“Papa, Julia-Rose stinks.” Luke held his nose for emphasis as he danced around his father.
“See if Matt can change her diaper. I’m trying to get supper together.” Nathan Hale grabbed the pan smoking with a charred steak. Forgetting to snag a towel first, he dropped it, and yelled as he burned his hand. “Dammit, anyhow.”
“Dammit, anyhow,” Luke’s twin, John echoed.
“John, make yourself useful.” He spoke over his shoulder as he washed the steak off under the water. “Call your brothers to supper.”
“Supper!” John cupped his hands and shouted from where he stood.
“Don’t stand there and scream, for heaven’s sake. Go get them and bring them back.”
Nate pulled semi-clean dishes from the counter and filled them with soggy steak, and hard carrots. At least there was fresh bread and cookies from the bakery. He slapped the plates on the table, and grabbed silverware from the drawer.
“Papa, Julia-Rose doesn’t have any clean diapers.” Matt entered the kitchen, holding a naked Julia-Rose at arm’s length.
“Well, did you at least wipe her off?” Nate poured milk into glasses lined up on the counter.
“Yeah, I washed her. What can I put on her?”
“Put her nightgown on for now, and after we eat, I’ll find something. Let’s hope she doesn’t wet herself before then.”
Mark entered the kitchen and shoved John into Luke. The three laughed and pushed each other.
“Everybody sit down and eat.” Nate yelled as he grabbed the twins by the back of their shirts.
Matt came back with Julia-Rose, set her on cushions stacked on a wooden chair, and wrapped the leather strap dangling from it, around her. Nate buttered a piece of bread, and put tiny pieces on the table in front of the baby.
Silence prevailed as Nate bowed his head and offered thanks for the food, and his family’s health. Then the kitchen filled with the sound of five lively children shouting over each other while shoveling food into their mouths.
“Papa, these carrots are hard.” Luke banged the vegetable against the table.
“Carrots are good for you, whether they’re cooked or not. Eat them anyway.” Nate double-checked Julia-Rose’s carrot pieces to make sure they weren’t too big. Not happy with them, he scooped them up and put them on his plate.
John stared at him, food falling out of his open mouth. “Why did you steal Julia-Rose’s carrots?”
“I’m afraid she’ll choke on them.”
Mark immediately grabbed his throat. “I’m choking, steal my carrots, too.”
He glared at his son. “Never mind, just eat.”
Before long, the plates had all been emptied, and the boys devoured the cookies from the bakery. Nate cleared his throat, and looked at each boy in turn. “I want to talk to you about something.”
Four pairs of eyes met his. Julia-Rose, oblivious to the seriousness of her father’s voice, continued to bang the table with her spoon, a soggy cookie in her other hand.
“Things have been a little crazy around here since your mama died.” God, I hope I’m doing the right thing.
“I know it’s been tough for all of you. And for me, too.” Stiff fingers raked through his hair. “To make things better, I decided to get married.” He mumbled the last part.
“What?” Matt’s eyes grew wide.
“I said,” he cleared his throat again. “I’ve decided to get married.”
Nobody spoke for a moment. Four boys sat open-mouthed. “Does that mean we’ll have a new mama?” Matt wanted to know.
“Yes.” Nate’s voice strengthened. “You’ll have a new mama.”
“I like mamas.” Luke wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. “They bake cookies, and kiss you goodnight. Sarah says her mama reads story books to her, too.”