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It appears that Madeline’s nickname that Grant has given her is sticking with the entire family. And the Mae? I’m not sure where that came from. Her middle name is Elizabeth, but I admit Maddie Mae has a nice ring to it. “Thank you, Grant.”
“Anytime.”
“I call dibs on the baby!” Aurora calls out to us.
“I’m on my way, Rory,” Grant calls back. Without another word, he releases the car seat and turns to head into the house, stopping only to slip his arm around his wife’s waist, and they walk in together.
“Told you that you were welcome,” Aspen says, sticking her tongue out at me.
Playfully, I roll my eyes, making her laugh. I follow her up the steps to the house and find Aurora already holding Madeline. I take a seat on the recliner, placing her diaper bag and my purse at my feet.
“We need some girls,” Aurora tells Madeline. “Yes, we do, sweet girl. There are too many boys.”
“Layla!” Sawyer calls out. “It’s your turn.” Sawyer points at her sister-in-law.
“What? Why is it my turn?” Layla laughs.
“Because Carter is the oldest. You’re the closest to having another. We need a girl. M‘kay?” Sawyer says, and Madeline giggles.
“Shh, don’t let Owen hear you say that,” she whispers.
“Oh, is he ready for another?” Aurora asks.
“Pft, if he’s anything like Royce, he was ready before you were released from the hospital,” Sawyer comments.
“Pretty much,” Layla agrees. “I want them to be close, but not Irish twins. That’s too close.” She shakes her head.
“How are you feeling?” Sawyer asks Aurora and Aspen.
“Great.” They smile at one another.
“We’re close.” Aspen rubs her swollen belly.
“So close,” Aurora agrees.
“You plan on hogging her all day?” Layla asks Aurora. “You’re not the only one who wants baby snuggles.”
“Where’s Carter?” I ask her.
“With his daddy.” She rolls her eyes, but the smile gracing her lips tells me she’s not as annoyed as she wants us to think that she is.
“Owen took him with him to the meeting?”
“Yep.” She smiles, popping the p. “Those two are joined at the hip.”
“See.” Sawyer points at Layla. “We need some girls to even out all this testosterone.”
“Do you really think that’s going to make a difference?” Aspen asks her. “You know what’s going to happen when one of us has a girl, right?”
“What?” Aurora asks, passing a smiling Madeline off to Layla.
“Come on. You have to know that they’re going to be daddy’s little girls. What’s worse is that our husbands are going to convince the boys of the family to ‘protect’ her.” She does air quotes with her hands.
“Shit,” Aurora mumbles.
“That’s fine,” Sawyer speaks up. “They can take the girls and let them wrap them around their pinkies. Then maybe the boys will give their mommas some love.” Aspen reaches over and gives her a high-five.
“Are you all hungry? I made some sandwiches and some dips. I figure the guys will all end up here after their meeting anyway.”
“I’m starving,” Aspen and Aurora reply at the same time.
“Come on, Mommas, let's get you fed.”
“You want me to take her?” I ask Layla.
“No. She’s too sweet.”
“Well, you better get your fill. Once I eat, I’m taking my turn,” Sawyer tells her.
“Where’s Roan?” Aspen asks.
“He’s napping. He should be asleep for a while. He woke us up at five this morning and thought it was time to party. Instead of Royce letting him lay in his crib and chatter himself back to sleep, he got up with him, and they had a little party together.” She shakes her head. “And who can sleep when your hot-as-hell husband is playing with your son at 5:00 a.m.?” She shrugs.
“I know what you mean,” Layla tells her. “Gets me every time.”
“See what you have to look forward to?” Sawyer asks Aspen and Aurora.
“Doesn’t seem so bad,” Aspen comments.
I can’t help but be envious of their relationships with their husbands. Being a single mom, I don’t have these kinds of moments. At least I didn’t. Marshall has given me a glimpse of what raising a child with a partner might look like.
We spend the next hour or so laughing and eating. All of the girls take a turn holding Madeline, and she’s eating up the attention. I send up a silent thank-you to whoever brought these amazing women into my life. I don’t feel so alone, and that gives me hope. I hope that Madeline and I will get out of this slump we’re in.
“What about you, Wren? Do you want more?” Layla asks. We’re back in the living room, bellies full and talking about anything and everything.
I sigh. “I wanted a house full, but I don’t think that’s in the cards for me. I’m thinking Maddie and I will be a duo for life,” I tell them honestly.
“Seriously? Do you not see how Marshall looks at you?” Aspen asks.
