Generation 2, Chapter 30

Robert met with the contractor to review the blueprints of the work they wanted done to the house. Basically the house needed to be gutted and started over.  It was going to be a lot of work, updating the kitchen, adding an upstairs bathroom and four more bedrooms.  Grateful for the cash his father gave him.  He didn't have to worry about the expense or needing to find a job right away.  However Robert fretted over where they were going to live while the house was being worked on.

"Why don't we camp out.  The weather is beautiful and the yard is large," Patricia suggested.

"Wouldn't you be more comfortable in a hotel?" Robert asked concerned about her sleeping outside on the ground.  "You're not exactly the camping type."

"It'll be fun," she said batting her lashes at him, "please."

"Alright you win," he smiled at her giving in.  "Just don't come to me complaining.  I'm the one who wanted to stay in a hotel."  He was relieved with her decision.  The less they were in the public eye the better.  Anyone looking for them or a family of four would be checking hotels.

***

"Mrs Parrott you can come back now," the nurse called for the next patient.

"Honey that's you," Robert whispered in her ear as he got up and followed the nurse.  Patricia followed disconcerted she had forgotten her name.

"Congratulations Mrs Parrott your having twins."

"Twins?" Both Robert and Patricia said in unison.

Nodding the doctor hid his smile "I'd estimate your about 6 weeks along."

Stunned Patricia grabbed Robert's hand while the doctor spoke.  Twins .... she couldn't believe it. There was no history in her family of twins.  How were they going to manage twins on top of everything else?

Robert gripped Patricia's hand as he attempted to listen to what the doctor was saying.  Twins. Maybe they would be boys.  Good thing they had built what they thought was an extra room. Patricia had been adamant that each child have their own room. Robert didn't see the need as he had fond memories of sharing a room with his brothers.  He was from a large family and he was used to cramped quarters where Patricia was not.  His concern was how they were going to manage four kids all under the age of five.

Picking up the kids from the babysitter.  They drove home, each deep in thought.  Sitting around the camp fire Robert asked "are you sure you wouldn't be more comfortable in a hotel?"

"I'm fine," she smiled enjoying how the flames danced in his brown eyes  "The money isn't going to last forever Rob.  What are we going to do?"  She blurted her thoughts out loud ruining the mood.

"I've been thinking of that," Robert stared into the flames "I'll get a job at the local restaurant.  They're looking for an executive chef."

"I could go back to work," Patricia suggested.

"No," Robert shook his head "it's too risky.  Besides you're not used to your new alias yet."

"I know but we can't survive on what you make as a chef," Patricia chewed on her lower lip.

"Maybe we could sell our artwork at the consignment shop for extra cash," he suggested.

"That might work," Patricia sighed giving in.

***

The contractor called Robert to inform him the house was done.  Smiling in anticipation Robert couldn't wait to tell Patricia they could move in.  After four long months of sleeping in a tent on the cold hard ground he was looking forward to living in a house again not to mention the luxury of sleeping in a bed again.  Not to have the constant worry that the girls would stumble and fall into the fire.

"Honey I've got something to show you," Robert said coming to their now familiar campsite.

Eyes lighting up "where? what?" she bombarded him with questions.

Taking her hands she led her towards the house.  "Can we come too?" Jennifer asked toddling behind with Diana in tow beside her.

"Yes," Robert laughed "this surprise is for the whole family." Stopping in front of the door "Jennifer would you like to open the door?" She nodded grinning "Go on girls go inside."  Giggling the girls ran inside happily chattering to each other.

"Oh Rob it's finally done," she looked up at him smiling.

Looking deeply in her eyes he brought her close and swiftly picked her up.

"Rob what are you doing?  Put me down." She demanded while wrapping her arms around his neck.  "Put me down I'm as big as a house."

They turned towards the sound of giggles where the girls were standing watching them.  Diana giggled "mama funny."

Turning to her sister Jennifer told her with an air of superiority "Mama's not as big as a house," she looked at her parents then said "maybe as big as a tent."

