Chapter 74

Kathy entered the bathroom and turned on the shower, a tired sigh escaping her lips. She had missed the simple comfort of a real shower—the quick bird baths she'd been taking lately just weren’t enough anymore. As she undressed and stepped under the warm spray, she closed her eyes and let the water wash over her, feeling the tension in her muscles begin to melt away. Kathy put her head against the cool shower wall, closing her eyes and taking a deep breath as she tried to process the reality of raising a baby girl with striking purple eyes. She grabbed her rag, squeezed out a bit of shower gel, and began to gently wash her body, letting the warm water cascade down, even working the suds through her hair. When she was finally done, Kathy turned off the water and reached for two towels—one to wrap securely around her body, and the other to dry off her hair before stepping out of the bathroom.

“Go ahead Anthony, the shower is ready for you. How are the babies?” said Kathy, her voice soft as she finished wrapping the towel around herself. She glanced over, concern flickering in her eyes as she thought about their children, hoping they were still sleeping peacefully.

As she dried her hair, she looked up to find Anthony standing there, his golden eyes fixed on her, and with both hands, he caged her head. She's trying to think of how to get Anthony to be himself again.

As she finished drying her hair, Kathy caught Anthony's gaze and offered a gentle smile. “Max, hello, I know you were watching everything going on. And you want that dinner that never happened with everything that’s been going on. Don’t be angry,” said Kathy, her tone both apologetic and reassuring as she tried to bridge the gap between them.

Max's features softened, and he shook his head with a small smile. “I am not angry at one bit, I am happy we have sons and a daughter who I can spoil and the boys will become Melody’s protectors. And I will make sure no male will be around her until I meet them,” he replied, his tone teasing but laced with genuine affection.

Kathy shook her head gently, a playful glint in her eyes. “No way, Max, you and the other males in the family will do that too. Come on, just this once, you need to let her be when she goes on dates, prom, even when she has a crush. If a boy ever breaks her heart, you have to promise you’ll let it go and not interfere. Until she finds her mate, then you can be protective as much as you want. Now, if anyone actually hurts her—that’s a different story,” Kathy explained, her voice firm but full of warmth.

Kathy laughed softly, wrapping the towel tighter around herself. "Her uncles, her great-grandfather Theo, and even the cousins—don't act like you all won't be lining up at the door when she brings someone home," she teased, giving Max a knowing look. "Besides, you know Frances and Seth will have their own say, too. She’s got a whole team watching out for her, whether you like it or not."

“I know, we have to understand she is half-witch and half-werewolf. We won’t know until she gets older which side will take over more. Well, you get dressed and by the time I’m done with the shower, we should be getting the babies home,” said Anthony, his voice thoughtful but reassuring. He gave Kathy a gentle nod before heading into the bathroom, leaving her with a renewed sense of hope about their daughter’s future.

Kathy stepped closer to Max, her towel held securely in one hand, and kissed him lightly on the lips. She lingered for a moment, her eyes searching his with tenderness, then reached up to gently rub his cheek, her touch both soothing and reassuring. Max, recognizing that Kathy still needed time to heal, gave her a soft, understanding look. He pulled away slightly, his restraint evident, and brought her hand to his lips, pressing a gentle kiss to the back of it as a sign of his love and patience. Max gives Anthony back control, as he got his clothes and heading into the bathroom. Kathy went over to the basket to see all three babies were sleeping while she was getting dressed.

Suddenly, a low rumble of thunder echoed through the house, startling Kathy from her thoughts. She glanced over at the crib, relieved to see the babies still sleeping soundly despite the sudden change in weather. Wrapping her towel around herself, Kathy walked over to the window, curiosity piqued. The sky had turned a brooding shade of gray, dark clouds rolling in fast above the town. Below, cars splashed through puddles as people hurried along the sidewalks—some with shopping bags, others pulling up hoods or opening umbrellas, all trying to dodge the unexpected downpour.

Then, suddenly, Kathy felt a reassuring arm wrap around her waist and the gentle press of a cheek on her shoulder—she knew instantly it was Anthony. She turned around with a soft smile and gave his cheek a light tap in affection before heading to her bag. As Anthony watched, Kathy pulled out her underclothes and dressed quickly, pulling on a comfortable pair of sweatpants and a loose shirt. She even slid her feet into the hospital slippers provided by the staff, wanting to be ready for the journey home. Once dressed, she checked on the babies—each one nestled safely in their car seats, except for Melody, who didn’t have one yet and would need to be held securely.

Just then, a gentle knock sounded at the door before the nurse entered, finding the family bustling with last-minute preparations. Seeing they were getting ready to leave, the nurse offered to help, gathering up their belongings and placing everything neatly into clear hospital bags. The sense of anticipation and relief in the room was palpable as everyone pitched in, eager to finally bring the new family home together.

As Kathy double-checked the car seats and the hospital bag, the nurse poked her head back in with a polite smile. “Miss, there are two people here to see you,” said the nurse, gesturing toward the hallway. Kathy nodded, her heart giving a little leap of excitement at the thought of seeing familiar faces.

“Thank you. Can you let them come in?” said Anthony, his voice warm but eager, glancing over at Kathy with a reassuring nod. The nurse smiled and stepped aside, opening the door wider to welcome their visitors.

Moments later, Miles and Sarah stepped into the room, their smiles wide with excitement. After stopping at the sink to thoroughly wash their hands, they joined Kathy and Anthony, eager to meet the newborns. Sarah leaned in gently to peek at each baby, her eyes shining with joy, while Miles offered Kathy a warm hug and congratulated the new parents on their growing family.

“We came here to see if we need you two need any help,” said Sarah

“Yes, um…my mother has a car outside waiting for us, she didn’t know we got a third baby so there is no car seat for her, which means I have to hold her during the car ride,” said Kathy

“We can help you, with your bags,” said Sarah

“Thank you,” said Kathy

With everything finally done, Kathy walked out of the room, cradling Melody, offering farewells to the doctor and nurse as they headed towards the elevator, eventually stepping out the front door. Anthony is carrying both boys in their car seat, grateful that the car is close by to prevent them from getting too wet. As Anthony locked the babies in the backseat, the bags were loaded into the truck before Kathy settled in the back, cradling Melody. Miles and Sarah headed for their car, while Anthony settled inside and closed the door, the driver poised to start the journey to their chosen place. As the rain came down, Anthony instinctively rubbed her knees to check if she was okay. With three babies to care for, they are experiencing the challenges of being new parents.