by Nancy Naigle
Maeve jumped out of the car and went up the stairs. She and Becky hugged and celebrated.
Amanda gathered Hailey and Jesse. “Be on your best behavior. Promise?”
“Yes ma’am.” They were eager to see the twins too. The idea of two people who looked exactly the same seemed like magic to them.
“Come on in,” Becky called from the porch. “I have some treats for you two kids.” She nudged Amanda when she reached the top step. “I’m going to practice my grandmother spoiling on your two. I hope you don’t mind.”
“I’m sure they’ll love that.” Amanda watched Hailey and Jesse light up, but her heart sank as she thought about how little time they’d ever spent with her parents. Their own grandmother and grandfather.
Once Amanda was inside, she hung back while Maeve walked over to the chair next to Kimmy and the twins. “Kimmy, you and Amanda will become close friends. You both have that spirit of teaching. Kind souls.”
“Amanda, it is so nice to meet you.” Kimmy, an athletic strawberry-blonde who only favored her mother by way of their jade-green eyes, stage-whispered, “Maeve is the kind one in this town. I aspire to be her someday.”
“Oh, I can understand that,” Amanda said.
“This is my husband, Nate. I don’t think he’s realized how much work is ahead of us yet.” Kimmy sounded overwhelmed herself.
“Hi, Nate. Congratulations to you both. I love babies, and mine are growing up so fast. I have one starting school this year. You have your hands full, so please let me help out.”
Hailey and Jesse popped into the room, both sucking on cherry-red popsicles. “Someday I can babysit for you,” Hailey said.
Kimmy jumped right on that suggestion, speaking to Hailey as though she were an adult. “That’ll be perfect,” Kimmy said. “Until then, you can all learn to play in the ocean together. I can teach you to surf.”
Hailey and Jesse exchanged an unsure glance. Amanda was pretty sure they didn’t understand what surfing even was. They still had a lot of beach life to learn. Whelk’s Island was the perfect place for that.
Maeve turned to the matching bassinets in the middle of the room. “Your babies are beautiful, Kimmy.”
“Thank you. I can’t believe how tiny they are. They don’t even seem real.”
“Which one is which? Tug told me their names, but I’m not sure he even got them right.” Maeve leaned forward, touching one of the bundled twins.
Kimmy laughed. “Well, he probably got the names right. They aren’t identical.”
Nate placed a loving arm across Kimmy’s shoulder. They made a sweet couple, both with light hair and tan as could be. “Nixie is on the left. It’s a German name that means ‘little water sprite.’ ”
“Oh my gosh, how perfect is that, and she looks just like you, Nate. I bet she’s going to be a blondie.” Maeve reached for and held Nixie’s petite hand. “You are a beauty. Tell me about the angels.” She looked over to Kimmy and Nate, smiling as she hunched her shoulders playfully. “I always ask babies that. They light up. I wish they could tell us what it’s like to be with the angels before they come to us. I can tell she understands what I’m saying.” Maeve stepped back, looking at Kimmy. “They look so much alike.”
“I was so afraid we wouldn’t be able to tell them apart. I’d read that people write with Sharpies on their feet or put colored wristbands on them, but that seems so weird.” Kimmy shook her head. “I’m glad I won’t have to resort to that. Brenna has a slight reddish tint to her hair, like mine. For now, anyway.”
“I think they both look just like their mother,” Nate said. “Thank goodness.”
“Oh, stop.” Kimmy wrinkled her nose at him. “He’s always saying that. You know you’re good looking. Stop that.”
“Oh, Kimmy. I’m so happy for y’all.” Maeve took a bag out of her purse. “I didn’t wrap this all pretty or anything, but I have something for the girls.” She pulled tissue paper from the bag, untangling delicate wires before finally holding a beautiful mobile between her fingers in the air for them to see. Small pieces of sea glass hung on short silver wires, and larger pieces from long wire. The mobile twisted, casting colorful light from the sea glass.
“Maeve, that’s beautiful. Did you—”
“I made it for you. So there’s a story here.”
