"Braxton Hicks contractions," admitted Hannah, confessing to the ordinary contractions of the third trimester. "I am not looking forward to another month of these."
"Tell me about it!" Lucy had had carried three sets of shifter babies to term.
* * *
Will Enright held tightly to his mate's elbow as they went up the path to his parents' front door. Behind him Martha's eighteen-year-old cousin, Shelly Brown, skipped delightedly and assured them loudly and repeatedly that this was the best Christmas ever.
The front door opened, Ed grinned at the latecomers. "Merry Christmas," he boomed.
"Poppa," squealed Shelly and threw herself past Martha into Ed's arms. He picked her up in a big bear hug and kissed both her cheeks.
Will's handsome face tightened and he gripped Martha's elbow more securely.
"I'm fine," Martha assured her husband.
Ed kissed her on both cheeks and made a discovery. He held out a big mitt to his son and shook his hand heartily. "Congratulations," he said cheerfully.
Will had to let go of Martha to shake hands and she took the opportunity to slip into the house. Jack appeared from the kitchen and opened his mouth in horror.
"Oh, hi, Martha," he said, as he realized this was not Hannah, escaped from her chair, but her sister. Martha and Hannah were part of the same set of triplets, but not identical. Still Martha's opulent curves and long dark curls were sufficiently like her sister's for even Jack to get confused.
"Merry Christmas, Jack," Martha said cheerfully, taking off her coat. "Here let's swap." She took Teddy from Jack and he hung up her coat.
Shelly shrieked, "Merry, Merry Christmas," and then stopped as soon as she caught a whiff of the baby. "Oh, let me hold him," she begged. She buried her nose in his fragrant scalp. "Merry Christmas, Teddy," she murmured.
Everyone smiled and enjoyed the sight of Shelly cuddling the baby. Shelly had Down syndrome, but her greatest pleasure was children, and since she used her bear senses to distinguish them she never mixed up the kids.
Katrina hear the welcoming noises and came to join the fun. As soon as she saw Martha and Shelly her happy smile got broader. She enfolded Martha into a warm embrace. "Is best Christmas present," she told her. "I am very happy, daughter." She turned to Will and warned him. "You take care of her."
"I will," Will vowed.
"How is the helicopter working out?" asked Jack.
Will had decided that commuting between Wesheno, Wisconsin and Hanover, Washington was best done by air. He had bought a used helicopter and had constructed a landing pad just outside Wesheno, where he and Martha had built a house that they shared with Shelly.
"Great," Will said to his twin. "We had Christmas Eve at the Community Center with the Ancestral Bear Clan, and got up this morning and opened stockings. Hopped aboard the chopper, and here we are. Missed the worst of the rain too."
"Martha looks well," Jack said.
"Yes, she does," Will said proudly.
"Martha is going to have babies," shouted Shelly.
"That's wonderful news," said Katrina serenely. "More babies is more better. Shelly, come into the kitchen and help me with the little ones."
Shelly grabbed Katrina's outstretched hand and bore baby Teddy off on her shoulder.
"Congratulations," Jack said to Will.
"I have never in my life been so scared," Will said. Since Will was a Navy SEAL with twenty years of dangerous missions behind him, this was quite an admission.
"Welcome to the club," Jack told him shaking his hand. "No one told me that I would spend nine months terrified."
"But Hannah's okay?" Will asked.
"Little clumsy now, and she doesn't sleep well anymore, and she's always trying to overdo, but yeah she's fine," Jack told his brother wryly. "On the other hand, I'm a nervous wreck." Since Jack was six five of calm alpha male his family merely rolled their eyes unsympathetically.
Martha wandered into the living room and prevented her sister from getting up again. "Sit, sit. Merry Christmas, sis. Did you hear Shelly shouting our news from the housetops?" she asked.
Hannah chuckled. "She sounded happy and excited. Congratulations."
"Thank you. Will has begun to cosset me, but it's early days yet." Martha patted her tummy. "Merry Christmas, Maddie," she called to her sister-in-law who smiled sleepily from across the room but didn’t speak.
"When are you due?" Hannah asked Martha. It was difficult to believe that just last Christmas she had had no family, no mate, and now she had both Martha and her brother Robert Waukau, plus Jack and his large family to call her own. And now Martha was going to have kids who would be the same age as her own. Her eyes welled up with joyful tears.
Martha patted her shoulder and looked alarmed. "Nothing to cry about," she said.
Hannah wiped her eyes. "I get so emotional about everything these days. How was the Christmas Eve bash in Wesheno?"
"Fantastic," Martha assured her, sinking to the carpet and folding her legs under her. "The Community Center was decorated by the day care. Just about everyone in town came.
"We ate and ate." Martha rubbed her tummy. "After dinner there was a talent show, and the children's choir sang carols, and Sam Deer told a long story that I didn't quite grasp—but which made everyone else howl. And then Will, Shelly and I went back to Robert's place and visited. He came with us this morning," she finished.
"Is he here?" Hannah tried to get up.
