*Thank-you so much for the reviews on the last chapter. they were greatly appreciated. Thank-you all so much. = )
A few days later Alex took Chelsea to her photo shoot for Macy's. She was shooting for the summer catalogue that was set to be released at the end of May. Alex took Chelsea to get some make up on and get her hair done. Chelsea was sitting in the make up chair getting the finishing touches done to her hair as she looked at her school yearbook. "Look, Mama," she said.
"What?" asked Alex getting up and walking over to the chair. She still wasn't feeling that great but she was starting to feel a little bit better.
"You know Ben's girlfriend Teagan?"
"Yeah," said Alex.
"And remember I told you she has an older sister in 4th grade that looks almost exactly like me?"
"Yeah," said Alex. She vaguely remembered Chelsea coming home from school at the beginning of the year saying there was a 4th grader that looked like she could be her sister. She didn't really pay any mind to it.
"Well, look. Her name is Kyra," she said showing her mom the book. "Doesn't she look like she could be my sister?"
Alex took the yearbook and looked at the picture of the little girl Chelsea was showing her. She had to admit she looked A LOT like Chelsea. Not identical but they shared some features. "Well, Chelsea, she does kind of look like you. Actually she looks a lot like you." Alex thought to herself and said, "No it couldn't be. There is no way. Things can't be this ironic."
"What, Mama?" asked Chelsea as the hair dresser finished straightening the last part of Chelsea's hair.
"Nothing," she said, "Can you show me Teagan?"
"Sure," said Chelsea as she flipped back to the kindergarten page. She found Teagan's picture and showed it to her mom. "She's right here."
Alex looked at the picture and they looked nothing alike. She knew she had seen Teagan's facial features before but she wasn't sure where. She didn't understand why Teagan looked so familiar but she definitely saw that face before. "Okay," said Alex.
"All right," said the hair dresser. "I'm all finished."
"Thanks," said Chelsea as she got out of the chair. She had her make up finished and her hair was straightened perfectly. She handed her mom the yearbook and headed to wardrobe. She was shooting for the bathing suit portion of the catalogue first. She was modeling in three different bathing suits. She had an orange one piece that she modeled in first. She took direction very well and she was pretty much a pro at modeling after doing it for the last 3 ½ years almost 4 years. When she finished with the one piece she put on the lime green and blue bikini. It went very good with her skin tone and Alex loved it but Chelsea on the other hand didn't like it so much. "I look so fat," she said looking at herself in the mirror.
"Chels, you are not fat," said Alex. "You are like a stick. Stop calling yourself fat."
"No, Mama, look at me! I have all this extra stuff. I'm fat."
"That extra stuff is called skin. Chelsea, you have nothing but skin and bones. You have no meat on you whatsoever."
"Mama, I need to go on another diet," said Chelsea looking at herself in the mirror.
"Okay. I'm not going to stand here and listen to you call yourself fat when you aren't fat. I don't like hearing this. Do you want to become malnourished? What did Uncle Brian tell you about eating?"
"That I need to eat from each of the 4 groups and eat 3 well balanced meals a day."
"Exactly. He's worried about your weight loss and so am I. I'm starting to think maybe modeling isn't the way to go until you learn to take better care of yourself."
"But, Mama," she said.
"No buts," said Alex, "You are not fat and I can only imagine where you got that idea."
"Mama, I'll eat. I promise. I'm not fat. Please don't take modeling away from me," she begged. "I promise I'll eat."
"All right," said Alex, "I'll let you continue to model but if you start eating less and not taking care of yourself I'm not going to have a choice to take you out of modeling. Nobody wants a girl that is as skinny as a stick. Chelsea, I think you're beautiful and you are no where near being fat. You shouldn't be so hard on yourself."
"Thanks," said Chelsea as she grabbed the towel and headed to get her pictures taken. Alex wasn't so sure about Chelsea and where she got the idea she was fat from. Alex was starting to get worried because it was getting worse. Brian had become the kids' pediatrician and he mentioned Chelsea was losing a large amount of weight because of not eating. He was getting concerned about her health and truth be told so was Alex. She hoped that threatening to take modeling away from her would make her eat more and stick to 3 well balanced meals a day but if it didn't then she would have to pull her out. The rest of the photo shoot went well. She took pictures for bathing suits, dresses, summer clothes and summer pajamas. She was exhausted by the time she was finished.
When she was finished she went into her dressing room to change back into her normal clothes and once she was dressed the person in charge knocked on the door. "Come in," said Chelsea as she put her sneakers back on.
