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“I still haven’t forgiven them for the ‘Treasure is about to pop’ comment,” she groused, but he could tell she wasn’t really upset. How could they be? They had two healthy kids and Anne was doing well, too, if still a bit sore.
Blane pried one baby from a car seat and Anne did the other before following each other into the house, Simpson and Buckner bringing up the rear. The two other agents—Smith and Peale—were waiting inside. Blane had never before seen two grown men with guns talk baby talk to two newborns. But there you have it.
The nanny, Brandy, popped into the kitchen. She was twenty-five, oldest of five—two of which were identical twins—and a nursing school graduate. Tall at five-nine, she had long brown hair that was always in a French braid, and attractive features. She was a swimmer and had been on the team at the University of Connecticut. Her parents lived in Weston, Connecticut and had been high school sweethearts and married for thirty years so far.
He and Anne had interviewed dozens of candidates and Brandy had been a no-brainer. Warm and friendly, she was always smiling with a cheerful disposition. Very energetic with a background of smaller nannying jobs, she had worked as a nurse for a while, but missed nannying because she adored children. They’d practically hired her on the spot. Now she had her own bedroom and en suite on the third floor, opposite the nursery.
For now, the twins would sleep in a bassinet in Blane and Anne’s room until they got older. Brandy would assist with readying and heating bottles, changing diapers, and anything else they needed help with to get through the next few months until the twins were sleeping through the night.
Daniel had come to the hospital and met the twins there. He’d brought Anne an enormous bouquet of flowers, which he carried in now along with balloons and more flowers. Anne’s room had looked like the inside of a florist’s.
After the initial excitement of their arrival home, he’d gotten Anne and the twins settled in. Everyone was tired. The twins were sleeping, and he watched over them while she took a quick shower. Her mother was coming tomorrow to stay for a few days and help but for now, he had his wife and his children all to himself.
Daniel brought up their dinner and Blane turned on the news while they ate. Several stories were about him and Anne, his campaign, the current polling, and news of the twins’ birth. He noticed Anne didn’t bat an eye, just kept eating her lasagna. She took a long swallow of red wine.
“God, that tastes good.”
Blane laughed. “Nine months going dry a bit much?”
“You have no idea.”
Blane refilled her glass and set aside his tray. Daniel had gone for comfort food tonight with Caesar salad, lasagna, and crusty French bread. He’d even made a Devil’s food chocolate cake for dessert, which Anne practically inhaled.
“What’s the campaign schedule?” she asked.
“Well, with only thirteen weeks left, things are ramping up even more. I have two rallies next week, but they’re close enough to fly out, do the rally, fly back. A fundraising dinner next Saturday, a week from today, in Boston.”
“I can probably come to that.”
“You don’t have to.”
“Let’s say a tentative yes and we’ll see how the twins are doing by then. And Brandy.”
They did the ten o’clock feeding together, burped them, and put them to bed. They’d shown a strong aversion to being apart in the hospital, so Blane had gotten what he called “a double-wide” bassinet so they could sleep together. Both sucked their thumbs.
Anne took off her robe, the long silken gown she wore was a return to pre-pregnancy Anne.
“I’m so glad to be through with maternity clothes,” she said with a sigh, climbing into the bed. She fell back against the down pillows and pulled the covers up. Blane arranged his own pillows and stripped off his shirt. He set the wireless call button for Brandy on the table. “It feels so good to have my body back.”
Blane gave her a long, lingering kiss. “How long did the doctor say?” he murmured against her lips.
Anne laughed lightly. “Four weeks. He has to give me the all-clear at my follow up.”
Blane gave an exaggerated groan of disappointment. Anne kissed him again and lay back.
“We should get some sleep,” she said. “They’ll be awake in a few hours.”
Blane flipped off the light and drew her into his arms. They were asleep within minutes.
* * *
Anne was right. A pitiful cry woke them sometime before two. Anne stirred as Blane got out of bed.
“Is that Evie?”
Blane checked. “No. Everett.” He handed the baby to Anne and pressed the button for Brandy. She knew to get the bottles ready and bring them up. Just then, Evie began to make her displeasure known. Blane handed Evie to Anne and took Everett for his diaper change on the changing table. Anne changed Evie on a changing pad on the bed. They’d just finished when Brandy arrived, bebopping in with two warm bottles.
“Is there anything else I can do?” she asked.
