"Two baby boys!" Sallie said, her eyes round in stunned surprise.

"Two as in one, two?" Philip demanded. "Good lord!"

"Oh, dear," Sallie said, "I have to go shopping. We only have one of everything. Philip, I'm going to need some help."

"Sallie, I would love to stay and help, but I have ten thousand chicks coming in today. I have to be there. They could die if they aren't handled properly."

"You're right, Philip, the chicks are important. Would you mind if I asked Devin to help me? This is family, Philip. I don't want to . . ."

"It's all right, Sallie. I'm sure Devin v/ill be more than glad to help. By the way, where is he? I thought he'd be here."

"Philip! This is family."

"Are you trying to tell me Devin isn't part of this family? So, it's a weird situation, so what? If you need my permission, which you don't, call Devin."

"All right. He feels very close to Fanny, almost like a second father. Which reminds me, I have to call Mr. Logan. I wonder what Fanny will name the boys. Listen to me, name the boys. They're babies."

"Give Mr. Logan my regards and tell him it feels wonderful to be a grandfather."

"Oh, my God, Philip, we really are grandparents. You don't think they'll call me Granny, do you?"

"I wouldn't be a bit surprised." Philip laughed as he kissed his wife on the cheek. "Give Fanny a big kiss for me. I'll try and get back later this evening."

Philip's stomach lurched when he walked through the door to see Devin sitting on the iron bench by the entrance. "Get in there!" he said gruffly.

"It's family, Philip, I don't want to intrude. I've been waiting to see ... I thought..."

"Twin boys! Have a cigar!"

"Two! Oh my God!"

258 Fern Michaels "That's what I said. Take care of things, Devin."

"PhiHp . . ."

"Sallie's waiting for you."

Devin hesitantly extended his hand. He drew in his breath waiting to see what Philip would do. Philip didn't hesitate; he grasped his hand and pumped it. "Look at it this way, you only have two babies to worry about. I have ten thousand baby chicks waiting for me."

"Thank God you don't have to pick out names for them."

"Oh, but I do. They come in lots of five hundred. I give each lot a name."

"Are you spoofing me, Philip?"

"Not at all. See you around, Devin,"

Devin walked into the maternity waiting room and told Sallie about his conversation with Philip.

"He's like that," SaUie said. "Remember last Christmas? He really is worried about the baby chicks. He takes the chicken business very seriously. You have no idea of the money we make fi-om those chickens. Of course you do, you're my attorney. I'm babbling because I'm so excited. The nurse said we can see the babies in a few minutes. They're getting Fanny ready. I don't imagine she's going to feel like having visitors, but I want her to know I'm here. I called her father. He was so excited he could barely talk. I put the wheels in motion for word to get transferred to the Hornet. Ash is going to be . . . stunned. The nurse is motioning to us. The babies must be ready."

"They're identical!" SalHe said in amazement.

"They're twins," Devin said. "Are babies always this littie?" he asked, his face full of awe.

"More or less. Look at the hair! They're gorgeous!"

"They look like Fanny," Devin said.

'*Yes they do," Sallie said happily. "Just like Fanny." Thankyou, God, "The nurse is motioning to you, Sallie."

Sallie tore her eyes away from her new grandsons. "We can see Fanny now."

Fanny, her hair soaking wet, was propped up in a nest of white pillows. Sallie tried to remember what she herself looked like when she gave birth. She flinched when she remembered how disgruntled, angry, and miserable she'd been, and how she'd done nothing but sleep for a week. Fanny was bright-eyed, smiling, and anxious to see her new sons.

"Did you see them, Sallie? Hello, Mr. Rollins. What did my father say? Did you get through to the Hornet? Are they beautiful, Sal-lie? Tell me the truth. There isn't anything wrong with them, is there? You were right, I can hardly remember the pain. I only have one of everything, goodness, this is going to take some getting used to."

"You look so pretty," Sallie said as she kissed Fanny on the cheek.

"They fixed me up a litde while ago. I feel like myself now, but I'm starving. They said they'd bring me a sandwich soon. I've been trying to pick out names. I just don't know. What if I pick something and Ash doesn't like it? I can't bear for them not to have names. The doctor put little bracelets on their ankles that say, Baby One and Baby Two. Baby One is three minutes older. Can you imagine? What do you think of Birch Coleman Thornton, and Sage Logan Thornton? Those are my two favorites. Now, I don't have to pick one or the other."

"I like them," Sallie said. Devin nodded in agreement. "I like the fact that you want to use my maiden name and your own. That's very kind of you, Fanny."

"Then it's Birch and Sage. They sound strong and rugged; perfect names for boys. Birch is the oldest. I'm so relieved. It didn't seem right to call them One and Two."

