Life's Perfect Plan (The Life Series) (11 page)

Kate brings me Julia to bathe, while she is scrubbing down the walls. “Juju look I’m a mouse.” Nicole laughs as she is crawling around the bathtub.

“Beppy why is Nini a mouse?” Ugh I created monsters. Kate is just laughing.

“Hello!?” I hear Kate’s mom call from down stairs.

“In you go Jules … saved by Gamma. Gamma is going to finish your bath.” I kiss their heads and tell them I love them. I walk out of the bathroom a sweating and greasy mess.

“Thank God you are here, Mom. The girls just need to be scrubbed, their clothes are on their beds and you can thank them for being able to breathe better. Love you.” She kisses her mom and runs into her room. I walk out to give Mary a hug and kiss.

We are finally out of the house and I take in some deep breaths as I felt my lungs were closing up in there.

“OK, I need a drink. It’s not even ten and my nerves are a mess!” Kate rushes her words to me. “So are you excited? You know we have to go shopping, it’s a must once you find out the sex … pink or blue or both?”

“I’m nervous. I really hope we can see the turtle or hamburger.”

“What the fuck is a turtle or hamburger?” Kate blanches out to me. I just laugh at her, this woman is a mother. I swear she did push out two babies; I was witness to that clusterfuck of labor.

“They say in the pregnancy book that the boy’s penis looks like a turtle and the girl’s vagina looks like a side view of a hamburger.”

“Well, I have never heard of such a piece of shit analogy …hell I never read the damn books anyways. I waited for the doctor to say it’s a … girl and then another girl! Taa Daa, you don’t need a book for that information. That is why you are seeing the good looking doctor, so he can tell you first hand. Please burn the damn books; I don’t need to hear any more about reptiles and food analogies.”

“I love you Kate! You seriously can make any situation into a comedy show!” I smart mouth back to her.

While sitting on the table waiting on Jacob to come in, Kate and I chit chat. “So how is it going with the doctor?”

“It’s going well, Kate. He’s a great guy, we talk on the phone, and since New Year’s we’ve been hanging out. Nothing extravagant, I want to take this slow, my main focus is getting through this pregnancy, and he has been a huge help. “

Moments later he is walking in with the Ultrasound machine and Ella.

“Hi, Elizabeth, how are you?”

“I’m being swallowed by my children, but other than that, I’m good!”

He has the cutest laugh and a beautiful smile. “Well, let’s add a gender to the children that are swallowing you, shall we?”

“Yes, Yes!” I’m so anxious to see. I lay on my back with help from Ella. I kink my neck so I can see the monitor. Once I see arms and legs on the screen, tears start pooling in my eyes. They are so beautiful to me no matter what, boy or girl. I am so in love with them, it terrifies me. I’ve never experienced this kind of love.

“Baby A is cooperating, and he is definitely a boy.” Jacob says as he zooms on his penis.

Kate slaps my shoulder, “Girl you are crazy, but I can see why they call that thing a turtle. That is the cutest, tiniest penis I have ever seen.”

“Kate, you are the sick one, who the hell calls a baby boy’s penis cute?” Ella mutters to all of us.

“What?” Is all Kate can say.

“Ok, let’s have you roll to your left for a minute, I will freeze the picture so you can see what you are having. Sorry for the pressure, but they are really snug in there … There, got it! Roll back over and see what Baby B is.”

I roll over and adjust my eyes; it looks the same as Baby A. “It’s a boy? I have two boys so far.”

“Yes, let’s see what Baby C is, this time roll to your right.” With more pressure by the wand, I have a clear view of the screen. Jacob is trying to get a good standstill picture, but I saw it already. It’s another boy. I’m having triplet boys!
Holy shit!

“Elizabeth, did you see what Baby C is?” I just nod, as tears are running down my cheeks.

“It’s a boy, right?”

Kate shouts! “Hot dog, Elizabeth, you have three turtles in there. I’m going to name them for you, Donatello, Michelangelo, and Raphael.”

“Why would she name them that? God Kate, what the hell was in your coffee this morning?” Ella disgustingly says to Kate.

“Oh my God, she talked the whole way here about how she hopes to see a turtle and hamburgers. She has turtles, so we are naming them after the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Well, at least I will have nicknames for them.” She finishes with a mutter to all of us.

