A Different Divergent: Everyday Love

16

Chapter 16

"How would you guys like to go to the Navy Pier with us?" Stella asks as I'm wiping the remnants of dessert off Tessa's face and hands as Tobias does the same with Teagan. After a long afternoon at the park watching the kids play and gossiping with Stella and Zander, we had pizza and breadsticks at Tastes of Italy and waffle bowl sundaes at the quaint little ice cream parlor next door.

"What do you think?" Tobias asks, first looking at me then each of the kids. A resounding yes echoes off the tin ceiling. They love taking advantage of my wedding gift just as much as I do.

"I want to go on the big wheel," Tyler excitedly says. "It's my favorite thing."

"Me, too," Tessa says, her pleading eyes shining.

"Can we go on it?" Tyler begs. "Please!"

"Peas!" Tessa and Teagan parrot.

"We'd love to join you, Stella," I say then I look into three sets of beseeching eyes and say, "and, of course, we'll ride the Ferris wheel."

"We can't stay out too late though," Tobias says. "It's been a very long day, and it's getting close to someone's bedtime."

"It must be Tess and Teags because I'm older and don't need as much sleep," Tyler says. I can't help but chuckle at his logic.

"I'm thinking it's getting close to your bedtime, too," I say.

"If I have to," he says with a dramatic sigh setting off giggles in his sisters.

"Do you really want to add to this chaos by having another baby?" Tobias whispers against my ear as we're leaving the ice cream parlor.

"Yeah, I do," I say as I take his hand. I tentatively look up at him out of the corner of my eyes. I relax when I find him wearing a tender smile. I think he's warming up to the idea.

We load the kids into the car then follow Zander and Stella's full van the short distance to the freshly paved parking lot across from the Navy Pier. Since the city refurbished the Crystal Gardens building, they have been tirelessly working on making the Pier a family destination. They tore down some of the crumbling structures that couldn't be saved and put in green space, a large playground for kids, and activities aimed towards adults such as permanent sand volleyball nets, tennis courts, and rock-climbing walls. Dauntless members love those, the stupid fools. Some of the old retail space was restored and Amity's farmers market was given a permanent home along with a few new restaurants and some quirky shops. Now the council has set its sight on fixing up what used to be called the Grand Ballroom that sits at the far end of the Pier. We're not entirely sure what it will be used for but there are a lot of possibilities including a secondary wedding location so more than one couple can get married on the same day and centrally located permanent council office space. The final decision is on the docket for this month's meeting.

"Hey, Zander," I call out after I remember something. "Earlier you mentioned that you got some news this morning." We got interrupted by some hyper kids, and we forgot to finish our conversation. "You hinted it was bad news. What's going on?" From the way his face falls, I know this isn't going to be good.

"Oh, yeah," he says eyeing the kids. I'm carrying a worn-out Teagan, Tobias is walking, holding both Tyler and Tessa's hands, and Zane, Nash, Nya, Sadine, and Gavin are encompassing their parents. "Why don't we let the kids ride the carousel and then I'll explain?" I was right. If he specifically doesn't want to talk in front of the kids, it's definitely something bad.

"Gavin, can you keep a close eye on Tessa and Teags?" Tobias asks. "I'll throw in a little extra when you watch the kids Saturday night."

"You don't have to do that, Four," he says. "I'm happy to watch them."