The Seven Pieces of a Feuilleton

Chapter 37

The clearer the differences became between a delivery in France and a delivery in the US, the more gratitude she felt that her husband had agreed to relocate to France.

One thousand euro was received from the government simply for having the babies, something that boggled the minds of their friends.

The McKays required little discussion before they agreed that the money be put into Hannah's budding college fund.

They did not accept Andrea's protests that it was far too much money she could not possibly allow them to give, and both stayed firm on their decision until Andrea reluctantly gave in.

Mr. McKay stared in awe the first time Lyra's lips latched onto his wife's nipple. Though Mrs. McKay had a clear memory of her leaky breasts that she had concluded would haunt her for the rest of her days, she was still amazed that her body could produce enough milk for both of her children.

"I've loved your breasts since I saw them bounce around in your tank top when I revved up the engine to try to catch you, Bren, but I don't think I've ever loved them as much as I do now," Dylan whispered so as to not awaken the sleeping Lachlan in his arms.

Looking at father with son, she smiled and said, "And I've loved your arms since they reached up to take off your helmet so your perfect lips could ask about my disastrous hair, but I don't think I've ever loved them as much as I do now."

"Not even when they hold you?" he asked, walking forward to grasp his family.

"Can we stay like this always?" she asked.

"I wish," said Dylan, as Lachlan began to cry. "But the little guy's cutting into our solitude time already. I'll change him and then we'll switch off."

"Have you ever changed a boy before?"

"No, but I changed Breelyn a couple times. Have you?"

"I have a billion cousins, remember?" Brenda joked.

"Well, I'm gonna do diaper duty, so I gotta learn sometime. Might as well be now."

"I thought we were going to share diaper duty."

"Bren, you'll be doing all of the feeding until we can get them on the bottle. I'm doing diaper duty. If it makes you feel any better, when they switch to solids, I'll do the feeding and you can clean up their crap."

"Oh no," said Brenda, "we'll definitely take turns on that one."

"What Mummy says goes, kids," said Dylan. "Best for you to learn that now."

"Mummy?" she asked.

"Mom, Mommy, Mummy, Maman. I'm giving them options, Bren. Either way, you're their mother. They're yours."

"I am, aren't I?" She beamed, looking at their healthy twins. "And you're their father. They're yours, too."

"Damn straight," said Dylan. "They're ours, and no one can take that from us." He laid Lachlan on a clean, soft surface and began to remove the baby's soiled diaper.

"Wait, Dyl! Grab a new diaper fir -"

Brenda cut herself off in her giggling that came from Dylan receiving a faceful of pee.

"Bren, help," he begged.

"Okay, get cleaned up while I change Lachlan and next time, I'll show you how to change a boy."

"Deal, and then I'm doing all the changing."

She moved to place Lyra in the bassinet.

"No," Dylan held out his hands, "give Lyra to me."