"Now that it's setded, you need to get some rest. I'll be back tomorrow."

"Sallie, I want to thank you for everything. I don't know what I would have done without you. I just wanted you to know that."

"I wouldn't have had it any other way. Sleep well, Fanny."

"I can't wait for Ash to get in touch. I'm so happy."

"She's asleep. I don't think I've ever seen anyone so happy and dred at the same time," Devin said. "You should be proud, Sallie."

"I am, Devin, I am. Come, let's go home. We've had a busy day, and now it's our time."

"Our time. It sounds wonderful when you say it like that," Devin said, nuzzling the back of her neck.

"That's because it is wonderful. It was a glorious day, Devin. Going home together makes it perfect. Isn't she the prettiest thing you've ever seen, Devin?"

"Next to you, yes."

"I don't know if I could have handled twenty-one hours of labor," Sallie said, taking Devin's hand and leading him out of the room.

260 Fern Michaels "She's going to be a wonderful mother. I hope... I hope Ash is half as good a father. I'm going to worry about that, Devin."

"Have you told Fanny about the house you bought for them?"

"No. I'm going to take her straight there from the hospital. I want it to be a surprise. I'll pack her personal things tomorrow or the next day. Do you think she'll like it, Devin?"

"Of course. As belated wedding presents go, I think a house is right up there at the top of the list. What do you think I should get the babies?"

"Fanny will like anything. You have to get two. Isn't it wonderful, Devin? Do you feel like a grandfather, you know, sort of? I know for a positive fact, Devin, that Philip will welcome you as an extra grandfather. I'm sure Mr. Logan won't mind, and I will absolutely love it."

Outside the hospital, Devin hugged Sallie close. "I love you, Grandma Thornton. If we weren't standing in the middle of the street, I'd kiss you till your teeth rattied."

"Will you do that later?" Sallie asked.

"Count on it. I never made love to a grandmother before,"

"Do you think it will be different?"

"Better." Devin leered at her as he held the door to the restaurant open.

"Promises, promises."

Helmet and goggles in hand, his parachute slapping him on the buttocks, Major Ash Thornton, newly promoted, saluted his plane as he made his way to his quarters. Midway, he was stopped by a radioman, who handed him a message.

"Congratulations, Major!"

Ash nodded wearily and dropped his eyes to the printed message. It took a moment to digest what he'd just read. Twin boys! He was a father! His stomach started to churn. He was responsible for three people's lives. He turned to go back on deck. All he wanted was to get to his plane and soar up as high as he could, up above the world, where it was quiet and peaceful so he could think. Fanny hadn't said anything about twins. One baby was what she had said. He'd come to terms these past months with one. He looked around wildly, his heart pounding in his chest. He thought about jumping overboard. He was a coward. How could he be a flying ace and a coward at the same time?

Ash dumped his flight gear on his bunk. He needed a second opinion here. He headed for the radio room where he asked to send a message to his brother on the Enterprise. His message to Captain Adam Jessup, also newly promoted, was brief and to the point. "Dear Uncle Adam, Major Ash Thornton announces the birth of twin sons. Respond so I know it's real."

Ash leaned against the door, chatting with one of the radiomen as he waited for Simon's reply. When it came, he grinned from ear to ear.

"Congratulations, Ash! It doesn't get more real than this. Shooting down Nagoma was a walk in the park compared to two o'clock feedings. Day after day. Night after night. Uncle Adam."

Fatherhood. Well, maybe he'd get used to it. Someday.

Fanny wished she had another set of arms and legs. Anything to help her get ready for Ash's sp)ecial four-day leave. She must have been out of her mind to volunteer to cook Thanksgiving dinner for her new family. Even with the help of a part-time cleaning woman and part-time baby nurse, she didn't have enough hours in the day.

Now both babies were wailing, Birch with an earache, Sage with a red, sore bottom. The baby nurse was sick and her cleaning lady had said good-bye, she was going back to California. Laundry was piled to the ceiling, she hadn't shopped yet for Thanksgiving dinner, and there was dust and grit over everything. Her husband was coming home in two days, and her waistline wasn't back to normal. Her breasts were overlarge, sore, and dripping. Everything she owned was stained with breast milk.

Sallie found Fanny sitting on the floor, a wailing baby in each arm. When Fanny saw her she cried harder.

SaUie took in the situation at a glance. "Fanny, why didn't you caU me? Never, ever, be afraid to ask for help. Tell me what happened." She listened, marveling that the young girl on the floor had managed as well as she had.

