Forlot: Thunder Will Come Down - Book Twenty-Seven

Chapter Twenty-Two

I forgot to mention in the last chapter that my husband and I, as well as our children, were attending a fancy party. I also forgot to tell you readers a little bit about Caleb's new son. The party had no occasion attached to it. It was being hosted by my parents, and anyone who was from my or Caleb's family or friends with us was invited.

Caleb and I were wearing attractive outfits and helping the children put on their fancy clothes. Caleb had on a black tuxedo and a purple and pink tie that Tamara and Alex decorated for him. They really adore their daddy. I wore a new dress that I bought for this party and many more to follow. It was made from silk and decorated with leopard prints. Do not fret. The prints are not from a real leopard. The dress reached to my ankles and had no sleeves.

Caleb was helping the boys, and I was helping the girls. Tamara reminded me time and time again that she was staying home and trashing the house if she could not wear her pink dress. I am still unsure why she would think that I would have a problem with the princess outfit. I guess that maybe it was because Mom and Dad assume that a costume was not sufficient for a party. My daughter and I have more in common than I thought.

As for my other daughter, Alex begged me to let her wear her purple dress. Purple is her favorite color, and she loved her dress. I slipped the clothes of their choices on them and gave them two small bags, one for each of them. Alex cooed excitedly and started opening the bag, but I stopped her. The kitty came into the room and gently scratched me with its claws. I picked it up and stroked the fur on its head.

"Can I trust you girls to take care of the kitten?" I asked the babies.

"Me love...Kitty!" they replied in unison.

"You and your brothers are responsible for protecting and feeding our pet during the party. The kitty will be on a pink—"

"Yay!" Tamara interrupted.

"...and a purple—"

"Yay!" Alex chimed in.

"...leash. The kitten will be on a pink and purple leash." I shook Tamara's bag. "In these bags are treats for the kitty. You two cannot eat the treats because you are humans, not cats. If you do, you will die."

Both of the babies let out a yelp and covered their mouths. I know that I should not be scaring them like this since that they are infants, but they need common sense. Everybody has to have common sense nowadays.

"Cindy?"

I faced the direction in which the voice came from and was surprised to see Caleb's new son. Destiny named him North, but I prefer Neil. Regardless, I refer to him as North because that is the name that he unfortunately knows.

North's skin was a mix of white and black like mine. He had short hair that was black and white and wore glasses that were similar to Caleb's. I was taken aback that he said my name. In fact, I was surprised that he spoke. He had been cold and not spoken to everyone in the house except Destiny since that he and Destiny moved in. It was difficult to tell if he did not like us or was just shy.

I rose and spun my body around. "North. It is nice to see you. You look handsome in your tuxedo."

"Cindy, why do I have to wear this dumb tuxedo and attend the party? Mommy is not going."

"Your mommy is not going because she is pregnant."

He quirked an eyebrow. "I am unfamiliar with the word 'pregnant.'"

"She has a baby. There is a baby in her stomach."

"Mommy ate a baby?!"

I could not help but burst out laughing. What he said and how he said it was hilarious. "She did not eat a baby. When a mommy and a daddy love each other very much...poof! A baby is placed into the mother's belly."

"Why?"

"God knows that some mothers are more careful than men."

"Now I am confused, Cindy."

"What are you confused about?"

"Daddy is more careful than you. Why can he not get pregnant? I mean, you have no capability in getting yourself pregnant, so why does Daddy not have a belly the size of an exercise ball?"

I hesitated for a moment. "You should ask your dad. Being pregnant is not an easy thing to do."

"Okay." I picked up the babies, and North said, "I have another question."

"What is it?"

"Why are you and Daddy married? Mommy and Daddy are supposed to be together."

There are so many ways that I could have answered that question. Thankfully, Caleb took North to finish getting ready, so I avoided it. For now.

When we were all ready to leave the house, we said goodbye to Destiny and climbed into the car. Security cameras are hidden all around the house, so I was not concerned about leaving my cousin alone. If she did something wrong, I would catch her in the act.

We arrived to the courthouse and scrambled out of the car. The courthouse has a room reserved for parties, so that is where we had to go. I got the stroller that I see parents use with twins out from the trunk and unfolded it. I set it on the ground, and Caleb put Alex and Tamara in it. I tied the leash to the stroller's handle so that the kitten would not scurry off. I pushed the stroller, and all of us entered the courthouse and took our sweet time down the hall. We were near the party room, when I spotted a person standing just outside of it and blocking the entrance.

It was a woman. It was Ms. Hayley Taylor.