Quadruplets Make Six

“That’s why we’re only fifteen minutes away,” I said. “I’ve booked us a wonderful dinner and a decadent hotel suite for the night. I want to be with my wife, but I’m not the kind of man to sacrifice my children’s needs in order to have that. If something happens, we’re close. I promise you.”

I bent over and kissed her forehead, trying to alleviate the fear she had. Things had been difficult when Charlotte came along. Labor was horrendous on Libby and invasive medical procedures were needed to get Charlotte out. It took almost three months for Libby to recuperate from all that had happened. And on top of all of that, Charlotte seemed to contract every illness a newborn could experience. Croup. Hand-foot-mouth. Thrush. Two different viruses. Not to mention the fact that Charlotte had been a colicky child, so for five months Libby didn’t get much sleep.

It was time for her to have an evening to herself. It was time for us to get away, if only for a night.

“Can I go see her really quickly?” Libby asked.

“Of course. I’ll come with you,” I said.

The two of us made our way into Charlotte’s room. The nanny was bouncing Charlotte in her arms, trying to quell the crying of our daughter. Libby reached her arms out instinctively and cradled Charlotte close, like she was holding a porcelain doll she purchased from a china shop.

“I love you, Char. You know that, right?” Libby asked.

“I promise we’ll be home soon,” I said.

I bent down to kiss my daughter’s head, smiling as she giggled and blew spit bubbles. That was something she had in common with her brothers. The three of them loved to blow bubbles. In their milk. With their mouths. With actual soapy bubbles.

I smiled as I pulled away and watched Libby kiss her chubby little cheek.

“I love you, baby girl,” she said with a whisper. “Mommy will be home tomorrow afternoon.”

Reluctantly, Libby passed Charlotte back to the nanny. I slipped my arm around her waist and led her from the room, but Libby was craning to take one last look. The two of them had been attached at the hip ever since our daughter had been born. Up all night with crying and sickly episodes and cuddling between us in bed for comfort. I could feel Libby shaking with nerves as we left the house to get into our car. She was so worried about leaving the children, and I was concerned it was going to ruin our night out.

“Just relax,” I said. “The kids are fine. I promise.”

“How can you do this?” Libby asked. “How could you leave them while we were…?”

I opened the car and helped her in, then bent down and kissed her forehead.

“I had to remind myself that I was important as well. That I had things I required in my life that didn’t make me a selfish parent. It isn’t bad to want to get away, Libby. It isn’t bad to want to take some time to yourself. I’ve gone through this twotimes already, so I can help you with what you’re feeling. But you have to let me. Okay?”

She nodded her head as tears rose to her eyes.

“I promise this is going to be a wonderful night. Just trust me,” I said.

“I do trust you. With all my heart.”

“Then sit back and let’s go get some dinner.”

I shut her door before I wrapped around to my side of the car. I hopped in and took her hand, lacing our fingers together tightly. She was clinging to me, like she always did when she didn’t know what else to do. It was a constant reminder of the fact that we would make it. In times of distress when most couples pulled apart from one another, we clung closer.

I gripped her hand back before bringing it to my lips, then we pulled away from the house.

“Where are we going for dinner?” Libby asked.

“Alinea,” I said.

“Oh no, Graham. That place is way too expensive.”

“I’ve had these reservations for weeks. I’m taking you out and treating you to a night you deserve,” I said.

“We could’ve just gone to… I don’t know. Get chicken wings or something?”

I chuckled and shook my head as we headed into the heart of Chicago.

“I’m not using our first night out since Charlotte was born to go get chicken wings, Libby. We make those at home all the time.”

“Correction. I make those at home all the time,” she said.