“Me, too,” Melody added.
“And me,” Haley said.
While the triplets dashed through the house toward William, Cora made herself stay in the kitchen…even though she wanted to greet him as well. She told herself her anticipation stemmed from wanting to hear what he’d learned. It wasn’t personal, it wasn’t about a certain kiss that she would like repeated. Her interest was professional.
So, why was she smiling at the girls’ voices as they all talked at once, telling him what they had done that day? She could hear William trying to respond to each—which was a challenge when they were all demanding attention.
“I’ll come in a minute,” William was saying. He probably wanted to check the cameras as he did several times a day.
“You come now.” Paige’s commanding tone was loud and clear. She was a child who knew her own mind.
“Cora helped us make a snack.” Melody’s voice was more of an invitation.
Cora couldn’t distinguish the next words, though she thought they were probably Haley’s, but William’s were clear. “You made a snack for me?” He sounded surprised and perhaps a little pleased.
A few seconds later, they all came into the kitchen together. Haley was in William’s arms while the other two led the way.
“See?” Paige pointed to the apple sandwiches. “I put on the chocolate chips.”
His face was a little flushed, and he looked a bit dazed. The triplets had that effect on people. An understanding smile went between the adults that kids couldn’t interpret. At least she hoped they couldn’t because Cora had a suspicion she conveyed too much.
“It looks delicious,” he said, his voice sincere. “Thank you all.”
“I’ll get the milk.” Cora said, grabbing cups and the carton, while William helped the girls get settled at the table.
“How was the class?” Cora asked a few minutes later when peanut butter coated the plates and Haley was plucking the last of her chocolate chips from a remaining apple slice. The triplets had all declared the snack the best ever.
William grinned. “It was me and a bunch of teenage girls.”
Cora laughed, imagining what a distraction William would have been in that setting. “Should I apologize for asking you to go?”
“Not at all. I learned a ton.” He wiped his fingers on a napkin and pulled a notebook from his pocket.
“You took notes?” Cora was amused by this as well.
“Had to. There was so much information to remember. I don’t know how you do it.” He looked up and met her gaze, sending warmth through her. “You’re pretty amazing.”
It was a simple compliment, but it made her heart sing. Sending him to the babysitting school was a good thing, but maybe he was trying to convey more than his respect for her child-rearing skills. “Thanks.”
Melody stretched her little arms over her head and opened her mouth wide with a yawn. “I’m tired.”
“You should be since none of you napped.” Cora looked at the other triplets. They all showed signs of sleepiness now that they had full tummies. “Okay, off to the nursery with you. It’s nap time.”
“Isn’t it too late in the day for that?” William checked his watch. “If they nap now, won’t they be up late tonight?”
“Maybe, but they’re tired now,” Cora pointed out and the triplets yawned in unison to help make her point. “We don’t have to stick to a specific schedule. Their bodies know when they’re hungry or tired.”
William continued to page through his notebook. “The instructor today said that schedules, particularly with more than one kid, are really important. I say we try it.”
“I don’t know about that.” Cora had always just responded to the girls’ needs as they occurred. William’s insistence, his use of the word we, peeved her, but she had been the one to insist he take the class. She couldn’t complain about wanting him to try out his new knowledge.
“I’ll draw up a schedule, and we’ll try it for a few weeks. What’s the worst thing that can happen? You’ll get to sit down and read a book?” He was teasing now, but he was also persuasive.
“Okay,” she relented. “We’ll try it your way, starting tomorrow. For now, we have three sleepy girls.” Who, she added to herself, had been watching the adult discussion with curious eyes. “Suggestions?”
“I’ll play with them,” he volunteered, “and keep them moving.” He leaned over and tickled Haley’s arm.
Until then, he’d left playtime to Cora, and she wondered what he had in mind. He’d watched what she did, but did a man with his background know how to play with kids? She’d see. “I’ll make a light dinner while you keep them busy.”
“And then it’ll be bath and bed,” he said firmly.
True to his word, he took the kids outside where they played in the treehouse until dinner. After which, he allowed them to tackle him in a game he called “bring down the bear.” He growled and took swipes at them with his hand while allowing them to climb all over him. At one point, all three girls were on his back, attempting to make him collapse. He finally did but surprised them by turning over lightning fast and snatching the girls to him.
Cora couldn’t resist snapping a few pictures with her phone. She didn’t know how long he’d be with them, but she could at least show the girls a photograph if they asked about him some time down the road. The thought of him being out of their lives made the smile she’d worn disappear.
“What is it?” he asked, watching her face.
“Nothing,” she said, afraid of what he might have seen in her expression. Time to move the evening along. “Is it bath time?” She stood up.
“I’ve got it. To the stairs,” he directed the kids, who raced off. “Get yourself a glass of wine and relax.”
“Are you sure?” She heard pattering feet overhead. “They can be tough to manage in the tub.” To make it easier, she used the oversized bathtub in the master bath, so they could all bathe together. The experience tended to be chaotic and wet, but still fun.
“I want to try out what I learned today about bathing kids.”
