I laughed. “Can you imagine? Are you really due?”

She made a sound halfway between a laugh and a whimper. “God, I wish.” Her hands began to massage her large belly, similar to mine. “I’m tired of being kicked. My due date is in three days, but my doctor said it wouldn’t be for another week, maybe two.” Her voice changed. “First births are notoriously late, don’t expect your little one to show her face any time soon.”

Groans from other pregnant women came from around us. From the back, one said, “Is that a script that they have to tell us all? Why give a forty week window if they really mean forty-one or forty-two? Gah! I just want this kid out of me.”

That turned everyone's dour sounds to laughter.

From the front of the bus, the driver mumbled, “Whoa, what the—” Then his voice got louder. “Everyone, brace yourselves!”

The back of the bus slid to the right, towards the ditch, and Craig’s arm wrapped around me. The bus didn’t have seatbelts. Then I felt as well as saw the driver try to turn the steering wheel the other way. We crashed into something and I went weightless.

For a moment it felt … glorious, then reality crashed back into me. Fuck! The bus … an accident.

Then nothing made sense as people went flying around me. A foot to my temple, a seat corner  to my back, and then I curled into a ball.

***

“I think this one’s still alive.”

Cool finger’s touched my neck, my temple, my arm. “She is, but I don’t know if we can keep her that way. I’m afraid, like the others, we need to save the baby.”

“Babies,” I croaked out.

“What?” The first person, a woman, leaned down.

“There are two … twins.” I tried to swallow. “Craig? Can I see Craig? Am I going to die? Will my babies die?” Tears streamed down my face.

“We will do everything we can to save your babies, ma’am,” she said, and I saw the ceiling above me flash past: tile, tile, tile, light. Tile, tile, tile, light. 

***

Rosy

A shiver ran down my spine as I gazed at the key in the center of the dining room table. It’s really real. My hands trembled as I headed to the kitchen to make ramen noodles for dinner. I could afford to make something nicer … like mac and cheese, but the belt would be tight until … I gulped.

From the living room, Dad laughed. “Stop gaping at the key.”

“But it’s really real. Tomorrow we’re opening up Roads Street Café and Bakery for the first time. It’s …”

“I know, sweetheart. It’s been your dream.”

I debated making coffee, but knew I needed to sleep. The grand opening of the bakery deserved me at my best. 

A shiver of excitement wound its way down my spine at the thought my bakery and I managed to not giggle.

Just as I was about to turn off the light in the kitchen, my phone rang. Checking he display, I don’t recognize the number. I debated ignoring it, but picked it up with a shrug. “Hello?”

“Ms. Roads?”

“Speaking.” Years ago I read that you never said ‘yes’ in case phone trolls recorded the word and used it against you. I was always careful with my words.

“It’s Divinity General Hospital. There has been a horrible accident.” A boulder hit my stomach, and I sat. The administrator went on to explain about a pregnancy retreat with no adult survivors. “We have … well, several of the babies don’t have any living family who we can find to take them in. You are on both the foster and  the adoption list. We’d like to place one of the babies with you, temporarily, to foster. If everything works out with you and the child, we will look into adoption.”

My legs gave out and I sat hard on the seat. From the living room, Dad sounded worried when he said, “Rosy? Are you okay?”

Over the line, the man’s words were insistent. “Ms. Roads, are you there? I’m afraid I need an answer.”

“Yes.”

Chapter 2 - A Night On The Town

Rosy

12 years later

Mom! Can I have the snickerdoodle pumpkin cookie? Oh, wait. I want the cookie that looks like a cup! I want the rainbow sugar cookie with strawberry sauce.”

Smiling down at the small boy, the woman closed her eyes for a moment, then nodded. “Can you add to our order one each of what he asked for, and a red velvet stuffed cheesecake cookie for me? And a large coffee.”

“Of course.” Turning, I added the three individual cookies to her larger order. Her company had a standing order for the monthly meetings. I gave her a total and she handed me a credit card.

“The problem, Rosy, is you’re too good at making cookies. Don’t get me wrong, the rest of your offerings are amazing, but these cookies.”

I laughed as she took her sweets and headed out of the store.

Before the door shut, Sacia blew in, her blond hair flying out behind her, blue eyes shining. “Mom, that’s it! I’m done! It’s summer!” 

Behind her, smiles equally big, Charlie and Pris trotted in. The three of them had been inseparable since they were babies. “Hello, my troublesome three musketeers.”

Unlike Sacia, Charlie and Pris were twins, Charlotte and Priscilla. Despite that, they didn’t look much alike. Charlie was a few inches shorter with straight dark hair and green eyes. Pris had strawberry blond hair and brown eyes. All three girls were kids of a bus crash that had killed their parents, so they called themselves the triplets, since none of them looked alike. 

The twins had been adopted by a neighbor. We’d realized it a couple months after the fact at a local park. After that, we decided we’d bring the girls up with full disclosure. They’d been thick as thieves ever since.

Charlie scooted up to the display. “Mom said you couldn’t get Sacia into the camp, is that right?”

From the back, Dad grunted. “A few calls fixed that. You’ll all be out of our hair in a week, thank all that is good in the world.”

All three girls squealed and I heard Dad chuckle. He loved the three as if they were all his granddaughters, doting on them all the time.

Pris spun. “Okay, let’s head to our house and start planning.”

Before I could say another word, they were gone, along with all their twelve-year-old whirlwind energy.

A few more customers came through the bakery before I heard Cindy’s gusty sigh as she pushed open the door. “I can’t believe you’re still here.”

Dad’s heavy steps came up from the back. “Yes you can.”

A smile broke out over Cindy’s face and she winked at him. “True.” Then her eyes narrowed at me, the crystal blue pinning me down. “You promised me we’d have tonight to celebrate.”