Page 9 of Cooper
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We werein the bathroom for three hours before both babies were born. Both are healthy, and the nurse is going to be staying for a couple days just to make sure. I can’t believe how strong Saige is to have birthed both babies at home, no drugs, in a bathtub. She and I had researched the water birth and she really liked it. I’m so glad that Dr Holmes and the nurse came out to the house. The guys felt it was the best way to keep them all safe, and we had the guys here with the ambulance just in case. I helped the nurse clean up the babies, and Saige. Once she was back in bed, I went downstairs to let everyone know that mommy and babies are healthy.
I’m leaning up against Coop on the couch when Leilani and Stone come in. They are carrying a huge basket full of baby clothes, bottles, and formula. Saige said that she will breast feed the first time, then she was going to bottle feed, that way folks could help out.
“How are they? Has anyone been up yet?” Stone asks.
I smile, “They are perfect. Nellie was born first, and she weighed in at five pounds even. Full head of blonde hair. JD weighed in at six pounds and eight ounces. He’s got a head full of black hair. Saige said that Papaw and Tutu could come up with us, and then we are going to head out.’’
We walk upstairs with Stone and Leilani. Saige is sitting up in bed holding Nellie, Bethany leaning up against her side, staring at the baby in awe. Cotton is holding JD and walking the room.
“Auntie Bex, Uncle Coop, Papaw, Tutu, look!! I’s a big sissy now! I’s so happy!” Bethany says. I pick her up and hug her tight.
“You’re going to be the best big sissy in the world too. I just know it. Do you want to go shopping with me and Nat tomorrow if mommy and daddy say it’s okay? Alivia can come too.” I smile at Alivia, and she smiles back.
“Oh yeth!!! I can use somes of my monies to buy my babies something. Mommy is it okay?” she asks Saige. Saige just smiles and nods that it is. “Oh yippee!!! Girls shopping trip.”
We all laugh. We take turns holding the babies. As I’m handing JD to Saige I ask, “Do you think some of your maternity clothes would fit Nat? We are going to buy some things she needs tomorrow. But if you could let her buy some or have them, I think that would help.” Saige looks at me stunned. “She is going to give it up for adoption, she was raped by her stepbrother.”
“So that’s what Bacon was talking about. He was so upset when he got home. He was going on about how sick it was that a girls own mom threw her out. I hate that for her. Of course, she can have all the maternity clothes. We aren’t going to have any more for quite a while. Three is plenty. I also heard how you stood up to that little punk. I’m so proud of you Bex.” She squeezes my hand.
“Thanks. Cooper and I are going to ask her about letting us adopt the baby. She wants to put it up for adoption. I can’t have kids, and this will allow us to become parents. I know you are exhausted, so we are going to go. You need to rest, call if you need us. I’ll come by and get Alivia and Bethany later.” Cooper and I head out of the room and go to get Nat to head back to the house. We tell everyone good night. It’s a little after two am. We walk into the house, and I go into the kitchen to get a glass of orange juice before going back upstairs.
“Bex, can I talk to you and Cooper at breakfast about a few things?” Nat asks.
“Of course, you can. Say about eight thirty, nine. That will give us all some time to get a little sleep.” I say. Nat nods and heads upstairs to her room. I finish my orange juice and do the same. Cooper is getting undressed and turns to me as I close the door.
“Thank you for helping Sis. I know that meant the world to her. I love you, Bexley.”
I smile. “I love you too Cooper. And it meant the world to me to help her.” I say as I get undressed and climb into the bed. I snuggle up against Coop and instantly fall asleep.