“Isn’t there always,” Kimmy teased. “Right, Momma?”
Becky nodded with a grin.
“Well, the day I heard you were in the hospital on bed rest, I was at Tug’s Diner for breakfast. When I walked down on the beach, I found these two perfect pieces of pink sea glass.” She pointed to two rosy pieces at the top. “Now, I don’t know how much you remember about sea glass, but pink is very rare. To find two pink pieces so nicely matched on the same day at the same place…that’s no coincidence. At that moment, I knew your twins were both going to be girls. I just knew it.”
“Maeve, thank you for this. It will be perfect in the nursery.”
“I hope so.”
Nate took the mobile from Maeve and hung it from the window frame. As the artfully coiled wire moved, each brilliant piece of sea glass cast rainbow hues of color around the room.
Nate stared at it. “That is art. Quite fascinating, really, even for an adult. I want it over our bed.”
“Thank you, Maeve,” Kimmy said.
Hailey’s mouth, red from the popsicle, formed a perfect O. “Look at all the colors!”
Maeve looked pleased. “I’m glad you like it. I’ve always heard that color and movement is good for babies. It gets them looking around and wondering.”
“Well, there’s nothing more wonderful than the sea. You and I have that in common. I love this mobile so much.” Kimmy teared up. “I’m sorry. I’m doing a lot of crying right now, but you’re so sweet and talented and wonderful. Maeve, we love you. Thank you for doing something so special for our girls.”
Maeve pulled Kimmy into a hug. “Oh, honey, I’m so proud of you. You’re a strong, beautiful woman. You’re going to be a wonderful mother.”
“I hope so. I was terrified to have even just one baby. I don’t know why the Big Guy upstairs thought I should get a double dose, but I’m trying to remind myself it’s a blessing.”
“It most certainly is.” Nate returned to Kimmy’s side. “I’ll do my part, baby. Don’t you worry.”
Amanda fanned her tears from the tender moment. “Well, my gift is not handmade or colorful like Maeve’s, but I promise you it is practical.” She carried a stack of gifts over to Kimmy.
“You didn’t need to bring a thing.”
“I’ve got two children, remember? They are two years apart and that was hard enough. I’m tickled pink to help you in any way that I can. Any friend of Maeve’s is most definitely a friend of mine.”
“Thank you.” Kimmy opened each item carefully. “They are wrapped so pretty I hate to mess up the paper.”
“Oh good grief.” Nate took one of the boxes from her and ripped into it. “No offense, but I went through this with her at our wedding shower. She takes a year to open each one, and then it’s not like she does anything with the paper.”
“What do you want me to make from it?”
“I don’t care, but if you’re going to painstakingly protect the paper as you open the gift, you ought to do something with it afterward other than throw it away.”
Kimmy made a funny face. Nate kissed her on the nose, to which she crossed her eyes. “It’s the only bad habit she has. Totally fine with it, as long as she lets me open half the presents so I don’t fall asleep.”
“We have an understanding.” Kimmy lifted matching dresses into the air. “Oh my gosh, these are too cute.”
“I couldn’t resist. I promise everything else is practical.”
Nate picked up the big box of preemie diapers with one hand. “Oh great. I guess I�
�m going to be a pro at these soon.” He put his other hand on his hip. “I wouldn’t admit this to just anyone, but I had no idea how many diapers newborns went through in a day. No wonder they are in boxes of eighty to a hundred.”
“Hopefully, you’ll be a pro by tomorrow,” Kimmy said, rolling her eyes. “These babies are pooping machines.”
Amanda remembered bringing Hailey home and all the things she had to learn as a new mom. Jack never really mastered the diaper thing until Jesse came along. Paul gave Jack a hard time about it. Come to think of it, Paul probably changed as many diapers as Jack did on their kids.
“She’s not exaggerating,” said Nate. “I told her we could save enough to send these girls to college just by raising them in the ocean like mermaids. The cost of these diapers is outrageous, and we’re going through them like soapsuds.”
