More than Expected

Part 39

November 28, 2013
The aroma of food fills her childhood home as she stands in the kitchen with her parents as they prepare Thanksgiving dinner. The morning started with Rick insisting they sit with Royce in front of the TV to watch the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade before he put the baby down for a nap and took a shower. Martha is on her way; meanwhile, Johanna is working on the stuffing while Jim takes the turkey outside to deep fry it and Kate busies herself with the yams. She hears foosteps and watches her boyfriend walk downstairs with Royce in his arms.
He carries the baby towards the kitchen and she smiles at the outfit Rick put him in: a grey and white striped onesie that have little suspenders on them and says "Mommy's Little Turkey" paired with little brown pants and a brown turkey cap that says "My 1st Thanksgiving" on it. "Hi my handsome boy." Kate coos, "Say 'hi Mama'." Rick whispers as Royce stares up at Kate. His eyes are starting to settle into a similar hazel that Kate has. He looks just like his Mama but has his Dada's nose. Johanna wastes no time taking the baby from his father's arms.
      Rick moves to help Kate prepare the other dishes, "Just think, this time next year we could be hosting Thanksgiving from our house." Kate reminds her boyfriend. "Officially as husband and wife." He whispers in her ear before pressing a quick kiss to her neck, "You planning on proposing soon?" She asks and he shrugs as he continues to prepare the cranberry sauce. Johanna opens the front door after someone knocks on it and Martha walks in with a bottle of wine and sparkling cider in hand, "Hello all!" She greets them all.
      Johanna and Martha exchange beverages for the baby as the redhead insists on holding her grandson, "How has he been?" Martha asks, "Good. He's sleeping more through the night and eats a lot. He's a chunk." Kate answers. As if on que, Royce begins crying for his next feed. "That's my calling." Kate jokes as she takes the baby from his Grandma and heads upstairs with him. Martha walks over to greet her son, "How are you, Kiddo? Back to work?" Martha asks, "Yeah, I went back last week. I have today and tomorrow off for the holiday." He answers as he kisses Martha's cheek.
      Jim enters the home with turkey ready to go. "Where's Katie?" He asks his wife, "Nursing the baby. She should be down shortly." Johanna tells him. They work on setting the table and by the time they're done, Kate is walking back downstairs. Rick sets the baby swing next to the table so they can keep an eye on Royce while they eat. Once their plates are full of food, Jim says the Lord's Prayer, "Our Father, who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the Kingdom. The power and glory forever. Amen." They all repeat "amen" before beginning to eat. "Bug, have you decided what you want to do for the second semester of school?" Johanna asks her daughter, "I think I want to go back to school. I miss it and I think it will make the time without Rick go by quicker." Kate explains.
      "That sounds good, but I do have to ask: what are you going to do with him?" Her mother asks as she nods towards the baby, "I wouldn't mind watching Royce, if you're alright with it, Katherine." Martha offers, "That would be amazing actually. I can drop him off on my way to school and then stop by for lunch before picking him up on my way home." Kate says and Martha nods, "I could take him on Fridays since it's my quick day and that way Martha can have the day to do stuff she doesn't get to do throughout the week." Johanna offers.
     Kate nods, "That sounds like a good plan." Rick agrees with the plan. They continue enjoying dinner before Rick and Kate prepare dessert and Johanna and Martha put the leftovers away while Jim handles the dishes. They settle at the table with dessert when Royce begins crying, "He's hungry. Can you grab me the nursing cover from his diaper bag?" Kate asks and Rick nods as he stands and walks over to the diaper bag by the front door. Kate lifts the baby from his swing, "Okay, baby, okay." She coos trying to calm him down.
     Rick returns quickly with the nursing cover. Rick holds Royce while Kate gets herself ready before taking the baby back and slipping him underneath the cover to allow him to nurse. "We're gonna have to get him more use to the bottle if you're going back to school." Rick says and Kate nods, "We'll work it into his schedule." She says. Rick feeds Kate her dessert since her hands are full with the baby. "Have you guys looked at any houses yet?" Jim asks, "We've looked at a couple, but I think we'll look more intently when these two come down for Spring Break." Rick answers.
      After dessert, the grandparents settle on the couch with Royce while Rick does dishes and Kate goes to pack their bags since they're spending the weekend at Martha and Rick's apartment. Once the dishes are done and Kate has their bags packed, they get Royce bundled up, "Say 'bye Nonna, bye Pop'." Kate murmurs as she lifts her baby boy's tiny hand to wave to her parents. Jim and Johanna kiss the baby boy's cheek before hugging their daughter and saying goodbye to Rick, "Be safe and let us know when you guys get there." Johanna says.
     Kate nods, "We'll see you guys Sunday night for dinner." Kate responds before they go get Royce settled in the car and climb in and Rick drives them to his apartment. Once they're at his place, Martha heads to bed while Rick and Kate tag team giving their son a bath and then getting themselves ready for bed. They cuddle up in his bed with Royce in his travel crib next to the bed getting a good nights sleep.
Part 39!!!! Here is baby Royce's outfit:

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