids stuff all packed up. They've been waiting for you since lunchtime."
"I figured they might. We ran home real quick and took our stuff inside or we would have been here a little earlier."
"You were out of cell phone range last night. Where did you guys go?"
"Out of cell phone range."
"Oh come on Lin."
Lindsay chuckled and shrugged, picking up the bags from the floor.
"Adam rented an old fire lookout in the woods. I'll show you pictures later. We were up kind of in the mountains, miles and miles away from anything. It was perfect."
"You're so spoiled."
"I know. Were the kids good for you?"
"Yeah, they always are."
"Did Avery really not sleep?"
"I don't think she did. I brought her to bed with us after a while and turned cartoons on for her and she just sat and watched all night. I asked her why she wasn't sleeping and she kept saying you'd be here soon, like she didn't want to miss it or something."
"I have a feeling she's not going to want us to put her in her own bed tonight."
"She kept asking for the big bed at Mac and Jo's. And she said she wanted a Susie bath, which after half an hour of texting with Jo, we figured out was the Jacuzzi bath that she had over there the other night."
"Great, she's been spoiled."
"She's just a lady that knows what she wants."
"Hey Indy, do you really gotta take Colt and the kids?"
"Yes, they need to sleep in their own beds."
"Do you gotta go now?" Isa whined, cocking her head to the side and making a disgusted face.
"Yeah. I'm tired."
"I'm tired of you saying you're tired."
They looked at each other for a moment before bursting into laughter.
"Oh Isa, what are we going to do with you?"
"I dunno. Lots of fun stuff!"
"Come here, I missed you too."
"Aw man Indy, stop squeezin' me so much!"
"But if I don't squeeze you, who's gonna?"
"Hopefully Derek Jeter."
"Oh you darling girl. Can I take you home with me?"
"Sure! I'll pack a bag!"
She started to run off but Austin grabbed her arm, laughing a little.
"Not tonight, but maybe next weekend, okay?"
"But…"
"Next weekend Adam's going to be working at night so you know what that means," Lindsay reminded her.
"Girls get popcorn in the big bed! YES!"
Austin laughed as the kids all swarmed around together, laughing and whispering their goodbyes like they wouldn't see each other for a very long time.
"Okay Rosses, time to go. We'll have family dinner in a few days."
"Austin when Dunner wakes up will you tell him that I will see him later and I hope his arm feels better and I am glad it's not really broked and next time we play, I want to be Batman?"
"I'll try to remember all that buddy. Maybe you can call him tomorrow."
"I'll write it down so I don't forget. Mama, don't let me forget to write it down."
"Okay Ben. Here, take your backpack."
"It's funny that it's filled with my clothes and not my school stuffs!"
He grabbed Colton's backpack and handed it to him, then both boys went into the kitchen to say goodbye to Danny.
"Mama, hold Avery please."
"Do you want to go home and go to sleep?"
"No. Wanna play."
"If you stay awake in the car, I'll play with you for ten whole minutes."
"Ooh, yippee!" Avery said with a yawn. "We go bye."
"Alright sweetie. Thanks for taking them Austin."
"It was easy for us, but Mac and Jo…"
"Don't worry, we're got them something really good."
"Okay. Go home and get some sleep."
It took a few more minutes but soon they were out the door and in the car. The boys kept asking questions about the vacation and speculating about the presents that were waiting for them. Avery wasn't interested in that, she was just upset that no one was holding her at the moment and she sat in her carseat with her arms over her chest, crying quietly.
"Avery, sweetie, mama is going to get you out of the car the minute we get home, I promise."
"Need holded!"
"I know you do. Just give us a few minutes okay?"
She whimpered and leaned back in her seat, falling asleep just before they got home.
"Oh wow, this place is a sight for sore eyes," Ben announced, unbuckling his seatbelt. "Can't believe it's been so long since we seen our home."
"Yeah, it will be nice to sleep in my own bed. The bed at Mac and Jo's was nice, but I like my own the best," Colton agreed reaching over to unbuckle Avery before he got out of the car. "Let me help you with the bags, daddy."
They made their way inside and the bags were dropped by the front door when the boys saw their presents on the couch.
"Whoa, look at this Cole! It's a game what I don't know how to play! Let's learn it!"
"Daddy, is this a game for me and you to play together? Can we play first thing in the morning? Please?"
"Sissy, look, I think this is for you! It's a cow bag what's for kids!"
Avery wrinkled her nose at being woken up, but reached down to get the cow purse that Ben was shoving in her face.
"Mine?"
"Yeah sweetie, that's for you. Because you like purses, remember? And it moos too if you press his ear."
