"You seem surprised," Eliza said, tucking the blanket more securely around her daughter.
"I am indeed." The woman admitted. She had been against the whole IVF business, but it did not surprise her that she had fallen in love with the beautiful babies. "And I was wrong about you."
"Oh?"
Marianne nodded, slowly swinging the baby in her arms. "You were determined to have a family, and you did what you had to do. I admire you, my dear."
Eliza could not manage to hide her surprise.
"Thank you."
"I know we haven't been the best of friends or gotten along in the past, but I would like that to change." She looked down at the little girl whose eyelids were drifting shut. "I'm a grandmother, thanks to your persistence."
"You're welcome. I think this little one is ready for bed."
"Oh, please let me," Marianne begged when Eliza started to reach for her.
"Of course. I need to go and feed the boys anyway."
"Your parents were very reluctant to leave." Things had quieted down and it was just them, standing next to their daughter's cot, gazing at the sleeping baby.
"Can't say I blame them." Reaching into the cot, Samuel tugged the soft pink and white blanket with Sofia's initials stenciled on the edge. "I'm finding it difficult to leave her alone. I have this urge to wake her up and hold her."
"Then I would have to kill you and leave her without a daddy."
He merely grinned. "You love me too much."
"Which is why I would be mercifully quick." Tucking her hand through his arm, she steered him away from the cot. "We should let her sleep. Besides, there's the meal waiting for us."
He allowed himself to be led from the beautiful lavender and pink nursery and into their suite.
"What's on your mind?" He asked quietly as soon as they were seated in front of the fire. It was Christmas and it would be the first one for their babies. Even though they were too young to appreciate the season, Eliza had every intention of going all out. They had a lot to celebrate. She was not naive enough to think that their problems were over. With four preemies, there were bound to be health issues all the time, but for now, they could enjoy the break.
"I hate when you do that."
"Do what?" he asked mildly, removing the silver covers from the succulent meal. Lyka-Mae had taken charge of the household including the two nannies and was having the time of her life bossing people around.
"Read me."
"It's my superpower." He dished up the slices of thinly cut roast beef onto her plate. "Spill."
She shrugged and wished she were allowed to drink alcohol. A glass of wine would do her good right about now.
"It's the boys."
"What about them?" He gave her a swift glance while he handed her a glass of milk. She was still breastfeeding and did her best to provide the necessary nutrients for the babies. Very soon, she knew she was going to have to introduce formulas, but for now it was just her breast milk. She knew that preemies were susceptible to all sorts of infections. The doctors had told her that feeding them her breast milk would go a long way in helping to stave them off.
"I don't know which is which." She shrugged restlessly and took a sip of the ice cold milk. "I'm a terrible mother."
"You're being ridiculous."
"I cannot tell them apart. I'm their mother, I gave birth to them, and if I don't happen to see them in their cots, I cannot tell them apart. Even the nannies know the difference. You do," she pointed out.
"That's because I made note of the fact that they have identical birthmarks on different parts of their bodies."
"Birthmarks? Oh! The small red mark on their skin. What does that have to – "
"Jeremy was the first to be born. He has the mark on the left side of his neck. He also has the shape of your nose." He quirked a brow at her skeptical expression. "You don't agree."
