Earlier, Tommy had been thinking that he’d need to strap Kristin to the bed in order to get her to sit still. Jenilea was born at 11:56pm on July 24th, Kristin’s birthday, and at noon on July 27th they were finally going home.

“I’m perfectly capable of walking,” Kristin told her husband. “Why won’t you let me help?”

“Would you just relax for a few seconds?” Tommy told her as he stopped what he was doing to look in her direction.

Kristin was practically glowing as she sat in the rocking chair cradling Jenilea in her arms. The baby was wrapped in a pink, crocheted blanket that Kristin’s mother had made over the past two and a half days. She looked as cozy as a pig in a blanket.

“My legs aren’t broken, Tommy,” she informed him.

“The doctor said you shouldn’t be lifting anything except the baby for a little while,” Tommy told her as he continued to pack her bag.

“That means I shouldn’t overwork myself,” she replied. “It doesn’t mean I can’t lift a nightgown.”

“I heard the doctor’s orders and I’m sticking to them,” Tommy told her. “I’m bigger than you and there’s nothing you can do about it.”

“I can scream awfully loud,” Kristin warned him.

“I thought there was only one baby to take care of,” Tommy said as he looked at her again and laughed.

“Alright,” Kristin consented.

“Thank you,” Tommy told her.

“Tommy?” Kristin asked as he zipped up her suitcase.

“Yeh, babe?” Tommy replied as he picked up the suitcase and set it by the door.

“Can we pick up Punkin on the way home?” she asked.

“Sure,” Tommy told her. “Santa said that Tyrique would be home this afternoon.”

“I don’t want her to think that just because there is a new baby I’ve forgotten my first baby,” Kristin said as she placed a gentle kiss on Jenilea’s forehead.

“You do know she’s a dog,” Tommy said as he helped her to her feet. “Don’t you?”

“Just because she’s a dog doesn’t mean she can’t be my baby,” Kristin told him.

“I know,” Tommy replied. “But personally I prefer kissing the baby that’s not so furry.”

They both laughed as Tommy picked up the suitcase with one hand and put his other arm around Kristin’s waist. They walked that way until they reached the limousine waiting for them outside the hospital.

“I thought you said you called a car?” Kristin replied.

“Is this not a car?” Tommy asked her as the driver opened the door for them. “Does it not have four wheels and a motor?”

“You know what I mean,” Kristin replied.

“I wanted our baby’s first trip home to be special,” Tommy told her as he took Jenilea to put her into the car seat that was already strapped into the middle of the back seat.

“You do know she’s not actually going to remember this,” Kristin teased Tommy as she got into the car and he sat down on the other side of the car seat.

“I know, I know,” Tommy replied with a smile. “Don’t ruin my fun.”

Tommy alternated between watching Kristin as she gazed at their sleeping daughter and looking down at Jenilea himself as they slowly made their way through New York traffic toward Tyrique and Santa’s apartment. He intended to enjoy these few minutes of silence before Kristin’s furry little baby got into the car and started making more noise than a crowd at a NASCAR race.

“We’re here!” Kristin squealed as the limousine came to a stop in front of Tyrique and Santa’s apartment.

“Go get your dog,” Tommy told her. “I’ll stay here with the baby.”

“Thank you!” Kristin said as she leaned over to give Tommy a kiss before getting out and going into the apartment building.

“Your mother is insane,” Tommy told his sleeping daughter. “Did you know that? Well, if you didn’t, you know now and you’ll see for yourself soon enough.”

Tommy enjoyed his minutes alone with his daughter. He knew there wouldn’t be too many of them when he went back to work and she was home with Kristin all day so he intended to make the most of the week he had at home. Far too soon, Kristin came back outside holding Pumpkin in her arms.

“Now everybody can be together,” Kristin said with a smile as she got back into the limousine and the driver shut the door behind her.

“Wonderful,” Tommy said sarcastically.

“You know you love her,” Kristin said as she held the small dog up to Tommy’s face and Pumpkin began licking his nose.

“Well that’s pleasant,” Tommy said as he pulled his face away.

“You never had a problem with anybody licking your face before…” Kristin said with a sly smile before she let her voice trail off.

“You’re funny,” Tommy replied in a serious tone as he tried not to smile at his wife’s remark.

”I thought so,” Kristin said as she rubbed her nose against Pumpkin’s.

“You do remember that there is a living, breathing human being in this car seat,” Tommy reminded Kristin.

“Don’t be silly,” Kristin replied as she glanced down at Jenilea. “I can play with my Punkin without forgetting about my baby.”

“Just don’t add a shiny object into the mix,” Tommy told her. “I’d loose you forever.”

“Shut up,” Kristin laughed as she playfully punched Tommy’s arm.

“Excuse me but I only have a week off work,” Tommy told her. “Am I going to have to compete with a baby and a dog to get a kiss?”

“I know what you’re getting at,” Kristin told him. “And it’s not going to happen!”

“Get your mind out of the gutter,” Tommy sighed.

“You first,” Kristin shot back.

They both began to laugh. Why did Kristin always know exactly what he was thinking?

“You won’t let me lift a nightgown but you’ll try that,” Kristin said as she continued to laugh and put Pumpkin down to explore.

“I just can’t resist your feminine charms,” Tommy said in a ridiculously fake southern accent.

“You never quit,” Kristin asked. “Do you?”

“Not so long as I’m alive,” Tommy replied as he leaned over to give her a kiss.

“That can be remedied,” Kristin joked with him before returning the kiss.

“What are you going to do,” Tommy asked. “Hire a hit man?”

“Aldo knows people,” Kristin replied.

Tommy and Kristin both dissolved into laughter again as they watched the changing scenery outside the car windows on their way home.