A Perfect Fit - Chapter 36
Meryl and Maks are laying together in bed, unable to sleep. Tomorrow is Cohen’s first birthday party and they are struggling with the idea of that. He doesn’t turn one until Monday but because of the show, they have to have the party on Saturday.
“Maks…”
“I know baby.”
“He’s one.”
“I know Princess. It’s crazy. I feel like he was just born.”
“How is he one? When did that happen?”
“Well technically it hasn’t happened yet” Maks says with a smirk.
“Maks!” she says hitting his arm.
“What? It’s true.”
“I know but… I love you.”
“I love you too.”
“Is it weird that we are having a small simple get together instead of a big party?” Meryl asks for the millionth time.
“Meryl, you and Jenna both agreed you didn’t want anything big. Just the family. It doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks.”
“I’m excited for everyone to be here tomorrow. I’ve missed my parents as well as Charlie and the family. It will be great to get everyone together again.”
“My parents are so excited to be here. You know they are staying until Tuesday right?”
“Yes. My parents as well. We’ll have to do something will with all of the grandparents together.”
“I think… Sorry. I think they’ll love that.” He was interrupted by a yawn.
“Come here Maks. You’re tired. I’ll help you sleep.”
“Meryl, you need to sleep more than me. You’ve been so busy. You come here.” She was going to argue but a big yawn hits her and he pulls Meryl close. She is laying on her stomach with her head resting against his side. He turns so he is laying on his side, moving closer and starts playing with her hair. Soon she is asleep. He lays down, curling around her, with one arm across her back and soon is sound asleep.
~
Maks wakes up the next morning and neither he nor Meryl have moved from the position they fell asleep in last night. He slowly and carefully gets up, hoping not to wake Meryl up. He was successful at keeping her asleep. She obviously needs the sleep.
He heads downstairs to make some breakfast. He makes blini since they haven’t had it in a while and they all love it. He also cuts up some fruit. Just as he is finishing, Adalyn and Brynlee come downstairs.
“Good morning girls.”
“Morning Papa” Brynlee sleepily says. She comes over and clings onto his leg. He picks her up and she instantly rests her head on his shoulder.
“Good morning Papa. Are you making Blini?” Adalyn asks taking a seat at the counter.
“I am” he says with a smirk.
“Yay!”
“Are you girls excited for the party today?”
“Da!” Adalyn replies. Brynlee doesn’t make a sound. He turns so Adalyn can see her sisters face.
“She’s asleep Papa.” Maks just laughs and kisses Brynlee’s head.
“Did you wake her up?”
“No. She woke me up!”
“Ok. Do you think you can help me get the food to the table then?”
“Of course! Can we eat then or do we have to wait for Mama and the boys?”
“We should probably wait. Why don’t you go take a shower after we get the food on the table?”
“Ok.”
Once everything is on the table, Adalyn rushes upstairs to take her shower. Maks makes his way to the couch and tries to lay Brynlee down but she won’t let him. He just sighs and relaxes back into the couch, holding her. He takes the quiet time to go on his social media. There are loads of birthday messages towards Cohen and Easton all over.
“She feeling ok?” Maks hears Meryl say surprising him.
“You scared me. I didn’t hear you come down. I think she’s just tired. She looked half asleep when she and Adalyn came down so when she clung to my leg in a hug, I picked her up. She fell asleep rather quickly. Adalyn says Brynlee woke her up so I don’t know what’s up.”
“Oh I really hope she isn’t getting sick. I don’t want her to miss out on the party today.”
“That would stink.”
“Wait, where is Adalyn?”
“Showering. She wanted to eat but I said we should wait until you and the boys are up. I made blini.”
“You’re amazing but you didn’t have to wake up early and do this. We could have just done a simple breakfast.”
“I woke up on my own so I just decided to make a special breakfast. We’re going to need all the energy we can get today anyway.”
“True, I’m going to go check on the boys. I love you.”