Avery nodded happily and pressed the ear, then tucked the cow purse under her arm.
The boys were allowed a few more minutes to look at the new games and toys, and then it was time for bed.
"I'd like you to tuck us in firstest, mama. And daddy will tuck in sissy and then you will trade," Ben decided as he brushed his teeth.
"Okay we can do that. Come on Avery, want to fly to your bed?"
She nodded sleepily and Adam picked her up, holding her over his head and zooming her into her bedroom.
"Those was the days. Back when I was little enough to fly to bed. Now I gotta walk like ordinary folk."
"Ben, you're really weird sometimes."
"I know that Cole. But I like myself. Mama, come tuck us in now. I got things to tell you."
"Alright, let's go."
Colton settled into bed quickly and with one goodnight kiss, he was almost asleep. Ben needed a little more, often wanting to debrief about his day before he said goodnight. Lindsay stretched out on the bed next to him, leaving his glasses on because he liked to run his fingers over her face when he talked and taking his glasses off too soon was a surefire way to get poked in the eye.
"I really want to see pictures of all the stuffs you and daddy did while you were gone," he started, rubbing her nose. "Because it was like an adventure what you taked, and even though we didn't get to be a part of it, it would be nice to share it with you. You know, I was so scared when Dunner fell down and hurted his arm. And then Danny taked the rest of the kids home and I went to the hospital with Austin and Dunner, I feeled real important because the doctor gave me the special job what's called "distractin' the patient." Dunner was the patient and I had to tell him jokes and make him smile while they did the x-ray. And then the picture telled the story that Dunner's arm was not broked but it was something else. Cracktured I think."
"Fractured honey."
"Yes that. Cracktured. So it was a busy day yesterday and today Dunner just feeled like laying on the couch so I sitted and watched TV with him while the other kids played. Also I haved a snuggle with Austin on account of missin' you so much, but then… hey mama when I look deep in your eyes, it's like lookin' deep in the eyes what are mine!"
Lindsay chuckled and kissed his cheek, then slid his glasses off.
"Time for sleep, baby. Daddy will be in soon to give you a hug and kiss."
"Okay mama. I love you so, so much. Thanks for coming home to me."
"You're welcome. I love you."
She kissed his cheek and stood up, heading into Avery's room where she could hear soft crying.
"What's the matter?"
"She won't lay in her bed. She starts bawling every time I put her down."
"Give her to me, you go say goodnight to the boys."
"Mama I no go bed," Avery whimpered, rubbing at her eyes.
"Yes, it's time for sleep. You're exhausted, I don't know how you've managed to stay awake this long."
"Mama stay with Avery. Please?"
"Do you want to rock for a little while?"
"Okay. My blankie an' my purse."
Lindsay chuckled and gathered the blanket and the new purse, then sat down in the chair.
"Mama, no go 'way 'gain. Promise?"
"Daddy and I don't have any vacations planned for a very long time."
"Oh. We stay home."
"Yes, we will."
"Avery go potty!"
"I heard that you made it to the toilet a few times. I'm very proud of you."
"I grow up. Mac say I get big girl now. I not a baby no more."
"No, you're not a baby."
"I want be a baby. Rock in the chair with you."
"You can still rock in the chair with me even when you're a big girl."
"Oh! I be big and rock."
"Okay sweetie. Do you think you can be a big girl and go to sleep in your bed?"
"Be here in mornin'?"
"Of course I will be here in the morning. Want me to tuck you in really nice and comfy?"
"Yes and give kisses!"
Lindsay stood from the chair and tucked Avery into her bed, making sure all the stuffed animals were secure.
"There, now you're all safe and cozy. Sleep good and you can come upstairs and snuggle with me and daddy when you wake up in the morning."
"Okay mama. Love you."
"I love you too Averylin. Goodnight."
By the time morning rolled around, all three kids had ventured upstairs to join their parents. It wasn't really surprising at all but it did make for very uncomfortable sleep. Avery woke up first, pushing her unruly curls out of her eyes and yawning a little while she thought about what to do next. She could wake everyone up, but sometimes that meant her brothers were grumpy, and she really wanted to play with them today. She sighed and decided that waking up mama would ensure her breakfast, and fast.
"Mama. Mama. Open eyes. Mornin'."
"It's early morning, honey. It's not time to get up."
"Oh yes. Some food please."
Lindsay sighed and extricated her arm from Ben's firm grasp, then stood up and stretched.
"We eat, mama?"
"Sure, let's eat."
Giggling, Avery jumped off of the bed and dashed downstairs, grabbing the bread out of the bottom drawer and tossing it onto the counter.
"Mama, want toast an' cinn'mon. Butter too. An' juice."
