One

Oops...We Did it Again

 

 

The familiar sight and scent of the office had Jon reminiscing to the last time they were sitting in this office. It was a little over a year ago, at a time when their life was about to become a thrill ride they’d never ridden together. With every twist and turn that followed that memorable day, they’d held each other tight and endured what he’d always consider the ride of a lifetime because, when the ride came to an end, they had Lily.

 

On that last night in the Half-Moon Bay house when his wife casually joked that she might be pregnant, he’d taken her words with a grain of salt. Two weeks and two negative pregnancy tests later, that grain of salt had grown to the size of a damn salt lick as far as he was concerned, yet here they sat in the same seats in front of the obstetrician’s desk awaiting more test results.  Sure, Ariana had all the symptoms of a pregnant woman, but tests were tests were tests, and she’d already failed two of them.  In his experience, those little pee sticks were as good as gospel, and they didn’t lie… right?

 

He slid a look to his left where his wife sat calmly playing yet another one of those silly games on her phone. “I hate sitting here and waiting.  Why do I feel like I got sent to the principal’s office?”

 

“Gee Jon, I wonder. Could it be the way you tried to tell Dr. Barnes how to do her job?"

 

“I did no such thing.”

 

“Hmm. Let’s see…  What was it you said?” She turned away from the game and pinned him with her version of the stink eye. “There is nothing you can tell us that the two negative pregnancy tests haven’t already said.”

 

“I was just stating the obvious.”

 

"Here is some obvious, Einstein: a couple of missed periods, exhaustion, my tits hurt like a motherfucker, and let’s not forget my favorite symptom, the 24/7 vomiting making me feel like Linda Blair in the Exorcist. It’s time to face the facts and stop floating down the river of de-nial. I’m pregnant!"

 

“It’s not denial. More like, how is it possible?”

 

“Really, Jon?” With a huff, she tossed the phone into her open tote on the floor.

 

"Okay. Okay." He tossed up his hands with a shrug. "Maybe a little denial. Having another baby was not on my bingo card for the new year, that's for sure."

 

“Well, buddy, it wasn’t on mine either. Yet here we are.”

 

“Lily is barely six months old. That’s two…" Two fingers waved back at her. “…babies in in less than a year.” 

 

“Irish twins. Are we crazy?”

 

“Crash, we passed crazy long ago.”

 

“Yeah, you can say that again.”

 

“We be craaa-zee!”

 

“You know what this means?”

 

“What?”

 

“I’m pregnant for another tour.” She knocked his knee with hers. “You did this on purpose, didn’t you?” 

 

“Baby, it takes two to tango.”

 

“Well twinkle toes Flintstone, you’re the only one who likes me preggo.”

 

“Not gonna lie.” His cupped hands came up to his chest and bobbed up and down.  “The girls are already looking mighty boob-a-lious already.”

 

The twist of her mouth said she was about to give him some flippant response, but she was interrupted by a soft knock followed by the door opening.

 

“Congratulations!” Dr. Barnes looked directly at Jon and passed him a piece of paper with the test results, but he didn’t register anything on it before she said – with just a little attitude, he thought, “You are, in fact, pregnant.  Ariana, if you have the time, I'd like to go ahead and do a sonogram to measure just how far along you are before we continue this discussion."

 

“Of course.” 

 

“Excellent.  Once we have that information, we can then discuss any accommodations you may want.”

 

“Perfect. With a new tour about to start, we’ll need something like what we had last year.”

 

“Will Dr. Cummings be joining you on tour?”

 

“I’m hoping so. I wanted to be certain I was pregnant before calling her.”

 

“Very well. Samantha will come get you once she finished preparing the room. I’ll meet you back here, afterward.”

 

“Thank you, Dr. Barnes.”

 

♱ ♱ ♱ ♱ ♱ ♱ ♱ ♱ ♱ ♱

 

An hour later they were heading down the parkway with another confirmation to add to all her other symptoms. The three sonogram photos she held in her hand confirmed she was pregnant… again! Fourteen weeks and one day to be exact. If her calculations were accurate, they returned from their Rio escapade with more than a tan.

 

“Penny for your thoughts, Crash.”

 

"Effective immediately I’ll be invoking a ‘no sex in October’ rule.”

 

“Do I get a say in this ruling?”

 

“Hell, no! It’s because of you we need the rule,” she teased.

