120: The Things That Show Up….Part 1
Luci
Coming home was sad and happy. I loved the island, but I did miss Cole a lot. Along with the rest of our family. We called him everyday. He was having a blast being spoiled by grandparents and even going to stay with Banning and Barrett one night.
Easton’s phone goes off and mine follows as we are heading out to the car picking us up. “It’s
Jackson.” He reads it.
Know you might be tired, but we are having family dinner tonight. See you at home. Coconut is
about to burst to see you.
We drive home to find everyone already here. Even Banning, Barrett, Mrs. Isabelle and Mr.
Logan. Cole talks ninety to nothing as he hugs both of us. “We brought you a present. Barrett
too.” I lift them out of the tote bag along with the girls‘ presents. I brought them Fijian pearl
bracelets. Cole and Barrett would each get a small stuffed turtle. Easton thought about
getting them small wooden carved spears but then decided it might be better to hold off.
Easton lifts him into his arms and carries him into the dining room, following the group.
“Welcome home, you two.” Jason says. He’s grinning widely too. I love seeing him so happy
lately.
“You have the seats of honor down here.” Banning says with amusement.
“What are these?” Easton points to six large wrapped boxes.
“Gifts.” Mr. Logan says with a big grin.
“Boys, can you go to the playroom and get the pictures you made for Luci and Easton?” Mrs. Isabelle asks them. They nod and race out happily.
“Open them fast.” Jackson orders, barely holding it in.
Becker and Kingston come to help us tear into them. I stare at a pile of baby books while Easton lifts up onesies with dinosaurs and cars. Becker holds up the Star Wars onesie.
“What…” I am bewildered.
Easton lifts a stuffed lightsaber and Darth Vader sleep sack. He looks as confused as me.
“Anything in there you might want?” Banning chuckles heartily. “Might need before the first
grade.” He stresses.
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120: The Things That Show Up……
“They didn’t….” Easton says with a groan and rakes his hand down his face. “Did you get
enough baby stuff, sweetness? If so, they’ll go to bed.” He laughs as I close my eyes in
understanding.
“The romance rascals have morphed into the baby rascals. They used Alexa to order some things to spark baby fever in you two so they could hurry along a sibling for Coco.” Becker
explains.
“We’ve password protected all ordering on Alexa now.” Mr. Logan confesses. “Unfortunately I explained what baby fever meant to them.”
“I’ll pay you back, Mr. Logan. Or you can return it all.” Easton offers.
“I think you should keep the books. The clothes we’ll send back because, you know, sizing and
boy stuff.” Mrs. Isabelle smiles. “It seems they asked Mrs. Hutchins at the wedding what cute
baby stuff is and she explained those things. Cole came up with the books on his own
because you always buy him new ones, Luci.”
“I was tasked with finding all of Cole’s baby photos and leaving them out for you, Luci.” Baker
adds, grinning.
“All the better to infect you with baby fever, my Luci Lou.” Sydney intones in her wicked witch
voice. “They have no idea how much they ordered.”
Stormi is biting her lip as she gazes into one of the boxes. “I mean they got almost everything you might need save diapers and wipes. They might be helpful with the baby brother that
Cole’s been doing rain dances for since you
left.”
“Here they come. Close the boxes. There’s more.” Jackson warns ominously.
Thundering feet race into the room. “We made these for you.”
Barrett hands us a photo of him and Cole dressed in costumes and there are two little kids between them holding their hands. They are wearing baby Yoda costumes. “Did your dad get a copy of this too?” I turn it toward Banning and the grin falls right off his face instantly. “I’ll make him one. It needs to go on his fridge.”
Cole holds his up and Easton covers his mouth with his hand. He ducks his head for a minute before turning toward me. It’s him holding a stick figure baby with Skittles nearby. He labeled it with his name, Skittles and then an arrow to the baby with “Luke” written there.
“You spelled everything so well.” I observe as my insides quiver with amusement.
“Oh, I had help Mommy. Uncle….” Becker clears his throat loudly right then and his eyes send
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120: The Things That Show Up……
Cole a clear message. “Umm I found it in my Star Wars book.”
Easton conveniently drops the stuffed lightsaber and has to crouch down to get it. When he
stands with it, he whacks Becker in the back of the head quickly while Cole is distracted.
“Triplets Beck. If I have to do some kind of fertility dance with one of your hairs and maybe a
fingernail.”
Becker stops laughing and holds up both hands in surrender. “Done. I couldn’t have him
spelling those names wrong though.”
“You probably gave him the idea. You are the head rascal.” I point my finger at him.
“Mommy, do you
know what a ‘cliner is?” Cole asks me very innocently. That look could get
me into so much trouble if I didn’t know better.
“A ‘cliner?” I ask curiously. “Wait do you mean recliner?”
“Yes. The chair that rocks and you can sleep in. Grandpappy said he used to have one before it
broke.”
“More like Becker broke it.” Jason coughs out.
“How did you break it?” Stormi turns to him.
“I was trying to see if you could launch someone if you extended the footrest out fast enough.
You know the physics of propulsion.” He makes a mischievous face.
“Who were you trying to launch?” Sydney asks dryly looking at the other three brothers.
“Snickers.” He adds with a laugh. “He was such a sweet natured, patient dog. And in my
defense before you three come after me, I was six. I had no idea it could be dangerous.”
“Luckily for Snickers and the ceiling….the handle broke before he could succeed.” Jason adds
with a reminiscent smile. “Your poor mother was laughing so hard as she videoed it.”
“Wait you mean she let me do that and simply watched? Imogen Reed?” Becker asks
incredulously.
“Yes. Your mother used to be quite fun with you four. She knew you couldn’t succeed so she
filmed it. Sent it to me at work and everyone in my meeting lost it laughing. Some of my
favorite memories.” His eyes twinkle. “I can’t wait until we have more little rascals running
around this house.”
“I bet Skittles might fly.” Kingston says jokingly.
“Mommy you didn’t say if you know what that is.” Cole brings the attention back to his
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question.
“I know what it is. Why are you asking?”
“They put babies to sleep I saw on a commercial. Big kids too. You can climb in your mommy’s lap and it rocks back and forth. Do you think we could get one?”
“Do we need one, Coconut?” Easton asks him, holding in his laughter.
“Might be good to have. I mean first grade is going to get here fast. That’s what Mrs. Paulson says. The year will be over before we know it; that’s her saying.”
Barrett decides to slide in to assist like a good best friend. “The commercial said comfort rocking is special. The lazy boy would be there for all your sweet little moments. But doesn’t lazy mean something bad? Like Dad always said we can’t be lazy about cleaning up the
house.”
We all start laughing then. Banning explains the differences as Easton takes my hand behind
Cole’s chair.
“We’ll get one of those when it’s time, Coco.” I tell him softly. “You are going to be such a good big brother one day, do you know that?”
“I hope so Mommy. I want to help.”
“You will. Can Mommy get used to her new job first and living here with you, Skittles and Daddy? We also have to see how things go with Daddy playing hockey with the really big
games.”
“Ok Mommy, I wait.” His face looks resigned, but then his eyes light up. “Could it be by the second grade though? I can do the please eyes.”
“I think we can work on them showing up by then.” I whisper to him and he smiles.
“Love you, Mommy.”
“I love you to the moon and back, Cole.” I kiss his head.
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Ivory Row
Little misfit rascals.
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