"Is you wearing a pretty dress for mawmaw?" I hear Embry coo as he brings Kinley in from changing her.
I smirk a little as mom and I sit at the table, coffee in hand, talking. "It's amazing how a man's mind melts when a baby is involved."
"Your father was adamant he would never be like that." She laughs.
"He still did it well into our teens." I laugh too and smile as she takes Kinley from Em.
"Oh look at this pretty dress, Kin." She coos; Kinley's face lights up and she giggles, blushing with a cheesy grin. "Does she say anything yet?" Mom looks at me as she bounces her.
I nod. "She's pretty good with her sign language. But she says the usual mama, dada, baba for bottle, the 'puh' sound for her paci. This is my favourite. T-i-double g-"
"Rrrrrrr!" Kinley says as she throws her arms up.
Mom laughs as she gasps. "Oh my heart!"
I smile. "Someone loves Winnie the Pooh."
"You did too - Piglet was your favourite in the entire world. I bought you a Piglet stuffie with a blanket in his hands just after the boys were born and I told you he was your new baby. You made me help put a diapy on him and everything."
"I still have it, it's in the nursery now." I smile, vaguely remembering what she said happening. "I'm sure it still has the chew marks from Bailey."
Mom smiles and looks at her mug. "Will I see them...?"
"I'm sure you will. You just got in, in time too because they should be back tomorrow from who knows where." I smile. "How... How long will you stay?"
"I can only stay till Sunday, I have work again Monday; at such short notice I could only get a few days off. But I've booked the holidays off, if it's okay for me to visit?" She sounds hopeful, chewing her lip as she looks up at me.
I smile wide. "Yes! I would love that! And you would be here for her first birthday too if you can stay into January? If not we will just celebrate early." I smile eagerly.
"I will see what I can do - I wouldn't miss it for the world. I really do want to make up for lost time."
I nod and take her hand. "I'm so sorry I was so harsh to you. Dad told us everything... I haven't spoke to him in a month."
"Aubree." Mom scolds lightly, scowling. "That man did everything for you. We both made mistakes in that marriage, we both chose the wrong things and ultimately we both got hurt - you kids got hurt. We're nothing like those people anymore, and you aren't the person you were 2 years ago. Things happen for a reason, I've learnt that lesson a lot in my life, this was one of those things; we may never know why exactly but we just move along."
I smile a little. "Yes mom... I'm still not used to saying that."
She laughs, the corners of her eyes crinkling. "It's so strange to hear it yet I can't get enough."
I giggle small and sigh. "Would you like to go to the beach? Embry has work so it'll be just us girls."
"Sure, I've heard the beach here is beautiful. What do you work as Embry?" Mom looks at him.
I pale as Embry sips his coffee shrugging. "Bit of everything. Tradition has that Quileute boys stay on the res and protect the tribe; I do everything from landscaping to a handy man, council member, delivery guy. We pretty much do everything." He smiles.
"That sounds... amazing. Very traditional, you don't see that very often anymore." She shakes her head.
I sigh silently in relief and smile. "He's very proud of his tribe."
"Our tribe." Embry leans over and kisses me. "I'll bring pizza home later, okay?"
I nod. "Love you. Say bye daddy." I coo at Kinley and she looks away from her mawmaw for a moment to wave at him. He smiles and kisses her head a few times before heading out to meet Jake.
I grab Kinleys shoes and mom takes them. "I got her, you get your coat."
I smile and jog upstairs to grab my coat. As I slip my arms in I hear the door downstairs open. "Aubreeeeeeee!" Cooper calls in a singing voice.
My eyes widen and I stumble as I rush to run downstairs. "Bailey, Cooper don't go-"
Both boys stand frozen in the kitchen doorway, their bags falling to the ground. I push past them and stand between Amelia and the boys, looking at them. "Guys, this is Amelia. Mom."
"Hi Bailey... Cooper." Amelia says as she smiles at them gently.
"H-how do you know who's who?" Bailey whispers.
Mom smiles as she shifts Kinley up her hip more. "Bailey has a freckle on his cheek, Cooper's is on his chin. Coops face is rounder too." She gazes at them, the boys just a few inches taller than her.
