“This trial seems to have gone on for longer than the prosecutors first estimated,” the news commentator said as Dalton made airplane noises with a baby spoon with mashed pumpkin on the end.
Going around and around had his son giggling while his twin sister’s big deep brown eyes blinked. “Who’s gonna get the big bite?” Charlotte, his daughter wasn’t sold on the whole solid food thing like his son Gilly, Gilbert for his dad, was. Nope, she was watching the plane and telling him the runway was closed. “Lottie, you’re missing out on some good stuff here.” With a swoop, he landed in Gilly’s open mouth.
“Well with the defendant having to be healthy enough to attend the trial, mixed with all the testimony I wasn’t surprised how long it took to present the case,” the second commentator stated. “Willeen Gresham’s emotional description of the assaults aside, Hector Molina’s reaction to her betraying him as he called it, had the jury petrified. The only thing I was confused with was why it took three weeks for them to come to a verdict.”
“True, I’m not sure either. With the mountains of evidence, you would think a plea deal would have been advised.”
Dalton kept his ear trained on the TV while his eyes were on his babies. The twins were a surprise to both Willie and him since neither had them in their family. A welcome surprise that had them both overwhelmed and wanting to expand their family more for some strange reason. Willie was in Vegas for the verdict and sentencing. Jurors had been intimidated and tampered with to the point they were afraid they would declare a mistrial. Now, all of Hector’s thugs were behind bars and the empire he believed he had was being run out of cell block C or some shit.
Gilly slapped at the tray for his high chair while letting out a howl.
“Alright, Chunk,” Dalton said as he reloaded the spoon. No longer needing the plane to carry the precious cargo, his son with rolls on his arms ate away.
Not that Lottie didn’t have cheeks mimicking the Stay-Puff Marshmallow Man, she kept looking for her mother. More sensitive than Gilly, she knew something big was happening.
“Mama will be back tonight, Lottie and she wants you to have a full belly.” He went for a train this time to get her to eat. Instead of her mouth opening wide, Gilly leaned to the side as if he could reach far enough to block his sister’s head and steal her food. A true lineman with only one focus. Food! Now! Placing a few Cheerios on her tray, he finished feeding Gilly as if there was an end to that process.
He wanted so badly to be by Willie’s side, but she told him she didn’t want the babies there. Her mother would be by her side and she wouldn’t be able to sleep if the kids were being watched by a nanny and not him. Crumbled empire or not, Willie was a mama bear even the GOGs learned not to incite.
“The jury has entered the court room.”
Dalton cleaned up Gilly and warmed a bottle for Lottie. He couldn’t tuck them both into one curled arm anymore so he passed Lottie her bottle as he carried one in each arm. Flopping on the couch in the family room, he turned the volume down and watched as they scanned the courtroom where Willie sat in an outfit handpicked by Dani who flanked her along with Rachel and her mother. The camera then went back to the judge.
“Have you come to a verdict?”
“Yes, your honor,” the forewoman said.
Dalton’s heart lifted with each guilty verdict. The whole process took over ten minutes with the judge stating the charge and the forewoman responding. Hector made threats that had him removed from the courtroom and when the forewoman’s face paled in fear, Willie stood up. The woman resumed her duty and Hector was sentenced to death row.
“Did you watch?” Willie asked when she called on her way back to the airport.
“Yes, babe, I did. I’m so proud of you. I wish I could be there with you.”
“Training camp starts in two days. You know this wasn’t an option.”
“I still can’t believe we’re not hitting the strip for a minute,” Rachel’s voice called over the phone. “We should be celebrating.”
“How about this year’s bye week we drag the Bishops out and dust them off?” Willie suggested.
“Yes, please,” Rachel pleaded into the phone. “We still exist you know.”
“Tell her sure,” Dalton said. “And to leave you alone.”
“He said yes,” Willie assured. “I’m walking away now. How are my babies?”
“Lottie still doesn’t trust solid food, but they are both sleeping on their favorite pillow.”
“Hey, that’s my favorite pillow,” Willie whined.
“And it will be here when you get home.” There were worse things than being everyone’s favorite place to lay. “Make it quick. You know I don’t like sleeping without you.”
Hanging up, he saw the mess from playing with the babies all day. Scattered on the floor were learning toys and mats that made different noises, had mirrors and various fabrics. He knew he should pick up the mess, instead he flipped to the talking heads as they mock drafted their favorite fantasy team. With Gilly and Lottie on his belly, he found a blanket and draped it over the three of them.
When Willie finally made it home, the babies were up and active with the toys on the floor.
“Tell me something?” she said as she sat on the arm of the couch. “Who’s having more fun with those toys?”
Lottie let out a happy scream when she heard Willie’s voice and she happily scooped up the infant.
“I plead the fifth,” Dalton said as he belly crawled his way to Willie and pushed up to kiss her. The sweet taste of her lips warmed him as everything that mattered in the world was within an arms reach.