"Her full name is Avery Baxter but everyone calls her Junior."
"My father didn't like her you know?"
"I'm sure he didn't, but I want you to give Junior a chance before you take what your father felt to heart. Do you think you can do that?"
Bailey looked up for the first time and nodded her head. Maria could see so much of her mother in her while the other two had been a surprise. Quinton had been the image of his own mother with his raven black hair, brown eyes and short stature. His two youngest children seemed to have inherited all the Baxter genes that their father missed out on, leaving only the oldest looking like Susan.
They both heard the car pull into the drive and a door softly close a minute later. The fact it took the doorbell so long to chime meant Junior was outside building up her courage. Bailey went back to looking out the window while Maria got up to answer the door. In the time Maria was gone, Bailey made a decision for her and her siblings and was determined to see that it worked. Her mother was gone so that left her in charge of Emmett and Kristen; Susan would have wanted it that way.
"Bailey, this is Junior." Maria was surprised by what happened next considering the child's demeanor since she had arrived.
"Hello, I'm Bailey Baxter and my brother, sister and I are packed and ready to go. If you want I'll help you bring the stuff out. Thank you so much Miss Maria for having us over but we'll get going now. Are you ready?" Bailey shook Junior's hand and walked out of the room to get her bags. Two baffled women remained standing in the foyer of Maria's home wondering what had just happened. One thought she was here to make plans for the kids' care and the other was trying to smooth the way for Junior to accept the responsibility.
Twenty minutes later Junior was sitting at home listening to a nine year old on the proper maintenance and care of her ten month old little sister. The adult holding the baby sat listening to the miniature child expert, nodding while the little voice in her head was going ballistic. Junior, get up and run out the door. Just put the kid down and run. You know nothing about raising children and you are too old to learn now, and don't give me any shit about not being quite forty yet. You know oil, Junior, not diapers.
"We need to make a run to the grocery before we run out of diapers and baby formula. You want to make the list or do you want me to do it?"
"Um…" Junior noticed that the kid she was holding had just spit up on her jeans.
"I'll do it and stop bouncing her like that, it's what makes her spit up."
"Ok. Could you hold her a minute while I use the phone?"
"Sure but don't take too long, we have to go to the store."
Junior handed Kristen over and walked out of the room in a daze. That kid, Bailey had been calling the shots since she had walked into her house and Junior needed to take a break. Sitting behind the desk in her study, Junior dialed Maria's number.
"Hello, Junior, how's it going?"
"I hate caller id. Listen to me Maria, I know this is some sort of joke you are pulling on me and I would like it to stop now. I have baby spit up on my pants, and some weirdly mature kid making me a grocery list. There isn't anyone else that wants them?"
"Do you really want Susan's sister taking them? The last I heard she had five of her own and they were all living in a trailer."
"You are full of shit and your pool will be full of frogs before week's end for getting me into this hell."
"Junior, I did not leave you three children."
"No, you didn't, but I have a sinking feeling you talked her into this. Didn't you?"
"My doorbells ringing, Junior, I have to hang up." Junior looked at the phone like it was going to come alive and tell her what to do next. But it wasn't the phone talking; it was Bailey at the door telling her it was time to go to the grocery store.
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"How did it go today?"
"I am so not cut out for this."
"Avery, honey, you are going to be great. Just give yourself a chance. When it gets bad just think about what those children are going through and the fact you are all they have left." Jillian had waited until nine before calling. It was either call or drive over to the address Junior had given her.
"I missed you today." For some strange reason Junior wanted more than anything to start crying. Good lord, it's worse than I thought. Junior, you usually make other people cry.
"That's why I'm calling you." Jillian's voice sounded so soothing after listening to crying and baby talk all day.
"Because I missed you?" Junior didn't see the eye roll at her question from Jillian. On her end Jillian was thinking that Junior, for as good-looking and confident as she looked, was really just a nerd.
"No, silly, because I missed you too."
"That's sweet of you to say. I changed a diaper today." Jillian wanted to hold the laugh in but couldn't quite manage. "There's something I thought I would never tell a woman I'm trying to date."
"You are already dating me, Avery. It's time to move into the wooing and courting stage, honey."
"I wouldn't call an afternoon of listening to my father and rowing, a date."
"That was our second date. The first was you telling me about the stars. You did such an admirable job, it's what made me want to see you again."
"And the reason you kissed me, is?"
"Marking my territory, Avery. I wouldn't want some other girl fining you big bucks and having it turn your head. Could I call you back in about ten minutes?"
"Sure, I'm just lying here trying to recover from today. I'm not sure how it happened but I have three other people under my roof and they are planning to stay."
"Hang up, Avery, and I'll call you right back."
True to her word the phone rang ten minutes later waking Junior out of a light sleep. When she picked up the receiver Jillian instructed her to go to the front door.
"Hi, I didn't want to ring the bell and wake anyone up." Junior found Jillian standing on her doorstep wearing a robe and slippers.
"Don't take this as a complaint, but what are you doing here?"
"I thought you could use this." Jillian stepped in and wrapped her arms around her tired looking friend and just held on. Bailey walked in and found them in front of the door just holding each other.
"Junior?"
"Hey, Bailey, this is my friend Jillian. Jillian, this is Bailey. Is there something wrong?"
"Would it be ok if I left the light on in the hall? You turned it off and my little sister's afraid of the dark." Junior was about to answer her when Jillian took over.
"How about you and me go turn it back on and then get you back to bed?" When the child nodded her head and held up her hand, Jillian followed her to the back of the house. Junior stood in the doorway of the room she had put all the kids in, listening to Jillian tell the child a story. The sun going down had not only brought out the stars, but also the fears Bailey had held at bay all day. The businesswoman watched as Bailey's eyes fluttered shut to the soothing tones of Jillian's voice. Be careful, Junior, you could fall in love with a woman like this.