Rebecca leaned over and kissed Shawn’s cheek gently. “I’m glad you chose us and your happiness baby. We all love and need you in our lives.”
“Shawn, I’m sorry that I didn’t speak up more in your defense growing up. I should have but I was a coward. I should have done more. I’m so sorry.” Sam cried.
Jenna pulled Sam to her, hugging her tight. “Baby, nothing you could have done would have changed them. They are responsible for their own behavior.”
“She’s right Sam. Don’t blame yourself; you have nothing to be sorry for. They are the ones who should be sorry, not any of us.” Shawn smiled and reached across the table for Sam’s hand. “Let’s make a pact as a family that we will do whatever it takes to make sure that our kids grow up knowing nothing but unconditional love from us. Let’s change the things we don’t like in our parents, by being the kind of parents that we wish we would have had.”
Each one of them nodded around the table. It was quiet for a minute or two, before Stacy spoke up. “Well here is a little good news. I found a place to rent I think!”
“Does this mean you won’t be our live-in nanny?” Shawn joked.
“No, this means I don’t have to worry about seeing your naked ass streaking through the house or any weird sounds coming from your room.” Stacy kidded back.
Rebecca’s face flushed. “Okay, let’s change the subject shall we? We have a doctor’s appointment on Monday and we should know if it’s a boy or girl then!”
“Well we have a little news of our own.” Jenna looked at Sam for the okay to share it. Sam nodded and smiled. “We are going to start trying for another baby soon. We don’t want the kids to be too far apart in age.”
“Jesus, you ladies are making me feel like an old maid!” Stacy exclaimed smiling. “I feel like my biological clock is about to run out and I’m only twenty two!”
“Well then I guess you better get a move on finding the perfect man.” Shawn laughed. “Now let’s put the baby in bed and get in the hot tub for a while!”
****
As Shawn and Rebecca waited for the doctor to come in the exam room, they talked about their plans for the weekend.
“Stacy said she can move in to her new apartment next weekend so we don’t have to worry about that this weekend. I say we go shopping for furniture for the baby’s room and we can even get the paint we were wanting.” Rebecca said with excitement.
Shawn laughed. “Whoa. Slow down. We can definitely do all that, but we may need to change your paint selection because in a few minutes we are going to see our boy!”
“I believe you meant to say our girl, didn’t you?” Rebecca smacked Shawn on the butt.
“Oh, Ms. Johns you better be careful, you are at perfect height on this table for me to….” Shawn cut off her playful response as a knock came on the exam room door and the doctor entered.
“Are you ladies ready?” Dr. Sorenson asked with a smile.
“Absolutely, I need to prove to Nurse Johns here that I am right and we are having a boy!” Shawn smirked.
Rebecca rolled her eyes. “We will never hear the end of it if this baby is not a girl. Please Dr. Sorenson let’s get this answered before her head gets any bigger from her inflated ego.” She squeezed Shawn’s hand with a smile.
Several minutes later, the doctor moved the ultrasound wand, working to get a good overall view of the baby. Both Shawn and Rebecca were glued to the video screen anxious to get a good look at their baby.
Rebecca giggled “Look, she’s sucking her thumb!”
Dr. Sorenson stared intently at the screen as she moved the wand. She seemed to be taking an extraordinary amount of time and hadn’t said anything yet. Shawn flicked her eyes between the doctor’s face and the screen.
“Is there something wrong Dr. Sorenson?” Shawn asked, her mouth growing dry.
“No, nothing is wrong that I can see. The good news is that Rebecca is right, she is sucking her thumb.” The doctor said. “But, in other news, she looks to be a camera hog and almost made me miss her brother.”
Shawn squinted her eyes, cocking her head at the doctor, her brain still digesting the doctor’s words. “Are you saying there are two babies in there?”
Rebecca’s eyes grew big and round. “Oh my God, are you saying we are having twins?”
“Oh, I’m not just saying it, I’m showing you. Look right here.” She pointed to the screen at an object that could have been either an arm or a leg. “That is your boy’s arm. It looks like he has it wrapped around the girl.”
“Holy shit! I mean holy crap! Sorry doctor. I can’t believe this!” Shawn said in shock.
Rebecca carefully looked at Shawn’s face, trying to judge whether Shawn was just in shock or if she was scared. “Baby, it will be okay.” She reached for Shawn’s hand.
“Are you kidding me?” Shawn said as she stared at the screen.
Rebecca’s throat constricted. Oh God, please don’t let this be too much, too soon.
“We’ll figure it out honey. We just need time to absorb it and get used to it.” Rebecca said again, trying to calm Shawn’s fears.
Shawn turned towards her, her eyes wide. “Are you kidding me? This is awesome! Oh my God honey, we are having twins!” She smothered Rebecca in a crushing hug.
“Okay ladies, I’m printing a couple of copies of that shot. You’re good to go for today. I’ll