If I didn’t have both of them on either side of me, I would have rolled off the table. I am just laughing hysterical. Hysterical from the fact that it is so real, I am really going to have three boys. Laughing that my nut of a friend wants me to name my children after cartoon characters, turtles no less. My friends help me off the table. I’m in another episode of the Twilight Zone.

Jacob hands me tissues, “Ladies do you mind if I speak to Elizabeth alone for a few minutes?”

The ladies leave. “Elizabeth, you ok? Are these happy tears or what?”

“Jacob, I am so happy. I’ve wanted these boys for a very long time. It is just so real right now. I’m scared; I don’t know how to raise a boy, let alone three. They kind of need male role models. It’s just awkward emotions that are running through me.”

“Elizabeth, you know you are not alone in this. That I hope even after these babies are born that I am still a part of your and their lives. I really care for you, and I want to be there for you and the boys. Who am I going to teach to surf?”

I give a little chuckle of just the visualization of three little boys on a surfboard. “I hope you are a part of my life, too!”

“What are you doing tonight?” Jacob perks up and asks.

“Nothing, it’s Valentine’s Day, where widows stay in and sulk.”

“Well, what do you say you come over to my place and I cook you a good dinner, then we can sulk together?”

“Why would you sulk?”

“I told you that we have a lot more in common than you think, that I totally understand what you are going through. I’m … mm a widower myself.” He quietly tells me this and I just stare at him dumbfounded.

“You are?”

“Yes, and see now we have a lot more to talk about, so what do you say to coming over? I don’t live far from the hospital.”

“Yes, that sounds like fun. I mean sulking together.” I reply back.

“Seven pm, my house.” He hands me a piece of paper with his address on it. He helps me off the table and leans in and kisses my hair. “Congratulations Elizabeth, those sons of yours are very lucky to have a mother like you.”

“Thanks, Jacob. Really … thanks for everything. I will see you later on. Now I am off to trade in my sports car for a sports utility vehicle.”

Driving to Jacob’s house seems so surreal. I would have never thought in a million years since last Valentine’s, with Grant that I would be having dinner with my OB Doctor. Pulling off the highway I realize he lives in a condo. That seems so odd for a doctor.

Sitting at the light, I think back on the day. Finding out that I am going to have three boys was the real kicker, and then lunch with Kate is always a riot. I traded in my Camaro for a Suburban. I was aiming for the Tahoe, but Kate pushed me for the bigger vehicle, her motto. “Go big or go home.” I assume down the road it will be a perfect fit for my boys and me.

I pull up, grab my purse and Jacob’s little Valentine gift. It’s a small stuffed gorilla holding a bunch of bananas and wearing a shirt saying “I’m bananas for you.” Cheesy, I know, but that is what this holiday is all about.

He answers the door in khaki cargo pants, a light blue shirt and he’s bare foot. He has sexy feet. He is sexy from head to toes. “Welcome Elizabeth, Happy Valentine’s Day.”

“Hi, Jacob, how are you? It smells delicious in here.” I slip my shoes off and my jacket. “Here this is for you, Happy Valentine’s Day.”

“Thanks, this is cute. Here is yours.” He points to the dozen pink roses on the bar.

“Wow, Jacob these are beautiful. Thank you. So what are you cooking?”

“I hope you like Italian, I have lasagna, salad and garlic rolls. What would you like to drink? I have soda, PowerAde, and water. Sorry, I know you are limited to drink choices.”

“No, water is just fine.” I walk to sit down on his black leather sofa. His condo is very small. He has an open floor plan of a living room, kitchen, nook and then hallway with a bathroom and bedroom. “I was kind of shocked to see you live in a condo, another misconception of you. I pictured this huge beach style house.”

“I would love to own a beach style house one day, but for now since it is just me it didn’t see the value to have a home. Plus, living here is inexpensive. I feel like I live at the hospital, though.”

“So how many days do you stay at the hospital?” I quizzically ask.

“Right now, it’s about four nights. Another practice and I are looking into merging our practices together. I can’t keep going at this rate. I never sleep when I’m at the hospital. I feel like I have no life.” He laughs to himself embarrassingly. He brings me my water and sits next to me on the couch, holding his beer in both hands.

“Well, you should be proud of yourself, you have a rewarding profession. You bring miracles to women every day. You brought me mine today.” I say as I pat his knee.

“God, Elizabeth you are gorgeous. You realize your eyes sparkle when you talk about your pregnancy.”

