“What do you want me to make from it?”
“I don’t care, but if you’re going to painstakingly protect the paper as you open the gift, you ought to do something with it afterward other than throw it away.”
Kimmy made a funny face. Nate kissed her on the nose, to which she crossed her eyes. “It’s the only bad habit she has. Totally fine with it, as long as she lets me open half the presents so I don’t fall asleep.”
“We have an understanding.” Kimmy lifted matching dresses into the air. “Oh my gosh, these are too cute.”
“I couldn’t resist. I promise everything else is practical.”
Nate picked up the big box of preemie diapers with one hand. “Oh great. I guess I’m going to be a pro at these soon.” He put his other hand on his hip. “I wouldn’t admit this to just anyone, but I had no idea how many diapers newborns went through in a day. No wonder they are in boxes of eighty to a hundred.”
“Hopefully, you’ll be a pro by tomorrow,” Kimmy said, rolling her eyes. “These babies are pooping machines.”
Amanda remembered bringing Hailey home and all the things she had to learn as a new mom. Jack never really mastered the diaper thing until Jesse came along. Paul gave Jack a hard time about it. Come to think of it, Paul probably changed as many diapers as Jack did on their kids.
“She’s not exaggerating,” said Nate. “I told her we could save enough to send these girls to college just by raising them in the ocean like mermaids. The cost of these diapers is outrageous, and we’re going through them like soapsuds.”
“Yeah, we’re not doing that!” Kimmy shook her finger at Nate. “I’m never going to be able to leave my girls alone with you for fear of your shortcuts. I can see it now. They’ll each be on one side of the kitchen sink so he doesn’t have to change a diaper.”
“Are you going to let me hold one of these babies?” Maeve looked like she wasn’t willing to wait one more second.
“Yes ma’am. I’m sorry. You could’ve been holding them all along. Go for it.”
Maeve walked over and scooped Brenna right out of her bassinet. “I know we’re not supposed to have favorites, but this one looks exactly like you did when you were born, Kimmy.”
Becky sat proudly at the end of the couch. “I told her the same thing. Nixie’s already sassy just like Kimmy was, though.”
Nate scooped up Nixie. “Hey, girl.” She wiggled her arms and looked completely content with him. “She’s so light.” Nate lifted her up and down, then cradled and rocked her.
The rest of the room seemed to fall away as Amanda focused on Nate holding the baby. When Hailey first came home from the hospital, she wouldn’t stop crying. It was Paul that finally got her to quiet down, although Amanda had told herself at the time it was more like a round of hot potato and he got the lucky handoff. It struck her that Paul had been there through all the big moments: before she’d married Jack and then as part of their family at the birth of each child. Their first words, birthdays, and first steps. Most recently their first kite. First ghost crabbing too.
Amanda put her hand out, steadying herself on the back of the chair she was standing next to.
Maeve and Nate walked closer to each other with the babies, holding them at an angle to see each other. Then Nate turned to Amanda. “Do you want to hold her?”
Amanda snapped out of it and took Nixie. The innocent life in her arms was half the size of Jesse the first time she held him, and Nate was right. She was as light as a feather. Her movements didn’t even look real. Tears blurred Amanda’s vision. “She’s beautiful.” Amanda pressed her thumb to the baby’s hand. “You are so special,” she whispered.
Memories of her own children filled her heart. Being a new mother and that first feeling of reassurance at the thump of their heartbeat. She carried the baby over to Hailey and Jesse. “Come meet your new friends.”
They walked over, peering at the fragile life in her arms.
“She’s little,” Jesse said.
Hailey pressed her finger against Nixie’s soft arm. “I’ll save all my pretty dresses for you. I’m growing so fast that Mom just bought me new ones. You’ll look so pretty.”
“Awww,” Kimmy said, tears slipping down her cheeks. “She is the sweetest.”
“And you are the most emotional,” Nate said, hugging her shoulder, then pressing his cheek against her head.
Maeve put Brenna back in the bassinet.
Kimmy reached toward Nixie. “I’ll take her. It’s about time to feed them.”
“Again?” Nate shook his head. “I wish I could get her to feed me and give me snacks this often. Sometimes she forgets to eat at all and it’ll be eight o’clock and I’m praying for a PB&J.”
Kimmy rolled her eyes. “You are so mistreated.”
“On that pitiful note, we are going to leave,” Maeve said. “Thank you for letting us join in your celebration. I’m so happy for you two. And for you, Becky. Being a grandmother is going to be exhausting but the best part of your life. I wouldn’t have missed this for the world.”
Hailey and Jesse hugged Becky. “You can be our grandma, too, if you want.”
Becky clutched her heart. “I’d love that.” She turned to Amanda. “These two are absolutely the sweetest.”
They walked back outside feeling the joyful light of those fresh new lives. Amanda watched Hailey and Jesse run to the car and climb into their car seats. They were growing up so fast.
24
Amanda had been busy getting ready for school orientation night, and she’d tried a couple of practice runs taking Jesse to the pre-K at church to