“Yeah, we’re not doing that!” Kimmy shook her finger at Nate. “I’m never going to be able to leave my girls alone with you for fear of your shortcuts. I can see it now. They’ll each be on one side of the kitchen sink so he doesn’t have to change a diaper.”
“Are you going to let me hold one of these babies?” Maeve looked like she wasn’t willing to wait one more second.
“Yes ma’am. I’m sorry. You could’ve been holding them all along. Go for it.”
Maeve walked over and scooped Brenna right out of her bassinet. “I know we’re not supposed to have favorites, but this one looks exactly like you did when you were born, Kimmy.”
Becky sat proudly at the end of the couch. “I told her the same thing. Nixie’s already sassy just like Kimmy was, though.”
Nate scooped up Nixie. “Hey, girl.” She wiggled her arms and looked completely content with him. “She’s so light.” Nate lifted her up and down, then cradled and rocked her.
The rest of the room seemed to fall away as Amanda focused on Nate holding the baby. When Hailey first came home from the hospital, she wouldn’t stop crying. It was Paul that finally got her to quiet down, although Amanda had told herself at the time it was more like a round of hot potato and he got the lucky handoff. It struck her that Paul had been there through all the big moments: before she’d married Jack and then as part of their family at the birth of each child. Their first words, birthdays, and first steps. Most recently their first kite. First ghost crabbing too.
Amanda put her hand out, steadying herself on the back of the chair she was standing next to.
Maeve and Nate walked closer to each other with the babies, holding them at an angle to see each other. Then Nate turned to Amanda. “Do you want to hold her?”
Amanda snapped out of it and took Nixie. The innocent life in her arms was half the size of Jesse the first time she held him, and Nate was right. She was as light as a feather. Her movements didn’t even look real. Tears blurred Amanda’s vision. “She’s beautiful.” Amanda pressed her thumb to the baby’s hand. “You are so special,” she whispered.
Memories of her own children filled her heart. Being a new mother and that first feeling of reassurance at the thump of their heartbeat. She carried the baby over to Hailey and Jesse. “Come meet your new friends.”
They walked over, peering at the fragile life in her arms.
“She’s little,” Jesse said.
Hailey pressed her finger against Nixie’s soft arm. “I’ll save all my pretty dresses for you. I’m growing so fast that Mom just bought me new ones. You’ll look so pretty.”
“Awww,” Kimmy said, tears slipping down her cheeks. “She is the sweetest.”
“And you are the most emotional,” Nate said, hugging her shoulder, then pressing his cheek against her head.
Maeve put Brenna back in the bassinet.
Kimmy reached toward Nixie. “I’ll take her. It’s about time to feed them.”
“Again?” Nate shook his head. “I wish I could get her to feed me and give me snacks this often. Sometimes she forgets to eat at all and it’ll be eight o’clock and I’m praying for a PB&J.”
Kimmy rolled her eyes. “You are so mistreated.”
“On that pitiful note, we are going to leave,” Maeve said. “Thank you for letting us join in your celebration. I’m so happy for you two. And for you, Becky. Being a grandmother is going to be exhausting but the best part of your life. I wouldn’t have missed this for the world.”
Hailey and Jesse hugged Becky. “You can be our grandma, too, if you want.”
Becky clutched her heart. “I’d love that.” She turned to Amanda. “These two are absolutely the sweetest.”
They walked back outside feeling the joyful light of those fresh new lives. Amanda watched Hailey and Jesse run to the car and climb into their car seats. They were growing up so fast.
24
Amanda had been busy getting ready for school orientation night, and she’d tried a couple of practice runs taking Jesse to the pre-K at church to be sure he wouldn’t have a meltdown when she had to start working.
Not to worry. Jesse loved going, so much so that it had almost hurt her feelings. But the week had flown by and they’d all survived it. Thankfully, the school offered day care for the kids while she worked half days getting her classroom ready, so Hailey and Jesse spent those days together, and both had made some new friends. Matt, who they’d met at church, and Hailey were both excited about the first day of school and had been practicing their alphabet together. Jesse could almost recite it too.
