Chapter 3
(Current date December 17)
"Are you ok?" Collin asked Jess seeing the tear fall down her cheek.
"Yeah, just overwhelmed with amazement and joy." Jess slightly cried.
"It is a lot to take in. But it's something that is the most amazing gift of all." Collin told her as he held her hand.
"That is so true." Jess agreed with Collin.
"It'll be even better once your baby starts to kick, and get more human-like features. Also, you will get to see if it is a boy or a girl at your next visit." The doctor reminded them.
"I cannot wait for that. Everyone I work with and all of my family will be placing bets on if it's a boy or a girl." Jess laughed. "But for now, I'm just glad that our baby is very healthy."
"It is that. How about you come back in another 5 weeks for another ultrasound?" The doctor asked Jess as she handed her the pictures.
"Of course." Jess said. "Thank you so much. I'll see you again in 5 weeks."
"Your welcome. Enjoy those pictures with all the family." The doctor told Jess.
"I will don't worry." Jess said as she was getting ready to walk out of the room. "Thanks again. Bye."
"Bye." The doctor said as Jess left.
Jess went out to the front desk and made her next appointment with Collin by her side. "Would you like your appointment on January 23 at 1?" The secretary asked Jess.
"That'd be perfect." Jess replied back. "Do you mind if we go to back to the office after we leave here so that I can show everyone the pictures?" Jess asked Collin.
"I don't mind at all." Collin said smiling at Jess.
Nicole and Antonio were sitting at their desks working on paperwork when Jess snuck up on Nicole. "Check it out Nicole!" Jess said excitedly and she handed the pictures to Nicole.
Nicole immediately took them and started looking at them. "Aw, Jess. These pictures are remarkable. I'd keep them forever if I was you."
"That I am definitely doing." Jess told her.
Antonio looked at the pictures right after Nicole. "Wow Jess, these pictures are incredible."
"How does it feel?" Nicole asked Jess.
"How does what feel?" Jess asked slightly confused.
"To finally be able to see your baby." Nicole said.
"Oh. Um." Jess thought about it for a minute. "It feels extraordinary."
"But it's amazing." Collin said as he came up behind her.
"I bet it is." Nicole agreed.
"Do you know where Pollock is?" Jess asked Nicole and Antonio.
"I think he's in his office." Antonio told her.
"Thanks Antonio. I'm going to go show him these pictures and then Collin and I are going to go out for dinner if y'all would like to come." Jess said hoping Collin didn't mind.
"We'd love to. Where at?" Nicole asked. Jess told them where and then she went to Pollock's office, leaving Collin behind talking to Nicole and Antonio. Jess knocked on Pollock's door before walking in so she wouldn't interrupt something and get in trouble. "Sir?"
"Nice to see you Mastriani." Pollock said truly happy to see Jess.
"Here are the pictures from today." Jess said excitement filling her voice,
Pollock looked through them and handed them back to Jess. "They're fantastic." Pollock said, a smile lighting up his face. Jess couldn't help but to smile back.
"I better get going. I'm going to dinner with Collin tonight and he's out there waiting." Jess told her boss.
"Really? Have a good time." Pollock told her.
"Thank you sir." Jess said as she walked out of his office. "Ready to go?" She asked everyone. All three of them nodded in agreement.
Later that night Jess and Collin were relaxing at home when Jess decided to break the silence between them. "So, how do you feel about being a daddy?" Jess asked Collin a little teasingly.
"I'm anxious, nervous, excited, the list goes on. But to be truly honest, it feels like the best that that has ever happened in my life." Collin replied thinking about the question Jess had asked.
"It just feels right, like it was supposed to happen. I mean I'm still shocked from hearing that I was going to be a mom." Jess said.
"It was surprising but that is probably the best thing that could've happened." Collin repeated.
"I know. Especially after all that I went through. I was lucky that it didn't hurt the baby." Jess said.
"That was a miracle right there. Like Pollock said, you never let go of any hope or faith that you have." Collin told her. "He told me about everything that you have been through before I met you and all."
"Really?" Jess asked as she turned around and looked at Collin.
"Yeah, and he told me how no matter how bad it got for you, you never gave up." Collin told her.
"Nothing ever stands in my way anymore. I mean I know that the outlook may be bad, but something good will always come out of it." Jess said.
"It always does. Can you believe that it will be Christmas in 6 days?" Collin asked Jess.
"No I can't. What do you think about Pollock and his family, Nicole, Antonio, and Brad all coming over on Christmas Eve to have an early Christmas for like our work family?" Jess asked Collin.
"I would love that." Collin smiled.
"Great, I'll mention it to them tomorrow." Jess said. "And you'll mention it to Brad right?"
"Why wouldn't I?" Collin joked.
"Maybe because you're just mean sometimes." Jess joked back but smiling about how wonderful this Christmas was going to be.
"What about your family?" Collin asked Jess.
"I was thinking that we should surprise them on Christmas Day and visit them in Indiana. Let my mom and Doug meet you and then let them now we are going to be parents." Jess said.
"Oh, that sounds like a lot of fun." Collin agreed.
"Doesn't it? I haven't seen them in about a year since they were here in DC, so it'll be a fun surprise." Jess said.
"It sure does sound like it." Collin said as him and Jess laid down in the bed to relax.
