Matthew regarded his brother's boys with amusement. Coby and Kyle had refused to take a shower and his brother, Cade is chasing them around the playground, towels over his shoulder.

He had been early as Kathie requested their triplets' godfather to help her out. And as Matthew sees her in her pink apron with cupcakes still needing decorating for the birthday party, he had been right to be there early in the morning.

Although Audrey, Rachel and Kylie had been there with him, he was glad he was there.

"I can't thank you enough for being here, Matthew. My sister and her husband are on her way with their kids, but I need every help I can get."

Matthew gives her a polite smile. "I rang Andrei and Chandra on my way over here. I hope it's okay."

"You did?" Her rich brown eyes melted in relief. "You are such a god-send, Matty."

"Where's the godmother of the birthday celebrants?" Audrey questioned out, a little frown marring her poker face.

Rachel and Kylie look up from the cupcake batter. "Probably on her way."

"I'll text her," Kylie reassured.

Just when they thought the hectic day was starting to look up, Emma – the nanny his sisters in-law shared entered the kitchen, a problematic uncertainty on her face. "Chloe, doesn't want to wear her dress," she murmurs to Kathie.

Their heads snapped to the little girl standing by the doorway, still in her fluffy bathrobe. There was a stiff frown on her cute face that made her look a lot like her daddy. And there's no mistaking that she wasn't pleased and wouldn't be sweet-talked into wearing anything.

"I'll take care of the cupcakes," Emma offers with an apologetic smile.

Kathie took off her apron and handed it over to Emma. "Sweetie, you have to wear the dress for your birthday party."

The little girl folded her arms stubbornly across her chest. "I don't like it."

Her mother knelt to her eye-level and finger combed her brown hair. "But your grandmas pick it out for you."

"I don't want to look like a princess." She stomped her foot, her blue eyes blooming with tears.

Oh, boy.

They all exchanged glances, none of them risking to interfere.

Kathie clasped a hand on her daughter's. "Baby, just because the dress is pink doesn't mean you'll look like a princess. Mommy's wearing pink too. And it won't make me look like a princess."

"I don't like the ruffles. They itch," Chloe grumbles.

"We'll change it up a bit. Whatever you like. We're calling grandma Lizzie and Margaret," she comforted.

Chloe snivels. "Why do I need to wear it?"

Kathie leans in to kiss her forehead. "Will you wear it for me? Because you love mommy and daddy? And Coby and Kyle?"

The little girl hesitated, the frown staggering a bit. And then, "fine."

"Thank you, sweetie."

"But you can't tell Coby and Kyle I love them. I told them I don't last night." 

Chaos comes into the kitchen when Cade came in through the sliding doors, Coby and Kyle wrestling in his arms. "We can't have you smelling like dog poops at your party."

"I don't want a bath." Kyle flounders from his hold.

Coby was already halfway down his daddy's abdomen. "I don't smell like dog poop."

Jesus Christ.

How does he live like this?

"Boys, you're both taking baths. Or no strawberry cupcakes for a week." Kathie stood upright, her hands on her waist.

They both groaned.

"No, mommy," they chorused, wrapping their arms around her legs that she could barely move.

"I mean it. Chloe gets all strawberry cupcakes for wearing her gown."

Kyle and Coby turn to their sister. "Chloe doesn't think we stink." Coby stretches his arms out. Chloe hid behind their mother's legs.

Kyle surges forward, armed with a hug himself. "We don't smell that bad, right, Chloe?"

The little girl groaned. "You guys stink."

"Boys, leave your mother and sister alone." Cade hauled them to his side.

Chloe looks up to her daddy and gestured her arms toward him. She purses her lips and raised to her tiptoes.

Cade picked her up. "Boys, shower."

Kathie slid the towels off his shoulder, leaning in to plant a kiss on their daughter's head before turning to her husband for a stealthy peck on the cheek.

"Boys, you heard your daddy. Shower. Now."

Emma took off her apron and held Coby's hand. Matthew volunteered himself.

Kathie whispered her thanks and Matthew answered with a smile.

Moments later, birthday celebrants bathed and docile enough to get dressed, their families started coming in to help out.

Sure, Kathie could've paid for a caterer, but organizing parties were her thing. Matthew doesn't dare question that.

It was a busy affair.

And then the godmother finally made it with profuse apologies for being late.

Her hair was a striking red as he remembered them. They were in untamed waves around her shoulders, making a crimson curtain on her exposed back.

Jessica just showed up in a halter top and skintight jeans. She has every right to flaunt her body. Especially when it's worth hitting the brakes for in the middle of the highway. However, he had a feeling the children's party will turn out to be an event for the adults. Married men, specifically.

Ugh, Jessica Keith.

The wild godmother opposite the prim godfather.

Matthew came in a formal dress shirt that matched a pair of pristine khaki pants. Situate him next to her and the whole picture comes together.

Hi, beauties! I'm really sorry for the typos. How's everything? Updates are going to be unscheduled because my workload just got a lot heavier and I'm really realllyyyyyyyy struggling to adjust. I feel exhausted all the time. Physically and mentally. And not to overdramatized but, emotionally too. A little. Phew. Felt good being able to tell someone that.

Anyways, I hope you're all doing good. I will update on any day I get to finish a chapter. If things get better, I might resume with my update schedule (the Wednesday and Sunday schedule 😉) But for now, I'm gonna have to settle with unpredictable updates. Love you!

What do you think of the book so far?