 

“How do you figure?”

 

“Well, Lili died in October and your super swimmers knocked me up the first time. And it was your idea that I come to Rio last October.”

 

“Ha! I’d like to see you go without for an entire month.”

 

“You forget how Catholic my grandmother was. If I could survive giving up chocolate and cheeseburgers for forty-four days, I sure as shit could survive no sex for a month.”

 

“This coming from the campaign chair of the BJs for JBJ Club 2010."

 

“Well, my mouth won’t get me pregnant.”

 

“Guess I better make sure my membership status is up to date then.”

 

“Prices are double this year.”

 

“Isn’t there some spousal discount I’m entitled to? I mean, it’s only fair. I’m already paying your salary for the next six months Ms. SAMCO.”

 

With his last words, another light bulb turned on for her. “Oh, fuck!!!" 

 

“What’s wrong?”

 

“You heard Dr. Barnes. I need to take it easy this time. I’m already sick and worn out and, with complications I had with Lily, she doesn’t want me working at all. What am I going to do? We don’t have time to bring in another company. The tour stars in a few weeks.”

 

“Baby, just put Kennedy in charge. She’s already your second in command. I’m sure she can hire someone to fill her place.”

 

“True.”

 

“And let’s be honest… it’s not like you will actually sit back and not do anything.” 

 

“Shut up.”

 

“You know I’m right. Besides Tony can always use an extra set of hands.”

 

“I guess so. With me barfing my brains out every other minute, maybe staying put in the video tent won’t be such a bad idea. Plus, I’ll be able to keep Lily with me.”

 

“Maybe we should reconsider-”

 

“I’m not hiring a nanny,” she cut him off before he could finish what he was going to say. They’d had this discussion already, being pregnant wasn’t going to change her mind.

 

“I’m just saying, now that things have changed it’s something we should revisit.”

 

“Sal didn’t have a nanny, and neither will I.”

 

“Sal wasn’t on the road with a six-month-old baby and one on the way, either.”

 

A deflating breath escaped her lips. He had a point, but she was too exhausted to think about a nanny right now. 

 

“Speaking of Lily, do you mind dropping me off at home first before picking her up from your parents? I can make a few calls and maybe catch a nap, because I’m really beat.”

 

“Sure. We can pick you up something to eat first, too.”

“I’m not hungry, Jon. Wait, let me rephrase that. The thought of food makes me want to barf!”

 

“You still need to eat. Even if it’s just a cup of soup and some crackers. That’s all I’m asking for.”

 

“Fine, but I’m not making any promises.”

♱ ♱ ♱ ♱ ♱ ♱ ♱ ♱ ♱ ♱

 

The moment Jon walked into his parents’ house, he was welcomed by the familiar aroma of his father’s well-known sauce.  He glanced around the living room where family photos lined the walls, capturing moments of the life they had built over the years.

 

“Mom! Dad!” he called.

 

Carol emerged from the kitchen holding Lily; her apron and Lily’s cheek dusted with flour. She froze the moment her eyes caught the sight of him.

 

“When did you get here? Don’t keep me in suspense, tell me!  Am I gonna be a grandmother again?”

 

“Hello Jon. How are you?” he said sarcastically.  God knew he wasn’t one for all the social niceties, but his mother could at least act like she was interested in him as something other than a baby supplier.  

 

At least Lily was glad to see him and let out a delighted squeal as he lifted her from his mother’s arms. “Hey, Monkey,” he murmured and was rewarded with a coo as tiny fingers gripped his shirt.   

 

“Oh hush,” his mother ordered with a light whack on the arm.  “Tell me, already.”

 

“Yes, Ma.  You’re going to be a grandmother again. Dr. Barnes confirmed that Ari is fourteen weeks pregnant.”

 

“What?” Carol gasped. “Ari is that far along already?”

 

“We, or at least I, was just as shocked.”

 

“Where is Ari?”

 

“I dropped her off at home.  Her morning sickness is more challenging this time.  She is having trouble keeping anything down. We made a stop for soup, and I hope she’ll eat a little something.”

 

“Oh, that poor girl. Hopefully, it will pass soon.”

 

“She’s hoping, too. The tour starts in a few weeks, and she is worried she won’t be able to continue to work.”

 

“Jon, I know it’s not my place to say anything, but don’t you think she should sit this one out?”

