“Mr. Morgan, it would be a handful for any parent to take on three children at once. Are you sure you want to do this without knowing a thing about children?” Morgan nodded. The more he thought about it, the more he was keen on the idea. “You don’t have to do that. You know that, don’t you?”
“I do. You know my parents. You know that once they figure out that we have three more children for them to play with, they’ll never leave our home. I can see them now. They’ll be lined up on the front porch with Jimmy in their arms to kidnap them all for the night.”
Anna nodded at him. “They’re waiting at Thatcher’s home now to see the little girl that we were going to bring back with us.” Anna smiled, and he would take on a thousand babies to see her looking that happy all the time. “Trust me when I tell you, we’ll have so much help that we’ll be lucky to see them at all once we take them from here. Morgan is right. We’ll take all three of them.”
When Mary walked away, Anna fed Renee. As she spoke to the baby about the things they were going to have to get themselves before they could even leave here today, Morgan sat down as well. Feeding his daughter her bottle was great. He didn’t think that he messed up very much either.
“I’m going to call the closest dealership to here and order us a bigger car. Also, we’ll need to get three car seats instead of just the one. I’m sort of glad that Rogen lent us hers so we could bring her home. You know that she would only have the best, and that is what I want for our children.” Anna said that she was glad that she’d taken a picture of it so they could order while in here. “I’ll see if someone will bring us those. I doubt they’ll say no. This is going to be something I bet they run into all the time.”
“We don’t even have them a bed yet.” Morgan said that for one night, they could sleep between them. “Sure, like I’ll be able to close my eyes with the three of them between us. Oh, and diapers. I’m thinking after what Rogen said about how many times a day she has to change Jimmy, we’ll need to have them delivered by semi. Just have one backed up to the side door of the house and unload them as we need them.”
Anna was finished feeding Renee when Mary came back with another little crib. The little boy was tiny. Much smaller than his older sisters were. He asked her about that.
“He’s a newborn. The girls are a little older than him, but he’ll catch up to them and surpass them soon enough. If you can think of a name for him—no pressure—I can get his birth certificate filled out for you. Also, you should know that the woman who had him abandoned him at birth. Since she left him here when she was discharged, she can no longer lay claim to him.” Anna said that was going to be her next question. “Now, you know the girls are tigers, correct? Well, the young man here is wholly human. But that doesn’t even worry me. You two would be wonderful parents to even a snake should it need a helping hand.”
Morgan made four phone calls. He called for a large SUV to be brought to the hospital, and then made two calls to two different children’s stores to get car seats delivered to the hospital and baby beds delivered to their home. Since they knew exactly what they wanted, it was easy for the stores to get them to them. The last call he made was to Shane, the pack master.
“I’m a man in desperate need of help.” Shane laughed, asking him what he could do for him. “Don’t tell anyone yet, but Anna and I hit the jackpot. We’re coming home with three babies.”
“Sure you are.” Morgan told him that it was true several times before he could make him believe him. After explaining to him what he needed, Shane said he’d get into the house after Morgan gave him the code to get in. “Setting up three baby beds won’t be that hard. It’s you that has a hard life coming to you. Over the next month, you’re going to be begging me to take them into my pack.”
“No, I don’t think I will on this one.” Shane said he was joking. “I’m not. Christ, Shane, I just met them, and I’m already in love with them. How anyone could just walk away from this little guy and these little girls…. I don’t understand it.”
“I don’t either, my friend. My daughters are all I have left in this world, and as much as I loved them the day that they were born, it’s immeasurable how much I love them now.”
Morgan looked at his wife and son as he took his bottle while his sisters were snoozing in the crib. After hanging up with Shane, knowing that everything would be done before too long, he sat down with Anna. He needed to know if she’d marry him now. Not just because of her brother, but he was going to put her name down on the birth certificates as his wife, if she’d allow him to.
“We need to be married for real now.” He nodded at her, wondering if they were forever going to be thinking alike. “If you’ve changed your mind, now is the time to tell me.”
“I haven’t. I want to be your husband more than anything.” She looked down at the baby in her arms, and so did he. “He’s going to need someone to protect him more than the girls will. Being human to a houseful of cats might make him jealous too. I don’t ever want him to feel that way.”
“I was jealous of my brothers for being human. Of course, that was before I figured out that I was ten times stronger than any of them.” Morgan laughed with her, and the baby opened his eyes and stared at her. “He’s beautiful, isn’t he? I mean, look at those beautiful green eyes.”
“They’re a beautiful as yours are.” Anna asked him about a name. “I’m assuming that you don’t wish to name him after your side of the family. Correct?”
“No, not in any way, shape, or form.” Morgan thought of his great grandda. “Do you have someone that you admire? I have just a couple of people, but they’re your family as well.”
“I was just thinking about my great grandda. He was a spicy old man. And I say it that way because we weren’t allowed to call him Buzzard. Grandda could curse better than you and Rogen, fish like it was his job, and never put out his hand unless it had something in it. A small piece of candy. Sometimes it would be a quarter or less. He loved us all so very much. He would have been head over heels in love with you, and Rogen too.” Anna asked him what his name was. “He was Edmund Bauer Robinson. My dad’s grandda.”
