Unexpected Inheritance

27

Ben Jr or Junebug as they called him since he was a Junior was a calm, easygoing baby, much to the relief of everyone in the house. Unlike his big sister, who had been a little whirlwind from the start, he was content to simply be—happy to be held, happy to be fed, happy to sleep peacefully without much fuss.

Miranda, rocking him in her arms one evening, sighed looking down at him. "You know, after Meadow, I was preparing for another tiny tornado."

Ben chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck. "I'm not gonna lie, I was bracing myself too. But this little guy? He's chill."

Tuck, lounging on the couch with Meadow sprawled across his lap, smirked. "Yeah, 'cause if he was loud like Meadow, we'd have to move out."

Meadow, not quite grasping the joke, sat up and pointed at herself. "I loud?"

Miranda laughed, shifting her son in her arms. "You are very... expressive."

Meadow huffed but quickly let it go, more interested in watching her brother's tiny fingers twitch in his sleep.

At just a few months old, Junebug became just as fascinated with Meadow as she was with him. If she was in the room, his big, curious eyes followed her every movement. Whenever she sat close enough, he'd reach out with his chubby little hands, grabbing at her curls or patting her face. Meadow never minded she'd just giggle and gently take his hands, telling him, "That's my face, baby brudder."

One afternoon, Ben had both of them in the living room. Junebug was propped up in his baby seat, his head bobbing slightly as he looked up at Meadow, who was showing him a stuffed animal. Meadow was animated, telling him all about the plush horse, while Ben was keeping an eye on both of them, a content smile on his face.

"Are you sure he understands what you're saying?" Ben asked, his voice teasing but warm.

Meadow glanced over at him, shaking her head. "Yeah, he's listening. Daddy."

Junebug gave a little coo, reaching for the horse, and Meadow's face lit up. "See? He likes it"

Ben chuckled, leaning back in his chair. "I see."

It was moments like these that made Ben realize how much their family had grown. He had his hands full, but there was a peace in knowing his kids had each other.

Meanwhile, Miranda was busy running the clinic, balancing her work and motherhood as best as she could. The patients who came in always commented on how wonderful it was to see the kids. Meadow would often be sitting on the reception desk with her crayons, drawing pictures of animals or handing out stickers to patients, while Junebug napped quietly in his bassinet nearby or gave soft, inquisitive coos whenever someone came close.

Meadow grinned. "Yep. I'm gonna teach him everything"

The day for family pictures arrived, and they decided to keep it simple—matching jeans, button-down shirts, and, of course, their hats. The late afternoon sun cast a golden glow over the countryside as they posed in front of the house, capturing moments that would be cherished for years.

They started with a full family shot—Ben, Miranda, Tuck, Meadow, and little Junebug all gathered together, smiling as the camera clicked. Meadow wiggled excitedly between them, and Junebug sat snugly in Miranda's lap, his tiny hands gripping her shirt.

After that, it was time for a sibling picture. Tuck kneeled down in the grass with Meadow beside him, while Junebug sat propped up in Tuck's lap, his chubby hands reaching for Meadow's hat.

As they waited for the photographer to adjust the frame, Ben leaned in close to Miranda, his voice low and amused. "We've got one nearly in college, one starting school soon, and one just now figuring out how to eat semi-solid food."