Soon To Be Brides: The Marrying Macallister / That Blackhawk Bride

“Sure thing,” he said, accepting the other baby. “Hello, Miss M.” He glanced at the baby that Caitlin held. “Hello, Miss M. Man, they are really identical, aren’t they? And they’re both scowling, just like in the pictures you got. Let’s go sit down and see if we can get them to smile. Caitlin?”

“Twins,” she said, staring at the baby she held. “That’s two. One plus one equals two. Twins.”

“Sitting down now,” Matt said, shifting the baby to one arm and gripping Caitlin’s elbow. “Right now.”

On the sofa, both Caitlin and Matt propped the babies on their knees, having to support their backs as they obviously were unable to sit up alone. Tears filled Caitlin’s eyes as her gaze darted back and forth between the little girls.

“Oh, my gosh, they are so fantastic, so incredibly beautiful, and wonderful and…”

“And twins,” Marsha said. “Caitlin, what are you going to do? You’re a single mother, for Pete’s sake. I’m scared to death about tending to Grace with Bud’s help and you’ll be all alone with two?” She paused and smiled. “But, oh, they are so cute. Grace, look at your little friends.”

“Twin friends,” Bud said. “Holy cow.”

Matt bounced the baby a bit on his knees, then made a clucking noise that sounded rather like a sick chicken. The baby stared at him for a long moment, then a smile broke across her face, revealing two little teeth on the bottom gums.

“She smiled at me,” Matt said, beaming. “Caitlin, look at Miss M. She’s smiling.”

Caitlin sniffled. “My Miss M. isn’t smiling. I think she’s about to cry.”

“No way,” Matt said, leaning toward the other baby and making the same ridiculous noise. The baby grinned, and she had the same two teeth on the bottom. “There you go. We’ve been waiting for that smile ever since we saw the pictures of her looking so grumpy. Well, actually it was the pictures of both of them looking so grumpy, but…” He shrugged. “Now they’re smiling.”

“They’re so beautiful,” Caitlin said, unable to halt her tears. “I can hardly believe I’m actually holding… Oh, but, Matt, Marsha’s right. How can I possibly cope, tend to, care for, twins? But they’re my daughters. I fell in love with the baby in the photograph. So, okay, I didn’t know I was falling in love with two babies but… Oh, dear, my mind is mush.”

Dr. Yang and Elizabeth returned and came to where Caitlin and Matt were sitting.

“Um…Caitlin?” Elizabeth said. “Dr. Yang has something he wants to say to you. Hear him out, please, and don’t…don’t overreact to what he says. You must remember this is a culture far different from ours.”

“Yes, well, we spoke to the person we needed to in Beijing. It seems a new employee in the office checked the wrong box on the final approval sheet, indicating you wanted twins. So, the match was made.

“The officials in Beijing said you are certainly cleared to take both of the babies if you so choose, but if not…” He shrugged and smiled. “Well, that’s fine, too. It was a clerical error on our part, and can be rectified by you simply picking the baby you want from the pair if you feel you can only raise one. That solves the problem.”

Caitlin’s eyes widened in horror, and a flush stained her cheeks. She opened her mouth to speak, but Elizabeth spoke first. “Caitlin, take a deep breath, count to ten, think before you say anything. We’re guests in this country, dear, who are being allowed to adopt these wonderful children. We don’t want to do anything to jeopardize the program in place. Dear.”

“Yes, I understand. Well, Dr. Yang, I think the officials in Beijing are being very…um…accommodating and I certainly appreciate being given the choices you’ve just presented to me.

“But, you see, I wouldn’t dream of separating identical-twin sisters under any circumstances. It’s a matter of…doing things just a teeny tiny bit differently in our country.

“So, sir, with heartfelt thanks, I accept being the mother of both of these girls and I’ll love them to pieces and do the very best I can raising them.”

“Very good. I’ll call Beijing right back and inform them of your decision.” He turned and hurried from the room.

“Nicely done, Caitlin,” Elizabeth said, letting out a pent-up breath. “The Chinese people place little importance on twin girls staying together in these situations. Our emphasis that they not be separated baffles them. But you did very well. Are you certain you want to do this, though?”