“That’s a wonderfully strong name. What did everyone call him? To his face, I mean.” Morgan had to think about it, but just couldn’t remember. He’d only called him Grandda. “How do you feel about Eddie? It’s short for Edmund, don’t you think?”
“I love that. My dad, he’ll know better than me what he went by, but I love Eddie.”
When Mary came back with a list of things they were taking home with them, he got a call from Shane telling him that the beds were set up, and that his daughters had put sheets and the rest of the things on the bed. “What other things? We only ordered the beds and sheets.”
Shane was laughing when he disconnected the call. Just as they were packing things in the bags that the hospital was giving them, he was notified that his car was there and that the car seats had been put in the back seats. He was so happy for that.
“Thatcher told me that he could take out a person’s heart, repair it, and put it back with more ease than it had been to put the car seats in the car. We’ll need to get another car for you, as well as seats for that one. I don’t ever want to have to take them out now that they’re in there.” They were laughing when Morgan heard from his dad.
You ever coming back here? Good heavens, man, I want to see my granddaughter. Morgan told him that they’d need another two hours for paperwork. I don’t like it, but I can understand, I guess. You just make sure that you bring me that little girl home. Your mom is not letting me hold Jimmy like I want to.
I’m sorry about that, Dad, but like you said, we need to get the paperwork finished up before we can come back. I tell you what, why don’t you meet us at our house? All of you. I know that Anna is worn out. She’s still getting over being hurt, you know. Dad said that was a mighty fine idea. Anna smacked him in the c
hest and winked at him. Thanks so much. I know that Anna will appreciate it too. She can take a nap if she wants. This time she punched him in the chin. It wasn’t hurtful; in fact, he found it to be funny.
Well, we did go ahead and eat. None of us were going to last much longer waiting on you two. I guess you’re three now, aren’t you? Morgan didn’t say anything as he watched his son being put in one of the car seats. All right. We’ll finish cleaning up here, then we’ll get on over to your house. Poor Anna. She’s gonna need us to move in there with you to make sure she doesn’t overdo it. Don’t you think?
To that, he had no comment. But he was glad for the extra time. It would take them only about fifteen minutes to get home, and then they’d be ready for when his family showed up. They were going to shit a brick.
~*~
Anna watched the children as they slept. The staff that had been here when she moved in were as excited as she and Morgan were about the new additions. After parking the car in the garage so as not to give anything away, Morgan came into the house. She was glad to see him when the girls woke up.
“Mary said to let them lie on the floor on a blanket. They’ll need tummy time. I’m terrified that we’ll step on one of them.” Morgan said that he wouldn’t dare, and Anna laughed. “Do you really think this was a good idea? I mean, it’s really too late now—I’ve fallen in love with them. But there are three of them, and only us two.”
“My dad said that he and Mom need to move in with us to help you out with just the one baby.” She hit him again. “You know you’re very violent, aren’t you? I’d just let them play on the floor. If they’re still there when my family comes over, it’ll be fun to watch them find them.”
Anna put Renee on the floor while Morgan did the same for Marie. Almost as soon as they were down, they made their way to each other. They weren’t really crawling so much as dragging their body around. Once Marie got up on her knees, she looked as if she’d completed the best thing in her little life. She was laughing as she rocked herself back and forth. Not really moving yet, but Anna had no doubt that she’d be going soon.
The knock at the front door had Morgan rushing to it. Anna sat down on the couch, trying her best not to be nervous about what his family would say about the children. Thatch asked her how she was feeling.
“Fine. How are you?” He looked at the bassinet in the room. “I guess we’re all a little tired after the day we’ve had.”
As he was moving toward Eddie, Renee came around the side of the couch where she was sitting. Meggie found her there. Her picking Renee up had Thatch turning, and he did not look like a happy man.
“Darn it, woman, I was going to hold her.” Morgan went to the bassinet and handed him Eddie. “What’s this? You got a boy and a girl while you were there? Or is this one here on loan?”
“I don’t think they loan children out, Dad. But no, we didn’t get us a boy and girl while we were there.” It was Thatcher that found Marie, and his face was a perfect picture of confusion. Morgan was laughing while he explained. “The girl wasn’t a girl at all, but twin sisters. Meet Renee in Mom’s arms. Thatcher has Marie. The little boy you’re holding, Dad, is Edmund Bauer. We’ll be calling him Eddie for short.”
Thatch stared at his son for several long seconds. Anna was ready to take Eddie from him, fearing that he hated both the name and the child, when he grabbed Morgan around the neck and pulled him to him. The hug tugged at so many heart strings that she had to look away for a moment to gather herself.
“You named him after my grandda.” Anna nodded at him when he looked at her. “Two granddaughters and two grandsons. I don’t think I could take much more. There’s not another one lurking around, is there? I don’t think I’d be able to take it, son. I just don’t.”
