“Oh, I can understand that,” Amanda said.
“This is my husband, Nate. I don’t think he’s realized how much work is ahead of us yet.” Kimmy sounded overwhelmed herself.
“Hi, Nate. Congratulations to you both. I love babies, and mine are growing up so fast. I have one starting school this year. You have your hands full, so please let me help out.”
Hailey and Jesse popped into the room, both sucking on cherry-red popsicles. “Someday I can babysit for you,” Hailey said.
Kimmy jumped right on that suggestion, speaking to Hailey as though she were an adult. “That’ll be perfect,” Kimmy said. “Until then, you can all learn to play in the ocean together. I can teach you to surf.”
Hailey and Jesse exchanged an unsure glance. Amanda was pretty sure they didn’t understand what surfing even was. They still had a lot of beach life to learn. Whelk’s Island was the perfect place for that.
Maeve turned to the matching bassinets in the middle of the room. “Your babies are beautiful, Kimmy.”
“Thank you. I can’t believe how tiny they are. They don’t even seem real.”
“Which one is which? Tug told me their names, but I’m not sure he even got them right.” Maeve leaned forward, touching one of the bundled twins.
Kimmy laughed. “Well, he probably got the names right. They aren’t identical.”
Nate placed a loving arm across Kimmy’s shoulder. They made a sweet couple, both with light hair and tan as could be. “Nixie is on the left. It’s a German name that means ‘little water sprite.’ ”
“Oh my gosh, how perfect is that, and she looks just like you, Nate. I bet she’s going to be a blondie.” Maeve reached for and held Nixie’s petite hand. “You are a beauty. Tell me about the angels.” She looked over to Kimmy and Nate, smiling as she hunched her shoulders playfully. “I always ask babies that. They light up. I wish they could tell us what it’s like to be with the angels before they come to us. I can tell she understands what I’m saying.” Maeve stepped back, looking at Kimmy. “They look so much alike.”
“I was so afraid we wouldn’t be able to tell them apart. I’d read that people write with Sharpies on their feet or put colored wristbands on them, but that seems so weird.” Kimmy shook her head. “I’m glad I won’t have to resort to that. Brenna has a slight reddish tint to her hair, like mine. For now, anyway.”
“I think they both look just like their mother,” Nate said. “Thank goodness.”
“Oh, stop.” Kimmy wrinkled her nose at him. “He’s always saying that. You know you’re good looking. Stop that.”
“Oh, Kimmy. I’m so happy for y’all.” Maeve took a bag out of her purse. “I didn’t wrap this all pretty or anything, but I have something for the girls.” She pulled tissue paper from the bag, untangling delicate wires before finally holding a beautiful mobile between her fingers in the air for them to see. Small pieces of sea glass hung on short silver wires, and larger pieces from long wire. The mobile twisted, casting colorful light from the sea glass.
“Maeve, that’s beautiful. Did you—”
“I made it for you. So there’s a story here.”
“Isn’t there always,” Kimmy teased. “Right, Momma?”
Becky nodded with a grin.
“Well, the day I heard you were in the hospital on bed rest, I was at Tug’s Diner for breakfast. When I walked down on the beach, I found these two perfect pieces of pink sea glass.” She pointed to two rosy pieces at the top. “Now, I don’t know how much you remember about sea glass, but pink is very rare. To find two pink pieces so nicely matched on the same day at the same place…that’s no coincidence. At that moment, I knew your twins were both going to be girls. I just knew it.”
“Maeve, thank you for this. It will be perfect in the nursery.”
“I hope so.”
Nate took the mobile from Maeve and hung it from the window frame. As the artfully coiled wire moved, each brilliant piece of sea glass cast rainbow hues of color around the room.
Nate stared at it. “That is art. Quite fascinating, really, even for an adult. I want it over our bed.”
“Thank you, Maeve,” Kimmy said.
Hailey’s mouth, red from the popsicle, formed a perfect O. “Look at all the colors!”
Maeve looked pleased. “I’m glad you like it. I’ve always heard that color and movement is good for babies. It gets them looking around and wondering.”
“Well, there’s nothing more wonderful than the sea. You and I have that in common. I love this mobile so much.” Kimmy teared up. “I’m sorry. I’m doing a lot of crying right now, but you’re so sweet and talented and wonderful. Maeve, we love you. Thank you for doing something so special for our girls.”
Maeve pulled Kimmy into a hug. “Oh, honey, I’m so proud of you. You’re a strong, beautiful woman. You’re going to be a wonderful mother.”
“I hope so. I was terrified to have even just one baby. I don’t know why the Big Guy upstairs thought I should get a double dose, but I’m trying to remind myself it’s a blessing.”
“It most certainly is.” Nate returned to Kimmy’s side. “I’ll do my part, baby. Don’t you worry.”
Amanda fanned her tears from the tender moment. “Well, my gift is not handmade or colorful like Maeve’s, but I promise you it is practical.” She carried a stack of gifts over to Kimmy.
“You didn’t need to bring a thing.”
“I’ve got two children, remember? They are two years apart and that was hard enough. I’m tickled pink to help you in any way that I can. Any friend of Maeve’s is most definitely a friend of mine.”
“Thank you.” Kimmy opened each item carefully. “They are wrapped so pretty I hate to mess up the paper.”
“Oh good grief.” Nate took one of the boxes from her and ripped into it. “No offense, but I went