"Okay. Can I start the coffee first?"
"Hurry fast."
She climbed up on one of the stools at the counter, resting her chin in her hands and sighing until breakfast was placed before her.
"So what do you want to do today? Daddy and I decided that you kids get to pick."
"Oh wow! I wanna play! With the boys. In the yard."
"What else?"
"Coley say we go pun'kin pickin'. Do that today?"
"Yeah, we could try. We'll see what the boys want to do."
"Me and Jo maked bread. It most tasty. And we make cookies. Mac take me tool store. He buy me present."
"What kind of present?"
"A hammer."
"A hammer? Really?"
"It purple."
"Wow, that's pretty special."
Avery nodded and licked the cinnamon sugar off of her toast before sitting back and sighing.
"Mama?"
"Yes?"
"Squirty never come home?"
"No honey. I don't think Qwerty is coming home."
"Where he go?"
"I don't know. Sometimes dogs run away to start a new part of their lives."
"He be havin' fun?"
"Probably."
"Okay."
She didn't seem sad, so either the breakdown was coming, or Avery was handling the loss of a pet very maturely.
"Hey daddy, you were right! They maked breakfast without us boys!" Ben hollered as he jumped down the last stair. "I'm starvin' mama. What's cookin'?"
"I got toast!" Avery said, lifting her food high above her head.
"And now your toast is rainin' crumbs and junk on you."
"Oh dear."
"Yes, oh dear is correct. So mama, do you got some breakfast what I can have?"
"What do you want?"
"Can I have toast with jam? And a glass of milk? And a hug and kiss?"
Lindsay laughed and put a slice of bread in the toaster, then turned around and pulled his warm, pajama-clad body into her arms, kissing his cheeks over and over.
"Ben, promise me you will never, ever want me to stop hugging and kissing you."
"Of course I won't want you to stop! Just don't start in front of the general public."
"Okay, I won't."
She tried to stand up but he kept his arms around her as tightly as he could manage.
"Wait, I need to hug more. Because you were gone for a lot of days that I didn't get hugs from you. I gotta make up for lost time."
"I love you so much."
"Even though I got mornin' breath, huh?"
"Even though."
"Daddy is on his way down here and when he gets here I will take a big hug like this from him too. Because I missed him as well."
"I'm sure he'd like that."
"Mama, I got to thinkin' earlier. I was thinkin' how Dunner is my bestest buddy, but how I love Cole so much too and him and me share secrets what me and Dunner don't. So Cole is maybe my other bestest buddy. But then I thinked about you and daddy, and how I love you so much and how I tell you whispers and how me and daddy have special days together and how I once lived in your belly. And I think that you and daddy are my even other bestest buddies. But then I wondered how that is even possible."
Lindsay chuckled and pushed his hair back, kissing his forehead while she thought.
"Sometimes we have lots of best friends but they're all our best friends for different things. Like daddy is my best friend in the whole wide world and we have secrets and memories that no one else shares. But Austin is my best friend in the whole world too, and she and I have secrets and memories that no one else shares. I love them both very, very much, but because they are different, I need them at different times."
"And what about Danny?"
"You know, Danny is about the only person on the planet that I can't fight with. There's things that we've gone through together at work that daddy and Austin won't ever understand because they weren't there."
"I understand that I think. Like how you are my parent and so is daddy but daddy and me do different stuffs than what you and me do?"
"Yeah, kind of like that."
"So you could really have more than one bestest friend and not be breaking any rules!"
"Absolutely."
"This is good information for me to know."
"Thanks for asking me honey."
"Here comes daddy, I gotta hug him!"
"Mama, I clean my mouth," Avery announced, holding up her used napkin. "All clean, time for dressed."
"Okay sweetie. Let me finish making Ben something to eat and then I'll help you get dressed."
"Okay! Here come Coley down the stairs. Mornin' Coley! Ready to play?"
Colton rubbed his eyes and walked over to the counter, resting on his arms.
"I don't wanna play yet, Aves. Later."
"Okay! Ben, we think of game!"
The two kids ran into the other room while Colton chuckled wryly.
"Those kids are crazy. How come they are never tired in the morning?"
"I don't know buddy. Maybe they're normal and you're the weird one."
"I'm too tired to care," he said, yawning and rubbing his eyes. "Maybe I will go back to bed."
He yawned again and made his way to the couch where he would probably spend another hour or so.
"You know, as much as I loved that vacation, I'm really glad to be home," Lindsay mused putting Ben's breakfast on a plate.
"Me too," Adam agreed. "I'm pretty sure I've had my fill of being away from the kids."
"Avery suggested going to the pumpkin patch today."
