We were in the back room of the shop working on another Thanksgiving centerpiece. I carefully put in the last tiger lily amongst the other flowers. It looked perfect.

"Okay Jaxie, hand Mommy the candle," I said to her.

While Jaxson was asleep, I let Jaxlyn stay on top of the counter while I was working. She seemed intrigued and could hand me things. It was a win-win. She picked up another tiger lily.

"No honey, the candle," I said, pointing at the orange candles.

"Ah!" said Jaxlyn in a moment of clarity. She gave me the candle.

"Thank you! Good job!" I said to her.

I placed the candle in the center and set it off to the side with the other ones. I grabbed another ceramic base to get started on the next one, but realized there was no time after looking at the clock on the wall.

"Oh. We gotta leave, rugrats!" I said to the twins.

I set Jaxlyn down and grabbed their stroller, then buckled them in. Poor Jaxson was still delirious from his nap. Hopefully he'd sleep the whole car ride home.

"Dad! I'm going!" I said before opening the back door.

"Good luck!" he shouted back.

I walked around the back of the building to my car and got the kids all settled in.

"Ca! Ca!" Jaxson said.

"That's right, Jaxson! Car!" I said, getting into the driver's seat.

I turned the radio on low, hoping to get some updates on the latest trial that was a media storm. Jen and Karly were following it really closely, but I had two kids, a boyfriend, and work. It felt like I didn't have time for anything anymore.

"And scattered protests are expected to break out downtown after the not-guilty verdict," said Tammy, the first host.

"Which we all know, and I hate to say it, but if that was me up on that stand, I would've been declared stone-cold guilty and been going to jail for the rest of my life," said Dean, the other host.

I met Dean a few months back. He was hosting a local NAACP luncheon that we did the flowers for. Nice guy. It was cool to put a face to a guy I'd been listening to on the radio for all these years.

I switched the radio to something a little more lighthearted and continued on the drive home. I brought the kids inside and popped their lunches in the microwave. I was so thankful that there were these little microwave meals for them. When the lunches were ready, I slipped on their silicone bibs and let them go to town. It was cheese ravioli, so bound to be a mess.

I grabbed a tupperware of leftovers for myself and sat with the kids, making sure no ravioli got thrown on the floor or on the walls, because that's exactly what happened last time. This time, it got all over the both of them, but thankfully, not on the walls or floor.

When everyone was finished, it was time to get changed. I tossed both of their stained outfits in the wash and pulled out new, nice clothes for our outing. I dressed Jaxlyn in a purple tie-dye sweater with matching leggings. Jaxson wore a grey Mickey Mouse hoodie with black pants. Both kids were in their fuzzy boots and hats. It was freezing out and snow was in the forecast. The last thing I needed was frost-bitten little ones.

"Okay, it's time to go pick up Auntie Faye!" I said to them as we walked out the front door.

"Faye!" said Jaxlyn.

"No! No!" said Jaxson as I put him in his carseat.

"I know, buddy. You didn't finish your nap and you're groggy. I'm sorry," I said to him.

We were back on the road, this time, stopping at Faye's school. I parked the car and ran up to the door, then pressed the buzzer.

"Name?" said a woman's voice.

"Aster Brooks. Here to pick up Faye Brooks," I said.

"Okay. She'll be right out."

I went back to the car and waited by the entrance. Faye came out in her mask and uniform a few minutes later. She went into the passenger's seat next to me.

"Hey, you ready?" I asked.

"Yeah. Let's get this over with," she said.

"I know you don't like needles, but this will be worth it," I said.

We got back on the highway and drove to the big Vaccinate NY sight, where I'd been all those months ago. Had it really been six months since I'd met Charles? Where did the time go?

We parked the car and took the twins out of their carseats. Both of them did not want to be in their stroller. I picked up Jaxson and pushed the stroller with one hand. Faye held Jaxlyn's hand as she raced through the parking lot.

Two members of the National Guard opened the door for us. They took the temperatures of Faye, then me, and even the twins, who both miraculously held still. Just like when I went, we moved on to a table where we got checked in. I signed all the release forms. Now that I was eighteen and my parents were busy with the shop, they got me legal guardianship of Faye so I could take her to wherever she needed.

"And you're all set," said the woman at the computer. She handed me back the papers and looked at Faye. "Happy vaccination day."

"Thanks," Faye said.

We got in line with everyone else, now with my screaming kids in their stroller. I really did feel bad. They were confined to their playpen all day at the shop and now they were stuck in the stroller again. I gave them each a pacifier. It worked right away.

We waited for the next open table and Faye sat down. They had all sorts of fun, colored band aids for the kids. Faye picked on with stars on it. She did well when they gave her the actual shot, too.

With her star bandaid in place, we went to the observation area. I took her Switch out of my bag and handed it over. She was deep in an Animal Crossing trance. Her new farm was her everything.

"Hey, fifteen minutes is up. Do you feel okay?" I asked her.

"Hungry."

"We have snacks at home."

She huffed, but got up anyway. The National Guardsmen opened the exit doors for us, and we were on our way. I was so happy the day finally came for my little sister to get vaccinated. Now all I needed was for it to be approved for my toddlers.