We were coming back from the hospital in Brewster, inching down Main street, I was in second gear, pushing the clutch in to brake momentum, then touching the gas for some theatrics, the deep roar of the exhaust, causing elk herds to take off and women aged eighteen to sixty, squeeze their thighs together.
We had decided on Virginia (Ginnie) and Erik (Junior) for names. Driving straight at me was a Bremerton Police SUV with Tommy driving and Cece in the passenger seat. There was a black Escalade behind them, the driver's window open, mine was too.
Tommy and the Russian looked at me and there was no recognition. We had pre ordered some chicken and waffles at the Cinnamon Twist Bakery. I left the Suburban on idling. Tommy and Cece walked in just as I was paying for the take out. She squinted at me, then looked away.
I put the order next to Chrissies baby chair, she was out like a light and we drove home. I kept the engine on and unhooked the baby chair and with it in one hand and Jilly's hand in the other we slowly entered the house and Jilly said, "Baby I'm tired, can you help me lie down?"
I did so. I got the take out order and set it on the counter and took one order and nuked some coffee from this morning and carried Chrissie's seat next to my chair, turned on the television and put some Peer Gynt music on YouTube set low and Chrissie sighed. I ate slowly, and ultimately I ate both. Jilly's water broke and we were off to Brewster.
Her mom met us there and brought Chrissie home. Ginnie only took two hours and then Erik, forty five minutes. Ultimately, I framed the picture of Jilly nursing both of them at the same time and it resides in our bedroom still. Ginnie weighed seven pounds three ounces, while Erik just touched six pounds, he had some bilirubin levels so every one stayed for a week. I slept in the suburban, had some blankets, I needed to rest as well.
When we were in Walla Walla, I purchased several original Browning automatic shot guns, better known as the "auto five" and had kept buying them. I now had ten of them. Every room in the house had one, on levels of seven feet above the floor, no accidents were going to happen. Lastly I found a 1938 Browning auto five, riot gun, with a twenty one inch barrel. It was in the rig with me, twelve gauge.
There was this Mexican restaurant, Campero's and I bought nachos with extra cheese and three chili verde burrito plates. Pork in tomatillo sauce. Breakfast lunch and dinner.