Arriving home Sam, Crystal and even Cindy remain asleep. Sam usually awakes as soon as the engine stops and I simply assumed Crystal and Cindy would do the same. Fortunately for us, they stay asleep and Kathryn carries Cindy as I carry Crystal and Sam. Kathryn leads straight to our bedroom, turns down the covers and begins removing their shoes allowing them to drop on the soft carpet. The three girls remain asleep as we dress them in their pajamas. Laying them in the bed, they cuddle close to one another in their sleep.
Kathryn and I remove all the clothing we purchased today, and Kathryn ready several loads of laundry preferring to wash it before allowing the girls to wear the clothing. She starts a couple of loads as we watch the fireworks first from Sydney Australia, which is recorded several hours ago, to Rome, London, and two more hours it will be New York and Washington DC. We do laundry as the time ticks on down Kathryn and I will stay up until midnight share a long kiss like the one we share every New Year since we began dating.
It does not take us long, and we have most of the clothing washed and ready. We fill the drawers, and closets. We use the two empty bedrooms closest to Mom’s wing of the house for the girls. With each of the girls having her own bedroom walk-in closet, it is surprising how full Cindy and Crystal’s closets are after only one shopping trip. Placing Cindy’s suitcase in the bottom of her closet, we can ask her tomorrow if there is anything she wants to keep, as far as I am concerned there is nothing in there that is deserving of her.
Most likely, on the day after I return from my trip to Texas, we will be buying new furniture for Cindy and Crystal. This is just one more way Kathryn can spoil the girls. Kathryn did this was Sam, and I think it helped Sam realize this is her home. Maybe this will help Crystal to realize that as well. Cindy too, I want her to realize that she is found a place in our hearts and we will always have a home for her.
It is about eleven thirty, when I turned to Kathryn and say, “Sam’s going to wake up in a minute and we need to be there.”
Kathryn raises an eyebrow and I can tell she is a little skeptical but does not question me all that much at least aloud, as we walk upstairs I can hear Sam is having a bad dream. I just managed to get to the bed as she sets up and I take her into my arms before she begins to panic. It takes a minute or two to calm her down, but she is awoken Cindy and Crystal.
I look at the clock it is only a little less than ten minutes before midnight, and I ask, “Would you like to see the fireworks because it’s New Year’s.”
Sam clings to me, Kathryn takes Crystal and Cindy massages Sam’s back as she walks beside me. Cindy says, “It’s okay Sam, it was just a bad dream. Nothing bad is going to happen.”
Sam looking up into my face says, “Daddy, promise me when you go to Texas you won’t go to any bars.”
Giving how scared Sam is it does not take me long to promise by saying, “Sam I won’t go to any bars. Even though I’m just going to be there one night I’ll make sure I don’t.”
Sam seems relax a little after I say that finally she gives me a smile and says, “Maybe I should go with you to keep you out of trouble.”
Kathryn giggles before she says, “Sam who’s going to protect Crystal, Cindy and me. Without your daddy here we need you.”
Sam looks at me hard before she again asks, “Daddy, you promise not to go to any bars?”
Looking Sam in the eyes, I noticed they are blue, and I would do anything to turn them green again. “I promise Sam I will not go to any bars ever.” Sam throws her arms back around me, and I melt into her hug. Kathryn, Cindy and Crystal giggle at me. They know I would do anything to make them happy.
As the TV begins to boom from the fireworks, Sam and I release, and I marvel at how quickly her eye color changes to green. As we set on the sofa, Sam in my lap scoots over enough for Crystal to join her. Cindy is against my right side and Kathryn against my left as we watch the fireworks together. I turned to Kathryn and we share a kiss, breaking to giggles from the girls.
I kiss the girls cheeks, wish them happy New Year, and steal another kiss from Kathryn at our first chance. The girls giggle again catching us, Kathryn and I break our kiss with smiles on our faces. The fireworks go on for another few minutes by the end of the fireworks the girls are beginning to fall back asleep. However, we wake them up long enough to show Cindy her bedroom and her closet.
Cindy remarks with wide eyes, “I’ve never had so many clothes before and my whole life.”
Giving Cindy a hug Kathryn says, “That’s just your winter clothing. We still have to go shopping for your spring wardrobe.”
Despite her excitement, Cindy gives a sleepy yon. I ask, “Cindy do you want to sleep here in your room?”
Cindy looking at me newly awake from the question she asks, “This is my room, really?”
Smiling I say, “Long as you want it to be.” Cindy gives a squeal, and spins around like a ballerina she so happy. When she stops, Sam gives her a hug.