Cora hovered between a sense of relief at having an evening off and concern she was being railroaded by William out of a ritual she enjoyed. But the lure of a glass of wine and some peace won out. “If you want. Get the water started and I’ll be up in a minute to help.”
She’d love to put her feet up on the couch and read, but William might need assistance. She poured herself a glass of Italian red and carried it upstairs, planning to just supervise. As she reached the bathroom door, a burst of giggles greeted her followed by William swearing.
The sounds of splashing came next, making Cora laugh. Bathing three girls wasn’t as easy as he may have thought. She couldn’t wipe the grin off her face when she opened the bathroom door. Bubbles wafted in the air, and William’s white t-shirt was plastered to the hard muscles of his chest. She paused, enjoying the view, before grabbing a towel and diving in to help.
Ten
William had a brief flash of “this is not what I signed on for” when he started the third bedtime book. He had a suspicion that the triplets had his number and were taking advantage of his inexperience. Cora got them down faster. He knew because he’d watched it through the security camera mounted in the corner of the nursery.
Cora had helped him out by staying with him until he got the girls dried, diapered, and dressed in their pajamas. He didn’t think she’d gone far since her footsteps hadn’t retreated down the stairs, but she was leaving getting the girls down for the night to him, as requested. She might be laughing a bit at his expense, but that was okay, he decided.
Once Paige fell asleep, he was left rocking Melody and Haley in the chair by the window. They smelled fresh and clean, and he liked the feel of their warmth and weight against him. He could get used to that, and their soft sleepy giggles. But he needed them to sleep, not giggle. He rocked gently and started to hum. That had soothed Melody the night when she was awakened by a scar
y dream, and these two were so close to lights-out.
He wasn’t even paying attention to the tune until it took on words he drummed up from his memory. “Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens.” Melody’s eyes drifted shut as he sang. “Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens. Brown paper packages tied up with string, these are a few of my favorite things.” Haley made a soft snoring sound, burrowed into him, and closed her eyes. He sang the next verse about ponies and strudel and sleigh bells to be sure they were asleep and then he brought the rocker gently to a stop.
Cora appeared in the doorway, her finger over her lips. She crept in and lifted Haley from him. The girls had smelled sweet, but Cora’s scent was richer, more tantalizing. So was the glimpse of her breasts underneath her v-neck shirt when she leaned over him. She settled Haley in her crib and turned to him, but he was already on his feet with Melody in his arms. She looked surprised, but he was used to moving noiselessly.
When the girls were both covered in their cribs, he crept into the hallway where Cora waited for him.
“Good work,” she congratulated him in a whisper. “I think the song sealed the deal. You have a lovely voice, by the way.”
“I don’t use it much.” He shrugged off the compliment. He’d had little time for singing, except along with the radio, for years. “I don’t even know where the song came from.”
“That I can explain.” Cora was smiling, a heartfelt smile which made him think thoughts he shouldn’t about her. “The girls watched The Sound of Music yesterday when it was too rainy to go outside. The lyrics must have gotten stuck in your head.”
“I guess.” He remembered that now. He’d heard it through the cameras and when he’d crossed through the living room. Cora had been on the couch watching with them. “You must like the film.”
“I do. The girls like all the children and play and laughter in the first half of the film.” Her mouth trembled open for a second longer as if she had more to say, and the smile returned. “I opened a bottle of wine earlier. Hate to waste it. Would you like a glass?”
Even though they’d shared a house for a few weeks, they hadn’t socialized in the evenings. After the girls went to bed, she cleaned up for the night and retreated to her bedroom. He’d kept himself on a tighter schedule with workouts and security checks.
He could unwind for a little while with her before his nightly detail. “That would be nice.” He followed her down the stairs.
“I’ll get another glass,” she said disappearing into the kitchen.
He glanced around the living room where she’d already cleaned up from his wrestling match with the kids. They’d pulled pillows from the couch and the girls had tried to capture him by putting an afghan throw over his head. Since there was nothing for him to do, he took a seat on the couch. Living here was different from what he had expected. The house was beautifully decorated, every detail from the artfully chosen pictures on the walls to matching dishes. Not what he was used to at all.
“Lost in thought?” she asked, coming back with a glass of wine for him. She handed it to him and sat on the couch, tucking her legs under her. “A toast to your first successful bath time.” She held out her glass to tap with his.
“I don’t know how successful it was,” he said. His hair was still damp, and he’d had to change his shirt. Next time, he would know to go shirtless from the beginning. Or wear a poncho.
“They’re clean and in bed. That’s one in the win column.” She took a sip of her wine and studied him, her head tilting slightly to one side. “What were you thinking when I came in? Worried about security?”
She must have noticed that he didn’t relax, didn’t stand idle. It wasn’t in his nature. He needed to be doing something, especially when he was on a mission. This assignment was a mission of sorts. Yet, she’d caught him thinking about something else.
“I’ll do another sweep before I go to bed,” he said to re-assure her, “but I was thinking how different this place is from my apartment.”
