2°: Chapter 17

There was only one thing he still hated with all his life, the piano, and today, as an adult, he looks down on the beautiful instrument as his mother looks on with amusement.

- Come on, Pinky, don't be a frustrated musician. - He exclaimed with amusement, quoting the movie he loved so much, Pink Floyd's The Wall.

- I don't remember anything, actually.

His mother snorted sarcastically.

- So how are you going to play Portia's show, then? You volunteered.

- I know, it's just that I actually thought I'd remember how to play, I didn't. I don't remember how to do it.

Luna appeared through the door catching James and his mother's attention. She wore her hair tied up in a bun and baggy clothes. Her belly was huge and James knew how uncomfortable she could be.

- Hello, Nana. - She greeted and kissed her mother-in-law's cheek. -- Hello James. - She kissed him. - Are you practicing Portia's songs?

James looked at his mother cautiously and she quickly realized that her son didn't know what to say.

- Yes, although he's having a little trouble, I'm sure he will if I help him a little. How are you feeling, honey? The last stage is usually a little uncomfortable.

- Goodness, yes, I feel heavy and I haven't been able to sleep well. Obviously, it doesn't compare to his cute little kicks in the morning, sometimes it feels like they're just going to pop out at any moment. - She said with a smile. James looked at her adoringly.

- I'm sure when they want to come out, you'll know it.

His mother laughed.

- I'm sure you will! Besides, it's not one, honey, it's two. Are you feeding well? - She asked with a hint of seriousness amidst all the laughter.

- Yes, of course I am. Well, I want to see what they're playing.

James grimaced and put his hands in position, but stayed there.

His mother laughed, it would be a hard thing to do, but if or if within a month, James would be playing the piano.

-

Every 10 minutes the pains and contractions attacked her fiercely. It hurt a lot to be honest, but when the pain was over everything seemed happy. It wasn't the scheduled date, it wasn't what she had planned, but the little brothers were in a bit of a hurry. James quickly opened the van door and helped unload the stuff as Luna came down the other side holding her mother's hand. The day was overcast and the smell of rain was delicious.

- Perfect, everything will be perfect. - James repeated over and over to calm Luna.

- No, it won't. I'm not ready for this, I didn't prepare myself psychologically to have them now. - She exclaimed in despair.

Her mother smiled and took her daughter-in-law's hand gently. After Portia's show, the contractions increased and Luna's water broke after almost an hour. She didn't know how to react to her unexpected motherhood, and James didn't seem to have quite fallen for it. He would be a father for the second time in less than a few hours. They entered the hospital, where Elizabeth was anxiously awaiting her. Elizabeth, who had just turned 23, worked at LaRouge as an editor. She had spent last summer in Italy where she had - according to her - enjoyed a cocktail party with a 26-year-old British model. Now, she found herself in the hospital waiting for her fake nieces and nephews. Rose held Portia calm and still as she went to talk to James, who looked a little lost.

- Is she all right? - she asked with obvious concern. James nodded.

- She's perfect, she's in her room now. The doctor will be in to talk to us in a moment.

- Oh, that's very good. - He smiled as he patted James's shoulder in support. - By tomorrow you'll have your two new babies with you, I hope you'll let me hold them. - I joked.

- Of course, you'll be able to spoil them like you did Portia and me. - He laughed.

James said goodbye to Rose with a smile and walked quickly to Luna's room. She was sitting staring at the wall with a pained expression.

- Has John come? - he asked, referring to the doctor, who had also been the doctor who brought Portia in.

- Yes, but only to check. I'm 5 centimeters dilated. I need an epidural, I can't stand the pain. - She said on the verge of tears. James touched Luna's hair gently and then tied it up.

- Okay, let me go get him, I'll be right back.

James left the room in search of John, but when he couldn't find him his despair grew more and more. He had his girlfriend almost crying from the pain, his restless daughter and a desperate friend who asked every 5 minutes how Luna was doing.

When she finally found him, they both went straight to check on Luna. She was fit for the epidural.

- I'll have some nurses come in right away to place it, I'm sorry it took so long. You're 6 centimeters dilated, you're fine. Just a moment left. - He said to Luna and James's relief. - Regarding the babies, when they are seven months old they are in some danger, but you are 8 months, almost 9 months, which does not intensify the risk in labor. It's nothing to worry about, but it can be dangerous in minimal cases.

- What can happen? I mean... could it be something serious?

- No, nothing to worry about. The babies are fully developed and are in the premature period, but they still need to mature a bit. They're not life-threatening, if that's what you're asking. When they are born we will give them some special care for the first three months of life, which are crucial. In a moment they will come to give you the epidural, sorry for the delay. - She said politely and then left the room.

James hugged Luna warmly and his heart swelled with emotion and love as it finally dawned on him that he was going to be a father again.

-

He, she. Her. Him, her, him, him, her and her. His mother sighed. Oh Claire, such sweet breathing, so calm and peaceful, as if there is no hurry at all. And Theo, so calm and peaceful, not even aware of the adults gawking at him around him.

Luna was resting quietly, she seemed to have broken into two different parts, luckily, she wasn't that strong. She had held her two little ones for less than two minutes, but that had been enough for her to love them. Just two minutes, maybe less, much less.

She felt heavy and bloated, her belly was empty and it felt weird. James, meanwhile, was buying a coffee while talking nonstop to the vendor, who was looking at him wearily.

- I swear these are the smallest things I've ever seen, after Portia, did I tell you I have another daughter? She's beautiful, I come from her show, you know...things that....

- I'm happy for you, could you pay me?

James eyed him warily, pulled out a $30 bill and left it on the counter.

- Keep the change. - He walked away from the counter and into the hallway that led to Luna's room, upon entering, he sat down on the couch that lay next to the gurney.

- Coffee, um, did you bring me the chocolate? - she asked. James reached into the backpack he'd been carrying a moment ago and pulled out the white chocolate Luna had asked for.Thank you, honey.Have you seen them?

- Oh, yes. You should have seen Claire, she has huge eyes, she was moving her hands trying to grab air or something. -And Theo was looking at nothing, oh, Luna, they're so tiny.

- I want to take them home already, James. Portia must be freaking out, can you imagine when she sees them for the first time? Oh God, she's going to freak out.

- They are going to be her new baby toys, I hope she doesn't get jealous, she will always be my first princess.

- I can just picture her playing with them. I want to be home in bed with you, Portia, and our babies.

- Just wait, maybe tomorrow we'll be home. And our babies in our bed. -I laughed.

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