Page 311 of What We Brave
I find it in the closet, rolled up and tied with ribbon. Caleb appears at my elbow.
"Is it time?"
"Almost, buddy. Papa's going to get Grandma and Grandpa from the airport. Then we'll go to the surprise place."
"The little house."
"That's right."
"And they're going to live there?"
"We hope so. We're going to ask them."
Caleb considers this. He's got Laine's thoughtful expression, the way she tilts her head when she's processing something.
"Will they be here for breakfast every day?"
"Maybe. Would you like that?"
"Yeah." He nods firmly. "Grandpa tells good stories. And Grandma makes the good pancakes."
"Better than Papa's pancakes?"
Caleb looks at me very seriously. "Don't tell Papa."
I crouch down to his level. "Your secret's safe with me."
We spend the next hour getting the guest house ready. Laine arranges flowers on the small kitchen table while I keep the kids from destroying everything Blake built.
June wants to touch all the light switches. Caleb wants to know if there's a TV. Iris wants to be held, then put down, then held again, then put down while screaming.
"This is why we need grandparents closer," Laine says, catching Iris before she can toddle into the bathroom. "Backup."
"Reinforcements."
"How do couples do this?" She hoists Iris onto her hip. "Regularcouples. Two people. We've got three adults and it feels like we're barely keeping up."
"We're not barely keeping up. We're thriving."
She shoots me a look. "Reid. June bit the pediatrician last week."
"She was provoked."
"She was getting a sticker."
"An ugly sticker. Her taste is developing."
Laine laughs despite herself. Iris takes the opportunity to grab a fistful of her mother's hair and yank.
"Ow—Iris, no. We don't pull hair."
"Ma," Iris says, completely unrepentant.
More hands would help. Especially hands that love these kids as much as we do.
"Mama, when's Papa coming?" Caleb's at the window, watching the driveway.
"Soon, baby. Grandma and Grandpa's plane just landed."
