When Love Comes Around (Love Conquers All) (37 page)

“What’s wrong?” Starr nervously inquired as the technician’s eyes bulged.

“Um, nothing. Let me call your doctor.”

The young woman quickly exited the room to contact Starr’s obstetrician.

“Kevin, I’m scared.” Was something wrong with their baby? Had she waited too late in life to have a baby? No, that was nonsense. Women older than her were having healthy babies all the time. Her mother-in-law had been in her early forties when she had Kevin. And he came into this world healthy as an ox.

“Come on baby, don’t do this. Everything’s going to be all right.” Kevin lovingly assured his wife attempting to calm her fears as well as his own. He couldn’t let her see that he was just as afraid that something was wrong.

“But what if─”

Cutting her off, he placed a finger to her lips. “Hey, our baby is going to be fine.”

Twenty minutes later, Dr. Neil came bouncing in the room his usual animated self. “How’s it going?”

“All right,” Kevin answered speaking for the both of them. Starr was a bundle of nerves. The twenty-minute wait for the doctor to come had felt like twenty hours.

Sitting on the stool, Dr. Neil squeezed another glob of gel on her belly. Taking the probe, he firmly glided it over her belly. “Well, what do we have here?” His eyes twinkled as he concentrated on the monitor.

The couple was drawn to the tiny screen the doctor seemed so fascinated by.

Grinning at Starr, he asked, “You here that?”

Nodding her head, “That’s the baby’s heartbeat.”

“That’s right.” Dr. Neil said smiling. “How about this?” He asked slowly sliding the probe to another area. “You hear that?” This time he glanced at Kevin, a huge grin on his face.

“Uh-huh. Sounds like another heartbeat.

“That’s right. And what about this?”

Wide-eyed, Starr stared at Kevin. “Another heartbeat?” They said in unison.

Chuckling, the doctor confirmed. “That’s right. Now look at the screen right here.” Kevin and Starr followed Dr. Neil’s finger as he pointed out each precious beating heart on the screen.

Little fish everywhere.
Momma Joan’s dream came rushing back to her. Kevin and Dr. Neil hunched their shoulders as Starr laughed and cried uncontrollably with joy. “My little fish. They were my little fish.”

Smiling through her tears, Starr pulled Kevin’s hand to her lips and kissed it. “I thank God for you. I love you so much.”
I’m going to be a mommy.

Kevin leaned over and gently placed a kiss on her forehead. “I thank God for you, too. And I thank you for trusting me with your heart. Baby, I love you so much.”

“Oh Lawd, look at our grandbabies.” Beverly said to Donna, laughter in her words.

Donna linked her arm through Beverly’s. “They are just too adorable, if I say so myself.”

Beverly chuckled. “You won’t get any argument out of me.”

The grandmothers stood off to the side as they watched the photographer try to get the one year olds to cooperate. However, the Dawson triplets weren’t in the cooperating mood this afternoon. Uh-huh, they weren’t having it.

As soon as the photographer had the little ones settled in the perfect pose with Kalvin in the center, Sydney to his left and Shayla to his right, Miss Sydney decided it was time to get up and go. Standing up balancing herself on chubby legs, the oldest of the crew, teetered off taking Frankenstein like steps toward the toy chest in the corner of the den. The bright orange, stuffed lion lounging on top caught her attention. Kalvin decided to give Shayla, the baby of the bunch, a big wet, drolly kiss in the eye. When her little mouth turned into a frown and she began to do that little pant babies do right before they cry, her big brother tried consoling her by kissing her again. Leaning in, he put his tiny hands on her chest landing another soaking kiss on her pudgy cheek. Trying to right himself up, he lost his balance sending them toppling over on the plush, carpeted floor.

The photographer didn’t become frustrated with the babies who obviously had minds of their own. Instead, he used this as an opportunity to snap some really cool, candid shots. He loved taking pictures of the Dawson triplets. From the time they’d come home from the hospital, Starr had a standing date every three months to capture them in various stages. With each visit, he marveled at how their personalities blossomed. And today on their first birthday, he could see just how different they were.

Sydney, the oldest, was the leader of the pack. The other two didn’t make a move until she did. Kalvin was the affectionate one, he always wanted to kiss and hug everyone whether a friend or stranger. Shayla had a tendency to be cautious, the no nonsense one. Whereas her sister and brother happily went to any friendly smiling face, Shayla scrutinized strangers and would scream bloody murder if they dare tried picking her up.

Her arm around Kevin’s waist, Starr rested her head on his shoulder. She softly giggled. “Look at
your
children.”

It was still so very hard to believe that they were here. And that she and Kevin had conceived three babies without the aid of fertility drugs. Every time she held them in her arms or sat in the nursery watching them sleep, she realized just how much of a true miracle they were.

Being sleep deprived from taking care of three, sometimes-cranky babies had been trying. Many a day she became overwhelmed, doubting her ability to be a good mother, wondering if she had gotten in way over her head. Kevin had been there loving her every step of the way. Each time that she panicked, worried she wasn’t doing something right, he was right there assuring her she was doing a wonderful job of raising their children.