"That sounds good. We'll get some apple cider too and when we get home we can make some leaf piles for the kids to jump in."
"Perfect day."
"The perfect family deserves it. You want waffles?"
"Sure."
"And a kiss?"
"Yes please."
"I love you."
"I love you too."
"You'll be happy to know that me and sissy thinked of a game," Ben announced as he climbed up onto the stool to eat his breakfast. "It's called Library and that is what we are gonna play. I am gonna check out books and sissy is gonna be the library lady and she will let me have the books, and Cole is gonna be the kid what forgotted to turn in his books and he has to pay a fine. That happened to a kid in my class and he had to give the library lady a nickel before he could get another book."
"You'd better not lose your library books then."
"I know. I keep them in my pack-pack all the time."
"Very good. Eat your breakfast and then you can go and change into clothes for the pumpkin patch."
"Oh wow! I will put on farming clothes, like what Papa wears when he milks the cows in Montana! I just need to find my 'spenders. And sissy could wear my old ones!"
Lindsay chuckled and wiped the jam off his face.
"And then we could send a picture of me to Papa so he knows that I look like him!"
"Okay Ben. Whatever you say."
There were many more things to do at the pumpkin patch than just look for pumpkins, which was a good thing because the kids found their pumpkins pretty quickly. After paying and putting them in the trunk of the car, the five of them ventured over to the farm animals. Avery skipped ahead happily, her cow purse swinging in her hand and her curly hair flouncing with every step.
"Avery, don't go far honey."
"I not! I see ducks!"
"When she gets closer and realizes they're geese and about twice her size," Adam whispered with a grin. "Do you want to rescue her or shall I?"
"I don't know. Let's just see what happens."
"Aves got pecked!" Colton shouted, not two seconds later. "By a goose!"
Avery was running towards them with tears pouring down her face.
"Ow! I hurt, I hurt!" she wailed, turning to look behind her, and seeing that the goose that had pecked her was walking along slowly behind her. She let out another terrified screech and picked up speed, crashing into Adam's legs.
"Daddy save Avery! Big mean duck!"
He laughed and picked her up and she rubbed at her chest where the goose had pecked her.
"It's okay honey. The goose won't get you anymore."
Avery just shook her head and kept crying, not really in pain or fear, but because she knew that the tears would get her whatever she wanted.
"Sissy, you dropped your cow bag," Ben said, handing it up to her. "It's not dirty. How come you got a ripped sock in there?"
"In case," she hiccupped, as if that was answer enough. Ben sighed and shook his head, then followed Colton across the grass to look at the pigs, stretching his suspenders as he went.
"Hey mama come see this! Did you ever have pigs when you were a kid?"
"No, we never had pigs. Just cows and goats and sheep."
"How do you take care of pigs so they make the most tastiest bacon?"
"I don't know buddy. I'm sure they have to eat lots and lots of vegetables."
"I don't like veggies, so that means I would not turn into tasty bacon."
"Oh Ben," Colton laughed, shaking his head. "You're a person, not a pig."
"Then how come when you are complainin' about my side of the room bein' messy you call me a pig?"
"It means you're sloppy."
"Oh. See, I learned something new! Mama lift me up to see the pigs please! How come they don't stink that bad?"
"Probably because the wind is blowing away from us."
"Oh. Well how about those cows over there. Can we see those?"
They made their way around the farm, seeing all the animals twice while Avery whimpered and rubbed at her chest.
"Do you guys want to paint some small pumpkins before we go?"
"Yeah, I want to paint one for Isa since the Messers didn't come with us."
"And I will paint one for Dunner, on account of he has a hurt arm!"
"I make for Sarah!"
The kids were soon settled at a picnic table with small pumpkins and paint, chattering excitedly about what they were going to make. Ben was convinced that he was painting an airplane, but it more closely resembled a blimp. Colton kept looking at it and shaking his head, but not saying anything discouraging. Avery was happily slapping paint all over the pumpkin, only stopping long enough to ask Lindsay to write Sarah's name on it.
"This most fun."
"I like it too sissy. Can I have that green paint what you got?"
"Yep! I done. Wow Coley, that beautiful!"
"Think Isa will like it?"
"Oh yes. She like purple an' blue."
"Good. What are we gonna do while these pumpkins dry?"
"Well, why don't we go get some apple cider?" Adam suggested, setting the kids pumpkins on a drying table. "Would you guys like that?"
"So most!" Avery hollered, not knowing what apple cider was, but certain it was something she could consume.
"I'm glad they're so happy," Lindsay mused, watching the kids walk across the lawn, holding hands.
"I never realized what I missed by being an only child. Thanks for having more."
"You're welcome."
"Like I said before, perfect family."