— Keep Calm & Gear Up

Honey looked up at Tanner with a soft laugh as she rubbed Camille’s back soothingly, knowing she would lose her absolute mind if she took her attention off of her for too long. Since the girl was born, it had only been the two of them and it with this being Honey’s first child, she was very much being the hovering mother and in turn making her daughter become very clingy. “It’s really stressful! That happens all the time ‘n then I gotta run back in the store apologizin’ for somethin’ we ain’t buy but somehow still walked right out of the store with.” Honey chuckled as she looked to her daughter in a loving manner, leaning down to place a kiss to the girl’s forehead. “But I love this girl very much.” 

Tanner had managed to distract Tommy for the time being with a toy that he’d brought knowing the eventually the toddler would get fussy. “They do grow out of the grabbin’ things stage. I can’t say there’s a set age for it though. Gracie got over it fast, Tucker took a while, and Tommy is still in it.” He shook his head at the memory of having to apologize the day before for Tommy grabbing something on their way out of the store. “I know the feelin’. And ya can’t get mad at them when they have no idea what stealing is. All they know is they saw something they liked and they wanted to have it. If it’ll kee[ her happy she’s free to play with my keys for now.” 

Kiran laughed, “Oh would she though?” He teased, nodding his head, “Five will certainly be givin’ you a run for your money. Not sure how my mama ever handled four but at least her twins came first.” He chuckled lowly, “I like the way you think,” his smile grew with the thought of sitting around and having a few cold ones with Tanner. “It’s good to be back. I missed it more than I thought I did. Didn’t realize how much ‘til I was back. Seein’ my family and everyone we grew up with.”

“She just might. I don’t think I’d blame her either and I haven’t had to go through labor three times already.” Tanner had been at Hannah’s side every single time and he would be there for the twins birth as well, but the worst he had to deal with was Hannah squeezing his hand. He motioned for Kiran to follow him and started towards the fridge to grab a beer. “I can give you a rundown of the last high school reunion. Spoiler alert, it was pretty much the same to all the high school reunions before it.”

Status: Open Location: Bushels 

@frostfordstart​

Though Camille wasn’t speaking full words yet, she was fully pointing at what she wanted and snatching things off of the shelf from her secure seat on the shopping car if her mother got close enough, today was no different. “Oh my goodness, I am so sorry. She’s realizin’ that her hands are magical these days..” she said, realizing that her aforementioned daughter had literally reached over and took someone’s car keys. Honey took the keys back from Camille and held them out to the rightful owner, letting out a gentle sigh in the process. “I’m gonna have to teacher her that is not okay..” she’d truly hoped that the person wouldn’t be too upset at a one year old.

Tanner had a list. More accurately Hannah had put together the list and given it to him and he had gone to the store with the plan to follow it closely. A few minutes in and he was already off-track. He’d brought Tommy along and the toddler was easily distracted by things on the items on the shelves that he wanted. All colorful and sugary. He didn’t notice what had been taken until Honey spoke up. He looked over and took the keys in surprise. “Don’t worry, I know that stage. It wasn’t long ago this one was goin’ through it. We left a store and he had a brand new pair of sunglasses that no one had bought for him.”

“—You sure? She ain’t gonna come out here and kick my head clean off?” Colton grinned, feeling a little relieved knowing Hannah wasn’t upset with him anymore. “I still feel pretty bad ‘bout causin’ her any stress or anythin’– so I figure one of these days when y’all want a date night or somethin’, maybe a few hours to yourselves– you could bring the kids on by to the farm.” 

“Your head is safe. Cross my heart. And if I’m wrong then you can take off my head.” Colton would be safe as long as he wasn’t the cause for the kids wanting to start a farm. “You didn’t mean to cause her stress. But I’ll take you up on that offer. We’re gonna need a night to ourselves. How are you with newborns? ‘Cause that’ll help me decide if its before or after the twins are born.”

“Happy wife, happy life, right? I think that’s the sayin’. Kids, though. You can’t stop ‘em.” He laughed. “I think that’d be too much,” Harry admitted, though he would soon have to do the same thing. “The teens? Just let Jesus take the wheel, man. I mean, you gotta let kids be who they’re gonna be. I dunno, I feel like I was just a kid yesterday and now I have one. Can’t really be tellin’ her what all to do when I think of it like that.”