“I love you more.”
“I love you most. Ha, I win” Meryl says with a laugh and a huge smile. He pulls her close and kisses her before sending her off upstairs.
Soon Adalyn comes back downstairs dressed. Maks smiles at her outfit, girly as usual. She is their girly girl.
“Going fancy for the party today?”
“Papa, this isn’t fancy. It’s just a skirt and a simple shirt.”
She is wearing a simple black skirt with a white tank top shirt that says ‘#OTTD’. She has put a black headband with a red bow in her hair.
“I love you.”
“I love you too Papa. Is sissy still asleep?”
“Yea. She must be really tired.”
“Can I eat breakfast now please? I’m really hungry.”
“Yea, go ahead. Mama said you could eat when she came down.”
“Where is she now?” she asks as she makes her way to the table.
“She went to check on the boys. I’m guessing they were still asleep since she is still up there. I think she might be taking a shower.”
“Oh ok.”
Maks put the TV on so Adalyn could watch as she eats. He sits down at the table, still holding Brynlee, and makes himself a plate. Just as he is finishing, he hears fussing upstairs. He was about to go up but he hears Meryl rushing out of their room. Shortly after she comes down with both boys. She sits them at the table and gets them both some breakfast. Maks admires Meryl’s navy floral sundress. She looks so adorable.
“Maks, she’s still asleep. I’m a little worried now.”
“Do you want to take her temperature?”
“Yea, I’ll go get the thermometer.”
She rushes off to the powder room and returns with the thermometer. She holds it to Brynlee’s forehead and waits for the reading. It dings and Meryl reads the temperature aloud.
“100.2. That’s not good.”
“What should we do?”
“Just let her sleep. Hopefully she’ll sleep the fever away. Do you want me to hold her so you can shower?”
“Princess, are you trying to tell me I smell.”
“Maks…” she says giving him a look that he knows all too well
“I know, I know. I’m not sure she’ll let me go but we can try.” He tries to hand her off to Meryl but she wouldn’t go. “I’ll take her up with me and try to get her to lay in our bed.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes Mer. She’ll be alright. I’ll keep the bathroom door cracked so I can hear her.”
“Ok…”
He carries Brynlee upstairs with him and walks into the master. He whispers in Brynlee’s ear that he needs to go shower and that he’ll be right back. He leans down and lays her on the bed. She instantly curls up in a ball and he kisses her head before going to shower.
~
“Maks?”
“Da Princess?”
“I’m going to get the boys dressed but first I’m going to lay out the outfit Brynlee picked out last night. Can you try to dress her in it?”
“Sure.” He makes his way upstairs with Brynlee in his arms. She had woken up for about 30 minutes. In that time, she ate breakfast and took a quick shower but she had put her pajamas back on after her shower. When he walks in, he sees some pink shorts with a grey and pink tank top that is gymnastics themed. It’s so Brynlee. He lays her down and gets her dressed. He doesn’t like seeing his baby girl like this. He just wants to cuddle her all day to make her feel better. He really wants to keep her home but doesn’t want to miss Cohen and Easton’s birthday party.
He goes downstairs and sits with Adalyn and Brynlee. Adalyn has been such a big help this morning. She has basically done what Maks would have done if he had both hands.
Meryl and the boys come down shortly. Daelan comes rushing down and climbing onto the couch before trying to climb into Maks’ lap. He is not liking that Brynlee is hogging Papa. He keeps saying ‘Papa, sit, lap.’ Occasionally he will even say ‘Brynlee no. Me sit..’ Meryl and Maks find it pretty funny.
“Sorry malysh. Brynlee need to sit in my lap today. I love your shirt bud.” He has on a blue shirt with a fire truck. It is paired with blue, orange and grey plaid shorts. Meryl places Cohen in Adalyn’s lap.
“I want to get a picture. You all stay there.”
