Page 17 of Coming Innocent

“Hi, Avery,” he says with a cocky grin where only the right corner of his lips rise.

“What are you doing here?” she asks as she sets down the carrier and gives her friend a warm embrace.

“Well, I figured since I will be their pediatrician, I should go ahead and sign off on their papers. Hey, Logan,” he adds as her husband saddles up next to them and sets his carrier on the floor. “The kids look really good. Everett shows no signs of permanent damage, but we’ll keep an eye out for any developmental or cognitive issues as he grows. And Caroline, well, you can tell she is the big sister and she’s doing wonderfully.”

“That is so nice of you, Brooks. I can’t wait to get them home. Heck, I can’t wait to get home; living out of a hotel room for the past month has been exhausting.”

Brooks chuckles as he peers down at the twins once more and then places a pat on Logan’s shoulder before turning and strutting away. “Make an appointment with me in a week. See y’all later.”

“See you.”

Reaching into the bassinet, she takes a squirming Everett into her arms and then takes a seat in the rocking chair, ready to nurse the twins before the hour trip home. Once Everett and Caroline have gotten their fill she dresses them in coordinating outfits and takes some pictures before placing each of them in their carrier.

“Alright my little ones, ready to see your home?”

At the car, the nurse helps her lock the carriers in place as Logan starts the vehicle.

“Good luck to you both, we’re going to miss having them here. You have two very special kids there,” the nurse announces as she closes the car door.

“Thank you very much for everything you and your team have done for them. We won’t ever be able to repay you.”

The lovely woman smiles in kind and offers a gentle hug which Avery quickly accepts.

“As long as they live good, happy lives then that is payment enough. Travel safe.”

Settling in her seat, she looks over at Logan and then takes a glance into the back seat where both of the babies suck on a pacifier and gazes in their mirrors back at themselves.

“Oh my gosh, they actually are letting us take them home, Logan!” she whispers in a mixture of excitement and nervousness.

“I know. Are they sure we can do this?”

Avery turns back to face the front of the car and she takes a deep breath. “I have no idea.”

Surprisingly, both of the twins remain calm the entire trip, while she and Logan fret over everything around them. He also refuses to do any speed that isn’t fifteen below the posted limit. But they do have precious cargo so she keeps her comments to herself.

Finally, they pull into the drive of the oversized craftsman Logan and Austin had renovated during the winter months, just finishing it up before the babies arrived unexpectedly.

“I guess it helped that we haven’t been here so that Austin could finish painting the rooms. I still need to set up the nurseries though.”

Logan helps her jump from the SUV and opens the door for her to snag Caroline’s carrier from the car, then he travels back to the other side to do the same for Everett.

“It’s ok; we can always set up the cribs in our bedroom until you have the rooms the way you’d like.”

“You’re right. Ok, cuties, are you ready for the grand tour?” she asks as she and Logan ascend the stairs.

As Logan opens the door Avery practically jumps out of her skin as the crowd waiting in the living room shouts “Surprise!”

“What is all this?” she asks as she glances around the room curiously.

Amy and Nikki step forward and gleefully take the carriers from their holds.

“It’s your welcome home party, silly,” Melanie, Nikki’s cousin, and Avery’s old coworker, says as she steps forward with her husband Max and enfolds Avery in a tight hold.

“I can’t believe you’re here. I’ve missed you so much.”

“Like we could miss this. Now get those babies out of their carriers so I can hold them,” Melanie says as she bounces on her toes in joy.

Laughing, Avery crouches down to unstrap Caroline and then turns to the group as she smiles coyly. “I think I should go change these little beasts first, and then y’all can all have a turn.”