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“I’ll bring cheese and crackers,” Alicia said.

“I’ll make us a refreshing hot beverage. The kids like apple juice and milk,” Margot said. “What’s the best time for us to drop by?”

“Eleven,” Robyn and Alicia chimed in.

“Then the kids can play and nap afterward,” Robyn said.

Once everyone agreed, they ended the call. Monica felt so lighthearted and excited to have a play date with everyone. Back home, she hadn’t had any real polar bear friends because she was such a workaholic as an FBI agent, didn’t have a husband, and had no kids. So, she was glad she seemed to fit in with the family.

Being with Andy was heaven, but having girlfriends was just as important. Of course, she expected fussy kids at times, and they still may be shy around her, but this was a great opportunity for her to get to know them better.

After a morning of unpacking the rest of her things and trying to find nooks and crannies to put everything away, Monica was exhausted. She realized she would need a nap as much as the kids did after lunch and playtime.

When everyone arrived with kids in tow, Monica began making shrimp salad. The older boys, already starving, soon helped set the table. Monica was making mental notes about how to raise her babies should she and Andy be lucky enough to have some.

Before long, the little ones were in highchairs that Andy had stored in a closet for when he took care of them. She thought theworld of him for being a bachelor and helping with the kids. The older boys even put little polar bibs on all the babies, got them apple sauce packages, and then sat down to eat.

“Boy, you are helpful,” Monica praised Garrett and Bryan.

They beamed at her.

Moms cut up deconstructed hot dogs, cheese, and buns into finger-size bites for the little ones.

“They were thrilled to have a couple more brothers,” Robyn said.

“And cousins,” Bryan hurried to say.

“Yeah,” his brother agreed.

“So your house is up for sale,” Robyn said to Monica.

“Yes, and the way my mom sells homes, it’ll be sold before I know it.”

“That’s good. I hear the market in the suburbs of Anchorage is excellent for selling homes.” Margot took another bite of shrimp salad. “Just delicious. This is even better than how I make it. You’ll have to share your recipe.”

“I sure will. And yes, the market is just great for selling a home.” Monica took another sip of her hot tea. “This is delicious.”

“Cherry vanilla tea, my specialty,” Margot said. “Something special for the winter months, and the notion spring is on its way, and perfect for any celebration.”

Everyone agreed Monica’s shrimp salad was the best, wanted her recipe, and loved Margot’s tea.

“If you’re all right with it, we’ll share your shrimp recipe with Genevive, and they’ll most likely add it to their menu,” Alicia said.

“Oh, wow, what an honor. My grandmother made it for us, and I always made it the same way.”

After lunch, they straightened up the kitchen, cleaned up the younger kids, and Monica asked, “Should we go as bears or?—”

“Bears!” Garrett and Bryan shouted at once and started to remove their clothes.

“There’s our answer.” Alicia removed Jenny’s clothes while Margot helped remove Daniel’s clothes.

Since the babies couldn’t shift independently until they were five or older, sometimes younger or older, depending on the child's development, they would only shift when their mother did.

Monica undressed Lucas while Robyn stripped off Sawyer’s clothes. Then the ladies hurried to remove their clothes and shift and went outside. Monica stopped to shift back, shut the door, and turned back into her polar bear.

The boys ran straight for the snow cave, making Monica think about how she and Andy had gotten all hot with each other as bears. Her cheeks warmed a bit.

The boys were play-fighting, snarling, and biting, being little boys. They were no longer on sibling duty. Likewise, the toddlers were stumbling around, nipping and tackling each other, and falling over without any effort.