Mrs. O'Hara made her way into the room and said, "Chelsea, I just wanted to say you looked amazing today. You did great as usual following directions. We would like for you to model for our Fall catalogue. Can you do that?"
"Mama, can I?"
"Yes," said Alex, "but you know the deal."
"I know, Mama. I have to eat more," she said. "So I can do it?" she asked as her face lit up. She was so passionate about modeling. She had the same passion for modeling as her dad did for wrestling.
"Yes," said Alex. She wasn't going to deny it to her unless she decided not to eat.
"Thank-you," she said wrapping her arms around Alex's waist. "You're awesome!"
"Thanks," said Alex with a smile.
"Good," said Mrs. O'Hara, "we will call you with the details. We're probably going to have the shoot in July sometime so that it's out in the end of August just in time for back to school time."
"Sounds like a plan to me," said Alex. "Thank-you."
"No problem," she said.
"Bye, Mrs. O'Hara," said Chelsea as her and Alex were getting ready to leave.
"Bye, Chelsea," she said.
"Bye," said Alex as they walked out the door and drove out of the city to their suburban home on the outskirts of the city.
When they arrived home they walked into the house to realize Dave had the kids out in the backyard playing with Play-Doh. It was a fairly warm day so he was also blowing up their inflatable moon bounce from Little Tykes for the kids to play on. "Hey, Daddy," said Chelsea as she ran out to the yard.
"Hey, Princess," he said with a smile as he looked up from blowing up the toy.
"I see you got the moon bounce out," said Alex with a smile. "What made you do that?"
"Ben," said Dave. "I need him to jump out his energy. He is off the walls today."
"I bet," said Alex with a smile. "I wanted to ask you a question."
"Yeah?" he asked.
"What was Sasha's last name?"
"I don't remember. I think it was Callahan or something like that. I don't really know. Why?"
"I was just wondering," she said.
"MOMMY, look," said Jordyn. "I'm making a pizza pie."
"And there's the Italian coming out in her," said Alex with a smile. "That's my little Italiano. What are you making Siah?"
"A snake," he said rolling the play-doh into the form of a snake.
"Mommy hates snakes," said Kaylee. "Right, Mommy?"
"Right," said Alex.
"Snakes are cool," said Josiah.
"Not to me," said Alex.
"So how was the shoot?" asked Dave as he walked over to Alex and wrapped his arms around her waist.
"Good," she said. "Chelsea and me just had a discussion about her eating habits. She thinks she's fat. We had to discuss that because she's not fat. I told her if she doesn't start eating the way she's supposed to then I'm going to pull her out of modeling."
"I agree," said Dave. "I agree 100 %. Isn't she too young for all that stuff?"
"Nope," said Alex, "I was about her age when my eating disorder started. I won't let it happen to her."
"Neither will I," said Dave. "So how are you feeling today? Any better?"
"A little but I still feel like crying all the time and I'm still nauseous," she said.
"You need to go to the doctor to find out what's going on," he said.
"I go on Monday afternoon," she answered. "I told you it's just menopause."
"Okay but it wouldn't hurt to get things checked out," he said.
"I know," she said. "By the way, Chelsea showed me the picture of the girl that looks like she could be her sister."
"Really?" he asked as he kissed her forehead.
"Yeah," she answered.
"Does she really look like her?"
"Yeah," said Alex. "They're not identical but they do share some features."
"What grade is she in?" he asked letting go of her waist.
"4th I think. Chelsea, what is Teagan's sister's name?"
"Kyra," she said.
"Teagan!" said Ben. "That's my girlfriend."
"One of your girlfriends," said Alex.
"I know but she's my favoritest. She's the prettiest."
"That's my boy," said Dave, "the playground player. He's playing the field."
Alex shook her head and said, "he's such a player like you."
"I'm not a player anymore.. I used to be but then I got a beautiful wife and some beautiful kids. No more playing from me. So Ben how many girlfriends do you have?"
"I have 5 now. Teagan, Nala, Natalie, Laney and Savannah," he said using his fingers to count them. He was serious about his girlfriends. Alex and Dave thought it was the cutest thing because Ben was such a rowdy boy but he was as sweet as apple pie when it came to girls. He was so sweet with them and never uttered a nasty word to them. He was a little gentleman when it came to girls but he was especially sweet when it came to his 5 girlfriends.
"Wow," said Dave. "That's awesome," he said giving him a high 5.