"The house is too big, Sallie. The cleaning woman complained. The baby nurse said the boys got on her nerves because they cry too much. I don't think she's going to come back. I haven't shopped for Thanksgiving dinner and I look ... oh, Sallie, I look like a cow. I do everything the doctor says, and the babies just aren't acting normal. Babies shouldn't cry all the time. That's all they do, Sallie. Sometimes they scream till I think I'll go out of my mind. Ash is ... I don't want..."

262 Fern Michaels "You should have called me, Fanny."

Fanny nodded, her face miserable. "Sallie, it scares me diat I'm not coping. Is it because I'm frazzled, or is it because I had the babies too soon after getting married? I'm not sure what it is I'm supposed to be feeling. I can name you all the negative things- frustration, exhaustion, downright anger. There don't seem to be any positives. Why don't I feel love and joy and . . . and all those things?"

Sallie struggled to find the words that would wipe the anguish from Fanny's face. "Motherhood is a totally new experience, Fanny. Once you give birth, you're not the same person you were before. That carefree person who jaunted off to Hawaii on a moment's notice is gone. The responsibility for one littie life is awesome, two is double that. I'm skirting around things here. Sons have a way of. . . breaking your heart.

"I love Ash, don't misunderstand, but remember this, Fanny. A son will break your heart if you dote on him, if you coddle him. I can't tell you the times Ash has chipped littie chunks from Philip's heart. I know this is not what you wanted to hear, Fanny, but it's the way it is."

"I'm glad you told me. I think I understand a littie better now. I'm going to do my best to love my children. I want more, you know. I'd love to have a littie girl. Ash never said, but I think he was disappointed that one of the tv^ns wasn't a girl. I know that I was. I feel guilty about that too."

"Guilt is a terrible thing, Fanny."

"I know because I'm riddled with it."

"I'm just sorry you didn't come to me after day one."

"I didn't want to bother you. You've done so much for me already. What kind of wife and mother am I going to be if I can't handle this? Not a very good one. I feel like a failure."

"You are not a failure. You just got off to a slow start. Now, change the babies, get yourself cleaned up. I have some calls to make."

Sallie did what she always did in times of crisis. She picked up the phone. "Su Li, I need help. All the cousins you can gather together. Food. An hour would be good. This instant would be even better. A bag full of your famous herbs. I'm ever so grateful, Su Li.

"We're in business, Fanny. Su Li has the situation in hand. These babies are going on botties right now. You'll wean them off slowly. I wouldn't be a bit surpri.sed to find out there's something wrong with your milk. We're going to check that out. Get cleaned up, you and I are going out as soon as your help arrives."

"I can't leave the boys, Sallie."

"Of course you can. You're worn to a frazzle. Babies pick up on your tension. They react to it. You need sleep, you need fresh air. You stay cooped up in this house all day and night. It isn't healthy."

"Ash . . ."

"Ash is the least of your problems right now. He will take all this in stride. Your body will return to normal when it's ready to do so."

"He's going to expect me to look ..."

"Like a movie star. That is not realistic. We have no other choice but to take it as it comes. We're going to do our best to get things back to normal. We'll handle whatever comes up, and that includes Ash." Fanny started to cry again. "No more tears, Fanny. Now, let me see a big smile. It's going to be aU right."

They arrived like the army they were, their spokesperson, an elderly Chinese who spoke halting English. Sallie cleared her throat as she struggled to speak the Chinese language she'd once spoken fluentiy. There were many bows, many bobbing heads, and always there were smiles as Sallie issued her instructions, then guided Fanny out the door.

"When we get back things will be under control. You'll think you stepped into another world. We're going to keep two of the girls, one for nights and one for days, to help with the boys. We'll keep two of the older women for housework, one to cook and one to clean. They'll help you to establish a routine, which is something you lack right now. I'm not criticizing you, Fanny. I couldn't have done it. Two babies is a lot of work. I think the secret is getting them on the same schedule if that's even possible."

"Sallie, I can't afford all those people. Ash is going to have a fit. He wasn't overjoyed that you bought the house for us as a wedding present."

"Ash likes to be comfortable. He likes to snap his fingers and be waited on. He doesn't much care for situations that go awry. He may have changed, but I doubt it. We are not going to worry about Ash. We're going to lunch. Then you are going to the beauty shop to get the works. After that we're going shopping."

When the women returned home at six-thirty Fanny stood in the foyer, a stunned expression on her face. "Listen, Sallie."

"I don't hear anything."

264 Fern Michaels "Exactly. The boys aren't crying. I don't believe it. Do you think something is wrong?"

"No, everything is very right. Something smells wonderful. Your dinner, no doubt."

"Dinner? There was no food. I've been eating cheese S2ind-wiches."

"My God, Fanny."

"I want to see the boys. The house is so clean," Fanny said, looking around. "There are fresh flowers everywhere. This is wonderful."