All My Love

Chapter Twenty-Three

Elizabeth heard noise coming from the monitor on her bedside table but found herself unable to move pressed between two bodies. Lying there to enjoy it for a moment she reached down to pet Bingley’s head and run her fingers through Michael’s hair. In the middle of the night he had come into her room crying about nightmares so Elizabeth had stayed up with him soothing him and telling him stories until Michael fell asleep using her body as a pillow. Gently, Elizabeth shifted so that Michael was resting himself more on the pillow than on her so that she could get up and check on Caleb. Detouring to the kitchen Elizabeth turned the coffee pot on and made sure Bingley had fresh water even though she knew he wouldn’t drink it until she was feeding the boys. In the week since the boys had moved into their new home the four of them had settled into a comfortable routine. On Mondays and Wednesdays the boys went to daycare, on Tuesdays Kat came over to get the boys up so that Elizabeth could go to work, Thursdays and Fridays were spent in the shop, but Saturdays and Sundays were everyone’s favorites since they were the days Elizabeth now had off, but everyday regardless of the activities Bingley kept a protective eye on Elizabeth. “Alright Bingley let’s go see Caleb,” Elizabeth said to her dog with a smile as he trailed behind her. Opening his door Elizabeth could hear Caleb squeal in delight and the sight greeting her entrance was Caleb holding onto the bars of his crib giggling and smiling. “Good morning munchkin!” Elizabeth exclaimed picking him up. “Hi Mummy, hi puppy,” Caleb said looking at Bingley and moving his iron grip from the bars to Elizabeth’s hair. Every time Caleb called her ‘Mummy’ Elizabeth’s heart swelled. She wanted to care for him and nurture him and by calling her ‘Mummy’ it made that easier. Michael didn’t call her anything except for Beth yet but sometimes when Caleb cried she could hear him saying that ‘Mummy’ was coming. After changing his diaper and getting him dressed, Elizabeth propped Caleb on her hip and went to wake up Michael in her room. “Michael,” she whispered sitting down on the bed. “Michawl up!” Caleb demanded as his brother rolled over to look at them. “Why don’t you go get dressed buddy, I’m going to make us some pancakes,” Elizabeth said making Michael shoot out of bed and into his room down the hall. Smiling Elizabeth went back to the kitchen and put Caleb in his highchair before getting her coffee and starting pancakes. “Are they ready Beth?” Michael asked eagerly climbing up on his stool to watch her. “Not yet buddy but you can help me if you want,” Elizabeth said placing the chocolate chips in a smiley face on his pancake. “Why don’t you set the table with the cups and plates,” she suggested pointing to the ones out on the island. “All done!” Michael announced proudly as he put Caleb’s sippy cup on his high chair tray. “Just in time!” Elizabeth exclaimed with a bright smile turning around to place a pancake on each boy’s plate. When Michael saw his smiley face he grinned and thanked Elizabeth with a hug as she cut Caleb’s pancake so he wouldn’t choke. “What would you like to drink?” Elizabeth asked looking down at Michael. “Milk please,” he said with a smile still hugging her. Before Elizabeth could move to get it someone was in front of the fridge pulling it out. “Tuukka!” Elizabeth said genuinely happy to see him. “I was going to see if you wanted to go out to breakfast but it looks like you have that covered,” Tuukka said with a smile getting himself a plate from the cabinet. “Hi Daddy!” Caleb squealed and reached his pudgy hand out towards Tuukka. “Tuuk will you pour Caleb some milk too please?” Elizabeth asked ask she finished cutting his pancake and moved to get theirs from the griddle. “On one condition,” Tuukka said blocking her path. Elizabeth crossed her arms and raised her eyebrows but didn’t answer. “I still haven’t had my good morning kiss,” he said leaning down and kissing her softly.

            “You have a bump!” Brad announced in excitement when he hugged her from behind. Kat rolled her eyes but couldn’t stop the smile that spread across her face. “Really?” she asked turning the stove off and turning around. Brad dropped to his knees and lifted up her shirt to examine her possible bump better. “Yes this is definitely a bump. But not pudgy because it’s impossible for you to get pudgy with how much you work out. This is a baby bump,” Brad declared running his hand over the warm skin. “Brad relax it’s not even visible yet,” Kat said grabbing plates from the counter to put food on them. “What did you make this morning?” Brad asked peeking over her shoulder. Kat laughed at his childlike excitement and handed him a plate with French toast. “I was going to make scrambled eggs but that didn’t go well last time,” Kat said cringing as she thought about how the smell had left her sick in the bathroom for hours. “So I’ve been thinking,” Brad started as the pair sat down to breakfast. Kat rolled her eyes at him but didn’t make a move to take a jab at him like he thought she might. “Tuukka practically lives with your sister and their little family so what if you moved in here since you practically live here too?” Brad suggested looking at Kat’s blank face in hope. Chewing slowly Kat took a moment to think before voicing her opinions. “I think that if you want me to move in here I won’t accept your offer of a date until we’re positive it would work out. We’re going to be a family one way or another we just have to figure out how,” Kat said as a pained look crossed her face. Before Brad could say anything Kat sprinted from the room with her hand over her mouth. Realizing what was happening Brad grabbed a bottle of water and followed quickly after her. Without saying anything Brad sat on the floor next to Kat taking her hair from her hand and rubbing her back while she vomited. After what felt like forever to both of them Kat was finally able to stop dry heaving and slumped backwards into Brad’s arms. “Why don’t you brush your teeth and get dressed while I go throw the eggs away?” Brad offered and made the both of them laugh. Of course of all the foods she had to have an aversion to during her pregnancy Kat couldn’t stand eggs. “This totally sucks,” she sighed as Brad helped her up. “It’s definitely not going to be a walk in the park but that’s okay,” he said bringing her in for a hug and kissing the top of her head.