"I know," said Ben. "I try." Alex let out a laugh. Ben was definitely her comedic relief. Even when he was a toddler she found it hard to punish him because when she would reprimand him he would say some of the funniest stuff which made it hard for her to punish him without laughing. Even now there were times she found it hard to punish him because of the way he worded things and the stuff he would say. "But don't worry, Mom, you're still my favoritest girl in the world."
"Thanks," said Alex with a smile.
"Mommy. You're my favoritest too," said Jordyn.
"Thanks," she said again with a smile.
"Look what's ready," said Dave with a smile as he pointed to the inflatable moon bounce. The kids got excited and let out screams of happiness and ran over to it. They climbed in and started jumping. While they were jumping Alex and Dave picked up the play-doh and put it away for next time. "You know you're my favoritest girl in the world," he said.
"And you're my favoritest guy," she said with a smile. "I love how Ben talks. He makes improper grammar funny and cute. But I do love you."
"I love you too," he said as he quickly kissed her lips. They sat down on the patio and watched the kids enjoy themselves for the rest of the day. It was always great to just sit back and watch the kids play and hear their laughter. That was something Alex and Dave both loved to hear. It was a nice warm spring day and Alex and Dave just spent it relaxing watching the joy of their children come alive before their very eyes. It was very rewarding for both of them.
On Monday afternoon Alex left her job early to go to the doctor's office. She was incredibly nervous. She was so scared that the doctor would confirm her fear of going through menopause but she had to realize it was all a part of life and it was going to happen sometime. When she arrived at the office she walked in and signed in. She walked over and took a seat to wait to be called back. She picked up a magazine and began to read it until she heard, "Alexandra Bautista." She laid the magazine down and followed the nurse to the back. "I just need you to step up on the scale," she said.
"Okay," said Alex as she stepped up on the scale.
"130 lbs," she said. "Mrs. Bautista, here is a cup for you. I need you to pee in the cup for me."
"Why?" asked Alex taking the cup.
"Just to make sure nothing is wrong with you or that there's no bacteria in your urine."
"Okay," said Alex as she walked to the bathroom. She peed in the cup like she was told and when she finished she handed it to the nurse and the nurse led her to the room.
"So Mrs. Bautista, what seems to be the problem today?"
"I've just been sick lately, I've been crying at the drop of a hat, my boobs hurt and I missed my period," she said, "I think I'm going through menopause."
"How old are you?"
"35," she said.
"I see," said the nurse as she wrote it down on the paper. "And what was the first date of your last period?"
"Um, March 10th," she said.
"Okay," said the nurse as she jotted it down. "Have you been experiencing any burning or heavy discharge?"
"No," said Alex.
"Okay," she said. "I just need to check your blood pressure and then I will get the doctor in here."
"Okay," said Alex as the nurse took her blood pressure. Her blood pressure was a little high but not too high. The nurse took the clipboard, gave Alex a gown to change into and then left the room to get the doctor. Alex sat and waited for the doctor to come in. The room was cold and she was getting more and more nervous the longer she waited. She pulled out her cell phone to see the time and realized she had waited for a half hour before there was a knock on the door. She put her cell phone away and said, "come in."
"I'm sorry it took so long. I was just dealing with another patient," she said. "I am Dr. Anderson I will be your doctor today."
"Hey," said Alex with a smile.
"So what's going on today?" she asked looking over Alex's chart.
"I think I'm going through menopause," she answered.
"And what makes you think you're going through menopause?"
"I missed a period, I'm sensitive, my boobs hurt and I've been getting sick at ease."
"Okay," she said. "How old are you?"
"I'm 35 years old," she answered.
"I guess that's possible but I doubt you're going through menopause. Why don't you have a seat up on the table while I examine you to see what's going on?"
"Okay," said Alex as she walked over to the table. She climbed up on the table and laid back. The doctor touched her tender breasts and Alex said, "Ouch. That hurts a lot."
"They seem to be a little swollen. That's probably the tenderness," she said as she felt Alex's stomach. She felt Alex's abdomen and let out a "hmm." She continued to feel in that spot before she said, "I seemed to find a lump. I'm going to do an ultrasound just to see what's going on. Okay?"
"Okay," said Alex.
The doctor left the room to get the ultrasound machine. The nurse came back in with the doctor and they started up the machine. When the machine was warmed up Dr. Anderson put gel on the probe and said, "this might be a little cold," as she lifted Alex's gown.
"Okay," said Alex as the doctor placed it on her stomach. She was really nervous because of the doctor saying she found a lump. It could have been anything. Alex closed her eyes as the doctor ran the probe over her stomach. Alex couldn't remember the last time she was this scared. At this point the only thing she wanted to hear was that it was nothing and that she was going through menopause.