Meryl pulls at Cohen’s white onesie so that you can see the white and light blue chevron 1 with a mustache across it. He also has red shorts with the same number 1 with a mustache on it.
“Alright. Smile!”
“Momma, shouldn’t we wait until Brynlee is awake?”
“We’ll take when when she wakes up but we don’t know when that will be. Oh, let’s take her temperature again.” This time her temperature reads 101 even. “Maks, it went up. She’s at 101.”
“What should we do?”
“I don’t know. I mean obviously let her sleep but what else?”
“Should we wake her and try to get her to take some medicine?”
“Probably. Adalyn, can you help the boys get their shoes on. We need to head to Mr. Jimmy and Mrs. Kate’s soon.”
~
“Thank you for letting us invade again Jimmy. We really appreciate you.” Maks says leading his family into the pool area.
“Oh you know we love having you. That’s what the pool is for. Partying and having fun. You are move than welcome anytime.”
“One of these days we’ll get a pool and we’ll have you all over to enjoy it with us” Meryl says with a smirk.
“Adalyn, the boys and Naomi are downstairs in the basement if you want to go and play” Kate says coming out.
“Thank you” Adalyn says heading inside and off towards the basement.
“How’s little miss Brynlee doing?” Kate asks looking towards Meryl.
“She’s pretty much been asleep all day. She is making Maks hold her all morning too. It’s like it’s the only way for her to get comfortable.”
“What a tough day to be sick.”
“For sure. Well Jenna should be here any minute with the rest of decorations.”
“Sounds great. Maks and Jimmy, why don’t you take the boys and Brynlee inside and we’ll start setting up. That way you can let Jenna and Val in when they come. Plus, you can keep the younger ones entertained.”
Just as they get back inside, the doorbell rings. Jimmy goes to open the door and let’s Jenna and Val in. She shows Kinzly how to get to the basement and then leads Jenna to the pool and backyard area. Val stays inside with Maks, Jimmy, and the kids. He puts Easton down with Cohen on the floor to play. He is in the matching number 1 outfit as Cohen’s but his is multicolored chevron.
“Daddy, I’m thirsty” Kinzly comes upstairs saying.
“I got it” Jimmy says jumping up and goes to the kitchen.
“Did Jenna dress her or did Kinzly pick it out?”
“Kinzly. Jenna wanted to put her in something simple but no. Kinzly threw a fit over wearing this outfit so we just let her. It sure was not worth a fight.”
“Same with Adalyn.”
Kinzly is wearing a yellow and white stripped t-shirt with a yellow ruffled skirt overalls with a dark overall top with white daisies. Meryl, Jenna, and Kate all come inside and join the others in the living room. Jenna flops down into Val’s lap. Val plays with the leg of her soft coral floral romper. She swats his hand away.
“Stop it. There are people all around.”
“Hasn’t stopped us before.”
“Valentin knock it off” Jenna says getting off his lap and heading to the kitchen with Meryl on her heels. The doorbell rings and Kate answers it. It’s Kayla and Clayton.
“Aw, Kayla, you look wonderful! Look at that belly!”
“Thanks Kate” Kayla says running her hand over her bump that is covered by a teal flowered tank top. She has jean shorts to go with it.
Clayton is behind her with the presents. He is searching around for the guys and relaxes when he sees them on the couch.
“Worried you were the only guy” Kate jokes leading them in.
“Where are the birthday boys? Kayla asks looking around.
“Playing on the floor over here” Maks says.
Kayla comes over and scoops Cohen up, kissing his head. She then puts him down and doing the same with Easton. She then turns and see Brynlee in Maks’ arms.
“Someone miss their nap?”
“No, she’s not feeling good today.”
“Aw poor girl.”