Natalie
I am so nervous; I barely got any sleep. I really hope that Bexley and Cooper will be happy with what I want to ask them. I know that they would be wonderful parents. I get up and shower, knowing that I won’t be able to sleep anymore. I dress, then make my way quietly down to the kitchen. I get a glass of sweet tea, then pull out everything I need to make breakfast. I make biscuits, sausage, scrambled eggs, and gravy. I’m pouring the gravy into the bowl and finishing up the eggs when they both walk into the kitchen, Bex groaning as she takes a big whiff of the smells. I set everything at the table as they get their drinks. I eyeball the coffee that Cooper is drinking, but everything has to be decaf. I’ve even been drinking decaf Pepsi. Bex has her orange juice, and she takes a bite of biscuit that is smothered in the gravy.
“Oh my God, Natalie! This is amazing. You didn’t have to get up and fix breakfast, but I thank you for it.” Bexley smiles at me. I smile back.
“It’s nothing. I couldn’t sleep any longer, so it just made sense. About what I wanted to talk to y’all about. I uh…. uh… damn. I was wondering if y’all might want to adopt the baby? I know y’all will take great care of it. I hope I’m not being too forward by asking that. I just want him or her to go to a great family that I know will take care of them. And I promise not to be a bother in their life. I want to go to college. I got a couple scholarships, and it’s definitely what I need to do for me.”
I look up to see them both smiling and Bex has tears in her eyes. “We were talking last night about asking you if we could adopt the baby. We’ll pay for all the doctor’s appointments, things you and he both needs. We’ll even help you with school. What your scholarships doesn’t cover we will. Will you lose your scholarships if you wait until next year? Or can you do computer classes now, that way you are up to date on everything?”
I look at them both a little shocked. “Um, y’all don’t have to do all that.” I say, but when I see the looks on their faces, I know it’s going to be no good arguing. I laugh, “I can do a lot of the classes online for now. But I’ll have to go to campus for a couple of the clinical classes. I’m going to be pediatrician one day. So, I can get the basics done online. I can’t thank you both enough for all that you are doing for me.”
Bexley reaches over and grabs my hand, “Natalie, we can’t thank you enough either. I’m not able to have children, so you letting us adopt your baby is a dream come true. So, we are truly a family helping each other out. We’ve adopted you too. You’re ours.”
I smile. It’s nice to belong to a family that actually cares for you. We finish eating breakfast, and Cooper tells us to go get ready for our shopping day. He cleans up the kitchen, then heads upstairs to get ready for work.
Eleven
Bexley
This shopping triphas been so much fun. I wish Saige could have been with us, but next time she will be. Alivia, Nat, and I have laughed so much at Bethany’s antics. She demanded the guys call her Princess, and they have complied. Loki especially. I notice that he watches Alivia like a hawk, and I think there might be something developing there. She sure keeps watching him to. Bacon sits down beside me, with Bethany on the other side of me, as we eat lunch at the big cafeteria the mall has. “So how are things going Bacon? Any news on Natalie’s …. family?”
He grins at me. He knew I wanted to say something else, but we all watch our mouths around Bethany. She has become a sassy little parrot, repeating things that she thinks is innocent when they aren’t. “Yeah, they are all locked up with no bond. The parents are actually being charged with the same charges along with aggravated child endangerment. He is being charged with aggravated rape, harassment, and statutory rape. They will be in jail for quite some time. I don’t think Nat will have to go to court even. With all the pictures she took and saved of her injuries, the videos we found on his computer of what he did to her, and her mom and stepdad confessing, along with the video from the bakery…. They are done for. Most of the charges are class A felonies. Nat may have to go into a room with the judge and a closed jury to testify, if she has to all. But they are looking at up to sixty years in prison or more with the other charges, and a fifty-thousand-dollar fine each. I’m just glad that she is eighteen. She didn’t need to go into foster care on top of it all.”
I nod as I take a bite of my chicken lo-mein. “That’s a blessing for sure. And she wouldn’t have went into foster care. We would still have taken her in.” He nods.
“Auntie Bex, are we still going to stop at the baby store? I need to get bubba and sissy something. I also want to get mommy something too. Maybe if I have enoughlilibert monies I will get daddy something too.”
