Chapter 144: Pink or Blue
*I would love to live like a river flows, carried by the surprise of its own unfolding. - John O’Donohue*
After their quick courthouse wedding yesterday with only their kids and Dean, Helen knew that the rest of the month of May was going to be busy.
Today, Reese and Helen were having their gender reveal. So far, only Dean and JD knew, and they were so tight lipped that the expectant parents were not even allowed in the big house. Everyone had been referring to them as the latest princesses, and no one even considered that they could be anything other than girls.
Next weekend was the family baby shower for Bunny and her men. After the ones from each of the jobs, there was not much more that they needed. But that didn’t matter. The princess club insisted on the party. If for no other reason than the baby to know that she was loved.
The last weekend of the month, JD would graduate. This next Tuesday was the athletics banquet with the swim team having theirs on Thursday. The following week was even busier with senior awards on Monday, academic awards on Tuesday, the Rose Ceremony on Thursday and graduation Friday.
The Rose Ceremony predated the one on the TV show. It had started with the graduating class of 1942 being presented with roses the night before graduation. Half the graduating class were leaving on the bus for the army before the graduation ceremony. Those that remained, mainly the girls, either went to nursing school or to work in the factories.
Now the Rose Ceremony was used to announce scholarships, college acceptances and military enlistments. At the end of the ceremony, a new rosebush was presented to the school board and principal by the Student Body Council Senior President. They would be planted around town, one on district property and the other in a public location.
Helen was wearing the mint green dress that Reese had liked. Although he assumed that they were having girls, Helen was not so sure. Because of this, she did not want to wear a dress that was pink. But she also wasn’t sure that she was having boys. So, she didn’t want to wear blue.
It had been difficult for them to find out the sexes. The first one refused to move its hand so that the tech could see. And the other one was tucked behind the larger one. At one point, the tech had leaned over the trainee’s shoulder and pointed at something. A moment later, he stepped out to get Dr. Aberton.
Grinning, the doctor had written it all down on a piece of paper and sealed it in an envelope. The only thing that he said was “That does explain a few things.”
Now they were going to find out what explained those few things. She hoped that one of those things would be why she sometimes felt like she had an octopus growing inside her. Halfway across the driveway was one of those moments.
A hand or foot made contact with her bladder and then her ribs. Her tailbone, kidney and a few more punches to the bladder and diaphragm. Pausing as an ‘ooomph’ escaped her, Helen gripped Reese’s hand and began to do her breathing exercises that she remembered from her earlier pregnancies.
“Are my girls fighting for more room again?” He asked, pulling her close and rubbing his hand up and down her spine.
“They are definitely getting separate rooms if this is how they fight now.” She said into his chest. Which was currently covered in a pale green oxford shirt with baby bottles and diaper pins all over it.
“Absolutely.” He agreed.
Once the octopus settled back down, they continued on their way over to the big house. There was a light drizzle today so the large glass doors leading out to the upper deck were already opened. The last few finishing touches were being taken care of when they reached the top of the stairs.
Pink and blue were everywhere. Along with the faery lights and streamers, there was also stuffed animals, baby toys and pictures of Helen and Reese's other children as babies. Helen was overwhelmed by emotions and hormones and began to cry.
“Oh, mom.” JD left the decorating job he had been assigned to and moved over to hug her. “Go ahead and let it out.”
“It just looks so good.” She cried into the broad chest of her teenaged son. Giving a little sniffle, the mother looked up at him. “I’m sorry, I promised not to cry.”
JD grinned down just before he kissed her temple. “My siblings as messing with your emotions. You’re allowed to cry and get all mushy.”
“Good.” Helen laid her cheek against her son’s chest and wrapped her arms around his waist.
They stayed like that for several minutes and she refused to think about how backwards it felt now. It seemed like only a few days ago, she would be holding her little boy in a hug. He shifted them slightly and then guided her to the outdoor couch where he made her sit and propped her feet up.
“Reese has said that your ankles swell easily.” JD said as he adjusted the pillow under her heels. “Do you need anything else?”
“No.” She smiled at him, and he stood up and kissed her temple. “Love you.”
“Love you, too, mom.” He placed a hand on her large belly, and she moved it over to where one of them was kicking. Or hitting. “Did I feel like that?”
“You liked to get up in my ribs.” She chuckled. “I swear, you cracked my bottom ribs during the third trimester.”
“I was just trying to get closer to your heart.” He grinned as Reese brought her a glass of water.
“You’re going to make me cry again.” Helen warned her son.
JD chuckled as he walked away. “Just wait.”
That was the only warning she received about what was coming. The area was soon filled with family and friends and one surprise visitor, Dr. Aberton. With Reese and Helen on the couch and their four children standing behind them, Dean stood in front of the couch and got everyone’s attention.
“JD and I had lots of debates and discussions over how we were going to do this. We didn’t want to do the pinata again, although we did consider it. And O said no to putting color in the pool.”
There was a small ripple of laughter as Reese shook his head again and mouthed ‘No’ to her.
“And Helen can’t have sugar since she decided to get gestational diabetes. That eliminated cakes and cookies. But” she grinned, “Helen has stolen my Monster. And we thought it was only appropriate to let him tell them what they are having.”
Dean whistled and Wayne opened the dog run and led him up to the couch. He had the handles of a gift bag in his mouth as his rump bounced with excitement. He wore a pink dress and blue bows by his ears. At the command to sit, he did but his rump continued to lightly bounce.
“You’re a pretty boy.” Helen praised him as she took the bag from his mouth.
She and Reese opened the bag and pulled out the first little box. Inside was a blue heart that had ‘Snips and snails and puppy dog tails is what I’m made of’ written on it.
“A boy?” Helen asked quietly and looked at Reese. “You have a little prince.”
JD and Jaxon high-fived behind the couch.
Reese pulled out the second box and found a pink heart. “Sugar and spice and everything nice makes me sweet.” He read. “And I have another princess.”
“Yes.” Jolene said as she and Cheryl fist bumped.
“And Dr. Aberton?” Dean said as he motioned to the doctor.
“You’ll have to forgive me, I wanted to see your reaction.” He handed over another small box.
Helen carefully opened the box and pulled out a heart that was half pink and half blue. “I’m shy and hide behind my brother and sister. You’ll have to wait to meet me.”
Helen read it out loud and then Reese reread it. Slowly it dawned on them, and they looked over at the doctor who nodded.
“That feeling that you described as having an octopus growing inside you? You have a large boy, a slightly smaller girl and another that is hiding. Apparently, you are the first to make triplets one at a time.”
Helen blushed and Reese laughed at the reference to their first appointment when he walked in on Reese telling Helen that she could not get any more pregnant. But he was willing to try.
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