Page 43 of Home Is Where the Witch Is
Declan followed shortly behind with their little boy, while Ivy, Gabe, and Maggie brought in the bags and parked the hastily acquired twin pram on the porch for Declan to deal with after. The nursery had already been fully decorated when Rosie had been caught in the throes of labor, but now things would have to be rearranged. Some furniture had been moved out to make way for an also quickly acquired Walmart cot, which was sidled up next to the new one Declan had handmade after the first had been burned in the fire at Fox Cottage.
“I can’t believe I have to make another one of these things,” he complained. “One for Tammy and Myles, and one for us. That was my plan.”
“Well, one baby coming out of my hoo-hah was my plan and we both know how that turned out.” Rosie smirked, laying their little girl down in the special cot. “They both need to have the same bed, otherwise it’s not right.”
“I know.” He sighed. “Maybe I could make the other one with magic.”
“Then it’s not the same,” Rosie said calmly, knowing full well her husband was just trying to get a rise of out her.
“Yes, dear,” he replied cheekily when she didn’t bite, bending to lay their son down in the other cot.
“Don’t ‘yes dear’ me.” Rosie reached out to swat Declan’s butt playfully, but he was too quick for her. He pulled his cheeks in, out of reach, before he danced backward toward the nursery door.
“No ma’am,” he grinned, before she caught up to him.
“You know, Mr. Forrest,” she smirked, poking him in the ribs with her index finger and making him jump. “We made pretty beautiful children.”
He wrapped his arms around her in a gentler version of a bear hug—snuggly enough to cuddle her up, but tight enough that she wouldn’t be able to keep poking him.
“We sure did, Mrs. Forrest.”
The next morningeveryone in the house slept in. The babies had woken through the night for feeding and changing, and by the time the sun had managed to sneak its rays past the various bedroom curtains in the house everyone had already decided they were having a late start. Trading off baby duty with Declan, Rosie took the opportunity of the quiet house to get up before everyone else and express some milk. Before long she was joined by Declan, and then Ivy was awake.
The three of them chatted quietly until the babies woke the kids. Gabe stayed in his room, but Maggie began the look-out for Cillian and Saoirse, who were due to arrive via Fairy Tree Express any moment. At long last Maggie let out a whoop of excitement that startled her baby sister, who was dozing in and out in their mother’s arms.
“They’re here!” she danced, before realizing she’d been a touch too loud. “Oops—sorry!”
“They are!” Cillian echoed as he opened the front door for his wife. His voice was more moderated than Maggie's but was filled with the same excitement. “An’ they brought breakfast with ‘em!”
“Brill,” Declan groaned, clearly relieved at not having to cook. “Thanks Da’.”
Cillian handed a huge bag holding containers of various Irish breakfast foods over to Declan with a flourish. “You’re welcome, m’lad,” he said, pushing past once his hands were free. “Now. Lemme get a better look at my grandbabies.”
Rosie, who had promised Maggie she could hold her baby sister once she stirred, was getting Maggie set up on the couch.
“Are you sitting comfortably?”
“Yes,” Maggie said, her eyes fixed on the baby.
“Okay. Hold your arm out so I can lay her there.” Rosie leaned down, placing the tiny newborn in her daughter’s embrace. “There we go. Good job. Keep supporting her little neck, so she’s cozy.”
“She’s kinda heavy!” Maggie chuckled, gazing down at the baby adoringly.
“She is!” Rosie agreed, not wanting to point out she’d already been carrying her—andher brother—for the past eight-plus months. “If your arm starts to get tired, just let me know.”
“It won’t,” Maggie promised, clearly determined to be holding one baby or another for the foreseeable future. Feeling her heart wanting to explode from the cuteness, Rosie dug her cellphone out of her back pocket and quickly swiped into her camera app.
“Say cheese!”
“Diapers!” Maggie grinned cheekily, looking up as her mom snapped the pic.
“Good heavens,” Rosie sighed, though she couldn’t help being a tad amused. “Just for that, you get to change the next one!”
Maggie nodded enthusiastically. “I will! I don’t mind!”
“You will once you smell it,” Declan added under his breath, prompting Maggie to giggle.
Rosie was smiling as she moved away from Maggie a bit to sit with her mother-in-law, who was gazing adoringly at her two grand-daughters together.