The doctor continued to run the probe over Alex's stomach and she stopped in a spot. Alex closed her eyes tighter knowing that the probe had stopped moving. "Oh. Boy," said the doctor.
"What?" asked Alex with her eyes still closed. "Just tell me. Do I have cancer or a tumor? Am I going through menopause?"
"Not exactly," said the doctor. "I think you should look at the screen."
"I really don't want to," said Alex.
"Just look at the screen," said Dr. Anderson.
"Okay," said Alex, "but I don't…" she started to say as she looked at the screen and then she saw a familiar picture and said, "what the hell is that?"
"That," said Dr. Anderson, "is your baby."
"I'm sorry," said Alex. "It's my what?"
"Your baby," she said. "Here's the amniotic sac and right here is the baby.."
"I know what it is," said Alex with tears coming to her eyes, "but how? I had my tubes tied."
"Sometimes it happens. The chances of the procedure failing in the first 5 years is greater than any other time. When did you have them tied?"
"4 years ago," said Alex holding back from crying.
"If I were you I would start playing the lottery because that only happens to 1-3 women out of 100.."
"I don't have to play the lottery," said Alex starting to cry. She could no longer hold it in, "I'm already rich.. And apparently pregnant. Are you sure?"
"I'm sure. Right there it is. I would say you're about 6 weeks pregnant."
"And it's in my uterus and not my tube?"
"It's implanted in your uterus. See?" she said pointing to the baby. "You're pregnant. Congratulations."
That was all it took for Alex to lose it. "I Can't believe this! How did this happen?" she began to cry hysterically. She never would have expected that to happen but it was. She thought she was done with the late nights, early mornings, sleepless nights, the diaper changing and the bottle feeding. At this point she wished she was going through menopause. She was 35 years old. She felt she was too old to have another baby and then there was Dave. What would he say? He's 52 years old. Alex was doing the math inside her head and realized that by the time the baby was 18 she would be 53 going on 54 years old and Dave would be 70 years old by the time the baby entered college. She was figuring it all out in her mind. By the time the baby was done with college she'd be 57 and Dave would be 74. Alex continued to cry hysterically as the doctor printed off a sonogram picture for her, she turned off the machine and then left the room to give Alex the time to get herself together. Alex kept telling herself she could wake up anytime from this nightmare she was facing. They had 5 kids already.. One that was prepubescent, two that were in kindergarten and two that were 4 years old.. They were going to have their hands full that was for sure. Alex finally got herself together and then got herself dressed. The doctor came back in and gave her the sonogram picture, told her to take prenatal vitamins and then had her schedule an appointment. Alex wasn't ready for this and she knew Dave wasn't going to be happy about it. Alex could barely keep it together as she drove to the barber shop. Her hands were shaking and her nerves were running wild. She pulled up in front of the barber shop and took a deep breath before she got out of the car.
She walked into the barber shop and saw Tony working the register. "Damn, Alex, you look like shit."
"Shut up," she said. "I had a rough day."
"I'm sorry," said Tony, "so did Athena. She told me we need to talk when I get home."
"Yeah well, where's Dave, I need to talk to him."
"He's busy with a customer right now. You're going to need to wait until he's finished."
"Or you can take over for him and let me talk to my husband," she said.
"Geez. You're insistent," he said walking away from the register. He walked over to Dave and said, "Your beautiful wife is here."
"She is?" he asked.
"Yeah and she wants to talk to you. She told me to take over so you can go talk to her."
"Damn," said Dave, "it must be important. Can you take over for me while I go talk to her in the back?"
"Sure," said Tony. "Go handle your business."
"I will," said Dave as he wiped off his hands. He made his way to the register to see Alex standing there with her eyes puffy and a not so happy look on her face.
"Alex," he said, "what's wrong?"
"Baby," she said holding back from crying, "we need to talk."
*A/N: So even though Chelsea is a brat you have to feel bad for her because she isn't taking care of herself and she's not eating like she should. Should Alex pull her out of modeling? Then Chelsea shows Alex some girl that looks like she could be Chelsea's sister and Alex agreed Kyra and Chelsea look alike. not Identical but alike. Interesting. Poor Alex got the shock of a life time. She went to the doctor's expecting to be told she was going through menopause instead she finds out she's pregnant again after getting her tubes tied. She was an emotional wreck. CAn you blame her? What's Dave going to say? Let's hope he doesn't faint again. lol. So what did you think? Please review and thank-you for taking the time to read.