Nodding in agreement the girls giggled again.  "Rob I mean it put me down," she frowned at him.

Eyes sparkling in the moonlight, a mischievous grin plastered across his face "you heard them, you're only as big as a tent."

Smacking him "Rob ...."

Shaking his head "no I'm going to carry my bride across the threshold of our new home."

"Oh Rob your so ..."

"I'm so romantic? Debonair? Gallant?"  He teased carrying her into the house.

"No sappy," she grinned as he put her down.  Looking around she gasped "you had them bring in the furniture too."

Nodding "we can rearrange it any way you want but I didn't want to spend another night sleeping on the ground.  I miss my bed."

"Rob your so ..."

"Lazy? Weak? Sappy?" he grinned at her.

"No you're so wonderful," she hugged him tight.  "Your the best husband and I'm so glad your mine.  I love you."

"I love you too," he kissed her holding her tight against his body.  "More than words can say," he mumbled as he came up for air.

***

The next few months flew by.  Jennifer turned four.  Then a couple months later Diana turned three.  During the quiet family celebration Diana asked "mama where's the baby?"

The baby is in my tummy," she explained holding Diana's hand to her stomach.

Eyes growing large she asked "does it hurt?"

"No sweetheart," Patricia told her turning to look at Jennifer who had placed  her hand alongside Diana's.

Looking up Jennifer said "how did the baby get in there?"

Choking Patricia looked over towards her husband then back at the girls.  Their faces turned up waiting for an answer.  "Love put the babies in there."

"Oh" they gasped together satisfied with the answer.  Walking away Patricia and Robert overheard them say "we must have babies in our tummies too," Jennifer told her little sister.  Nodding Diana said "cuz love put them there."

"Oh boy," Robert said eyes dancing holding back his merriment over their conversation. "Try and explain that one mama."

Slapping his arm she laughed "I didn't know what else to say.  You didn't exactly help."

Putting his hand on her stomach Robert smiled up at her "don't worry about it  Your explanation was somewhat accurate, love did put them there." 

Suddenly serious she turned to clean up the debris from the party "Are you disappointed that the twins are girls?"

"Don't be silly.  I love all my girls." Robert told her picking up dishes and carrying them to the dishwasher.  "Besides," he grabbed her pulling her close "we can always try again."

Pushing him away, she tried not to drop the dishes she was holding.  She nodded agreement although she had no intention of having any more children.  The future was too uncertain to bring another baby into it.  "What? What's wrong?" Robert asked seeing her withdraw from him.  "You always do this if I mention having another baby."

She heard the frustration in his voice "I'm sorry.  I can't help it.  Life is so uncertain right now.  I can't knowingly bring another child into this mess."

Staring straight ahead shoulders rigid "you're right," he muttered. "Some days I forget how precarious our situation is."  He turned to her "I'm sorry."

"You have nothing to be sorry for," she told him burying her head on his shoulder.  "If things were different I'd have as many of your babies as I could."

Chuckling into her hair "don't say things like that.  I just had a vision of us twenty years from now with a houseful of kids."

"Heaven forbid I'm still popping out babies in my forties," she shuddered at the thought.  Catching her breath as a sudden pain went through her stomach.

"What is it?" Robert asked noticing the flash of pain.

"Nothing.  I'm alright," she tried to reassure him as a another contraction made her double over. "It's too soon," she cried.

"Ready or not the twins are coming," Robert grabbed her bag.  He called the babysitter and when she arrived he rushed Patricia to the hospital.

Twelve hours later the twins were born, Amanda Violet and Alexander Sage." Looking down at them Patricia smiled "I guess the doctor was wrong about them both being girls."

Returning her smile "the important thing is they're both healthy despite being six weeks early." Kissing her he stood up "I better get home and tell the girls."

The following year went by fast and it was soon the twins birthday.  They had a small family celebration as neither of them had felt comfortable developing any close friendships.  It was too difficult to know who they could trust and one mistake could cost them more than they could spare.