“It’s not just the sayin’, it’s the truth.” Tanner could say that for a fact. It meant happy kids and happy him. “Damn. Looks like I’ll be lettin’ Jesus take the wheel for a long time because I’m gonna be goin’ through a lot of those teen years. You know, maybe we shouldn’t aim for having a football team’s worth of kids. You’re goin’ to have to let me know what age it ends at. Tucker’ll be the first one reachin’ that line.”

“You’re gettin’ pretty damn close to that,” he laughed, shaking his head. He didn’t know how the Cartwrights did it, but he had to give them props for it. When he and Elle finally did have kids, he imagined Tanner would have plenty of advice for a first time father - and he was counting on it. “Always got time for you,” he nodded his head, “Elle’s hangin’ out with some of the ladies in town she’s befriended so I’m all yours.” Even if one of those ladies happened to be his high school ex-girlfriend.

“Hannah might end up killin’ me if I end up suggesting more kids after the twins are born.” They’d gone through having a new baby three times but they’d never had twins before. It was absolutely going to be an adjustment. They were about to have their hands doubly full. “I’ve got a brand new six pack we can break open.” He had the day off and the kids were with their grandparents for the day, Hannah was taking some time for herself and that meant he had the afternoon free. “It’s good to have ya back.”

Nathan nodded eagerly. A maybe was still better than a no! “Is that going to work for or against me? Because if it’s against me, then don’t bring it up at all when you ask if I can volunteer! Just them them I’m a responsible and very reliable candidate.”

“There’s a chance it could work both for and against ya. So I’ll make sure to dress it up in a way that sounds good. Dedicated to helpin’ the community.” It couldn’t hurt to have someone else around the station helping out. “You’ve spent so long askin’ is there anything you actually want to do?”

“–D’you think Hannah’s still upset at me ‘bout the farm thing? I swear, I think she was ready to kill me that day. – I’m real sorry if she got mad at you about it too, I should’ve thought about how much y’all already have on your plate, and with two babies on the way too,” Colton murmured to @tannercartwright​ as the pair sat on the porch at the Cartwright house. “Don’t think I’ve ever seen her so upset.”

“Not a chance, you’re safe. There’s no anger left. If anythin’ you’re gonna get an apology next time that you see her.” Hannah had been more embarrassed than angry when she’d come home. “I promise you she’s not still mad. You’re completely safe from anymore anger. No need to worry about carryin’ a white flag in your pocket just in case ya run in to her.”

Cara wasn’t usually one for being a beacon of smiles or sunshine around Frostford. Catching her looking like she was enjoying herself was a rarity so she forced her smile away the minute she was caught eating at Custard’s. “I swear, if you tell anyone you saw me here lookin’ like a kid in a candy store, you better tell ‘em it’s cause I was here and this stuff is too good to be mean about.” @frostfordstart 

He held up his hands in surrender and then motioned to his lips like he was locking them and throwing away the key. “My lips are sealed. But you’ve got to promise me you won’t tell my kids you saw me here gettin’ custard for Hannah ‘cause they’re not gettin’ a thing that that’ll end in one hell of a fit.”

“I mean she was really set on wanting to be Strawberry Princess. Let’s hope that just has to do with wanting to be a Disney Princess. But that’s basically what doing pageants is like.” Hannah said shaking her head. “I can’t deal with the idea of my baby in make up. She’s got to stay little forever.” Hannah said with a small frown and she hated how she was suddenly feeling emotional. “I mean the girl has solid arguing skills, a human rights lawyer would be very fitting. I mean all that injustice she’s trying to fight right now.” She can’t hide the smile on her lips. “Can you believe we’re about to have five kids? I mean I know we always talked about it but… after everything last year, I’m just so happy. No matter how many gray hairs Gracie Belle gives me.”

“I think it’d be great.” He joked, shaking his head. He knew how kids were, it just made him laugh even more.  “Twins, man.  have no clue how you do it. I just have one and that’s enough. You think it’s a lot now, just wait till you have a teenager.” With a shake of his head, he let a shrug fall from his shoulders. “I don’t think it ever really sinks in, y’know?”

