Taking On Twins. Mollie Campbell

you had a dozen of them?”

      As soon as the words left her mouth, the ladies all froze. Jake wondered what the sudden tension meant. Cecilia blushed. “I’m sorry, Coralee. That was insensitive.”

      Looking from one woman to the other, Jake had to ask. “What’s wrong, Cecilia?”

      Silence followed his question. Even Louisa and Phillip seemed to pick up on the change in atmosphere and stilled. Finally, Coralee threw up her hands. “Not that anyone needs to know, but Cecilia forgot for a moment that Alan and I were never able to have children. I may never have children. That’s what’s wrong. Now, I’m going to get the food ready.”

      Coralee retreated to the kitchen, her words hanging heavy in the air. Cat shrugged and went to help her sister. Cecilia bit her lip. “I’m sorry, Jake. That was awkward and it’s all my fault.”

      He patted her shoulder. “No, you didn’t bring it up on purpose. It’s no wonder she was upset, though. I can’t imagine...” Jake’s voice trailed off as he thought of Coralee’s pain. He cleared his throat around the lump that suddenly formed. “I would hate to know I could never have children of my own. It’s terrible—”

      The conversation was cut short when Louisa pulled at the leg of his trousers. “I hungry, Jake.”

      He rested one hand on top of her head. “Me, too. I’m sure the ladies will have food on the table in no time.”

      Mealtime brought another set of complications Jake would never have expected. Coralee and Cecilia settled each wiggling child on a chair and used strips of cloth to loosely secure them. Coralee showed Cat how to cut pieces of softer foods for the little ones to eat. Jake made mental notes of everything the women did so he could at least feed the twins by himself.

      As they ate, Jake got a peek at more of the twins’ personalities. The women were busy talking when a mischievous look appeared on Louisa’s little face. Watching her out of the corner of his eye, Jake saw her chubby hand shoot out and grab a piece of bread Phillip was just bringing to his mouth.

      “No, Lou!” The little boy howled in frustration while his sister stuffed the bread into her own mouth. Coralee turned and cooed over Phillip, oblivious to what had caused his tears. It was all Jake could do to cover his amusement. Who would have thought that such a tiny girl could already be so ornery?

      “It’s been several days since we had any customers.” Cat and Coralee’s discussion drew Jake’s attention away from the children. Cat’s words surprised him. He hadn’t realized Holbrook’s was struggling that much.

      Coralee’s shoulders drooped. “Hopefully, I can make significant progress on the medication soon. Otherwise, I don’t know what we’re going to do.”

      Her comment piqued Jake’s interest. “You’re working on a medication? Is it something new?”

      She shifted in her chair, frowning at her plate. “I wasn’t planning to say anything until it’s finished. But, yes, I’m working on a formula that Papa wanted to develop before he passed.”

      “That’s great. How’s it coming?” Jake had known Coralee long enough to see from the look on her face that this medicine was important to her. Heaviness settled over him. There was no reason she would need to share a project like that with him. But he still found himself wishing she had wanted to. Wishing she wanted to involve him in something so vital to her business.

      Coralee pushed food around with her fork, refusing to meet his eyes. “I’m not as close to finding the key ingredient as I’d like to be.” Without giving him a chance to reply, she turned to Cecilia, asking about her plans now that school was out of session until fall.

      Jake’s heart fell. Coralee was sending a clear message that she didn’t want him involved in her work.

      Suddenly, Cat sniffed and covered her nose with a handkerchief. “I believe one of the children might need attention,” she declared. Jake started to chuckle at her regal announcement until it hit him that he might need to attend to them himself. And he had no clue how to change a diaper.

      Much to Jake’s relief, Coralee and Cecilia jumped in again, rescuing him from embarrassing himself with his profound lack of knowledge about children. Coralee searched through the bag Mrs. Trask had sent for the children. She pulled out two large rectangles of white cotton while Cecilia dampened several rags. Together, the sisters cleaned the children and put on their fresh diapers. Jake tried not to get caught staring while still managing to catch every move they made so he could replicate it.

      As Coralee and Cecilia cleaned up, Jake heard a sound at his feet. He looked down to find Louisa standing in front of him, little arms stretched toward him. “Up?”

      Her voice was quiet and tentative. Jake’s heart expanded in his chest as he cradled the girl in his arms. The love he already felt for these children was overwhelming, even after only a few hours with them. Coralee’s revelation flashed in his mind. His first thought was how painful it must have been for her to realize that she would likely never bear a child. But as he considered how much he already cared about the twins’ well-being, he started to wonder if his reaction had been impulsive. Maybe a family could grow out of people who just needed each other.

      Louisa rubbed her eyes as she snuggled against his chest. “I think she’s tired.” Jake wasn’t sure how he recognized the signs, but it was encouraging. Maybe he could learn how to care for the twins, after all.

      Coralee lifted Phillip into her arms and he stuck a thumb in his mouth, staring at her with wide eyes. “Phillip is, too. I’m sure this has been a difficult few days for them. It’s time for a good night’s sleep.”

      Jake already felt more confident at the prospect of taking them home by himself, thanks to Coralee’s easy example. His room at the boarding house wasn’t large, but it would be plenty big enough to make temporary beds on the floor. The proprietress, Mrs. Hardy, missed her grandchildren in Virginia. She had jumped at the chance to help with the twins if the need arose. He was sure this could work for the short time they would be in his care.

      He took the bag with the twins’ belongings from Cecilia and headed to the wagon. Louisa snuggled in his arms and Coralee carried Phillip. Something about walking alongside her with the children felt right. Jake shoved that notion back where it came from. The last thing he needed was to be distracted by impossible fantasies.

      After setting Louisa on the wagon seat, he climbed up beside her and took Phillip from Coralee’s outstretched arms. He looked down into her lovely face. “Thank you again, Coralee. Your help has been invaluable.”

      “I’m glad to help. Will you be all right by yourself with the twins, Jake? Two children can be a lot to handle.”

      He tried to draw on the small burst of confidence he felt earlier, but it had waned. “I’m sure we’ll get along fine.”

      “What are you going to do with them while you’re working? I could help you for a little while until you get into a routine.”

      Jake considered her offer. A few days ago he would have refused her flat-out. He still wasn’t sure his heart was ready to have her back in his life. But once they’d learned how to steer clear of their past, spending time with Coralee had been downright pleasant. The twins liked her and she was such a natural caregiver. He had been wondering what he would do with them during the day. Focusing on patients visiting the office or traveling to make house calls would be difficult with the children underfoot.