NB: Cradle Time-chapter 5
Copyright © 1999

by SamPast and Huggedlots
 

The next morning, after seeing Maggie off to school, Heather called Lisa, and asked if they could have lunch.

"Sure, Heather, what's up?"

"Well, I am having some problems with Maggie, and sure could use an ear."

 

"Okay, you can have both. You want me to come there? We can go to the diner by you."

"Yeah, thanks, Lisa, that would be great. See you at noon?"

"Okay, see you then," Lisa said. She hung up wondering what was up with her niece, now.

After they had ordered, Heather began explaining to Lisa what was going on with Maggie. She filled her in on how Maggie hadn't been doing her schoolwork, and not doing well in class. She told her about the forged notices.

Lisa was surprised. This was not like her niece at all. "So, did you find out why?"

Heather nodded her head. "Yes, and it's all my fault. The poor little dear was so worried about ME, that she couldn't concentrate on her work. She was taking care of me. Oh, Lisa, this pregnancy is terrible. I've been feeling so poorly."

Lisa put her hand on her sister-in-law's arm. "I know, I'm sorry. I'm sure it will get better in a few weeks, though."

Heather said, "Yeah, I know. We're seeing the doctor in a few days. I just can't wait to actually have the baby and hold him or her in my arms."

Lisa smiled. The food came, and the conversation died down. Heather noticed that Lisa was barely eating her lunch. She was just pushing it around on her plate.

"What's wrong? Doesn't it taste okay? Want to send it back?" Heather asked.

"No, I'm just not that hungry," Lisa said.

Heather looked at her sister in law, and felt such love and compassion for this woman. Lisa had been there for her when it seemed like the lowest point in her life. She had helped Heather through some difficult times and had been a real friend.

"Lisa, what's wrong? You can tell me," Heather encouraged.

Lisa looked up and said, "Oh, Heather, it's nothing. Really. I just haven't had much of an appetite lately. I've been feeling very poorly."

Heather became instantly concerned. "Maybe you have the flu. I mean, I know it's a little early for flu season, but. . ."

Lisa shook her head. "No, I don't think so. I mean, I haven't been vomiting. I don't have a fever, the chills, or shakes. I just haven't been feeling right. You know, not myself. I've been nauseous a lot, too."

Heather looked down at Lisa's plate, and said, "Well, ordering tunafish was a great way to cure that!"

Both women laughed. "I know," Lisa said. "I couldn't help it, though. I love tuna. I had a CRAVING for it."

"A CRAVING? Oh, Lisa, you don't think you're. . ."

Lisa nodded. "I think so. I'm not sure."

Heather grabbed Lisa and said, "Really? Oh my god! Why didn't you tell me?"

"Well, I'm not sure yet. I actually have a doctor's appointment this afternoon." She paused. "Oh, Heather, will you come with me?"

"Are you kidding?" Heather gushed. "I wouldn't miss it for the world. Hey, you were there with me when I found out."

"That's true," Lisa answered. "But if I am, we're not stealing another golf cart."

Heather and Lisa both laughed aloud, thinking back to that day. They looked around. Thankfully, no one was paying them much attention.

Heather said, "Wow, wouldn't it be wonderful? You and me both being pregnant at the same time?"

Lisa laughed and said, "Oh, yeah, great. We can take turns running to the bathroom and throwing up."

The two women laughed some more, and went on to talk about other things. But somehow the conversation kept going back to babies and pregnancy. And suddenly, Lisa was very excited at the thought of her first pregnancy, and having a baby with Charlie.

Later that day, after the doctor's appointment, Lisa and Heather sat in the park, feeding the ducks.

Lisa said, "Wow, Heather, I just can't believe it."

Heather nodded, and touched Lisa's arm. "I know; it's wonderful. Oh, Lisa, I'm so happy for you and Charlie."

"Yeah, we've been married for over three years. The twins are wonderful but we've wanted a baby of our own for so long."

"Yes, I know what you mean. Even though Bob and I haven't been married that long, I'm so excited to be having a baby with him," Heather gushed. "I just had no idea that Maggie would be so jealous."

"Hmmm, I wonder how the twins are going to react to the news. Oh, Heather, you don't think they'll be upset like Maggie, do you?"

"I don't know, Lisa. I hope not. I didn't think Maggie would become so out of control. I can't imagine if both the twins started acting up like her," Heather said.

"Yeah, Charlie and I have enough trouble with them now," Lisa laughed.

"So, have you thought about how you're going to tell him?" Heather asked.

Lisa thought. She turned to her sister in law. "Well, it'll be hard to top the way you told Bob." They both laughed. Then Lisa added. "I'm not sure, but I think I want it to be a bit romantic. But I also have to tell the twins. Hmmmm. . ."