~
The family has now all arrived. Adalyn, Carter and Zander are all playing in the back yard together. They have been asking every 5 minutes to go in the pool but they weren’t allowed until after everyone arrived. The last guests arrived 20 minutes ago but they were so wrapped up in whatever they were playing. Meryl has changed Daelan and Cohen into their swim trunks. She has changed as well. Maks has passed Brynlee over to Larissa. She is still not feeling good at all but she is awake. Maks and Val went to go get changed. They are taking all of the younger kids into the pool. Cohen and Easton are wearing matching swim trunks. They are blue with blue, orange, yellow, and red mustaches. Daelan has blue swim trunks with green frogs on it.
Meryl gets Daelan floats on and then passes Cohen to Maks when he and Val come out. They all climb into the pool and start splashing around. Soon Kayla and Clayton join them, followed by Charlie, Tanith, Quentin, Nora, and Gage. Not long after, Adalyn, Carter and Zander come jumping in. Soon enough, everyone but Brynlee and Larissa are in the pool. Smile are shared all around.
“Papa, can you throw me high and into the deep end?” Adalyn asks swimming up to Maks with Carter and Zander right behind her.
“You guys too?” He asks looking at the boys.
“Yes please sir.”
“Alright, I guess I could do that” he smirks.
“So Kayla, how you feeling?” Meryl asks.
“I’m feel pretty good. Especially now that I’m in the water. I’m really enjoying being pregnant.”
“Oh good. Enjoy that feeling now. When you get bigger, it’s gets so uncomfortable.”
“Mer, you never had twins. That’s uncomfortable” Tanith jokes.
“Oh for sure!” Kate adds in. “After having the twin, my pregnancy was Naomi felt like a breeze. Two is so uncomfortable.”
“Well I’m sure glad I’m only having one then” Kayla laughs.”
“Don’t get us wrong, twins are great but um… different” Tanith says.`
“Maks always wanted us and was convinced we were going to have twins at some point.”
“You still could” Tanith says with a wink.
“Whoa, Cohen just turned one. I’m not sure if I’m ready to have another. Plus, we haven’t talked about if we want to try for another.”
“Meryl, we all know you too well to know that you may not be ‘trying’ but you never prevent” Jenna says making Meryl blush.
“Well yea but…”
“What about you Jenna? Are you and Val going to have another?” Tanith asks.
“Yes we want to have another but just not yet. Like Meryl said, Easton just turned 1. What about you?”
“Um… We’re trying”
“Yes!” Meryl squeals and hugs Tanith. “Kate?”
“Well… um…”
“No way!” Tanith whispers being the first to pick up on it.
“I knew it. I had a feeling I wasn’t the only pregnant women here” Kayla says quietly pulling Kate into a hug.
“Imagine if all 5 of us were pregnant at the same time” Kayla says with a smile.
“The husbands would go crazy.”
“How soon do you expect us to have another? I mean Emilia will be here soon enough and only one of you is currently, well at least that we know of.” They all just give her a look and laugh.
“Hey Mer?” Maks says coming up to them with a sleepy looking Cohen on one hip and an exhausted looking Brynlee on the other. She reaches out for Cohen immediately.
“Yea?”
“What do you say about doing cake soon. Malyutka here is actually asking for some cake and both Cohen and Easton look like they are ready for a nap.”
“Sounds good to me. What do you think Jenna?”
“Sounds like a plan to me. We should get the young ones down for a nap soon anyway. Cake in 5 minutes! Everyone out of the pool” Jenna yells so everyone can hear.
“Val, help me get the cakes.”
They have two smash cakes for the boys. Cohen’s is blue with a black mustache and Easton’s is green with black mustache. Then they have a half vanilla, half chocolate cake as well as ice cream for everyone else. Meryl places Cohen in the high chair next to Easton where Sasha had just put Easton. Maks and Val put the cakes down and everyone quickly started to sing as Cohen went right after his cake, smearing it all over his face while eat some.
