Page 74 of Catching Dreams

On each crib were the baseball mobiles that we bought after we found out we were having twins. There was a gray glider with an ottoman that looked perfect for feeding the girls. Above the glider was a beautiful canvas painting that I had to get a closer look at. Two redheaded baby girls were lying next to each other in the painting, and they were each wearing little onesies with baseballs and strawberries on them. The details were beautiful, and I gasped when I read the name on the bottom corner of the canvas.

“Tyler!”

When my husband came over to look at the painting closer, I pointed at the name. “Michael ‘Gramps’ Stone” was signed on the painting.

Tyler turned around to see his dad standing in the doorway and he went over and hugged him tightly. I knew he had said his dad used to love to paint but had no idea how talented he was. I followed Tyler and hugged his dad, too.

On the other side of the room was the changing table. I opened up the closet door and gasped again. It was filled with tons of clothes, probably more clothes than they could both wear. On the far end of the closet were all the boxes of diapers the Tiger teammates had given us for a baby shower gift. We wouldn’t have to worry about diapers for a long time!

The next room was Ty’s work out room. The stationary bicycle, treadmill, and punching bag fit in the room nicely. I also noticed the purple yoga mat, and I knew I had to wait to get the okay from the doctor, but as soon as I did, I would be working out in this room, too, to lose the baby weight. I also had to chuckle when I saw the two baby bouncers in the corner of the room. I knew those were there so the babies could be with us while we worked out. I know I kept saying it, but they really had thought of everything!

The room across from the girls was my office. Inside, I found a desk and chair along with some shelves and file cabinets. The shelves and walls were empty, and Dominic explained that they figured I’d want to decorate my office in a certain way. I appreciated the thought. On the other end of the room was a daybed with a soft white comforter covered in pretty flower embroidery. It would be a perfect guest bed.

“It actually has a trundle bed under it so it can turn into a full-size bed or keep it as two twin beds,” Hayden told us as he came into the room. “There are extra sheets, comforters, and pillows to match in the closet over there.”

“I love it! Thank you!”

We walked into our master bedroom, and just when I couldn’t think of things getting better, I was wrong. There was a huge king-sized bed with a purple and blue comforter and lots of pillows. It looks so comfortable and inviting. There were two small end tables with matching lamps on either side. On my side, there were a few of my favorite books, and on Ty’s side of the bed was a video game controller. Across from the bed was a big TV and a gaming console sitting on top of the dresser. I walked over to the closet and opened it to see a nice sized walk-in closet filled with both of our clothes. When I closed the closet door, I noticed the two bassinets on the other wall.

“Penelope said you’d probably want them close to you if you were breastfeeding them, and this was the best thing to do until they outgrow the bassinets,” Cooper explained.

I picked up a soft yellow blanket lying in one of the bassinets. There was also a yellow bunny rabbit in Hazel’s bassinet. In Olivia’s bassinet, there was a purple elephant along with a purple blanket.

“Peyton, Camden, and Nico picked out the stuffed animals,” Hayden told me.

“They are perfect!” I said.

“For this next room, we did get some of Ty’s input,” Dominic explained as we walked into the bathroom. My dream bathtub was along the right wall, a deep soaker tub, complete with jets. Next to it was a shower that would easily fit two people, and it had the special detaching shower head I loved. There was a toilet on the other wall next to a double vanity. On one side, there was Tyler’s shaving gel, toothbrush, and other things guys needed. On my side was my make up kit, shaving items, toothbrush, and all the products I used.

“I will never be able to thank you guys enough,” I said with tears in my eyes.

“No kidding. You guys are amazing! I can’t believe you did all this,” my husband said.

“Well, we did have a lot of help,” Hayden said.

“We wanted you to be able to bring your babies home to your apartment,” Dominic told us.

We all walked back to the family room, and that is when I noticed a picture frame next to our door. It was a whole collage of pictures. Dr. Campbell and Mack hammering along with the construction crew. Meadow and Penelope painting along with Emma, Hayden, and Ivan. There were candid shots of the Tiger players, along with Dominic, Carter, and Tyler’s dad, carrying furniture and bakery cases. Another set of photos showed Camden, Nico, and Peyton baking along with Tyler’s mom, Janel and Robyn. There was even a picture of sweet Mrs. James putting flowers in a vase and setting them on one of the cafe tables.

The best picture was in the middle of the collage and showed a whole group of people standing in front of the bakery. So many familiar faces that had helped our family. It was unbelievable. I definitely would want another copy of the group picture in the bakery.

“When did all this happen?” I asked, overwhelmed by the generosity and love our family, friends, and community put into for everything to be ready when we came home from the hospital.

“It was actually the day you went on bedrest, and the contractor, McDonald, came to my apartment looking for you,” Penelope began to tell us. “He said it was almost done, and he hoped it would be finished soon. Dominic asked if it could be done sooner if we got people to help. His goal was to make it where you wouldn’t have to bring the babies back to the motel. We put together a schedule of what people could help with and when and made it happen.”

I walked over to my brother and gave him a huge hug. I was so thankful he was in my life.

“I can’t take all the credit,” Dominic said. “Everyone helped just as you did for Ivan to be able to go home, but others stepped up, too. It was the same thing here.”

“Thank you so much, everyone,” Tyler said and wiped away the tears that were coming down my cheeks with his thumb.

“Yes, thank you, guys, for making sure our babies will be safe at home! I love it so much!”

After Cupcake Curveball closed for the day we all gathered in our family room. Some people were sitting on our new couch, on the floor or on kitchen barstools all facing our big screen TV. I sat on my husband’s lap on the end of the couch and loved when he pulled me as close to him as he could. I smiled as my brother took Hazel in his arms and Penelope took Olivia to hold while sitting on the floor surrounded by her own two kids. I snuggled into Tyler’s embrace as we all watched Landon’s Jaguars play in game 1 of the World Series against the Cleveland Rockets.

“Batter Up! This is Molly,” I had to smile as I heard her familiar voice. I loved this woman more than I ever thought I would.

“Howdy, ma’am,” I said, trying to feign a southern accent. “I heard from a good ‘ol friend of mine that you had a whole peanut-free kitchen. I wanted to know if you delivered down south? I have a hankering for some strawberry shortcake.”

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