Page 57 of My Eternal Light
“You mean the fae robes? Of course. I’ll take you to Baba’s she has everything.”
“She was the nice one who helped Izzy right?”
“Yes.”
“Okay, good.”
She found a pad and pen in the kitchen and before they left, they wrote out everything that would need to be changed. Not only for their own personal quarters but also to set up her main office and the spaces for the children.
“I want to keep the school room and activities on the first floor. I want the kids to feel like their rooms are their own and a place they can go to relax.”
Kincaid made more notes. “We have more than enough rooms on the second floor. How do you feel about moving the guest rooms to the first floor? We shouldn’t have too many guests, and it gives the kids an extra layer of privacy.”
“Let’s go with that.”
He looked over his notes. “I know this is going to sound weird. But, I think we’ll need more bathrooms on the first floor or have public style stalls put in.” He added notes. “And more changing tables. The five-year-olds, I think are potty trained, but we’ll have five infants in the house. I’m not running upstairs every twenty minutes, bouncing a kid with a full diaper around.”
She couldn’t help but laugh at the image. “Speaking from experience?”
He nodded. “The triplets. The bathroom was on the second floor at mother and father’s.”
She took in his facial expressions. “You helped raise your siblings and you’ll be helping out here, does that put a damper on wanting kids of your own?”
He looked up sharply. “Of course not! The idea of a little girl with your eyes and brown hair running around fills me with a longing I can’t quite express.”
“Good, because I’ve always wanted a big family.”
He wagged his eyebrows at her. “Well, you’ve seen my parents.”
“I don’t mind a brood, but I don’t think I can handle multiples.”
“I agree. After the triplets were born, when I’d visit home, there was no such thing as sleep.”
“I can imagine.” She pointed to the paper. “Think we got everything?”
“Nope, but we can add to it later.”
“I’ll grab Cord’s basket, let’s head to the palace. I am in desperate need of more coffee.”
“Far be it from me to stand between you and coffee. After you, my lady.”
“Smart and sexy,” she said.
*****
When they entered through the courtyard doors, Zadie wasn’t quite sure what she was looking at. The room was filled with children, yet most of the noise came from Kincaid’s three younger sisters. The queen looked like a serene and calm island around which the children swirled.
Zadie’s eyes kept going to the extremely quiet group of children who sat off to one side watching everything with wide eyes. “Are they?” she whispered.
Kincaid nodded as a little boy ran up to him. “Mr. Kincaid! You’re back.”
“Good morning, Cody. How was breakfast?” Kincaid asked, kneeling down to get on the boy’s level.
“We had yummy oatmeal again.” He leaned in. “But, I’m kinda hungry again,” he whispered.
Kincaid looked over at the other kids, then up at Zadie. She saw it too. They were all hungry, but didn’t want to say anything. The exuberance of Kincaid’s sisters was keeping the others silent.
She stepped into the room and clapped her hands. “Okay children, one, two, three, eyes on me. Who can sit and listen the best?” She smiled at each and every child who met her gaze. The fae children shuffled forward at once and each one took a space on the floor at her feet. Cody made sure he sat down first and beamed up at her. “I see Cody has his ears on. Who else?” she pointed to the girl at his side. “What is your name?”