It had been a long time since she’d worked outside the home, and all the additional preparations were keeping her extra busy. So busy that she hadn’t been on the beach much. It was possible she’d just missed Maeve on the new schedule, but she was suddenly worried about her.
Thank goodness the weekend gave her a little breathing room. She picked up her phone and dialed Maeve’s house, but there was no answer.
Amanda checked the timing of the tides, since Maeve’s walks usually coincided with low tide whenever possible, so she planned to catch her in the morning on the beach. She’d get the kids up early, just after sunrise, to walk down to Tug’s Diner. They were sure to run into Maeve there.
“We’ll take the beach walk to the diner this morning. Sound like a plan?” The three of them jogged over the dune to the packed sand, where it was easier to walk closer to the water.
Jesse carried the picture he’d drawn for Maeve. Amanda had rolled it into a tube and put a rubber band around it to keep it from getting caught in the wind and blown out to sea. Jesse liked the scroll, holding it up to his face and looking out at the horizon like a pirate the whole way.
“Well, if it isn’t my favorite friends,” Tug said when they walked in. “Where have y’all been? I thought maybe you found a new favorite place to get octopus for breakfast.”
“No sir. We only come here. You’re our favorite too,” Jesse said.
“Mommy’s working, so we have to go to camp at the school when she’s there,” Hailey explained.
“Well, as long as I’m still your favorite,” Tug said, “then that’s okay.”
“You are,” Hailey and Jesse agreed.
The kids slid into the booth, and Amanda sat facing them.
Tug brought Amanda a large cup of coffee and milk for the kids. “What can I get you, Amanda? I know what these two squirts want.”
“I’d love a cheese omelet.”
“Your wish is my command,” Tug said.
The Wife echoed Tug’s phrase from outside. “Your wish is my command.”
“She’s always stealing my lines.” Tug started to walk away.
“Hey, Tug, have you talked to Maeve? I’ve been missing her on the beach since I’ve been working. It’s been a week, and when I called last night, I didn’t get an answer.”
Tug returned to the table. “I spoke to her at the end of last week. Frankly, I’m worried about her this time. She’s never done a di
sappearing act for this long before, and she won’t let me come see her. Won’t even let me drop off breakfast on the porch for her. I’m not sure what’s going on.”
“That’s odd.”
“She’s had some health problems over the years, you know, but she’s never one to complain or talk much about it.”
“I’ll go by there when we leave. Thanks for sharing that with me, Tug.” She kept one eye on the back door, hoping Maeve would gracefully float in like they’d never missed a visit.
They finished breakfast and Amanda let the kids hang out with The Wife before leading them back down the beach to go home. Even though the tide was now coming in, there was still no sign of Maeve.
Amanda stopped at the mailbox on their way back to the house. Hailey held the door open for her as she juggled the stack of mail. She pulled the magazine and sales catalogs from the pile and set them aside, then started sorting the trash and the real mail into two separate piles on the table.
“Coupons,” Hailey sang. “For ice cream! That should be in the good pile.”
Amanda let Hailey stack them with the bills, which were mostly what she had left in her hands.
Paul’s voice came from the back door. “Hello?”
“Come on in.” Amanda walked down the hall toward the kitchen. “Hey there.”
“Hey, yourself.” He gave her a hug and then twirled her.
“Twirl me like a dancer too.” Hailey raced over with her hand over her head.
Paul spun her and then grabbed both her hands and stepped back before twirling her again.
“That was like a whole routine.” Hailey curtsied. “Mom, can I take dance this year?”
“I don’t see why not. I’ll check into it and figure out when we can work it in.” The thought of her daughter in pink tights, a black leotard, and ballet slippers made her heart do a pirouette of its own. She’d make her tutus in every color of the rainbow.
“She’d be the most adorable ballerina. There’s a dance academy over near Paws. I could help with the shuffling back and forth when you decide which nights you want to take her. Or Jesse could hang out with me at work while you two go.”