The Holiday Triplets by Jacqueline Diamond

life?”
    â€œI mean the legal system.”
    That was true. According to Tony, Sam had to wait a month and undergo a home study, then appear in court for a judge’s final approval. None of that mattered. From the moment she’d promised to care for the babies, they’d become hers.
    Sam didn’t kid herself that, even with her emergency fund and her determination, she’d have easy sailing.Raising a baby, let alone three, would be a challenge for any single parent. Oh, heck, she had yet to come to terms with what was involved.
    But she’d given her heart. That counted even more than giving a promise.
    Determined to dispose of unnecessary tasks, she had thrown her stack of unread holiday cards into a box and instructed Devina to add any other personal notes to the heap. Usually she relished reading messages from former patients and coworkers, but they’d have to wait until she had spare time. Even if that took eighteen years.
    She’d checked on the babies several times during the afternoon, and picked them up by 5:00 p.m. Lori had helped her install car seats in the van Sam had hurriedly leased with help from Jennifer, who’d also arranged to have Candy’s cribs and other equipment delivered.
    Where would a woman be without her friends? Nevertheless, Sam didn’t like to depend on them any more than necessary.
    Lori had stayed to help feed the infants, leaving a few minutes ago, shortly before 7:00 p.m. Regrettably, they had to rely on formula, but then, Candy had mentioned that she already used it as a supplement. While it was possible for a mother to nurse triplets, it took time and practice.
    Breast milk offered many advantages, including the mother’s immunities and nature’s intended balance of nutrients. But adopted infants generally thrived on formula, and Sam planned to keep a close watch on the babies’ development.
    The night nurse she’d hired would arrive about ten. So here she sat in front of her computer, cradling a baby as she related the day’s events to her parents several hundred miles south in Mexico.
    â€œHow are you feeling?” Lanie put in. Her graying hair, once blond like Sam’s, had taken on a wiry quality.
    â€œA little tired,” Sam admitted. “That’s to be expected until we settle into a routine. I’ll try to have a nurse on hand until they can sleep through the night.”
    â€œThat may take longer than with singletons,” her mother warned. “They’ll tend to wake each other up.”
    â€œIf that becomes a problem, I’ll keep a crib in my room.” For now, Sam had turned her home office into the triplets’ bedroom, and the furniture crowded around her with narrow passageways in between. Good thing she didn’t mind clutter. “I could move another one into the living room at night.”
    â€œGreat! Then you can run an obstacle course from room to room to room,” Lanie grumbled.
    â€œMom!”
    â€œYou’re such an overachiever. I hope you won’t feel like you have to stick with this if it wears you out.”
    â€œLanie,” Sam’s dad said in a warning tone.
    Time to change the subject. “How’re things at the clinic?” she asked.
    â€œWe finally got enough flu vaccine for everyone in the area.” As hoped, the question distracted her mother, and the rest of the conversation centered on the couple’s efforts to improve the health of local residents.
    Their village sounded like a warm, caring place. If Sam ever did decide to join them, she’d bet her kids would love it there.
    Her kids. What a beautiful term.
    Afterward, Sam remained in her desk chair with Courtney dozing against her chest. The little girl smelled sweet and fresh, and from this angle it was amazing how long her lashes looked against her rounded cheeks.
    She put Courtney to bed, then studied each of the infantsin turn. How precious they were in their footed