The two women put their heads together, and soon came up with a great plan. "Oh, I love it, Heather. It's so perfect."

They parted company at their cars, and Heather impulsively hugged Lisa. "Oh, call me tonight or tomorrow, and let me know how it went. Okay?"

Lisa chuckled. "I will." Then she had a thought. "Oh, Heather, I know it will be hard, but don't tell Bob the news. I think Charlie will want to tell his brother."

"Okay, Lisa, no problem."

Later that night, when Charlie came home from work, he leaned over Lisa while she was cooking, and gave her a peck on the cheek.

"Good timing, hon. Dinner's just about ready."

"Okay. Just let me wash up and change," Charlie answered.

He was back ten minutes later and the family went to sit down. Charlie looked at how nicely the table was set and complimented the twins. After all, it was their job to set it.

Jennifer turned to Lisa and said, "Now will you tell us?"

"Yeah, Mommy, you said you would tell us who the fifth plate was for when Daddy got home," Robin expressed.

Charlie looked at the table once more and noticed it was indeed set for five. "Are we having company, hon?" he asked.

Lisa smiled at her husband from across the table and said, "Yes, but not tonight."

"I don't understand," Charlie said.

The girls looked at each other confused. They looked at Lisa.
When she had everyone's attention, Lisa said, "There will be someone else at the table, in not quite nine months." As she said this statement, she rubbed her belly.

Charlie's face turned to mush. He looked at his wife and said, "Oh, honey, you mean it? We're gonna have a baby?"

Lisa smiled and nodded. Before the twins could realize what was happening, Charlie ran across the room and swooped Lisa off her feet and swung her around. Lisa screamed and laughed.

"Oh, Lisa, that's wonderful. I'm so happy!" Charlie expressed.
Charlie put Lisa down and kissed her full on the lips. "How far along are you?"

"About two months."

Charlie smiled. He was thinking back two months and realized the time the baby must have been conceived. Lisa smiled, too. She was thinking the same thing.

Robin caught her breath and looked at Lisa and said, "Mommy? You have a baby in your tummy?" She went over and touched her mother's stomach.

Lisa smiled and said, "Yes, sweetie, isn't that wonderful?"

"Well, I don't think that's so great. I think it sucks!"

"Jennifer!" Charlie warned.

"Well, I do!" Jenn stated.

"Jennifer, why would you say that? You apologize right now!" Charlie uttered.

"No, I won't. Who wants a stupid baby, anyway?" Jenn yelled and ran from the room.

Charlie called after her. "Jennifer! Jennifer Lynn, you come back here right now!"

But Jenn didn't come back. Charlie stared after her and looked at Lisa. "She'll be right out to apologize, if I have anything to say about it."

Charlie started to undo his belt as he walked toward the twins' room. Lisa caught up with him and put her hand on his arm. "No, Charlie, don't. She'll be okay. She just needs time to adjust to the news."

Charlie looked at Lisa. "I don't care. She has no right to speak to us, or you, that way. She's going to be a very sorry, little girl." He yelled through the door, "Jennifer! You come out here right now! You apologize for the way you spoke to your mother, or I'll wash your mouth out with soap!"

"NO!" came the reply.

Lisa stopped her husband from charging into the girls' bedroom. "Charlie, no! Please, let's just sit and eat dinner. We'll go in and talk to her afterwards. She's entitled to her feelings."

Charlie looked at Lisa and said, "You're right, hon. She's entitled to her feelings. And we will talk to her, together." He put his belt back on. "But we're a family, and she will come out here and eat with us."

Charlie went to the bedroom door and said, "Jennifer Lynn, you come out here right now and eat your dinner. If you don't, you'll be eating with a sore bottom."

Not thirty seconds later, the door opened, and Jennifer came out. Charlie pointed to the table and said, "Now, go sit down."
Jennifer opened her mouth to say something, but Charlie silenced her. "Not another word out of your mouth, young lady. You're already in big enough trouble. Now let's eat."

The family was quiet as they began their meal. After some silence, Charlie and Lisa started talking quietly. Robin spoke up a few times, but Jennifer just looked into her plate. Once, when Charlie gave her a look, she ate, but mostly she just pushed her food around her plate.

"You have to eat, sweetie, or you'll be hungry later," Lisa said, sweetly.

Jenn shook her head from side to side.

"Eat, Jennifer Lynn. There will be no snacks later," Charlie warned.

After pushing her food around to the point of playing with it, Charlie announced, "All right, that's enough, I've had it. Jennifer, you may be excused. Bring your plate in and go to your room. Mommy and I will be in, in a few minutes to talk with you."

Jenn got up and brought her plate to the kitchen. Without a word, she walked to her room. Charlie finished eating, and threw down his napkin. He looked towards the twins' bedroom and sighed.

