“Hey, sweetheart.”
“Did you get it?”
“Yes.”
“Did you see the babies?”
I kissed her cheek. “Yes. They’re doing great. You can get up and see them tomorrow.”
“Mm’kay.”
I opened the lid, dug out a spoonful and tapped her lips with the cold treat. “Here.”
She opened her mouth and hummed around the mouthful. “Mmm. Salted caramel.”
I took a large mouthful myself, enjoying the sweet and salty tang together. I knew I wouldn’t get much of it, but I would steal what I could.
“Richard?”
I leaned forward. “What is it, sweetheart? Are you in pain?”
She shook her head. “I was wondering if you’d decided on a name.”
I fed her some more ice cream. “I think so. How about you?”
We had decided we could each name a baby. No discussion—the other person had to accept the choice. It had been Katy’s idea, which made me laugh. I highly doubted I would object to her choice. Or her to mine. We were too close for that to happen.
“Yes. Once I saw her today, I knew.”
“Me too. You go first.”
She smiled. “Gertrude Hermione VanRyan.”
I tried to stop my horror from showing through. I failed.
“Gertrude?” I gasped. “Katy, what the hell?”
She giggled, the sound welcome. She had been kidding.
I took a huge mouthful of ice cream to punish her, ignoring her pleading eyes.
For a minute. Then I fed her some more.
“Penny Elaine VanRyan.”
I nodded. Penny for her adopted mother, Elaine for Mrs. Thomas, who was such a huge part of our family. I leaned close, kissed her, and gave her the last mouthful of ice cream. “Perfect.”
“Now you.”
I took in a deep breath. “Gavin Riley VanRyan.”
Katy knew how much those two men meant to me. She held out her hand and repeated my word.
“Perfect.”
“I thought so.”
“Graham will be touched. As will Maddox.”
“I hope so.”
“I was going to add Aiden, but the name seemed too big.”
She nodded in understanding.
“Maybe the next one.”
Her eyes grew round. “Ah—”
Laughing, I tossed the empty container away. “Teasing.”
“Maybe we could get a dog instead or a cat.”
Her words made me laugh harder. “Aiden, the dog. Somehow, it works. Bentley, the cat. They’re always a little snootier.”
She shut her eyes, weariness overtaking her again. “You train those ones.”
I ran my hand along her brow, smiling at her little sigh of contentment.
I bent close and kissed her cheek.
“Sleep, my Katy. I’ll be here when you wake up.”
“Love you,” she mumbled.
I looked down at her, already asleep.
My beautiful Katy.
“Love doesn’t even begin to cover it,” I told her, dropping another kiss to her sweet face. “There isn’t a big enough word.”I opened the front door and waved Katy inside. I followed with the babies, each held securely in their carriers.
They were as different as night and day.
Penny was tiny, quiet, with a hint of red in her little curls that went well with her name. She had a sweet temperament and loved to be held. Her eyes promised to remain blue—like her mother’s
Gavin was larger. Long and lean, bald as an eagle, and eyes that became hazel very quickly—like mine. And his temper matched. His demands were fast and loud. Food. A new diaper. Lift him up. Put him down.
Find his sister.
Penny was the one thing that seemed to calm him. I had a feeling these two were going to rule the house.
Gracie raced toward us, excited and anxious. Heather waddled behind her, a sunny smile on her little face. Laura and Graham followed behind them, happy to see us. I set down the carriers and scooped up my girls, kissing them and letting them love on me. I lowered them to Katy’s level so they could kiss her. She couldn’t lift them yet with her incision still healing, but once she sat down, they would be all over her. There were lots of squeals and hugs, then we went into the family room.
It felt good to be there—to finally bring our children home. To have them all under one roof.
Graham lifted Gavin from his carrier, holding him up.
“My God, he is big.”
I laughed. “His lungs match.”
Laura held Penny, running a finger over her cheek. “So sweet,” she murmured.
Katy snuggled our girls, who were thrilled to have her home.
“Where’s Tess?” I asked. A friend of Laura’s, Tess was a kind, loving woman whom I’d hired to help out Katy. The girls had loved her right away, and she seemed to fit in well. She lived close and would be here full time for a while, until Katy decided what she needed. We were lucky to have found her.
Graham chuckled. “She was making dinner, so you didn’t have to worry. She’ll be out shortly—she was visiting with Elaine, and they were swapping recipes. I think they were going to get some coffee and snacks ready.”
“Great.”
Gavin let out one of his snuffly yells. His arms flailed, and his face turned red. Graham looked perplexed, then made a face and handed him to me. “Duty calls.”