Martha patted her knee. "He's gone to Vanessa's house. You'll see him tomorrow."
Hannah beamed. "Think they'll announce their engagement this week?"
"Who knows. Our brother is crazy about her, but he doesn't seem to be in as much of a rush as our bears." Martha turned her head from side to side to show off her new earrings. "Look at what I got for Christmas."
"Ooh, pretty." Hannah admired the sparkling diamonds in her sister's ears. "Do you like mine?" She lifted her curls away from her pearl earrings.
"Unusual," Martha said. "I like that cluster of different colors, and the circle of diamonds on the outside is lovely."
* * *
In Ed's study he and his sons stood around his desk top looking at the weather. "You got lucky," he told Will as they looked at the thundershowers making their way in from the coast.
Will nodded soberly. "I did at that. Mind, I've flown in worse, but I'd prefer not to have my wife as cargo in a thunderstorm. But where did that blow up from?"
Ed shrugged at this rhetorical question. The weather in the Northwest was known to be changeable. "Did you get the sawmill sorted?" he asked Will instead.
"Yes, sir. It took some doing, but the Tribal Council has approved the mill and the kiln, and is now accepting applications for the use of the workshops to be built beside them." Will looked proud.
"When do they get started?" asked Ed. "I told Sam that I would come out to Wesheno and give them some advice whenever he wants." Enright Mills had a long history of sustainable logging and providing long term employment for the local community. Will was hoping that the Menominee would be able to use the timber stands around Wesheno to increase the economic stability of the whole tribe.
"I don't see what the fuss was about," said Tom. "You're pretty much giving them the money, and they will own the mill, the kiln and the factories. What's not to like?"
Will looked grave. "There's a long history of Native Americans getting the worst of any deal. They thought there had to be some catch. But I told Sam Deer to take it to a lawyer and get it scrutinized six ways to Wednesday—and I'd pay for the lawyer."
"What did their lawyer say?" prompted Jack.
"That they should sign before I realized that I was lending money interest free, with no due date, and no ability to ever recall the loan," Will said. "I had kinda hoped they wouldn't notice that part."
"What did the council say?" asked Ed.
"That they didn't want charity. They wanted a payment schedule, so we negotiated. Finally settled on the first rep
ayment coming due after five years. Provided they have made the profits that my business plan sets out." Will looked mighty pleased for a man who had just given away millions of dollars.
Jack clapped his twin on the shoulder. "New business and a family too! Way to go, bro."
"It's been a pretty good year," agreed Will. "How're things in Portland, Doug?"
Doug grinned. “Army’s finally processed my retirement. So I’m officially working for Homeland Security.
“Maddie's gym had a grand opening last week, to get the extension kicked off,” he continued proudly. “Lenny and Joey did a great job on the finish. Maddie is over the moon. And those boys have even sold their fixer-upper. A friend of Maddie's brother took it off their hands—and gladly."
"I'm glad to hear it," said Will. "When are the weddings?"
"Joey is talking February—some foolishness about Valentine's Day." Doug smirked. "Len doesn't want to wait that long—and he doesn't have to please Erin's family so I expect they'll get married before Joe."
This good news was greeted with general good cheer and some bawdy remarks at Len’s expense.
"And I've been asked to give Erin away, as she has no kin of her own," Doug added proudly. “Wedding’s in French Town.”
CHAPTER TWO
Lucy was nursing Teddy and Rosy in the large kitchen rocker that Katrina had put there for that purpose. The babies were guzzling steadily, despite the chatter from their siblings and cousins sitting around Baba's table coloring and playing games.
Milly and Katrina were peering at the sky. It was dark and ominous looking and spears of lightning split the skies over the mountains. "I don't like the look of that," said Milly low voiced. "There's been so much rain the last few days, I have a bad feeling."
Katrina nodded. "Is too much rains. But we have generator if the power goes out. Is the river worry me. It go too fast, too high." The more worried Katrina became, the more her Ukrainian accent intensified.
"Do you think it's likely to flood?" Milly asked quietly.
"Probably," muttered Katrina. "But we will celebrate Christmas Day, and if there is trouble, well we are a family can deal with troubles."
"This is true," said Milly.
Lucy burped Rosy and called to Milly. "Will you see if Shelly got his bottle into Cal, please?" Lucy had to make her triplets take turns to nurse. But her Calvin didn't care for this arrangement, and if she wasn't firm, he would have refused his supplemental bottles.
Shelly had of course persuaded little Cal to drink all his formula and was competently burping him. She brought him back into the kitchen and gave him to his Baba.
"You’re a wonder with kids," said Lucy.
Shelly beamed and sat down with the older children and was soon absorbed into one of their games.
"Do you think Hannah is all right?" Milly asked, taking Rosy, who had fallen asleep, from her mom and leaving her Teddy.
Lucy put Teddy on her shoulder and rubbed his back. "You thinking what I'm thinking?" she asked.
"She's having an awful lot of contractions, pretty close together for Braxton Hicks," suggested Milly.
