A GROWING FAMILY
Three days after we got back we went to the doctor's office. Jen and the baby were both in the best of health.
The next few weeks were busy ones. Jen was getting ready for the next semester. Meetings to go to, schedules to make and finalizing the curriculum, etc. I was setting up meetings, getting franchise contracts ready. As I said, it was a busy time.
But, we would always make time for us. Jen wouldn't have dinner until I was home. She would have snacks before I got home, sometimes enough that she wouldn't eat dinner. But she would be there with me.
Slowly our lives began to quiet and become...what shall I say...mundane? No, not mundane, we were reaching a quiet contentment. Happily in love, happy with each other, just happy.
In early September, just before school started, Jen had her next doctor's appointment. As I had a meeting that morning, I told her that I would meet her at the doctor's office.
When I got there, I was informed that Dr. Ross and Jen had rushed down to the Radiologist's office.
I just I turned from the desk and walked to a waiting room chair, then...Panic ...Fear... something's wrong. Jen...the baby...something is wrong.
I bolted out of the office, down the hall, tore open the door to Dr. Greenfeld's office. The secretary looked up and said, "Mr. Fitzgibbons, room three."
I ran through the office, room 4, 5. 6...shit I passed it. Back to three. I ripped open the door and rushed in. I stopped in my tracks. Jen was sitting there with Dr. Ross and they were laughing. Jen looked up at me and held her arms out to me; I ran to her and hugged her tight.
She looked at me and said, "Ron, what's wrong? You look like you have seen a ghost."
I stammered, "What's wrong? Why are you here? Is anything wrong with you? Is anything wrong with the baby? Damn it why are you here?"
Dr. Ross put her hand on my shoulder and said, "I'm sorry, I should have told Marianne that everything was all right."
That was not enough for me and I panted, "If everything is all right...then why are you here!"
The two of them laughed and Dr. Ross said is a very calm voice, "A couple of months ago I thought I heard an echo in the baby's heart beat. But the next time it wasn't there, so I thought that it was my imagination. Today there was a definite echo, nothing bad, it was good and strong but there was an echo. So, I called Greenfeld and he wasn't busy, so we came here and had a sonogram."
This did nothing to ease the worry. "So what did you find...is everything alright with the baby?"
Jen hugged me and said, "Yes Ron, the babies are just fine."
Finally, I was able to calm down a little. Then, I looked at Jen, "Oh, thank god, I was so worried...Babies...did you say babies?"
"Yes, Ron the twins are just fine." She giggled.
Just then Dr. Greenfeld came into the office and handed Jen some papers, "Your children's first photos," he said.
As Jen and I looked at the sonogram printouts, Dr. Ross and Dr. Greenfeld stood behind us and pointed out what the sonograms showed. I was fascinated. You could see the children's head, the feet and the hands, even some fingers.
"Would you like to know the sex of the children?" he asked.
"No!" Jen said, just as I said, "Yes!"
"Okay, I guess I'll wait," I said as Jen said, "Oh I guess I really do."
Dr. Greenfeld laughed and said "Typical new parents."
I looked at Jen and said to the doctors, "We want to know."
He smiled and said, "Good, well you are having one of each. A girl and a boy."
Jen wrapped her arms around me and held me tight. I pulled her close and hugged her. We were both laughing. I looked at Jen, "I don't think that there have ever been any twins in the family, what about you?" I asked Jen.
"None that I know of. Well... Duh! Abuela Maria and Tia Nadavia, I guess what they say about skipping generations is true. But this time it skipped two" Jen laughed.
The doctors looked at us smiling. Dr. Greenfeld muttered, to on one in particular, "These are the times that make this job so wonderful, too often I have to give bad news, but you guys have made my day today."
We smiled at him and Jen said, "We're glad, because you have definitely made our day, today."
After finishing up with the doctors Jen and I drove home. It was around 2:00 pm. Jen was tired and didn't feel like making anything to eat. I made a light lunch for the both of us. "Can't be missing any meals my love, you are eating for three, now," I giggled like a schoolgirl.
We were still giddy about the news and realized that our once spacious apartment had just gotten a lot smaller. With two children we would have to start looking for a bigger place or a house.
God, I was becoming a family man. No longer a single, carefree, happy go lucky guy. I am a husband, soon to be a father, maybe even a homeowner. I'm getting Old. Well, I shrugged ...it sure beats the alternative.
Jen brought me out of my reverie, by saying, "Now we can have Lily and Marcel as godparents. We will have to let them know."
I hadn't thought of that. We would have to call Marcel and ask him. But, I told Jen, "I'm not going to make it easy for him."
She laughed and said, "You two will never grow up, will you?"
I grinned, "Where Marcel is concerned, never."
As it was only 3:15 pm in Baltimore, it would be 9:15 pm in Paris. There would be no chance that Marcel and Catherine would be in bed...well, probably no chance. It took a while but we finally got through.
Marcel answered and when he realized it was me, he started to ask questions. I could hear Catherine in the background. Then the speakerphone came on. They were both worried that something was wrong with Jen or the baby. After assuring them that everything was okay, Marcel started to talk business.
I stopped him and told him that this wasn't a business call; that I had to ask him an important question. "Jen and I want you to be the baby's godfather. Will you do it?"
"Of course, I will, But what about Ben, Henry, I thought he was going to be the godfather," Marcel asked.
I smiled and said, "Yea, he is going to be the godfather too."
Marcel went silent. Catherine said, "Henry, you are going to have two godfathers? What and no godmothers?"
"Oh, no we intend on having two godmothers. Can't have two godfathers without two godmothers, now can we?"
Marcel shouted, "Henry, you are either drunk or you are completely insane."
I laughed, "I'm not drunk and as for insane, I thought that went without saying."
Marcel was going on, "You can't have two sets of godparents. It's just not done, its crazy"
In the background we heard Catherine laughing and then she said over Marcel's ranting, "Is it true, Jen? Really?"
Jen giggled and said, "Yes, Catherine."
Marcel was still going on, "True, of course it's true, Henry has gone completely crazy."
Catherine asked, "When did you find out?"
Marcel said, "Find out? We have always known that he is nuts."
"Today, after the doctor's examination," Jen said.
"You didn't need an examination to tell you that Henry is crazy. We have known that for years."
Catherine quietly said, "Marcel, my love, Henry has done it to you again. Jen and Henry are having twins, so they need two godmothers and two godfathers."
Marcel burst out laughing, "You got me again, my brother. Twins? Well that's wonderful and of course I would be proud to be the godfather. Imagine that; twins."
Jen giggled, "Well since I was starting late, we had to make up for lost time. I'm not getting any younger, you know."