Crystal could not stay awake and has already fallen asleep in my arms. Cindy and Sam giggle, until they both yon. Kathryn and I lead them back to our bedroom. After Kathryn and I change into our pajamas, the girls shift in their sleep and before I know it, all three somehow have gotten themselves onto my chest. Kathryn throws her arm across the three girls who were spooning. It does not take long for the five of us to be asleep.
Kathryn and I awake to find Helen and Mom giggling at the side of our bed. The three girls still spoon on my chest with Kathryn’s arm across them. As large, as the bed is we may be only using a quarter of it. Mom laughs saying, “You know you can save some money by just buying a full-size bed.”
Crystal is the first of the girls to move as soon as she does the other two follow her to the bathroom leaving Kathryn and me to speak to Mom and Helen. I begin by saying, “I think it’s a great way to start the year, I get the wake up with not just one beautiful female, but four.”
Kathryn giggles then punches me on my arm. “You better be glad two of those girls are our daughters, and the other is our niece.”
Chuckling I say, “You know you’re the only woman I feel that way about.”
Kathryn with a sly look says, “I know, you allowed me into your heart fully and I know what it feels.”
Mom and Helen giggle. Then Helen says, “That isn’t a secret, from the first day JJ kissed you I knew he was totally in love with you.”
Mom says, “He sure was, and so was she. The two of them couldn’t get any closer.”
Helen says, “Nothing could tempt JJ from Kathryn side. Then I learned nothing would cause him to abandon her. When everyone else was afraid, the only fear he had was in losing her. He would rather lose his own life than see that happen.”
Smiling up at my mother-in-law I say, “Without Kathryn I have no life.”
Kathryn pulls me into her arms and tight against her, we kiss passionately even though Amanda kicks hard and I can feel it. There are giggles from the girls and our mothers when we finally do separate. I help Kathryn up, and tell our mothers will be down for breakfast in a few minutes. My Mom takes Sam and Crystal, and Helen takes Cindy and they go to the kitchen.
When we finally do get down to the kitchen we find Alyssa, Joan, Misty, Mom and Helen had started breakfast. Scooping Crystal up I tell her, “Now you’re going to see why I’m Sam’s forth favorite cook.”
Crystal says, “Sam and I still love your pancakes.”
I say, “Thank you my beautiful Princess, but I love these ladies’ cooking too.”
They all turn on cue and say simultaneously, “Thank you JJ.”
We all cook breakfast like we do on most Saturdays, of course that meant me making pancakes, and it is the first time for having bunny pancakes for Cindy, Anna, Allen, and Rosy. Just as we were setting the table, Kara and Daniel finally come out of their house to join the family again.
I took a momentary break from pancakes to introduce my new daughter and niece to the one aunt and uncle she has not met yet. Cindy was surprised when she met Kara for the first time. The two seem to share a connection that I seem to recognize. I held that impression to myself not knowing how it will finally play out.
Daniel looked at me before he says, “We stay away for a week and you have a new daughter, a foster daughter that you call your niece, what would happen if we were gone for an entire month?”
Joking with him I say, “We probably have a high-rise standing here. The way it’s going we will need the room.”
Kara cannot really help it, she is holding Cindy on her lap and the two talk a lot like MC and Rosy where the other night. Still having Daniels attention I ask him, “Have you met Anna, Allen and Rosy yet?”
With a shocked look on his face he asks, “I’m afraid to really ask, but more?”
I go into the story and explain to him what happened. How a simple text started things happening, by doing a tradition that brings families together and how it really did just that. How a simple act of kindness at such a big reward. Just as I finish my story, Crystal runs up to me with Rosy at her side, Crystal takes my hand and says, “Daddy show us the pool. Please Daddy.”
Rosy taking my other hand says, “Please uncle JJ, we have a little time before breakfast.”
Chuckling I reply, “How can I turned down two beautiful little Princesses like you?” I scooped them up into my arms to Daniels chuckles.
Daniel following along as the two chatter and I do the best to keep up with the conversation they are having with me. Crystal for being such a quiet girl just a day before has done a complete turnaround and is talking a mile a minute. Rosy seems to have no trouble keeping up with Crystal’s conversation.
I finally clear my throat and begin to explain the rules about the pool and the patio area. Having the girls’ attention, I tell them, “You only come in here with an adult. You only get to swim with an adult here once you know how to swim. You never swim alone. Rosy until your Mama knows how to swim well you can come here with her but unless your Aunt Kathryn or your Aunt Kara or one of your other aunts or uncles are here you two stay out of the pool. Your Grandpa is a good swim coach once you know the basics.”
Leave a Reply