Chapter 32 #2
“I’m going to run to the grocery store,” Aunt Lucy said suddenly. “That child will need diapers and that homemade formula is okay in an absolute emergency, but she should be on a regular one.”
“Diapers too,” Mom said, returning.
“Do you know what size to get?”
“The birth certificate shows she’s about five months old, and she’s rather tiny,” Carl said. “Not that I know a whole lot about babies, but she looks small to me.”
“It’s that homemade formula. She’s not getting all the right vitamins and fats,” Aunt Lucy declared. “Seeing as they’re broke and moving around, probably not on WIC or she’d have real milk for her and probably giving her not quite enough of what she did have, either.”
I winced, knowing that Aunt Lucy was probably right. Carl reached into his pocket, taking out his wallet and handed her some money. “Buy two different sizes. One of them will be right and we can save the ones that aren’t for later. Some outfits too, if possible.”
“This is too much,” she said. “It’s not going to be no two hundred and fifty-five dollars to buy two packages of diapers, a couple cans of formula, and two or three outfits from the grocery store. Walmart is not that expensive.”
“You can bring the change back, Lucy,” Mom said. “And I’m sure he means you can buy anything else you think she might need that they have, like bottles and maybe a toy.”
Aunt Lucy closed her eyes for a moment. “You’re right.
I’m just that shook that my daughter did this.
She could have reached out to me any time before this and asked me to take her in, and then asked me to approach the boys about adopting her.
” She sighed, shaking her head. “I’ll be back shortly.
” She took her leave and I watched her go, only for her to pop her head inside.
“Just so you know, there’s one of them baby carrier car seats sitting out here on the porch.
" Then she ducked back outside and was gone.
Carl rubbed a hand over his face. So, we got married today and had a baby. Pretty full day and we haven’t checked into tonight’s motel or gone out for dinner yet.”
“It’s been a crazy day alright,” Dad agreed. “But you still need to decide what you’re going to do with her while you’re on your honeymoon.”
We looked at each other.
“Take her with us?” I asked my husbands.
“Definitely,” Carl agreed. “Just think, her first trip to Disney! I can see her now in a little Minnie Mouse hat.”
Mom’s fingers were flying over her phone screen. “I just told Lucy to get a travel crib so she’ll have somewhere to sleep.”
“Good thinking,” Kit said, before stepping off to one side.
Lifting his arm to speak into his kunnarskyn, he said, “Xeranos, please notify the Fleet that we have adopted a youngling who is approximately five months old. I will send the necessary documentation up with the shuttle pilot when he returns from dropping us off in the morning. We will be taking her along with us.”
“Please scan both of her feet and hands, and take an image of her being held in your arms alongside your mates. I will use this information to generate a Mylos child passport for you to use and send it down with the pilot who will be bringing you to Tokyo the day after tomorrow.”
“Thank you, Xeranos.”
“Any time, and double congratulations. I look forward to hearing how this unexpected development came about. Laters.”
“He can do that, that fast?” I gasped.
“I knew the Mylos were efficient, but holy hell,” Carl said. “Thank goodness, as I hadn’t even thought about us needing a passport for her. I don’t know where my head was at.”
“Too full of the excitement and champagne from the wedding and shock from the turn of events,” Dad suggested.
“I know I’m reeling. Here,” Carl's dad held out his arms. “Don’t hog my grandbaby. I want a cuddle.” he kissed the wispy brown curls on the top of her head. “Hello, sweet pea. I’m your granddad. Aren’t you just the cutest little thing? Look at those big brown eyes!”
“I’m next,” my Dad said, sidling up. “She needs to know both her grampaws.”
“So you’re Grampaw and I’m Granddad,” Carl's dad said.
“No, I’m Pawpaw,” my dad corrected.
“That makes me Mawmaw,” my mother stated. “Lucy can be Granny or Grandma.”
“Whichever she isn’t, we can refer to my wife as, because I want to tell her all about her.”
I stared in disbelief at the three of them and then let out a snort. My mates looked at me in confusion.
“Just look at us. One minute we’re all, who left that baby?
And how could Kelly do such a thing? Being all mad at her and that Tom fellow about it.
Then we’re all, yeah, we are now her daddies and naming her and now our parents are deciding what Alice Mae is gonna call them. Talk about riding a roller coaster!”
A knock on the front screen door sounded, and Sue Ann poked her head in immediately after. “Hi, it’s just me. I brought my stamp, so let’s get this done and over with. I’ve got stuff to watch on my TV so Pauline doesn’t spoil it for me tomorrow when we go mall walking.”