Chapter 4

4/1/2041 (Continued)

Luca took his art supplies from his closet and sat in the rocking chair. He took out a colored pencil and opened his sketchbook to the next blank page. Luca smiled at his newborns as he began to draw a picture of them in their cribs. When hunger cries were heard from the cribs, he had finished the sketch. After putting away the art supplies, Luca went to get the twins. He sat in the chair, unbuttoned his shirt, and placed them each next to a nipple so they could suckle. Elena was the first to finish, so Luca burped her on his shoulder. Luca burped Tyson after he finished his meal. Luca sat in the chair after placing them in their cribs.

Luca awoke from his nap due to an unpleasant odor. He wasn't sure where it was coming from at first. The scent became stronger as he got closer to the cribs.

"All right, which of you pulled a stinky?" he asked, looking down at his sleeping children. They opened their eyes and made stinky faces as if they had heard him. "You first," Luca said, picking up Elena and placing her on the changing table. He changed her dirty diaper, threw it away, and put a new one on her. Luca returned Elena to her crib and picked up Ty, who had begun to cry. "You're up next," he warned. Luca sprayed the area with air freshener after Tyson had been changed and returned to his crib.

Luca lay down on the bed and closed his eyes after Elena and Ty had settled down. Luca had fed and changed the twins 10 times by the end of the day. He only slept for four hours each day. Luca had dark circles under his hazel eyes by Sunday morning. He and the twins were in the kitchen.

"You look like you're about to collapse," Thomas observed.

"I'll be okay," Luca said. Luca stumbled as he headed to the table with a glass of juice in his hand. Some of the juice spilled on the floor. Elena, sensing something was wrong, started crying.

"Let me help," Ken said, just as Luca reached over to pick up his daughter.

Too tired to refuse, Luca nodded his head. Ken picked up his granddaughter and rocked her while Luca rested his eyes. Carla, Thomas's mother, walked into the kitchen.

"How is he?" she asked.

"Exhausted," Ken said. "The only time he sleeps is when they are quiet," he said. Luca slowly opened his eyes when he felt someone lightly grasp his wrist.

"Rest now," Carla said. "I'm just checking your vitals," she said.

"Where are my babies?" Luca asked, noticing that they weren't where he had left them.

"They are in good hands," Ken said.

Carla examined the infants before proceeding to the front door.

"Can you three do me a favor?" she asked, turning to face them.

"Anything," they agreed, with a nod.

"Assist with the twins whenever possible," "He needs to regain his strength," she explained.

"We will," Ken promised.

"I'll see you all tonight," Carla said as she walked out of the main house. Ken returned to the kitchen to find Luca snoring softly. Soft footsteps stepped up behind him. Ken turned around to face Patrick, who was wearing a worried expression on his face.

"Dad, please let me assist you," he begged.

"Do you promise not to try anything if I let you take him to his room?" he asked.

"I messed everything up," he admitted. "I just want to help," he added.

"All right, but once he's in bed, leave the room," Ken said.

Luca was being picked up, but he was too tired to fight the familiar scent that invaded his nose. A few moments later, he felt himself being laid down on a bed. Later that afternoon, Luca awoke to find the twins soundly sleeping on his chest.

"Hello, sleepyhead," Thomas said as he took a trash bag from the waste basket.

"How long was I sleeping?" Luca inquired, pushing up against the pillows.

"Four hours," said Thomas. Luca glanced at his babies and smiled. "They were hungry, so I laid them on you to suckle," he explained.

"Thank you for your assistance," Luca said.

4/8/2041

Luca awoke and fed the babies. He let Ken and Thomas watch them after they were fed while he checked his art blog. His attention was drawn to a message.

Greetings, Mr. Hodges.

I saw your work online and would like to exhibit it in my studio. I was impressed by the caliber of your work. My studio address is in the attachment. If you choose to let me handle this, I assure you that good things will come your way.

Tyree Richards,

Luca clicked the link and glanced at the information. His eyes widened to find out that it was the new art studio that opened a week ago. Luca went to see Ken, who was in the living room with Elena. Thomas sat on the couch holding Tyson. Adrian held Angel beside Thomas on the couch.

"I got an offer to exhibit my art in someone's studio," he said happily.

"That's great news," Ken said.

"Where is it?" Adrian asked.

"It's the studio that opened a week ago in town," he said. "The owner is Tyree Richards," Luca said.

Luca's excitement seemed to diminish. Thomas noticed the change in his friend.

"What's wrong?" he asked.

"I can't just leave my babies," Luca said.

"We can watch them," Adrian said. "You can't afford to pass up an opportunity like this," he said. A smile reappeared on Luca's face.

"I'll contact him right now, via my website," Luca said. After a few moments, Luca glanced up and said, "Now we wait,"

Luca was playing peek-a-boo with the twins later that day when he got a message on his website.

Mr. Hodges,

Thanks for deciding to work with my studio. I'd like to officially meet you face-to-face. Is Friday at 10 a.m. alright? I'll be waiting for your answer.

Tyree Richards

Luca's eyes lit up with delight, and he raced back into the living room to tell his friends.

"He wants to see me this Friday," Luca said, with excitement in his voice.