Easton however, was a lot more hesitant with the cake. He just stared at it for the longest time before slowly reaching out and touching it with one finger. He looked at the icing on his finger before licking it off. He slowly went back for more, scooping icing with two fingers this time. Soon enough he was double fisting the cake just like his cousin. To say the cake was a hit is quite the understatement.
~
“Meryl, there you are. I was looking for you.”
“Oh sorry Mom. Daelan woke up and was freaking out so we came out here where it is quieter. I think he may have fallen back asleep.”
“He did. Here let me have him. You look exhausted. Let’s sit down on the rocking chair.” Meryl and Cheryl are sitting on Jimmy and Kate’s front porch. Everyone else was inside playing games and eating.
“Are you enjoying the party Mom?”
“I am. You and Jenna did a wonderful job.”
“Mom, we barely did anything. This is like the simplest first birthday party ever.”
“I don’t know about ever but I like it. Don’t you?”
“Yes. I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
“Good. So Meryl, you’re a mother of four for almost a year now. How does it feel?”
“It’s still so surreal. I still don’t believe they are all ours sometimes.”
“They are though Meryl.”
“I know Mom. I love them all so much. I remember when I first realized that I was in love with Maks I thought that that was the strongest love I’d ever felt. I mean I love you, Dad, and Clay so much but…”
“Trust me baby, I understand.”
“When Adalyn first came to us, I felt that strong love instantly but it felt so much stronger now. When we had Brynlee, love at first sight became real for me. Cohen being our first boy brought a whole new love and Daelan, knowing the love that he hadn’t ever felt, made my love for him so strong. I can’t imagine my life without them but sometimes, well more often than not know, I feel like we are still missing something. And no, I don’t mean a dog. I mean I would love one but… I feel like God has more planned for our family.”
“You mean more people planned for your family.”
“Yea… Mom?”
“Yes Meryl.”
“Am I crazy? I mean we already have 4 kids.”
“You’re not crazy Meryl.”
“But I feel like if we do have another, um, I’ve had this feeling that the next pregnancy will be twins. Maks has always wanted us to have twin but if that feeling becomes reality, we’ll have 6 kids. I don’t know if I can handle that.”
“Meryl, you can do anything…”
“Through Christ who strengthens me. You’re right Mom. And I know I wouldn’t be doing it alone. But I really shouldn’t be getting myself worked up because I’m not pregnant.”
“Are you sure?”
“I’m sure.”
~
“Meryl, we really appreciate you watching the kids tonight” Jenna says. Meryl has Daelan, Cohen and Easton with her. The girls are at school still.
“You’re welcome.”
“I’d do rather be home with him since it’s his first birthday but…”
“I know Jenna. But you’ve had all morning with his so it isn’t like you weren’t with him at all. You’ve got a job to do. Thankfully he is young and doesn’t understand what is going on.”
“You’re right but I still feel bad.”
Meryl just hugs her sister in law, knowing that no matter what she says, Jenna will still feel this way.
“Alright, give your boy a kiss. We’re going to go so you can get to work.”
“Ok” Jenna sighs and kisses Easton.
Meryl carries Easton and pushes her boys in the stroller back towards her car. Once inside, she calls Maks.
“Hey Princess. Are you on your way home?”
“Yes. Jenna has no clue.”
“Good. Neither does Val. I just pulled up to Adalyn’s school. I’m going to go get her and then I’ll go get Brynlee and Kinzly.”
“I’m actually really close to the girl’s school. Do you want me to get them?”
“No. Go home and get everything ready. We’ll be home soon.”
~
“Adalyn, is your homework done?”
“Yes Mama.”
“Ok. Can you go get your dress on then?”
“Ok. Do I need tights?”
“No. It’s so nice out.”
“Yay!” Adalyn says and rushes up the stairs.
“Kinzly, come here love bug.”
“Yes Aunt Meryl?”
“I want to help you put your dress on so we can go surprise Mommy.”
“Oh right! I kept the secret!”
“I know. Thank you! I’m so proud of you.”
