Chapter 10

They had been paying daily visits to Luca since Tyree discovered they were soulmates. On 4/18, the twins celebrated their one-month birthday and Angel was 2 months old. Alicia seemed overjoyed to be Tyson and Elena's big sister.

"Don't forget about Ty and Alicia, Dad," Luca advised.

"How could I have forgotten?" Ken cracked a joke. "They come over every day," he said, smiling.

"He makes me happy, dad," Luca said, setting the table. When he heard a knock, Luca came to a halt and went to the front door.

"Hello," he said cheerfully. Luca knelt and embraced Alicia.

"Hello, babe," Tyree said, kissing Luca on the cheek.

"What happened to Bro Ty and Sis El?" Alicia asked, casting a glance at Luca.

"They're sleeping right now," Luca explained.

Alicia had pulled out her lower lip, which Luca noticed.

"Do you want to see where I work?" he inquired.

"Do you mean daddy's job?" she inquired.

"No," Luca said as he took her hand in his. They went around a corner and down a corridor. They came to a halt in front of a closed door. "That's where I draw people," Luca explained as he pushed open the door. Alicia's green eyes widened with delight.

"You draw here?" she asked, looking around the room before returning her gaze to Luca.

"Yes, but sometimes people need me to go places and draw for them," he nodded.

Alicia begged Luca to draw her, saying, "Draw me please, Luca."

"If there's time after the party," he explained.

"Goodie," Alicia said as she clapped her hands.

"Now, let's go back to your daddy," Luca said, closing the door and taking the little girl's hand in his. As Alicia and Luca entered the kitchen, Tyree approached them.

"So, what did you see?" Tyree inquired.

"Luca's drawing room," she explained.

"Baby girl, do you remember what Daddy told you about pouting?" "Tyree?" he asked as he sat Alicia on his knee.

"Pouting isn't nice," Alicia pointed out.

"All right, now apologize to Luca," he said.

"I'm so sorry," Alicia said, looking at Luca.

Luca went to the refrigerator and took two bottles of formula.

"I'll get them for you, Luca," Tyree promised. "You heat the bottles," he explained. When Ty came in with the screaming babies, the bottles were warmed up and sitting on the counter. Luca sat down, held Elena in his arms, and fed her. Tyree sat down next to Luca and fed Tyson. Alicia sat on the living room floor and played with her doll. Alicia glanced up from her doll when Adrian entered, carrying his baby girl.

"You have a baby like Luca," she said, stepping up to him.

"Yes," Adrian said, nodding his head.

"What's the baby's name?" Alicia asked.

"Angel," he said.

Luca smiled up at Tyree, who was holding a sleeping Tyson.

"He likes you a lot," Luca said.

"I just like kids," Tyree replied, smiling back.

"You've done an excellent job with your daughter," Luca said.

"You've got a natural talent for raising kids also," Tyree added. "Look how happy my daughter gets when she sees you," he said.

"Well, she is a cutie," Luca said. Tyree stood up and stepped up beside him. He leaned close to Luca's ear and said, "My daughter might be cute, but you're cuter." Luca looked up and blushed hard.

"Are you flirting with me, Mr. Richards?" he asked with a smile. Tyree leaned in and kissed Luca softly on the lips.

"Maybe I am Mr. Luca Hodges," he said. Luca giggled at the statement and kissed him back.

The twins each received a baby blanket and a new bottle at the party. Tyree used his phone to take several photos of them and Luca. Elena was fussy, so Luca walked around and swayed her from side to side.

"Look up, babe," Tyree said. Luca smiled as he snapped a photo of him. Tyree took a step forward, kissed Tyson on the forehead, then gently kissed Luca on the lips.

"I want a picture too, daddy," Alicia said.

"Okay, but with everyone," he said. Luca held Elena and Tyson when he sat down on the couch. Alicia sat down beside Luca and held her doll.

Tyree stepped back and positioned his phone so everyone was on the screen. With one click, he had his first family photo.

Alicia scooted away from the table, yawning loudly. She entered the living room sleepily.

"I'd better take her home and put her to bed," Tyree said as he stood up. He took Tyson into the bedroom and then returned. Tyree buckled Alicia into her car seat and closed the backseat door a few moments later. Tyree climbed into the driver's seat and buckled up.

"Drive safely," Luca said, kissing him through the window. "I love you," he said.

"I love you too," Tyree said, returning the kiss. With Elena asleep in his arms, Luca waved as Tyree drove away. Luca turned and returned inside, closing the door behind him. He entered their room and placed Elena in her crib.

"Goodnight, my beauties," Luca said, kissing their brows. He undressed, climbed into bed, and dozed off with Tyree and Alicia on his mind. Both of them will remember today fondly.

4/29/2041

The twins were crying when Luca awoke. He placed them in their carriers and carried them into the kitchen. Luca warmed their bottles while preparing soup for himself. Luca had a scratchy throat. Elena ate like a horse, but Tyson refused to drink from his bottle. Luca became worried because he never refused a bottle. He dialed the doctor's number.

When a receptionist answered, he said, "Hello, this is Luca Hodges." "My son, Tyson, isn't eating and is fussier than usual," he explained.

"Please come in and the doctor will see you as soon as possible," the receptionist said. Luca thanked her before hanging up the phone.

Tyson was dressed in warm clothes and placed back in the carrier by Luca.

"I'm taking Tyson to the doctor, Dad," he yelled from his room. "He's acting ill," Luca observed. Ken emerged from his office, concerned.

"How are you doing?" he inquired.

"I have a sore throat and some coughing, but I'm fine," Luca explained. Ken was concerned, so he went to check on Thomas and Adrian. A painful memory from the past replayed in his mind.