 

“Ma, have you met my wife? I casually suggested we get a nanny to help on tour, and Ari bit my head off. She just needs a little time to let this all sink in and, in due time, she will figure it out herself.”

 

“Hm. You two are really made for each other. Do you want to stay for dinner?”

 

“Nah, I want to get back home. Is Dad downstairs?”

 

“No. He’s playing poker at the Andersons.”

 

“Okay.” He passed Lily back to his mom, saying, “I’m just gonna dunk a few pieces of bread in the sauce I smell, and we’ll be on our way.”

 

“Desiree and the kids are coming for dinner. Why don’t you leave Lily with me, and we’ll bring her back later?  I know the kids would love to see their cousin.”

 

“S’aright. Be right back.” 

 

Slipping into the kitchen, he glanced over one shoulder as his mother perched on a couch cushion and bounced Lily on her knee.  Jon couldn’t help but chuckle at the squeal of one very happy – and spoiled – baby.  

 

♱ ♱ ♱ ♱ ♱ ♱ ♱ ♱ ♱ ♱

 

The first thing to catch his attention when arriving home was the savory scent of the soup and fresh bread they had picked up.   While that would normally be a welcoming smell, catching a whiff of it in the kitchen meant one thing – Ari didn’t eat it.  Flicking on the light he saw the bag was on the counter in the same spot as when he’d left.

 

“Hey, Ari!” he called out, but only silence greeted him.

 

He dropped his keys into the bowl on the table before wandering through the kitchen and then the living room, where he glanced at Lily’s toys scattered across the floor from earlier that morning.

 

“Where are you?” he murmured, half hoping she hadn’t fallen asleep somewhere else. 

 

Walking towards the office, his heart sank a little as he saw the partially open door and the faint light seeping into the dim hallway.  He eased it open slowly – to find his wife with her head down on the desk, drooling slightly onto the keyboard. There was a half-empty bowl of Fruit Loops perched on the edge of the desk, and a few rogue loops were dotted across its surface.

 

“Hey, sleeping beauty,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper.

 

Stirring, she muttered something unintelligible before gradually moving her head and blinking at him with sleepy eyes. “Jon?” she croaked, her voice raspy.

 

“Nope. Mick Jagger.” He stepped closer. “You fell asleep working again?”

 

Rubbing her eyes, a sheepish smile crept onto her face. “No, I didn’t. I was just resting my eyes for a minute.”

 

“Right! More like killing your keyboard,” he gestured to the bits of cereal and drool decorating the desk.

 

“Oops,” she laughed. “I guess I was more tired than I thought.” She pushed herself up, brushing the hair back from her face.

 

“Here.” He handed her a napkin. 

 

“Thanks.”

 

“Did you get anything done?”

 

“Just a few emails.”

 

“I noticed you didn’t touch the soup.”

 

“I opened it, and the smell killed me. Hence, the Fruit Loops.’’  

 

Her back made a soft cracking sound as she stretched.  She was wearing one of her old band t-shirts, and the fabric hung loosely on her.

 

“Did you eat at your mom’s?”

 

“I dunked some bread but that’s it.”

 

“Where’s Lily? Did you put her in her crib?”

 

“No. I left her at Mom’s. Des and the kids were going there for dinner, and I wanted to get back to check on you. They’ll bring her home later.”

 

She ran a hand through her untamed curls. “We can heat up the soup.”

 

“You read my mind!” He extended a hand, which he used to tug her out of the chair and lead her back to the kitchen. 

 

They gathered soup, bowls and bread before settling into the breakfast – or, in this case, dinner – nook. 

 

“Hey, did you tell your parents the news?”

 

“Just Ma. My dad was out with the boys. She’ll tell him later.”

 

“I bet she was over the moon.”

 

“That’s an understatement. I asked her not to say anything to Des. I figured we’d tell Matt and her together.”

“Sounds good.” She leaned forward, snatching the last bit of bread from his hand.

 

“Hey! That’s mine!”

 

“You wouldn’t deprive the mother of your children of some bread?”

 

“By all means, enjoy.”

 

The gentle hum of the refrigerator added a soothing backdrop to their playful conversation over dinner. At times, Jon would sit back and watch as she nibbled her bread, relieved that she was actually eating something besides processed sugar.  

 

Fourteen weeks down.  Twenty-six to go.