Page 9 of Milk & Cookie

“Oh. Well, off to the shower with you, Morrissey Isla Beckett. After breakfast, we’ll get you some worms for these homes you’ve been building, and you can play in this mess some more.”

“Gammy already got the worms.” She holds one up for me to see. “But I can’t find the other one. She’s hiding.”

I look at Luna, and she grins at me with her muddy smile again. There are little chunks stuck between her teeth that may not be only grit.

I give her a sideways look as I grimace. “Luna Beckett, did you eat that worm?”

She keeps grinning, and I know the answer.

I shake off my shudder and motion for Morrissey with my head. “Better put your worm somewhere safe, so Lulu doesn’t eat her, too.”

“Luna.” Morrissey pulls a face, puts her worm in a bowl of dirt, and follows us to the big bathroom. “Lulu, we don’t eat our friends. It’s not nice.” She barely takes a breath before asking, “Did it taste good?”

“Not as good as pancakes, I imagine,” I say, fending off a retch. “On a different track— How many of us can fit in the shower at once? All four?”

“I think so.” Morrissey drops her filthy clothes to the floor, and then helps Luna get her stuck head out of her T-shirt, while I burp and undress Raven. “It’s a big shower.”

“It is.” I turn on the water and consider the size of the tiled, walk-in unit. “I think there’s room for even more of us. Should we add another little brother or sister to this awesome team?”

“When?” Morrissey asks, studying my belly with skepticism. “Tomorrow?” She pokes my squishy mama-tummy, and then looks up at me. “It’s not done baking yet, is it?”

“Actually, I haven’t even started the baking, so it won’t happen for a while. Right now, I’m just thinking about it and gathering some ingredients.”

“Do boy babies need different ingredients from girl babies?”

I tilt my head. “Sort of. But both genders come mixed together in the same batter, so it’s more of a magical, lucky-dip surprise, and not something you can choose when you’re doing organic baking.”

Morrissey nods, carefully washing the mud from between her fingers. “Organic is best.”

“I’m pleased you think so.” I set Raven into her little shower seat and hold my arms open for Luna. “Okay, Lulu. Time to get you washed up.”

She dances into my arms and snuggles in, covering us both in dirty water, as the shower’s broad rain-head sprays over us all. My little mover squirms and wiggles the whole time she’s getting cleaned. Once she’s done, she splashes with Raven, while I wash myself.

I help Morrissey clean her face, and then get everyone bundled into towels for the march to their bedroom.

“Mawissey?” Luna holds one of Morrissey’s favorite dresses out for her.

Morrissey grins and pulls it on. “Now I’ll choose for you.” She rushes to Luna’s clothes and pulls out a similar dress.

Luna looks up from playing with her bellybutton and shakes her head. “Nope. Nope.”

This continues until every item has been turned down, Raven and I are both dressed and ready for the day, and Morrissey is all out of patience. She stomps her foot. “What are you wearing, then?”

Luna leaps and lunges over to Morrissey’s clothes and holds up one of her T-shirts. “Lulu?”

Morrissey smiles and helps her into it. “You’re lucky you’re cute,” she says, sounding much more complimentary than her Gammy does when she says it.

“You’re both pretty cute and lucky. C’mon. Pancake time. Who’s helping me make the batter?”

4

VINCE

“Three?” I stare at Daryl, my jaw slack. “I knew she was a mom, but… three kids? I assumed she only had one, because she looks so young. How old is she?”

Daryl shrugs. “I don’t know. Twenty… five? Ish? Do alternative, new-age hippy types keep accurate birth records?” He swats the air with his hand. “Also, it’s not how many she has that earned her the babymaker name about town; it’s how she made them. Well, it’s that and the number, because technically, she’s had four.”

A strangled squeak escapes me, and I grip my shirt over my chest. “What happened to the fourth?” I whisper, almost too horrified to ask. I cross my fingers and pray the baby didn’t pass away.

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