Cooper exhales slowly and runs a hand through his hair, not knowing what to say. Bailey's jaw is set tense, but he doesn't utter a word either; how awkward. I sigh small. "Look guys... Mom's here to get to know us. If you guys will let her. She and I have been talking for a while and Embry flew her out here coz I need her - WE need her."
"Were we even meant to know?" Cooper says softly.
"Of course you were!" I scowl. "I just wanted to let her settle in first, she's only here a few days and she got in this morning. I didn't even know where you guys were or when you were getting home."
"Why don't we take Kinley to the beach? Fresh air, open space, will help us all think clearly and then we can talk some." Mom suggests.
I smile gently and nod, packing the diaper bag before I look at the boys. "You coming? The bikes are out back if you wanna ride them instead of coming in the car."
They nod and go to grab the helmets. Mom takes Kinley to the car and I smile as I watch her talking with her, Kinley adoring her already. I see the boys drag the bikes out of the yard and I eye them. "Be nice to her please, she didn't have to come or try. We all need this."
-
After stopping at Sue and Charlie's to get Buddy - Sue has kindly adopted my boy as he and Kinley don't get alone - we finally arrive at LaPush. I climb out and make sure Kins coat is zipped up before I set her down, me and mom each taking a hand. I see the bikes parked up and look down the beach to see the boys skimming rocks in the distance.
I smile as we walk slow, letting Kinley semi walk alone. "They really are the kindest boys." I say as I glance towards them. "They're just like me - hot headed."
Mom throws the ball for buddy again. "I get it - You kids have been through a lot because of your father and I. We've both got a lot to make up for."
"If I'm honest... I just want to forget it all. I'm not holding anything against you anymore, and I'm gonna call dad later to talk it out." I smile gently.
"I'm glad." Mom smiles wide back at me.
We reach the twins as they share a look; Bailey takes a deep breath. "Were sorry for coming across so rude. It's just... We've imagined meeting you our entire lives."
Mom smiles gently. "It's okay, there isn't anything to be sorry for. Aubree was just saying about a sort of clean slate - would that be okay?"
The twins smile and nod. Cooper hesitates a moment. "Can I have a hug?" He asks.
Mom smiles wide and nods quickly; I take Kinleys other hand for her as she quickly wraps both arms around Cooper who hugs back. Bailey smiles small and Amelia grabs him too, pulling him close. I grin and snap a picture of them, my heart feeling full. I've raised these boys, they're my brothers and I adore them, and I finally get my mom in my life. I have a great set of friends, an even better family and the cutest daughter on the planet. Life is... good.
Kinley ruins the moment by shrieking, stomping her foot as she demands attention. The boys laugh and mom wipes her eyes as she pulls away. "Okay miss Kinley Rose." She coos and picks her up. "I love you too, goofy girl."
"The wonderful thing about Kinley." I laugh.
"She ruins all the best moments then goes and makes them better." Cooper says gently as he kisses her rosy cheeks.
"C'mon, let's get back. The plan worked." Mom laughs and we all head to the car; the boys hug her again before the race ahead on the bikes and we drop Buddy back.
As I leave the Swans house and head back to the warm car, I glance over the road at dad's house. I see dad just pulling up, probably just getting home from a night shift, when he looks over at me and his face saddens. He glances at the car and it drops even more when he sees mom sat in the passenger seat.
I motion to her I'll be a moment before jogging over to him. I take a deep breath. "I'm having a get together later, so Embry and Rose and all that can meet mom and she can meet everyone... would you guys like to come?"
"I-I mean... if that's okay. Is Amelia okay with that?" He glances at the car.
"Were sort of on this clean slate thing. Whatever had happened isn't going to affect us now - from this point it's about the future and getting to be a family, rather than dwelling on the things that went wrong." I smile small.
Dad is silent for a moment. "Okay, we'll be there. For you, and for Kinley."
I smile. "Bye daddy. Thank you." I kiss his cheek and run back to the car. Kinley has a knack for bringing people together!