Although there had been some rough days and nights in the beginning, she loved her gifts, her blessings, and wouldn’t change one minute of those trying days or nights. Now that they were in her life, she couldn’t imagine ever being without them.

Smiling, looking up into his handsome face, she teased, “They’re acting like
you
again.”

Kevin chuckled as he watched his children. It seemed like every day they were becoming more and more independent. He desperately wished time would become suspended so his family would remain as is, for eternity. There was something about the love of a good woman and the innocence of babies that made his world a better place. Nothing could compare to what his heart felt when he came through his front door every evening to a woman who loved him and three happy, smiling cherubs trying to get to him at once.
Yeah, this is the life. Now I know what Nick was talking about.

“So, they only act like me when they’re out of control.”

Standing on her tiptoes, she brushed her lips across his mouth. “Yep. When they’re good, they take after me.”

“Whatever, Starr, everybody knows you’re the hell raiser between the two of us. And right now, our babies are showing your DNA.”

Sucking her teeth, she playfully nudged him in the ribs. Being silly, Kevin doubled over as if he she had hurt him.

The two women switched their attention from the grandbabies to their children. Each woman had her own reason to be filled with joy on this day. Beverly Dawson had waited so long to be a grandmother. At eighty-four years old, she wasn’t as young as most grandmothers of one year old triplets. Her age, however, didn’t bother her one bit. She enjoyed spending time and helping to raise her grandbabies.

Looking over at Starr, Beverly’s heart swelled with love.
I knew she would be the one to make an old lady happy.
Starr was the kind of young woman every mother wanted for her son. From the first day she had met Starr, the younger woman had done nothing but showed her love and respect. Even after the babies came, she continued to spend time with her. At least twice a week Beverly got a call announcing, “Be at the door waiting, we’re on our way over.” Within twenty minutes, she was pulling up in her new minivan with her little crew in tow.

Beverly loved and appreciated Starr for being so generous and allowing her to help raise her grandchildren. She understood Beverly wanted to cherish every moment as long as possible while she still had good health.

Donna never imagined she’d be back in a city that held so many painful memories, but here she was. She had regretfully missed out on seeing Karen’s children growing from infants to small children. She refused to do the same with Starr babies. This had been the fifth time she and Patrick had been back to visit since their births. And each time they came, they stayed for weeks. She wanted to give as much support as possible to Starr and Kevin.

It had taken the young couple some time to get adjusted to having three infants at once. One morning, a few months after Starr had given birth; she called to check on her. Sensing the weariness in her child’s voice from the screaming babies in the background, Donna didn’t hesitate to jump into action. “I’m on my way, baby. You hang in there until Mommy gets there.” Sure enough, later that night Donna and Patrick were on Starr and Kevin’s doorstep.

Donna admired Kevin for how well he treated and loved her daughter. It didn’t matter that he worked a full-time job. When he came home in the evening, he rolled his sleeves up, and helped his wife to feed, change dirty diapers, bathe and put their babies to bed.

One evening Donna praised Kevin for being such a good dad. “That’s so nice of you to help out with the babies after working all day.” Smiling at her, he lovingly corrected his mother-in-law. “I’m only doing what a father is supposed to do. I don’t deserve any recognition for doing what I do.” He went on to make it clear that Sydney, Kalvin and Shayla were just as much his responsibility as Starr’s. That he loved his wife and children and would do anything to ensure that they were taken care of and happy.

“Okay, come on everybody let’s get a group photo. Starr, Kevin, grab your little people.” Chuckling, the photographer mused, “It was so much easier to get these guys in a group photo three months ago.”

Kevin lifted Shayla from the floor throwing her up in the air. “How’s my baby girl number two?” His reward was drool and squeals of delight. Before he could get to Kalvin, the baby had crawled over to his dad’s leg and pulled himself up. Smiling down at his son, he adjusted Shayla on his right hip. Squatting down, “Come on up here, Tiger.” Kalvin excitedly bounced and clapped his hands the second his daddy lifted him into his arms.

“Come on here Miss Sydney,” Starr cooed as she lifted her daughter from the toy chest. Kissing her chubby cheek, Starr sat next to Kevin.

“All right, let’s get this picture taken. I think your guest is getting a little restless.” Kyle had come into the den for the third time, complaining, “Aunt Starr, Uncle Kevin we’re ready to sing happy birthday so we can cut the cake.” And for the third time, Donna chased him out the house. “Child, have some patience. As soon as the photographer’s done we’ll be out.” With his head hung low, the young boy moped back outside with the rest of the guests.

“Kevin and Starr, I want you sitting hip to hip.” The photographer said motioning with his hands for them to come closer.

Both did as they were instructed. “Now, set little man between the two of you. Now put Shayla on your right leg Kevin and Sydney on your left leg Starr.”

After the triplets were positioned, the photographer held up a yellow rubber ducky, the kind that made a squeaking noise when squeezed. Peering through the digital camera, the photographer waved the ducky in the air and sang, “Over here babies,” as he squeezed the plastic toy.

On cue, the Dawson family smiled as the photographer snapped the perfect picture.