Page 48 of Her Saviors

“Can I say something?” Kyler asks as he helps set the table while we help Brooklyn finish up the food.

“What do you wanna talk about, Little Man?” I ask.

“We see the judge tomorrow, right?” he questions. At my nod, he continues. “I think we need to dress up so we don’t make the judge mad. I want him to let us all stay together. Can you wear a suit? Brooky and the girls can all wear dresses.”

“We can do that, Kyler,” Brooklyn says, bringing over his glass of milk along with Mia’s sippy cup. The babies are in their swings, content for the time being as they were just fed. Even though they’re still too young to eat what we do, we bring them into the kitchen for family time.

That’s honestly one of my favorite parts of the day. Kyler fills us in on all the antics going on at school while he finishes up any work he brought home, there’s usually music softly playing in the background, and our wife has no problem dancing with us when the mood strikes. Our home, the one that was simply wood, windows, and walls, has become our sanctuary. The ol’ ladies are constantly visiting since it’s easier for them to come to us right now, and Nanny is an absolute godsend as far as we’re concerned. Somehow, she always knows when she’s needed and shows up, which was a definite blessing when all four kids picked up a stomach bug that Kyler brought home. Thankfully, that didn’t go through the compound, because of her quick thinking. Although being totally honest, the mountain of laundry that was created still gives me nightmares.

As Brooklyn says, at least we cleared out the clothes that were getting too small. We’re putting them aside for the twins as they grow up. They’ll still get new stuff, of course, but Brooklyn didn’t want them to go to waste. I look at our wife and realize she’s come so far since that long-ago night at Cricket’s when she approached us for help.

She’s a warrior, a phoenix; a woman who was ground down to almost nothing, that has overcome her past to stand tall and proud as a mother and wife. I love that she’s building solid friendships with the other ol’ ladies, especially Robynn, which is probably because she and Anguish have multiples in their house as well.

“Do we have suits?” I ask. My usual uniform of jeans, a tee-shirt, and my cut is what I was planning to wear, but it’s important to Kyler, so we’ll do it.

“Up in the closet,” Brooklyn replies. “Remember? All of us ol’ ladies made sure y’all had them in case they were ever needed.”

“Who would think like that?” I ask. The rest of the guys are like me, although we occasionally might wear sweats or shorts around the house.

“Cricket, of course,” Brooklyn teases.

“Brooky?” Kyler asks. “Do you have a dress? What about Mia and Addy?”

Brooklyn does what she can to hide her giggle, so she sounds like she’s strangling, but with a small smile on her face, she crouches by Kyler, who has the napkins in his hand and cups his face. “Sweetheart, all of us girls have a pretty dress for tomorrow. We’re very excited to make it official for you and Mia.”

He lets out a big sigh before wrapping his arms around her neck. I see her eyes well up as she hugs him close, Jayce right behind her to give her some stability since she’s crouching. “I’ll never forget my first Mommy and Daddy.”

“We won’t let you,” I promise. “In fact, we’ve got the pictures from the house and plan to add all of them to the walls in the family room.”

“Can we put one out by the tree we planted?” he asks, turning toward me.

True to his word, Director Oswald got us the living tree that has our parents’ ashes and we got it planted. Fetch made a beautiful bench and then Nanny planted bulbs so there are flowers growing year round.

“I think there’s a way we can preserve a picture so I’m going to say yes,” Brooklyn says. “Kyler, I’ll research it and we’ll get it done, okay? We won’t let you forget them, I promise.”

This morning was hectic as hell. Kyler woke up at the crack of dawn and wanted to have another shower so he didn’t stink before he went and saw the judge. We were already up with Dax and Adoline feeding them when he came strolling into our room. Jayce got up when we realized Kyler wasn’t going to go back to sleep and gave him a shower while I helped our wife with the twins. Mia woke up just after we got Dax and Addy back in their cribs. Her little whimpers sounded just as I climbed back into bed with Brooklyn.

“I’ll get her,” I tell Brooklyn as I turn and head back to the nursery.

Grabbing Mia, I bring her into our room after changing her diaper. Setting her in bed, she climbs over to Brooklyn and starts pulling on her long hair.

“Mama,” Mia says, smiling down at Brooklyn as she tries to get Mia’s finger untangled from her hair.

“Sweet Girl, it’s not playtime. Too early,” Brooklyn grumbles, not losing her smile at all as Jayce and Kyler re-enter the room and jump on the end of the bed.

Kyler is dressed in a tee-shirt and pair of sweatpants so he doesn’t get his suit dirty from breakfast, his words. Jayce lets us know that we might as well get up because our little boy won’t be going back to sleep. He’s too excited for the day and wants to get to court early so we’re not late. Anything he can think of that will upset the judge has crossed Kyler’s mind and he’s voiced his opinion on the matter. One more way he’s grown over the last six months. Theresa has been working wonders with him and Kyler is no longer afraid to express his feelings or opinion on anything. Especially at school. We’ve been called down there more than a few times because he’s been standing up for one of the other kids getting bullied in fucking kindergarten.

Brooklyn and I agree with Jayce as he leaves the room with Kyler to make breakfast for us. Mia remains in her pajamas when we head downstairs a few minutes later. I put her in the high chair as Brooklyn sets the baby monitor on the table so we can see it in case the twins wake up again. Kyler is setting the table as normal when he’s home as the front door opens to show Nanny walking in with Cricket and Robynn on her heels.

“Morning,” Nanny greets us as Mia starts squealing in her high chair.

“Nanny!” Kyler yells out, running over to her and hugging her while Cricket and Robynn make sure he doesn’t accidentally knock her over. “You’re wearing a pretty dress.”

“I am, Kyler. You want us all dressed up, so we’re gonna be dressed up. I’m gonna have breakfast with you this morning. Would it be okay with you?” she asks him, a large smile on her face as she looks down at him.

“It’s okay, Nanny. You can sit by Mia, your best friend,” he answers her, melting our hearts as we all watch him carefully help Nanny to the table then pulls out her chair next to Mia.

“Thank you, Kyler. Such a gentleman,” she tells him, leaning forward and pressing a kiss against his cheek.

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