"Mommy?" Robin asked.

Lisa felt the tension in the room. She turned toward Robin and said, "Yes, sweetie?"

"You know what? You copied Aunt Heather," she said matter-of-factly.

Lisa looked at her and then at Charlie. They both smiled. "Yes, I guess I did," Lisa said. Everyone laughed. It was just what they needed, to break the ice.

Charlie stood up and kissed Robin's forehead. "Lovey, maybe you can clear off the table. Mommy and I need to talk to your sister."

"Sure, Daddy."

"Good girl. Then you can watch a little t.v. Okay?"

"Yes, sir."

Charlie and Lisa knocked on the twins' door, and then walked in. Jennifer was curled up on her bed, facing the wall. They couldn't tell if she was crying or not. Lisa sat on the edge of her bed, while Charlie pulled over her desk chair.

"Jennifer. Turn around. We need to talk," Charlie said, gently. For Lisa's sake, he tried to keep the annoyance from his voice.
Jenn turned around and looked up at her parents. Her eyes and nose were red from crying.

 

"C'mere, baby," Lisa said, holding out her arms. Jenn climbed into them and let Lisa hold her for a few minutes. "Why don't you tell Daddy and I what's wrong?"

"I don't know," Jenn said.

Jenn looked up at her daddy. He frowned. "Jennifer Lynn, you know that is not an acceptable answer. Mommy and I want to know why you reacted the way you did to the news about the baby."

Jenn didn't answer. Lisa said, "Sweetie, you know you can tell us anything."

"Can I?" she asked, looking first at Lisa and then at Charlie.

"Of course you can, baby," Charlie said, his voice now softening for real.

"Well, I, uh," Jenn began.

"Yes?" Lisa prompted.

"Well, I don't know why you would want another kid. I mean, you already got me and Robin," she stated.

Lisa overlooked Jenn's incorrect grammar and said, "Right, but this baby will be mine and Daddy's together."

Jennifer jumped at Lisa's statement. Her face said it all. "You don't love us! You don't think we're your REAL kids!" Jenn shouted.

"Jennifer!" Charlie warned.

Jenn looked at her father. "What? You said I could tell you anything. This is how I really feel." She turned to Lisa and said, "You don't love me and Robin like this baby that's yours and Daddy's together!"

Lisa looked as though she'd just been slapped. Surely, she didn't realize that that's how Jenn would take her statement. "No, sweetie, of course not. I do love you and Robin, very much."

"No, you don't!" Jenn cried. "You just said, that this baby will be yours and Daddy's together."

"Jennifer, listen," Lisa tried, putting her arms around Jenn.

"No, don't," Jenn said, pushing her away. She turned back toward the wall and cried.

Lisa looked at Charlie helplessly.

"Baby," Charlie began.

Jennifer just looked at Charlie and cried harder. "You see, BABY, you call ME baby. But not in nine months or whatever. I won't be your baby, anymore!" she accused.

Charlie and Lisa realized at that point what was really upsetting Jennifer. She was jealous. Charlie got up and went to the bed. He leaned down and pulled Jennifer into his arms. "Oh, Jennifer, you will ALWAYS be my baby."

Jenn let Charlie hug her to him. He sat down on the bed, and pulled her into his lap. Jennifer rested her head on his shoulder and cried. She put her arms around his neck and squeezed. Lisa sat watching this tender moment, and felt her heart break.

"Shhh, shhh, there, there, let it out," Charlie crooned, as he rubbed her back. Jenn cried like a baby on Charlie's shoulder for a good five minutes. He shushed her and reassured her. "That's it, let it out. It's okay."

"Daddy, I want to be your baby, ALWAYS!"

"Yes, sweetie. Yes, Baby. You always will be. I love you, Jennifer," Charlie said.

"I love you, too, Daddy," Jenn said through her tears.

"And I love you, also. Both you and Robin," Lisa cried.

As if on cue, Robin walked into the room at that time. Lisa waved her over and Robin sat and cuddled up with Lisa. Charlie turned Jenn around so that she was facing her mother.

Lisa took a deep breath. She turned to the twins and said, "Girls, listen. Just because I didn't carry you inside me, like this baby, I still love you as my own. I have watched you grow up to be beautiful, caring, sweet girls. I wouldn't give up my role as your mother for anything in the world."

"Really, Mommy?" Jenn asked.

Lisa started crying. "Really, baby. I love you two, so much."

"We love you, too, Mommy," Robin said, squeezing Lisa tightly.

Charlie and Lisa both looked at Jennifer. She nodded. "I do, Mommy, I do love you. I'm sorry."

"No, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that the way I did. I wasn't being sensitive to your feelings, sweetie. I'm sorry," Lisa cried.

The four of them got into a group hug and held each other for a long time.

 

to be continued...

 

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