Page 5 of A Very Miller-Cooper Life

“And daycare isn’t cheap, especially with three.”

“Yeah, about that…” I let my voice trail off.

Reagan furrowed her eyebrows at me. “What’s up?”

“That daycaredidemail me back and they also have a waitlist. They said it will be at least a year if we want to get all three in.”

“Shit.” Reagan laughed even though Charlie was sure she didn’t actually find this funny. “I guess we should’ve listened when people told us to get on a waitlist before they were born, huh?”

“Yeah. It seemed crazy at the time, but I guess they knew what they were talking about. I honestly don’t know what we're going to do. I need to go back to work, but I can’t really do that without having childcare in place.” I shook my head and pulled Reagan tight up against me. “We shouldn’t be talking about this right now though. Let’s just enjoy this kid-free moment.”

“I can do it.”

I pulled away from Reagan slightly so I could look at her. “Do what?”

“I’ll stay with the triplets while you work. I need to get work done too obviously, but since I work remotely, I can get my stuff done while they nap and once you’re home. My boss won’t care what time I’m doing my work as long as I get it done.”

“You want to stay with the triplets…alone?”

“Want to? Hell no. Will I do it for the good of our family? Of course.”

I raised an eyebrow at Reagan. “I feel like you’re only suggesting this right now because you’re drunk.”

Reagan shrugged. “Probably. But do we really have any other option?”

I sighed because I knew she was right. “Are you sure you can handle it?”

“Of course. I’m Reagan Cooper. I can handle anything.”

Chapter 2

Reagan

“I can’t handle this,” I said to myself as I looked around our small apartment that was a complete and utter mess.

This was only the first week of being at home with the kids by myself and I already felt like I was losing my mind. It felt like as soon as I got one kid to calm down, one or both of the others would freak out. At least Carter was content as long as she was close to me. I had learned just one day in, that things would go a lot more smoothly if I just kept her in a baby wrap all day, so I had my hands free to handle the other two.

As if she somehow knew I was on the verge of a mental breakdown, my mom called at that very moment. I fumbled with my phone as I tried to grab it off the coffee table then used my nose to accept the call and turn on the speaker. “Hey, Mom,” I said, trying to keep my voice as steady as possible.

“Hey, sweetie, how’s it going?” The tone of her voice told me she knewexactlyhow it was going.

“It’s…” I looked around our apartment which was a mess of toys, swings and bouncers, piles of dirty and clean laundry I was attempting to do, but hadn’t gotten far on, and my open laptop, which most likely wouldn’t get attention until Charlie was home. “It’s going. Great. It’s… um… really great.”

“Since when do you lie to me?”

I didn’t know whether to groan or smile. Of course she knew. Shealwaysknew. “I’m really trying to hold it together. I need to. I really don’t have a choice.”

“Why don’t you let me come up and help for a week? I’d stay longer since retirement has me bored, but I don’t trust your father alone in the house for longer than that.”

“That would be amazing. Are you sure you don’t mind?”

“Of course I don’t. You’re my little girl. I want to help you. Also, I’d use any excuse to get snuggles from my grandbabies.”

The week leading up to my mom’s arrival seemed to drag on forever while the week she was at our house ended in the blink of an eye. I couldn’t believe as we sat on the couch together, each rocking a baby while the other was asleep in his crib, that I only had a few hours left with her. I had to blink back tears at the thought of doing this alone again. “Are you sure you have to go?” I asked with a laugh, hoping I could play it off as a joke even though it definitely wasn’t funny.

My mom sighed as she stared down at Olivia. “I wish I could stay. I love spending time with all of you.” My mom looked around the room before bringing her focus back to me. “You know I hate to be one of those meddling moms, but have you thought about hiring a babysitter?”

“For triplets?” I scoffed as if I hadn’t had the same idea the week prior. “The babysitters want double what I make, and those are thecheapones. I’d be better off quitting my job.”

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