After a couple hours of heavy lifting, impatience, and confusion, we had everything moved from our apartment into our house. Jakob and I had enlisted the help of Toby, Lor, Tom, Bobby, Mack, Damhnatt, and even Sean. Jakob and the seven of them lifted and moved boxes while Emily, Ash, Mindy, and I all watched the kids and made dinner in the main hall. It was quite a project, but with everyone's help it was done in much less time then we'd hoped. We didn't have a lot of stuff, but it had to be moved through the tiny apartment hallways and an awkward distance away. I wanted to help, but being almost nine months pregnant, it would have been futile.
After the move, everyone came back to the main hall where we all enjoyed beef (and I, my tofu stir fry), grilled vegetables, and rolls. Everyone was hungry and it was good to sit down with everyone. Damhnatt, Chrissy, and Sean were all angels and entertained all of the kids using only their child-distracting skills and the contents of the old toy crate. Sean made sure Ethan, Logan, and Kyle didn't run off and diverted their attention with some old toy trains, and Damhnatt and Chrissy had tea with Madrian, Charlotte, Ella, and Daniel.
We all had a chance to relax a bit. It was nice to talk to Emily again and she recounted for us just what had happened to her since we'd last seen her, such a long time ago now, it seemed. Bobby rocked nervously as she talked. It was obvious he was still worried, and I didn't really
blame him. My memories of Nicander were terrible too and I was determined to keep Evergreen safe.
Mindy revealed to me that Sean didn't want to see his dad anymore and that he was pleased with Mack. I was glad to hear it. To me, it felt like just another thing stressing her out.
"Mindy, now that Sean, Madrian, and Danny are going to be around more, please feel free to leave them with Jakob and I any time if you want to go out with Mack alone," I offered. "I know I sure like to spend time with just Jakob to get a taste of what it was like before kids!" I joked.
She played along: "You mean that there was a time when there weren't kids?!"
"Do you have names for the latest?" I asked.

...

-Scarlet

I felt myself blush, my giant belly was a constant reminder already but Mack and I were yet to find names that we each liked. "actually, no" I replied. Scarlet smiled sympathetically, "You still have four more months," I smiled at her helpful hint. "I know, but...I just feel guilty, I just keep calling them kiddos" Scarlet laughed, then i joined in too. "Madrian sure is growing fast," Scarlet pointed out to the bleaching head in the center of the kids. "I know, I can't believe she'll be four, it goes by so quickly," I smiled as Daniel waddled over to me and made an effort to climb into my lap. "uppp," I he crowed. I smiled and did my very best to hold him. "He looks so much like you Mindy," emily smiled kindly. I nodded at him, "yes, but he's got his daddy's temperment, very stubborn," I giggled thinking of just how the other day he refused let me change his diaper. "I just don't know how you're going to manage five kids," Lor smiled, "I can hardly manage three!" I she sighed. "I honestly don't know how I'm going to do it either," I heard my daughter begin to wail at her big brother and mack and I exchanged looks. He walked over and took Danny and Madrian, "I"ll take them home, you enjoy this a bit longer," Mack smiled. I nodded and kissed Madrians teary cheeks "go with Mack, I'll be home soon," She nodded and took his hand and they walked out of the main hall. I turned and looked at Scarlet, "Are you ready for that?" I asked. She gave me an exasperated look, but then smiled. "No, but I'm excited anyway," I laughed.