“Just the three of them.”
Jimmy was laid on the floor with the girls. They didn’t touch him, but they certainly gave him the once over. Thatch just sat in the chair next to them and held Eddie in his arms. Anna told them what they’d found out when they went to pick up their one daughter. Or so they thought. “The little boy was left there by his mother. When she was released, she said that she didn’t want him. The woman at the desk had messed up that the girls were twins. The man who was to take Eddie decided that he didn’t want just a single child. Instead of leaving him behind, we decided that he’d be just as happy with us. I think he’ll be fine.”
“He’s a handsome little man, I’ll give him that. Him and Jimmy are going to be best buds, see if they’re not. All of them about the same age, it’s gonna be tough raising them without any help.” Morgan told his mom that they were going to hire pack to help them out, but that they’d be very hands on parents. “Of course you will be. You’re all going to be wonderful parents.”
Morgan’s brothers each held the children. She got the biggest kick out of Dawson. He was trying to make sure they were all right without anyone noticing. They might not have if he didn’t pull out his stethoscope and listen to each of their hearts.
“They did all that at the hospital, Dawson.” He laughed and said that you can never be too careful. Morgan laughed as he continued. “I guess not. But we do have to take Eddie in for his next test the day after tomorrow.”
“I can do it, if you’d like. That way he can have his mommy hold him when I have to stick him.” Morgan looked at her and she nodded. “Good. Have you picked a pediatrician yet?”
“We have a list of things that each of them need. Neither Renee nor Marie have had any troubles, of course. They’re both up to date. But Eddie was slightly jaundiced when he was born, so we have to have him checked a couple more times to make sure that he doesn’t have anything wrong with his liver.” Beckett asked her if they were going to dress them all three alike. “I never gave it any thought, as a matter of fact. Even though we’ve only had them for a few hours, I can already tell the girls apart. They have very distinct personalities. Marie is more adventurous, while Renee likes to watch and see what is going on before she makes her move. Also, Marie is greedier than her sister, and will suck down her bottle quickly. Renee will take hers, then look around a minute before she gets back to it. So no, I don’t think I’ll dress them the same. Not unless it’s for a special occasion anyway.”
“Here’s something that I noticed about Marie that you probably already know—she’s not happy with being held for too long.” Anna told Meggie that she’d noticed that as well. “Yes, I thought you might. There will be no cuddling this one unless she needs it. And even then, I think she’ll hold out.”
Meggie got up with Marie and sat down next to Anna. “You think that I’ll do all right with these three?” Meggie asked her why she didn’t think she would. “I don’t know. I don’t have a lot of good role models to gather from. I was hoping that you’d not be too upset with me if I did screw up.”
“The only way you can screw up with a child is not to love it at all, or giving them too much. They’ll know that you love them. I know that it’s not the way of the world right now, but if they need their bottoms spanked, you do that too. Giving them no discipline is as bad as not loving them.” Anna told her that she’d never beat them. “Well, of course you won’t. I never thought that you would. No, honey. I think that between you and Rogen raising your little ones, they’ll be ready for the world. And know how to protect themselves better than most, I would imagine.”
Meggie put Renee on the floor, and she started her move toward her daddy. It was funny to her to think that in the short amount of time that they’d had them, they had attached themselves to Morgan right away.
“When we first went to get what we thought was going to be one child, I had this vision of Morgan holding his son while a little girl scrambled up his leg to get him to hold her too. There was already one on his shoulders. I didn’t know at the time that we were going to have just that vision. Those little girls, they already love him so very much.” Megg
ie told her that they loved her as well. “I’m sure they do. I’m not being whiney about this. I know that Morgan has a lot more confidence in himself than I do in me.”
“You’ll soon enough realize that not only are you stronger than you think you are, but that you have an inner strength in you that all of us can see and are waiting for you to find.” Anna asked her what the strength might be. “That your love for these children and for my boy surpasses every imaginable magic ever made or used. That, my dear child, will keep you and him very safe.”
“They all think we should bond soon. I do as well, but they seem to think it will make my cat stronger.” Meggie said that it would. “In what way? I wasn’t raised by cats, so I’m not sure of a lot of things. The only reason I was able to shift was because I was pissed off at one of my brothers, and anger brought her out.”
“I don’t really think you’re related to those monsters anyway. Do you?” Anna had been thinking the same thing for the last couple of days. Mostly how she really didn’t look like any of them, not even her mother. “If you are, that’s fine as well. They made you who you are today, and we can be thankful for that. The same with Rogen and her parents. Her dad and mom drove nearly all the way across the United States to talk to her, to tell her and Jamie that they were sorry for what lousy parents they both were. Not that I think your family is going to have a change of heart about you, but one can hope.”
“How would I go about figuring this out? I mean, if I’m actually related to them or not.” Anna watched Beckett down on the floor with the girls, trying to teach them how to crawl. They were doing a much better job than he was. “I’ll do whatever it takes.”
Morgan: Robinson Destruction – Paranormal Tiger Shifter Romance Page 5
