Jolene pushed her cart through the toddler aisle heading straight for the baby section. So excited about being Jial-li’s God mother she decided to go shopping for her. This morning she got up and traded children with Chrissy. When she arrived at the children’s place she so peacefully put baby Jia-li in the seat in the cart and walked through the door. Now she was speeding past sizes that weren’t meant for Jia-li and focusing on clothes that would actually fit her.
Jolene flipped through some clothes and smiled at the outfits. “Aw… I remember this when Adyli was this small.” The baby looks up at her and said nothing. “you’re right… it is perfect!” Jolene exclaimed throwing the outfit into the cart.
Jolene flipped through some more clothes and added into the cart a couple more outfits. “Ok… done with the outfits. Let’s go shoe shopping Jia-li!” Jolene said with a smile. She pushed the cart around some till she found the shoe section. “I’m going to buy the shoes just a little bigger so they can last longer.”
The baby nodded her head and giggled. No doubt she understood about nothing that Jolene said but in her world it must be entertaining to not be able to understand. Jolene wished her life was like that. If she giggled every time she couldn’t bring herself to understand college would have been much more fun then it really was and raising a family would be more entertaining then the circus. Jolene thought about it and declared that the circus wasn’t all that entertaining after all. It was a bad comparison.
After she picked out two pairs of shoes she moved onto an aisle little Jia-li wasn’t quite ready for. Children’s underwear. The aisle brought Jolene into memories of her own children.
”Well here we are Adyli.” Jolene aid to her two year old daughter. Jolene’s stomach was huge and ready to blow with her new baby boy. Her daughter looked at the aisle and cringed. “what’s wrong?” Jolene asked. Jolene made an attempt to knee down to her daughter but realized it wasn’t going to happen.
“They’re pink…” Adyli said. Jolene smiled and realized her daughter had much in common with her. Jolene didn’t agree with the pink underwear either, so she grabbed her daughter’s hand and moved her down the aisle.
“Ok... pick one.” Jolene said pointing to the new variety of underwear.
“But these are for boys...” the young girl said.
“But they aren’t pink!” Jolene said. “That’s what matters most. Besides, who says girls can’t wear Batman or Spiderman?”
Adyli shook her head and moved back to the girls section. She picked up a pink princess underwear package and handed it to Jolene. “You crazy.” She said.
Jolene laughed at the memory and looked at Jia-li. “You may have a crazy family… but we love you so much.” Jolene said to the child kissing her on the forehead.
The rest of the shopping went smoothly and before soon it was lunch time and Jia-li and Jolene were in the car heading back to Chrissy’s home. The car ride was quiet as always and Jolene was more then happy to return to her loud children. They were hyper and Jolene wouldn’t change one thing about them.
Jolene knocked at Chrissy’s door holding Jia-li in one hand and bags in the other. Chrissy opened the door and looked at them. She shook her head and grabbed the bags from Jolene’s hand. “You really over did it.” Chrissy said peaking into the bags.
“I couldn’t help it. I just love this little girl! She is my FIRST niece. I HAVE to spoil her.” Jolene said.
“Yeah, yeah.” Chrissy said. Every one settled into the living room all children accounted for. The door bell rang and Chrissy looked at Jo. Jolene shrugged and signaled for Chrissy to open the door. Chrissy got up and walked to the door. She opened it and all Jolene heard was “aw.” Jolene got up and walked to the door. Standing before them was a lip pouting, tear shedding, holding her stomach Lydia.
“Lyd! What’s wrong?!” Jolene asked both Chrissy and Jolene moving to wrap Lydia in their arms. Lydia shed some more tears and swallowed hard.
“I’m going to be a mother. That’s what’s wrong. How could I be a mother? I’m not ready for this. I’m just starting my law career. I can’t have a kid.” She said letting out some sobs.
The girls pulled Lydia into the home and closed the door. The three walked to the couch and all sat down with Lydia in the middle. “Lyd being a mom isn’t that bad.”
Lydia shook her head. “No, being a mom is wonderful. But along with being a parent comes with a lot for changes. I don’t want to stop working. I don’t want to be a stay at home mom.” Lydia said frantically.
“Being a mom doesn’t mean giving up your career Lyd.” Chrissy said rubbing a hand on Lydia’s back.
“Oh yeah? Is that why Jo quit her medical career or why you took a part time job in the beauty salon only to quit?” Lydia said.
Both Jolene and Chrissy sighed and knew it would take a lot to make Lydia felt better. They looked at each other and both knew what to do. “I’ll get the ice cream.” Chrissy said. Lydia nodded and said “No strawberry! It makes me sick.”
“Aw, Lyd this pregnancy is really getting to you huh?” Jolene said.
“I don’t know, I guess. I really just never liked strawberry ice cream.” Lydia said shaking her head holding her stomach.
Jolene knew that this afternoon they would have to help Lydia as she had with both of them. For the first time they would have to deal with Lydia pregnant. Unexpectedly laughter burst from deep inside Jolene and Lydia looked at her like she was crazy. Lydia pregnant was going to be so amusing to watch.
******************************
Danny sat in his car in silence. This morning had been a blur and so had last night. Everything that followed his dinner with Brianna just became a blur. He couldn’t remember the last words his wife said to him. Only thing he could remember was kissing her this morning and saying “I love you” in his far away and hollow sounding voice. She repeatedly asked him what was wrong and he continuously told her nothing.
Now Danny sat across the street from a hospital. Brianna had called him and asked if she could change their lunch plans. He foolishly said yes and she told him she wanted to meet him in a hospital. He was supposed to go into this hospital and see his “daughter”. Danny sighed and corrected himself. He was to meet his “dying daughter”.
Danny could not understand why Brianna would bring this girl into his life so many years later only for him to loose her. Brianna had gone off into this personal fear her daughter had. She shared with her mother that she didn’t want to die with out meeting her father. How could Danny not sow up? What if this girl thought he was her father and he wasn’t? Everything was confusing.
His car already parked he turned off the car and opened his door. He stepped out and locked the doors before closing his door. He swallowed hard and walked up tot the hospital. He headed straight for the entrance and stood in front of the hospital receptionist. “I’m here to visit some one…” he said.
“Room and name please?” she said.
“Danielle Rothens Room 314.” The person wrote out a pass for him and directed him to the elevator. In the elevator he considered the fact that she had a name that was based on his. The door open and unfortunately he found the room quickly. His hand on the door knob he took a deep breath.
Danny opened the door to the smell of IV and medication. The room had a TV playing and the curtains hid the patient in the bed in the far corner of the room. Danny walked slowly and his heart screamed for him to just turn around. He knew he didn’t have to do this. He didn’t owe either of them anything. He wasn’t even sure this child was his. Some how his feet kept moving and it wasn’t long till he was past the curtains and looking at the young child who fought for her life.
Her skin was a soft dark tone. Her eyes were closed and the heart rate monitor beat. An IV was attached to her arm and more tubes connected to her nose. She was a very beautiful looking girl and even though Danny had yet to speak to the child or even confirm that she was his he loved her already.
“She’s gorgeous and she’s yours… Ours.” Brianna said from behind him. He was aware she must have entered after him and watched him struggle with the image in front of him.
“She is….” He said his voice soft not wanting to disturb the child. Danny approached her bed and took her fragile hand into his. He let a tear fall as he shook his head. He bent down and kissed her hand. “I’m here…” he said.
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