Friday; March 11th, 2034 - Teddy POV -
"So how is living on your own?" I ask Hope as I hand her a cup of tea. "I miss all of you. Especially you being in college, it's hard. Are you enjoying Stanford University?"
"It's no Yale or Harvard, I'm just glad I got into a good one. It's okay, I miss everyone though. It's hard to get away for a while in California. It's far and pretty expensive." Hope replies after she takes a drink of tea. "I miss your tea."
"No tea in California?" I ask.
"Not like yours, yours is so soothing and makes me forget about all of my problems. So, how's the baby? I'm still shocked, you said you were done."
"Good, I guess. Noah isn't growing on the baby like I thought he would. I don't blame him, I promised him a puppy and now he's getting a sibling instead. He has a reason to be angry with me."
"Mom, it's not your fault. You thought you weren't young enough anymore. News flash, you are still young."
"I know, I was being careless. Now she and Noah have to pay for my mistakes."
"Oh, you're having a girl? Dad said you wanted it to be a surprise."
"It's just a guess, Hope. Whenever I picture her, I just see a girl."
"Dad said it's a boy. And you're just saying it's a girl cause you want it to be a girl because boys have more power in the house. He's set on the boy thing. Is he freaking out?" Hope says, then I laugh.
"Boys will never have power in the house. No matter how many I have." I sigh. "Yes, he's freaking out. he hasn't said much about the baby but I know he's scared, maybe more than me. He thinks it's all his fault for getting me pregnant. He is worried because the baby might not survive after I have him or her. I'm glad you could come visit, I'm glad you still care about your mom."
"Elliot and Rosie do too, they just have jobs."
"So do you, and you have college. In California. I guess I'm just not used to having the house so empty."
"Once the baby is here it won't feel as empty. It's because of the extra rooms."
"I'm going to be so busy. The new baby, and the money. Your dad isn't making a lot of money, and he's gone a lot so I'll be busy that's for sure."
"I can help, I can do my college online and find a place here in Denver."
"No, absolutely not, you need the college experience. This baby isn't yours anyway, wait until you have your own."
"I can't wait until I find the right guy and have one of my own."
"I don't mean go out and get knocked up." I say.
"Mom I know, you've had this talk with me many times. But speaking of the right guy, there is a cute guy in my psychology class."
"No, really? How cute, what's he look like?"
"Black hair, brown eyes. He is around six foot and pretty muscular. He's in this college because of his football scholarship."
"Sounds cute." I say then smile.
"Well, I'd better get to my hotel, homework awaits me. Thanks for the tea and picking me up from the airport, mom."
"Nonsense, honey. Just stay here, we have plenty of rooms and it's free. That way you don't waste money on something you don't even realistically need."
"Thanks mom," Hope says while hugging me. "you're always right."
"Of course, I'm a mom. I'll make dinner soon after I get Noah from school, go ahead and start on your homework."
"Thanks mom." She says and goes up to her room.
"Kids, dinner is ready." I shout up the stairs. Noah comes down with a confused look on his face.
"Kids? I'm the only one here."
"Oh yeah, I forgot to tell you Hope is here for a day. Can you set the table please, thank you. Go tell your sister it's ready."
"Wow, everything smells great, mom."
"Thanks, so Noah, how was school?"
"Good, I guess."
"What's wrong" I ask.
"Nothing, it's nothing."
"Hey mom, do you think we can go shopping? I need a few more clothes since I left some here."
"Sure, I need some bigger clothes anyway, the baby is growing. Noah, wanna come? We can get you some shoes and some new clothes since you don't have school tomorrow."
"Yeah, whatever. I have tons of homework, I'm going to go eat in my room." He says then gets up and takes his plate upstairs.
"Sorry, he's been like this lately."
"You shouldn't be sorry, you told him the dog will have to wait, he needs to understand that mom. You shouldn't let him be this way."
"I know. The thing is, even if we had the money we can't take care of a dog and a baby while he's in school."
"You took care of two-year-old twins while caring for baby triplets. It's the money thing, isn't it?"
"Yeah, it is." I admit.
"Well, you know if you had a baby shower you wouldn't have to spend a lot on baby things."
"I don't want one this year."
"You're a stubborn person, you know that?"
"I know, you are too."
"Because you're my mom and dad is my dad, he's stubborn too."
"Yep, that's right." I say then we share a smile. "Well, how was dinner?"
"So good, I'll help you clean up."
"No, it's fine. Go do homework."
"I wasn't offering or asking. I said I'm helping you." After she said that she got up and started to clear the table. Truth is, I do mind when she helps. When the other kids do, it's fine because they hardly ever help unless I ask or they offer. Hope doesn't offer and I never ask for her to help, she just does. I say I never pick favorites, because I don't want to hurt anyone's feelings. Truth is, Hope is my favorite. She always has been because she's so much like me, she never takes no for an answer, she's stubborn, she has that sweet charm in her voice and in her personality, and she's extremely smart.
"Thank you." I say.
"No problem. Now I'll go do homework." She replies and hugs me before going up to her room. I sigh and go into the living room to finish the book I was reading.
Hey, see Roberta Marie, I'm not a lazy ass anymore. I finished a chapter. And I've already started writing another. So ha. :P When are you gonna update yours? Anyway, I hope everyone liked this chapter. Sorry for taking FOREVER. :D Please review, favorite, and follow. And you can follow my twitter just because I need more followers. StarrlynnBird bye!