“I’m so glad you all could come!” She knew her grin was wide, not just because she could feel it but because the moms and dads and babies were all smiling right back at her. I’m good at compartmentalizing. Kate was taking this afternoon—perhaps selfishly—for family. She was taking it for love and smiles and snuggles. And the sweet scent of babies.
“Grandma Kate, there’s nothing that would make any of us turn down an invitation to visit.” Dr. Charlotta Benedict snuggled one of her six-week-old twins, Camilla Jean. Jesse was bouncing two-year-old Patrick on his knee, and Barry cradled Camilla’s twin sister, Joanna Veronica.
“I just love coming here. I love this family of ours so much.” Penelope Benedict discreetly nursed her five-and-a-half-month-old son, Graham. Her daughter, Ellie, nearly eight now, was in the midst of a separate little “party” in the far corner of the great room. Surrounded by her cousins who were also of school age, she appeared to be having a good time. Of course, Kate’s son Caleb was with them, eager to get into whatever “playoff” of any video game those young ones cared to choose. Caleb was like a kid himself when it came to those grandchildren of his.
Alex had accompanied his wife this morning while Josh had gone into Benedict Oil and Minerals to chair an emergency meeting. One of the tankers was floundering at sea and needed to be dealt with.
Bernice and Abigail wheeled in a couple of carts with tea and coffee and an enormous number of cookies. They’d also included a big pitcher of milk, and not only for those older children playing with Grandpa Caleb. Some of Kate’s grown grandsons and granddaughters enjoyed dunking their cookies in that particular beverage as well.
Kate let her gaze scan the room, taking a moment to look at each and every one of her family members present.
They’re my real treasure. Kate knew that to be the Lord’s honest truth. The members of her family were everything to her, and there wasn’t much she wouldn’t do to keep them safe.
Laci Benedict sat happily with her daughter, Zoe Diane, right next to her best friend, Chloe Jessop and Chloe’s twins James and Adam. All three of those beautiful babies were just a year old and all of them healthy—a fact that Kate gave thanks for every single day.
Kelsey, Matt, and Steven were sitting with their eleven-month-old twins, Caleb and Jonathan, while big sister, Amanda, was sitting with Ellie, watching the current video battle between her cousin and their grandfather.
Iris Kendall, with one of her husbands, Richard, had brought their nearly one-year-old son, Blake Edward. Kate had invited Emily Ann Richardson, of course, as she considered the sweet girl and her husbands to be family. Mel had accompanied her and their daughter, Melissa Mae, who’d just celebrated that first birthday as well.
Jacqui Kendall had brought her twins, James and Keith, and Holly Wilson-Moore, Jacqui’s aunt, was playing with her own sweet baby girl, Angelica, who would celebrate that one-year milestone next month. Also with Jacqui was her sister-in-law, Mary.
Norm’s sister Mary Kendall had arrived the second week of January and moved right into the house that Samantha had set up for her. It pleased Kate that another of the New York contingent had decided to make Lusty home. She did worry about Mary some. And she wondered, as she watched the young woman playing with her nephews, when she was going to speak to her cousin Adam about one of the main reasons she’d chosen to come to Lusty.
Sometimes it’s stressful waiting for these dear ones to do what needs to be done. And sometimes, Kate acknowledged to her inner voice, a body needed to mind their own.
Sometimes, but if that young woman doesn’t spill things soon, we’ll do something about it. She and Samantha would make a final decision on that before long. In the meantime, they’d chat with Mary about the situation after this little party today.
Kate turned her attention to another new mom. Ari Benedict easily handled her twin boys, Anthony and James, as if she’d been around babies all her life. Maggie’s little Katherine Abigail was sound asleep, and Kate didn’t think she’d ever seen anything more heart-stoppingly beautiful than the way mother and child seemed almost as one. Maggie’s love for her daughter was all over her. The family that she’d made with Kate’s grandsons Rick, Trevor, and Kevin filled Kate’s heart with pure joy.
Rebecca and Carrie Benedict, sisters-in-law to each other, sat and watched as their two-year-old sons, Kyle and Donald, seemed thick as thieves, bonding over large plastic building blocks.
Rebecca’s husbands, Greg and Cody, would be wheels up in another hour or so. The transport plane would have to refuel in London. Kate knew the schedule. If all went as it should, they’d be back in the area tomorrow afternoon. Put that worry away for now. All that could be done was being done. This was a situation that was very fluid. And certainly, something to discuss with the family tomorrow. But not today. Tomorrow was soon enough.
Rebecca looked up and met Kate’s gaze. Her smile trembled then brightened. Of course, Kate had told the young woman about the situation and the plans made to date. Rebecca had agreed to keep that knowledge to herself until the meeting the next day.
I am so proud of every one of my family.
Today, Kate wanted to focus on the babies. In all, there were currently nineteen sweet wee souls under the age of three in the great room.
I can almost feel this room smiling. The love held within these old walls was palpable.
“Grandma Kate? Maybe you can help us. We’ve been mulling something over.” Charlotta looked over at her then scanned the room.
Kate tilted her head. “I’ll do my best. How can I help?”
“Well, we all love being parents,” Shar said.
“And we’re