"Babies come when they want to come," said Lucy. "But driving to the hospital might not be that easy tonight. That rain is really coming down." Thunder crashed overhead punctuating her remark. The two women looked at each other in consternation.
"First babies take their time coming," offered Milly.
"Let's check the highway forecast." Lucy patted Teddy one last time and was rewarded with an infant belch. She rose and made for Ed's study.
Six men looked up in surprise when Lucy showed up. Tom came to take Teddy out of her arms. "Are you managing okay?" he asked kissing his wife.
"I'm fine, but we're worried about the storm. It's a doozy. Is there any news?" Lucy asked. Lightning illuminated the room through the curtains.
"We were just discussing whether we should go take a look at the bridge after dinner," Ed told her. "So far no one has officially reported mudslides or flooding. But it's Christmas, and most folks around here have been holed up with relatives since morning."
"Don't worry," Tom said. "We'll bed down here if we need to. And we can get the generator going in five minutes if we have to."
Lucy looked at the blunt featured Enright men. They all exuded competence and confidence. Briefly she contemplated mentioning that Hannah might be in labor. But she knew that Jack would panic and no one should drive into town in this downpour—too dangerous. Especially if they hadn’t checked for rock slides first. She left her baby son with his dad and went to check on Hannah.
Hannah was still excitedly talking to her sister about her idea for an online accounting service to replace her job—once she had three babies to look after she planned to quit her job and go private. Hannah had been recruiting interested stay-at-home moms with accounting backgrounds to go with her own CA to join her fledging business. She and Martha had been chewing over the idea of Martha joining the group for several months.
"I still think it's a great idea. I'm just not sure that it's right for me,” Martha was saying as Lucy came in. “I've pretty much promised to keep the accounts for the new mill and workshops—and with babies on the way, I don't want to take on too much,"
Hannah looked perfectly relaxed in the recliner with her feet up, balancing her empty mug on her huge mound. For once it was perfectly still. Across the room Maddie was still napping.
"I'll take that for you," Lucy said. "Momma is going to start feeding the kids in just a moment. If you want to watch. We usually start with a song with all the adults, and then we let them get on with just Baba and Granddad. And this year, I think Shelly has insisted on eating with the kids."
"Sounds like Shelly," said Martha. "She likes to be around little ones, and she would feel excluded if she wasn't allowed to join them." She rose easily to her feet and stretched. In her sock feet she was six one, and carried herself with the assurance of an strong, athletic woman easy in her full figured body. "I'll go see if Momma's ready."
Lucy took Martha's place and began to chat about the small doings of Hanover and her household of many small children.
"How do you manage?" Hannah asked. "Triplets on top of triplets."
Lucy laughed. "Discipline," she said in a deep voice quite unlike her normal dulcet tones. She giggled. "I don't know. It works out. I guess they are always busy playing with each other, so they're never bored. But I think I'm lucky too—they are all easy going and sturdy." She paused. "How are you feeling. Really?"
Hannah yawned. "I'm tired," she said. "I was up five times in the night to pee." She lowered her voice even further and confided. "And Jack insisted on getting up with me every time—he's terrified I'm going to fall in the bathroom."
Lucy smiled and her blonde good looks radiated the glow of a happy woman used to being treasured by her own husband. "That's bears for you. They make great hubbies. Also, if Jack is anything like Tom, he lies down and zonk, he's out. While you lie beside him squirming and trying to get back to sleep."
Hannah laughed. "That is exactly what happens. I'm dying for this to be done. I just want my bladder back!"
"Shall I help you go potty?" asked Lucy, reassured that her concern had been a false alarm.
"If you don't mind." Hannah groped for the lever to raise her chair back.
Jack's entry into the living room forestalled her efforts to sit up unassisted and Lucy melted into the kitchen, taking the last of the kids from the mat in front of the fireplace. They had been playing with Baba's collection of toy cars, but they went willingly for their Christmas dinner.
After their meal, the children were given permission to go into the basement to play with the toys Baba kept down there. Shelly was torn between wanting to stay in the kitchen and watch the three sleeping infants, and wanting to accompanying the kids. But the older children decided for her by seizing her hands and tugging her along. Soon the happy noises of contented kids could be heard below.
The adults h
eld hands around the long table that groaned with Katrina's good food while Ed said grace. "And we must not forget that Martha and Will are having babies," he said afterwards. "Congratulations." He raised his glass in the first of many toasts.
Hannah looked around the table and recalled her first meal in this house. How hard it had been to keep everyone straight but how welcomed she had felt from the very first. She truly was blessed to have married into such a close knit family. Katrina had placed bottles of sparkling water on the table, and she and Martha, and Maddie, and Lucy were able to participate in the drinking of toasts.
Another hard contraction gripped her belly and she surreptitiously rubbed it. Her appetite had vanished—but these days she seemed able to only eat a small amount and she hadn't put much on her plate. Jack noticed, of course, and looked an inquiry from across the table. She smiled and shook her head slightly.
Bear Fursuits Books 1-4: Bear Fursuits Page 42