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

Lots of diapers, Matt wrote on the paper in front of him.

“There are instructions on your sheets,” Carolyn said, “about formula and how you’ll need to cut it down with water because the babies aren’t used to having such rich, nourishing food on a regular basis. You’re going to be easing them into it slowly so they don’t get tummyaches.

“As far as your tummies, you will be consuming some of the most delicious food you’ve ever eaten.”

“Do they have forks in China?” Matt asked, causing Bud to hoot with laughter.

“Yes, they have forks, Matt,” Carolyn said. “They’re used to fumble-fingered Westerners where you’ll be staying and will provide you with utensils you’re accustomed to.”

“That’s very comforting,” Matt said.

“Oh, before I forget,” Carolyn added. “The salt and pepper shakers are reversed from ours. Pepper has the big holes, salt the small ones. Write that down so that you don’t ruin the fantastic food I’m raving about.”

“Write that down,” Caitlin said, tapping the paper in front of Matt.

“Yes, ma’am,” he said. “I’m on it, ma’am.”

“You’ll be in Nanjing about a week,” Carolyn said, “then you’ll fly into Guangzhou, where our American consulate is located and the visas are issued for the babies. The adoptions will be final before you leave China and you won’t have to readopt through our courts here when you get back.”

A buzz of conversation began around the table at that exciting news.

“This is all very interesting,” Matt said, nodding. “Fascinating. Just think, Caitlin, Madison or MacKenzie, whoever she turns out to be, will be your legal daughter when you two step onto U.S. of A. soil again. That’s pretty awesome, don’t you… Uh-oh, the crib didn’t get to you, but this one did.”

“Ignore me,” Caitlin said, flapping a hand in front of her tear-filled eyes. “It’s just the thought of leaving here as…as me, and returning as a mother with a daughter and…oh dear.”

Matt put one arm around Caitlin’s shoulders.

“Tissue alert,” he yelled. “We need a tissue here. Marsha, didn’t I see you go get a box?”

“Here it is,” someone said, shoving it across the table. “The container was full when Marsha brought it out here and it’s half-empty already. We’re all a mess.”

“You’re all delightfully normal,” Carolyn said, smiling. “Be certain you have tissues with you for that moment when you see and hold those babies for the first time.”

“Oh-h-h,” a woman wailed, and the tissue box went back in the direction it had come from.

“Okay now?” Matt said, his arm still encircling Caitlin’s shoulders.

She was so delicate, he thought, and warm and feminine. He’d like to pull her close, nestle her against his chest, sift his fingers through those silky black curls, then tip her chin up, lower his lips to hers and…

“I’m fine.” Caitlin straightened her shoulders with the hope that Matt would get the hint that he should remove his arm. Now. Right now. Because it was such a strong arm, yet he was holding her so gently, so protectively. And it was such a warm arm, the heat seeming to suffuse her was now thrumming deep and low within her and… This would never do. No. Matt had to move that arm. “You can have your arm back.”

“What?” Matt said. “Oh. Sure.” He slowly eased his arm away from Caitlin’s shoulders.

“In Guangzhou,” Carolyn said, snapping everyone back to attention, “you’ll be at the White Swan Hotel, which is a five-star establishment and the one where visiting dignitaries stay. It is incredibly beautiful. I’m not going to give you any more hints about it because I want you to be surprised when you get there.”

Carolyn went on for another half hour with various information, answered questions, said she would be available up until the time they left if more thoughts came to them, then promised to call each of them as soon as the departure date was set.

“It will be soon,” she said. “Dr. Yang, our liaison in China, said your daughters are eager for you to arrive and take them home.” She laughed. “Oops. Where did that tissue box go?”

Excitement was buzzing through the air as everyone continued to chatter, then a few said it was time to go as tomorrow was a workday.

“We’ve got to get a crib, Bud,” Marsha said, “and a changing table and… Goodness, we have a lot to do before we leave.”

“Plus I have to warn the two doctors who are going to cover my practice that they are on red-alert standby as of now,” Bud said. “It’s ironic, isn’t it? After all these months of paperwork, then waiting, then more paperwork, then waiting, and waiting and waiting, we’re going to be dashing around like crazy at the last second. I just may sleep during that entire fifteen-hour flight.”

“Color me dumb,” Matt said, “but why aren’t you more prepared as far as equipment goes? I mean, you don’t even have a crib set up yet.”

“Well, you see, Matt,” Marsha said, “when you fill out the papers, you give the officials in Beijing an age range of a child you’d be willing to adopt. In our case we said newborn to three years old. We didn’t know until tonight that Grace is eleven months and will need a crib.”

“Oh, I see,” Matt said. “That makes sense now.” He looked at Caitlin. “What about you, Caitlin? Are you prepared for Mackenzie or Madison?”

“No. I painted her room pale yellow and hung yellow curtains with a bunch of bunnies as the border print. I got a white dresser and matching rocking chair and bookcase for toys, but I don’t have a crib. I also put newborn to three years on that form, so I didn’t know if I’d need a crib or a toddler bed. I’m thrilled to pieces that Miss M. is so young. Six months and four days.”

“We’re ecstatic that Grace is only eleven months old, too,” Marsha said. “We’ll get to winesst so many things that she does for the first time.”

“Yeah,” Bud said, laughing, “like leading us on a merry chase when she takes off at a run after mastering the walking bit.”

“Tomorrow evening we go shopping for a crib and changing table,” Marsha said firmly. “Then come home and I’ll watch you put them together, Bud.”

“That’s usually how those things go,” he said.

“How about you, Caitlin?” Matt asked. “Could you use some help assembling your stuff?”

“Oh, I couldn’t ask you to do that, Matt. You’ve already gotten roped into hauling my luggage around once my arms are full of baby.”

“Believe me, I don’t mind giving you a hand. Thanks to Bud, who used to be my friend, I have all my evenings free. I’m accustomed to putting in those hours at the hospital. You’d be doing me a favor by getting me out of the house, because I’ve forgotten how to turn on my television set.”

“Well,” Caitlin said slowly.

“It’s perfect, Caitlin,” Marsha said. “I’d suggest that the four of us go shopping together, but we never know what time Bud will get home. You two just go ahead and make your own plans. Oh, jeez, I’m supposed to be doing my hostess duties and seeing everyone to the door.” She got to her feet. “Wait, wait, Sally and Fred. Give me a chance to be polite. Bud, get off your tush and come with me to execute socially acceptable behavior.”

“Whatever,” Bud said, rising.

“Listen, try this idea,” Matt said to Caitlin as Bud followed Marsha to the front door. “We go out for pizza, shop for baby stuff, then go to your place and I’ll put everything together. Does that work for you?”

Caitlin frowned. “I don’t think the big cartons that equipment comes in will fit in my car.”

“I have an SUV and the back seats fold down. Problem solved.”

“I don’t have any tools.”

“I’ll bring mine. Shall I pick you up at your place about six tomorrow night?”

“I…yes, all right. I appreciate this very much, Matt. I mean, you don’t even know me and here you are willing to perform manual labor to help me complete the nursery. It’s very generous of you.”

Matt picked up one of the pictures of Caitlin’s daughter.

“This little lady deserves to have everything ready and waiting for her when she comes home. Man, she’s cute. If she can grab hold of a person’s heart when she’s looking like a grumpy little old man, imagine what will happen the first time she smiles. Hey, Miss M., do you have any teeth in there to show off? How long are you going to make your mommy wait for that first smile, munchkin?”