Meryl helps Kinzly into a pink lace flutter-sleeve dress. All three of the girls have matching dresses. Meryl then helps Brynlee into her matching rose colored dress. Adalyn comes down in the matching grey dress.
“Maksim?”
“Whoa, you used my full name. What’s going on? Am I in trouble?”
“No. I just needed your attention so I used your whole name.”
“Oh, well what do you need Princess?”
“The boy’s clothes.”
“Where are they?”
“In Cohen’s room on the changer. I was going to change them up there but… Actually, I think I will. I forgot I still have to get dressed. I didn’t want to go back up but I definitely can’t go in this.” She is just in shorts and a t-shirt.
“I can bring your dress down.”
“No, that’s ok. I need to do make-up and my hair.”
“Alright. How about you go get dressed then and I’ll dress the boys?”
“That’d be great. The boys are wearing the same outfits. Cohen and Easton’s are the same size.”
“Mer, I’ve got it. Go get dressed.”
“Can I …”
“Yes, you can pick out my outfit.”
She smiles and kisses him before heading upstairs. He follows after her so he can gather the boy’s clothes. Each boy is wearing blue dress pants and a lighter blue dress shirt with brown suspenders. Cohen has a grey and white checkered bow tie. Easton’s is pink and white checkered and Daelan’s is rose and white.
Once he has all the kids settled watching TV, Maks heads upstairs to get dressed. Knowing Meryl, he knows she already picked out his outfit.
When he walked in, Meryl is in the bathroom with the door closed. His outfit is laid out on the bed. He undresses and changes. She has picked out his navy blue suit with a light blue dress shirt.
“Thanks love.”
“Oh wait, let me see” Meryl says quickly opening the bathroom door. “Oh you look so handsome” she says grabbing hold of his suit jacket and gently pulling him to her. She stands on her tip toes and kisses him.
“Thank you. You look… gorgeous. I love you” he says looking over Meryl in her navy colored tight dress with white lace sides. He moves so he can whisper in her ear. “It’s gonna be fun taking you out of this dress tonight.”
“Just don’t rip it” she whispers back before going back to the bathroom to finish getting ready. “Give me 10 more minutes and I’ll be down.”
“See you in 15” he says with a laugh.
~
It is 5 minutes till show time and Meryl, Maks, and all 6 kids are in their seats. Have all 6 kids together has been very beneficial to Meryl. She realizes she can do it. If she and Maks do agree to have more kids, that they’ll be able to handle it.
“Aunt Meryl, can we go see Mommy and Daddy now?”
“No love bug. We are going to stay here. They’ll will see us when she comes out to dance. Ok?”
“Aw. Ok. When will she come out and dance?”
“In a 5 minutes.”
“That’s so long!”
“It will go much faster than you think Kinzly. Just talk with your cousins or watch the crew set up” Meryl says adjusting Easton in her lap. Maks has Cohen in his lap with Daelan in between them. Then Kinzly is next to Meryl and then Brynlee and Adalyn.
Just like Meryl said, the 5 minutes went really quick and soon the opening number is starting. Meryl smiles down at Kinzly who is at the edge of her seat, waiting to see her parents.
Finally, the dance is done and the pros and their partners get in line. As the camera scans over them, Meryl see’s Jenna looking around and their eyes meet. Meryl shoots her a smile. She sees Jenna’s face go from shocked to awe to happiness. Kinzly starts waving widely at her Mom. Jenna smiles back at her daughter, blowing her a kiss.
Kinzly then looks for Val. He is further down the line and isn’t looking in their direction. Meryl can tell Kinzly wants to call out to him so she puts a hand on her niece’s leg. Kinzly calms. When the video package for the first duo comes on, everyone heads off the floor. Jenna comes by and takes Kinzly’s hand and picks up Easton from Meryl and heads back to the red room with them. Val sees them and excitedly runs over, picking his daughter up.
“Thank you” he says before rushing off.
