Chapter 12 - Family Time

The summer festival was going on so they decided to go on a family outing with the boys before the new baby arrived.  It would be a great time for bonding for Francisco and Daniel.

The first thing that caught Daniel's eye was the Hot Dog Eating Contest. When he saw this he challenged his Dad to beat him.  Hot Dogs were his absolute most favorite meal of all time!

Francisco preferred steak, but how could he refuse his oldest son when he issues a clear challenge?  He laughingly agreed thinking Daniel would get about two down and quit. The two of them entered the contest with several other contestants.

Daniel wasted no time and started shoving the hot dogs down as fast as he could - determined he was going to win.  It turned out that Francisco was the one that couldn't hang!  In the end Daniel was the clear winner.   He was stoked the rest of the day because he just beat his Dad.





They all ate snow cones to cool off and get rid of the hot dog taste! Then to work off some of those calories, Francisco taught Daniel to roller skate.  Delia held little Darius and everyone came up and cooed over his unusually green eyes!


And then, it happened.  The worst thing Delia could think of.   The woman from the Elixir store showed up. Delia scooped up Darius and started to walk in the other direction when she saw Francisco starting to make his way over to them. Delia was frightened that the woman would say something to Francisco and was terrified. When the woman saw Francisco coming, she ran – or rather practically disappeared in a flash. Delia had never seen anyone move so fast. She was pretty sure Francisco never even saw her. Thank goodness a potential disaster was diverted and she told Francisco it was time to go home.

Once safely home Delia put Darius to bed after a little game of tickle monster.   Then she joined Daniel and Francisco for a little video game fun determined to show them she could keep up with the boys.  After 'one more game pleaaaase' it was definitely time for Daniel to get to bed, he was exhausted. Francisco, not willing to have the day end, took a book in and read a bedtime story to his oldest boy. They definitely bonded today like no other time.  It was a perfect end to an perfect day in spite of the ‘creepy woman’ that threatened to ruin it.

The next morning things were still perfect.  Delia was happy, the boys were happy and so was Francisco.  She worked in the garden and even took time to sneak off to the Elixir store.  She wanted to see if any new recipes books had been consigned and drop off the fresh produce she had just harvested.  

When the clerk saw her she called her over to let her know she had a special recipe book that she was holding just for her.  The recipe for the Fountain of Youth!  It took all of her profits to buy it, but she quickly stuffed it in her bag along with a couple of new mushroom types and left in a rush. Delia thought her heart would burst out of her chest she was so nervous. 

When Delia got home she was exhausted both mentally and physically. She quickly made dinner and then started getting the boys ready for bed when she went into labor. 

Francisco quickly called a sitter for the boys. This time he was not as nervous as before. However, poor Daniel didn’t understand and was quite upset. Francisco calmed him down and as soon as the sitter arrived, they took off for the hospital.   

A few hours later, after what had been a more stressful pregnancy, Delia and Francisco left the hospital with another baby boy they named Duncan. She and Francisco loved little Duncan as much as the other two boys and had no idea how this was even possible.  The "D" names were definitely to honor Delia.





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