“Oh,” her blue eyes brightened, “I assumed you’d lived on base until recently. Well, I guess you’d have to live somewhere, wouldn’t you?”
“I have a place about five miles from here. Near the base, but I haven’t lived on in a while.” As he’d gotten older, he’d wanted space to himself. Sharing with a group of other single guys had lost its appeal as he neared thirty. “Anyway, my apartment is barebones. A recliner, a TV, a dresser, and a bed.”
“You didn’t spend much time there?”
He shrugged. A deployment could last several months followed by months stateside spent training. It wasn’t that he hadn’t had time to settle in—he just didn’t need much. Still, he was enjoying the comforts of the Lawrence home. He was enjoying the company as well.
He almost said it aloud, but a sharp cry from the nursery caught their attention. They both turned to the video monitor he’d placed on a bookshelf.
“Melody,” he said, watching her thrash around in her crib, her little fists gripping the blanket.
“I’ll get her.” Cora was already rising.
“Wait.” He touched her arm to stop her, letting his fingers curl loosely around her wrist. “Let’s see if she’ll settle on her own. The instructor today said sometimes they do and that can be for the best.”
Cora looked surprised, and then doubtful. “I…okay. We’ll give it a couple minutes.” She sat again and, reluctantly, he released his hold on her.
Within five minutes, Melody had rolled over, settled, and was asleep again. “Good call,” Cora told him, “and thanks. You saved me a lot of time rocking her back to sleep.”
Williams took a sip of his wine. He was more the beer type but the quality of this seemed good to him, rich and smooth. And there was something right about sharing it with Cora.
“I hate seeing them have nightmares,” she said, her forehead creased with worry. “They rarely did before their mom and dad died. I’m sure it’s their little brains trying to process what they’ve lost. They seem so happy during the day, but…”
“Everything bad comes out at night.” He knew that from experience. It was easy to be tough during the day, but night was another matter. The ghosts of his past, his family, fallen comrades, came back to haunt him then. Once the sun rose, he could shake it off. He suspected that’s what the girls unconsciously did, too. “I think kids are good at hiding what bothers them. They’re smart that way.”
“Seems like you might know something about that,” Cora commented. “You’ve never mentioned anything about yourself, your childhood and family.”
He wanted to point out that neither had she, but he figured he might as well get it in the open. “Not much to tell. My parents and brother died in a plane crash when I was nine. My great uncle Jeff got custody of me. He was pretty old at the time and didn’t know what to do with me, so I got sent to military school.” William stated the facts dispassionately as he had many times in the past.
“Oh, God, that’s awful.” Cora set her wine aside and scooted a little closer to him on the sofa until she was almost touching him. “You were so young. Did you survive the plane crash?”
“I wasn’t on the plane. My parents were taking my brother to a camp for gifted kids. He was brilliant, a certified genius. I was staying with a friend.” He remembered with absolute clarity the moment when his friend’s mother told him. Psychologists would call it a flashbulb memory, a moment captured in time with all its details. They’d been playing outside, on a near perfect summer’s day, when she’d waved him to her, rested her hands on his shoulders, and spoken the words that changed his life.
It still made him cringe to think about the moment, to think about the way he’d been complaining to his friend about how his brother got all the attention from his parents. And then, they were gone, just like that. He’d struggled with guilt over that for years. It was a situation he couldn’t change, and he’d come to accept that in a way. Yet, it still nagged at him during dark and lonely hours.
“I’m so sorry.” She touched him then, lightly on the shoulder. “That must have been terrible to lose your whole family like that.”
He didn’t want or need her sympathy. He’d found other places to belong, another type of family to be part of. The Navy and his SEAL team provided that for years. He was groping in the dark a little again with his transition to the civilian world, but he’d manage. “What about your family? Brothers or sisters? I assumed you had a big family because you’re great with kids.”
“Only child,” she said. “My mother died when I was fourteen,” she said, her gaze shifted away from him as she withdrew her hand. “Cancer—the slow, nasty kind.”
“She lingered?” That would be tough on a kid.
“And suffered.” Cora spoke with a catch in her voice now. “I wanted her pain to stop, but I didn’t want to lose her.”
“I wonder if that’s better or worse,” he said. “You got to say goodbye.” Would his guilt be less if he’d known what was going to happen to his family when he’d waved them off?
A shimmer of a tear showed in her blue eyes. “I did get to do that, but I don’t know which type of death is easier on the survivors.”
They were both survivors, he realized. Ironically, they were caring for three survivors as well. “The girls won’t have many memories of their mom and dad.” The social worker had told him that.
“They feel the loss,” Cora agreed, “but you’re right. They won’t remember much. I guess there’s a message in there somewhere.”
“What’s that?”
“Love while you can because you never know how long you’ll have with someone.”
“Or don’t love at all,” he countered. The philosophy had worked well for him since he was nine years old. He had friends, teammates that he’d die for, but he’d refused to get tangled up with love. From his own experience and watching others, he’d seen it end badly too many times.
“That’s a cynical point of view.” Her eyes were wide.
The SEAL’s Unexpected Triplets Page 7