“They do?” I blush so hard that I feel the heat on my face. I pile on the questions right away. “I know we have a physical attraction to each other, you are obviously very handsome with a great personality. You think I am pretty, but why? Why do you want to start something with me, you do know that once these boys are born I am pretty busy for the next eighteen years. Why would you want that responsibility with me? I just don’t get it, Jacob.”

“Hold on.” As he gets up, walks to the oven, and pulls out the lasagna and rolls. When he returns back to the sofa he sits, turning towards me where his knees are touching mine.

“Elizabeth, you are more than pretty, you are a beautiful woman. I look at you and I see everything about you inside and out. I knew of you before you came to me. Ella would rave about you to the girls. I ached when I saw you lost your husband. I know firsthand what kind of ache that is. I don’t know what I felt, but I felt like I needed you, I needed to be a part of your life in more ways than one. Since that day in October I can’t stop thinking about you. You have consumed me. Then there is this pull between us, I feel it every time we are close. Do you feel it?”

I stop twirling my hair, then fold my hands over my belly. “Yes, I feel it. But, don’t most people feel an attraction to good looking people? I don’t know if I can give you what you want. I spent the last ten years with a man that I thought I would have forever with. I can’t change my feelings. I’m having my husband’s children without him. The last four months have been emotionally hard for me.”

“I know we both have had the loves of our lives, we both have loved deeply, but I have never felt this ache … ever. I will be honest with you. I want more, Elizabeth. But, I understand and will respect your feelings. I will wait for you. You are too precious to me to give up on.”

He pulls me up and brings me to the table. Pulling me into him, taking his thumb and forefinger he lifts my chin to look up at him. “Elizabeth, I look into those green eyes and I just see you. Nothing else around me matters when I look into those eyes. I touch your skin and I feel this.” He picks up my hand and places it over his heart. “My heart beats for you. Do you feel this? It beats uncontrollably when I am around you. In this moment I feel like I can’t breathe. You are a living dream. Whatever comes with you is a bonus for me, even three baby boys. They are a part of you and it makes me want to be in their lives even more.”

I felt in that moment that I was going to pass out. Hearing his words were perfect, but the timing was not. “I don’t know what to say?” With his hands on my shoulders, taking his left hand and brushing my hair behind my ears. I want to run for the door and never look back. My chest feels like it is caving in, my throat feels like it is squeezing to where I can’t swallow, and my heart is pulsating so fast that I feel at any moment it will burst. Yet, I have this one feeling, this one feeling that keeps growing over time for him and I am not sure what to do with it. I adore this man. He has been the one male in my life that treats me as the same old Elizabeth, everyone else looks to me as if I am glass and if they say anything to me I will turn to dust. Losing your husband is agony, but it is also the loneliest I have ever been in my life. Jacob makes me feel like myself and that is one feeling I am not pushing away.

“Tell me you will give us a shot. Tell me you want to be in my life as much as I want to be in yours. Tell me you want to give this couple thing a try?”

“Jacob it feels right, but it also feels too soon. I feel like I am being dishonest to Grant for some reason.”

He just nods and pulls out my chair.
Shit!
Now I feel like an ass and I still have to sit through dinner. He serves me dinner. We make small talk. We laugh at Kate and her actions from earlier. I tell him about my car shopping adventure with that crazy woman. I thought he was going to need the Heimlich maneuver done when I told him how Kate stole the golf cart and drove me around the car lot. When the salesman yelled at her for taking the golf cart she pulled on the charm, flirted, then gave the poor guy the wrong number. We sit for a while, talking about everything. Talking seems so natural for us. It doesn’t feel forced or uncomfortable. He gets up to clear the table. “Elizabeth, remember how I told you that I am a widower, also.”

I bring some plates to him, “Yes, but I understand if you aren’t ready to talk about it.”

“No, I want to talk about it. It’s been thirteen years bottled up inside of me. Rebecca and I started dating our senior year in high school. We went to college together and our relationship continued. We graduated college together, she became an interior designer. I was on my way to medical school. She knew since she met me that I wanted to be a doctor, more so she knew that I wanted to be an OB/GYN. She knew that I wanted to give woman miracles, just like my father had. A year into medical school, we talked about marriage and were married nine months later. Had this big huge wedding, and bought our home. Things were going great. I was in school a lot but always made sure I made time for her. A year into our marriage, she ended up never being home. I knew she resented me and how I was never there for her.