"Yes it will. Now it's going to be the longest 6 days." Jess said smiling as she curled up next to Collin for the night.
The next day Jess had gotten up early because she had finally gotten used to having the morning sickness. She was tired of it but she knew that it was part of the pregnancy. It was now about 10 minutes before Jess was getting ready to leave to head to the office. "So you're going to mention to Brad about Christmas Eve today aren't you?" Jess asked Collin but she was actually reminding him.
"Don't worry Jess. I will. I promise." Collin promised as him and Jess were eating breakfast before she left.
"Alright. I'm trusting you." Jess reminded him.
"Have I ever broken a promise?" Collin asked Jess but not seriously.
"No." Jess said innocently.
"My point exactly." Collin said but still not being serious.
"Well, I better get going. If I'm late Pollock will not be happy." Jess said. "You are so lucky you are out of work." Collin just smiled at Jess. "I'll see you later." Jess told him as she gave him a kiss. "I love you."
"I love you too and have a great day. Bye Jess." Collin said as she walked out the door.
"Bye Collin." Jess said.
Jess arrived at the office right before she was late. She breathed a sigh of relief because she wouldn't have to deal with Pollock yelling at her. "Hey Jess." Nicole said as she took she sat down at her own desk. "You look like you're kind of in a rush." Nicole pointed out to Jess.
"Yeah, just that I didn't want to be late and be yelled at again by Pollock. But I made it so it's good." Jess said as she got settled in for the day. "Oh yeah, Collin and I were talking about Christmas Eve last night and we were wondering would you like to come over for Christmas Eve?" Jess asked her.
"Absolutely. What about Antonio and Pollock?" Nicole asked her.
"We're inviting them too and Collin's going to ask Brad about it today." Jess said.
"That's great." Nicole said. "What do you have planned for Christmas Day?"
"Collin and I are going to Indiana to visit my mom and Doug. It'll also let them meet Collin and let us tell them we are going to be parents." Jess said happily.
"It sounds like a lot of fun." Nicole said.
"Yeah, it's going to be but I don't know how my mom is going to react when she finds out about me being pregnant." Jess said slightly nervous.
"Oh don't worry Jess, she'll be cool with it." Nicole reassured Jess.
"Thanks Nicole." Jess said.
"No problem." Nicole said to Jess.
"I'll be right back, I'm going to go talk to Pollock about Christmas Eve and see if he wants to come." Jess told Nicole.
"Ok, if I see Antonio before you do, I'll mention it to him." Nicole said.
"Good. Thanks Nicole." Jess said as she walked off to go to Pollock's office.
Jess walked up to Pollock's office and knocked on the door. "Enter." Pollock said as he was working on paper work. "Yes Mastriani."
"I would like to ask you something sir." Jess told him.
"What?" Pollock asked her.
"I was wondering if you, Janice, Chloe and Michael would like to come over for Christmas Eve. It's going to be like a Christmas party with close friends." Jess said.
Pollock stayed silent for a minute. "We'd love to Mastriani." Pollock said smiling.
"Thank you sir." Jess said.
"Your welcome." Pollock said. Jess then walked out of his office and back to her desk.
"So what did he say?" Nicole asked Jess.
"He said that he and his family would love to come over." Jess said happy that Pollock wanted to come.
"Awesome." Nicole said. "I don't know where Antonio is, I haven't seen him yet."
"He's probably hiding out on us." Jess joked.
"Yeah, probably." Nicole agreed with Jess.
A few minutes later Antonio walked off of the elevator. He was running really late and he knew it and he really didn't want to be yelled at by Pollock. "Hey." Antonio slightly panted as he walked past Jess and Nicole.
"Where have you been?" Nicole asked Antonio as he walked past.
"I woke up late and now I'm going to be yelled at by Pollock. This is going to be a bad day." Antonio said as he tried to act like he was on time so Pollock wouldn't catch him.
"No it won't Antonio. It'll get better." Jess told him.
"Yeah, I hope so." Antonio said as he sat down at his desk.
A few hours later after Antonio's day had gotten better, Jess decided to ask him about Christmas Eve. "Told you your day would get better." Jess told him as she snuck up on him.
"Yes, thank god you were right. What's up?" Antonio asked Jess.
"I was wondering, do you want to come over to my place for Christmas Eve?" Jess asked him.
"For what?" Antonio asked her curiously.
"Collin and I are having a get together with everyone including Brad.." Jess told him.
"Sure, I'll come. It sounds like it will be fun." Antonio said.
"Great!" Jess said with a really big smile.
"How was your day at work today?" Collin asked Jess once she got home.
"Pretty good. We didn't have a case so it was an easy day." Jess said.
"That's good." Collin said.
"Always is. Did you get to ask Brad about Christmas Eve?" Jess asked Collin.
"I sure did." Collin told her.
"And?" Jess asked.
"He's coming." Collin said.
"That means that everyone is going to come." Jess said happy that her idea to get everyone over worked.
"That's great Jess." Collin said happy for her.
"Yes it is." Jess said smiling.
Thanks to all of my reviewers! No updates on any stories for about 10 days due to I will be out of town with no computer lol. But updates will come as soon as I get back! Next chapter: Christmas at last! Please R&R. Thanks again to everyone! Lexie