“I follow what Hannah’s doin’ and it all turns out okay. Yesterday I made the mistake of lettin’ Tommy pick out what he wanted to wear and the kid walked outside in a crazy outfit.” He flinched at the memory of the looks he got from the DAR woman. They’d looked offended by the clashing colors of the outfit. “Maybe we should’ve spaced ‘em out more so when half were goin’ through the teen years the rest were still young. I’m definitely afraid of those years. Got any tips for gettin’ through that?” 

“I would hope, for your sake, that it’s not some construction accident. those always look extremely painful. i’d hate to see what would have to happen to go viral with one of those. I think, maybe a TikTok video? They don’t seem too bad. A little stupid, but we’re all a little stupid. I can deal with that.” 

Elle couldn’t help but smile at the children’s reactions. She remembered being the same with her brothers when she was younger - the only difference being that she usually won once she flashed them a smile. “Well, you see I like dollies and pokemon - so I’m not really sure I can choose… Can we all play something together instead?” Not wanting to start an argument amongst the Cartwright children, she willed her teacher brain to think of any kind of game. “How about-…” Any chance of them listening to her was thrown aside as they raced towards the plate of cookies. “Nice save, Tan.”

Once cookies were mentioned both kids were completely focused on the plate in Tanner’s hands. Gracie’s doll and Tucker’s game were abandoned in favour of rushing for the plate. Reaching over their heads he set the plate down on the table. “Share, okay?” He plucked one off the plate and brought it over to Tommy, breaking it into two pieces before handing it to the toddler. “Is it bad parenting to use cookies to defuse an argument before it starts? ‘Cause it’s one of the best ways to get their attention off something fast. Then we can get them focused on something else once they’re done eatin’.”

“Right, but like, people think you have authority. Somethin’ ‘bout the whole uniform thing.” She listens, not without struggling to interrupt, and immediately shakes her head. “You literally have nothing to worry about, Tanner. Look, it’s actually pretty simple. She keeps trying to feed me – or kill me with, actually – her burnt to a crisp, I’d-rather-eat-grass meals. Sometimes she’ll start a grease fire and I’m like, how did that even happen? How do you start a grease fire when you’re cookin’ pancakes? Is that even possible?” She rolls her eyes. “Anyway. Maybe you can tell her you’re  gonna have to write her up if she fucks up again, it’s gone too far, she’s diverting y’all from your regularly scheduled programming, maybe threaten an arrest even?” She smiles. “Did any of that make sense?”

“I hope people think I have some authority. If they don’t I guess I’ll have to get scarier to really get people listenin’ to me.” Tanner was tall and muscular but anyone that really knew him knew that the man was kind. “Have ya tried hidin’ the oil? It might help. If she can’t put oil on what she’s cookin’ it’ll be a lot harder for her to start a grease fire if she doesn’t have any grease to ignite. If she manages a grease fire without any oil I’d be both impressed and horrified.” Cooking fires and deep fryer fires were something Tanner had plenty of experience with. “Fine yes, arrest is somethin’ you’re gonna have to rope a police officer in too. But if you can get two of us maybe the message will actually sink in. That and pairin’ it with hiding all the pots and pans so she can’t cook anymore.”

standing next to the cantaloupe, walker had one picked up in his hand and held next to his ear. knocking on it, confusion spreading across his face as he set it down and picked up another one, repeating the action. “how the heck–” he stopped himself, setting it down again and grabbing another. about to lift it to his ear he noticed the person on the other side of the stand, “you know how to tell if they’re ripe and ready to eat? some kid told me if they sounded hollow when you knock but i feel like ashton’s about to come out and tell me i was punk’d.” ( @frostfordstart​ )

Hannah happily took the tacos, she was absolutely starving and something about them just sounded too good to be true. Taking a bite she listened as Tanner pitched his idea on Gracie Belle. “Is it wrong I’m hoping she grows out of this. What if she wants to start doing pageants? I don’t think I could handle that life style.” Hannah joked as she leaned into Tanner’s side. “I think you might be on to something there, we might need to manipulate our six year old, well she’ll be seven then, that she’s won just to avoid our parental responsibilities of making her understand.” Hannah said with a soft chuckle. “That girl is gonna give us a run for our money, huh?”