CHAPTER 12:
"Hmm...pickles. Where are the pickles?" Kris said to herself. She was starting to crave pickles like crazy now. It was 3:30 in the morning. She was now 20 weeks along. Kris looked deeper into the refridgerator. "Ahaha." she siad pulling out the clear jar. She sat it on the counter and put some in a bowl. She walked to Jenny's nursery and sat on the floor up against the wall. Tomorrow the designers were going to start on this room. So this was the last time for a while Kris could be in here.
Jenny's room was being done in lavender and white. On one wall there was going to be a mural of a palomino filly chasing a butterfly. Kris chose this mural becasue she thought it was adorable. The filly was going to look to be around a month old. The furniture was all going to be white. And the three walls that were covered by the mural were going to lavender. Kris designed this whole room. Junior designed Conner's room.
Conner's room was going to be done in light blue and light greens. The main theme for this room was baseball. The walls were going to be two blue and two green. The crib, rocking chair and bassinet were going to be light green, and the other furniture was going to be blue. On the walls were going to be cartoon basball players. Kris thought the room was going to be cute. But Conner would soon grow out of it. That's why she wanted Jenny's room the way she designed it, becasue she wouldn't grow out of it quickly.
When Kris finished her pickles she went back down stairs and put the bown in the sink. She turned around and saw 6 month old Lady sitting by the front door.
"Hey girl. You need to go out?" Kris asked. Both puppies were house broken. She opened the door and watched Lady run to the grass. Kris walked out after her and sat on the bench on the front porch. She watched Lady run around for about five minutes before the puppy ran back to her and sat at her feet. Kris tapped the empty part of the bench beside her and Lady jumped up. She was getting big enough to jump up on things.
"We have to start training Rascal tomorrow," she said out loud as if the dog was listening. "He is getting to be such a handful. Not a sweet puppy like you." Lady just looked up at her wagging her tail. "Yeah, you don't understand. But that's okay. Your good to talk to. Unlike Junior. Lately he is all about business. I'll be sitting in the bedroom and I'll be like Junior, can you go turn off the light, or turn on the fan. And he'll get all mad saying that I make him do everything. But it's not that I mean to. It's kinda hard for me to. I'm carrying around two babies. I can't move that easily. I'm just tired of arguing with him. I love him and he said he'd be here for me through this pregnancy, but he is never here."
--
Junior heard some movement going aorund down stairs. She got out of the bed and walked downstairs. Shesaw Kris sitting on the bench outside watching Lady run around. She saw Lady jump op on the bench beside Kris.
"Yeah, you don't understand. But that's okay. Your good to talk to. Unlike Junior. Lately he is all about business. I'll be sitting in the bedroom and I'll be like Junior, can you go turn off the light, or turn on the fan. And he'll get all mad saying that I make him do everything. But it's not that I mean to. It's kinda hard for me to. I'm carrying around two babies. I can't move that easily. I'm just tired of arguing with him. I love him and he said he'd be here for me through this pregnancy, but he is never here," Junior heard her say. It wasn't that he was trying to upset her, but he realized she was right. She had been so moody lately. Junior wasn't use to her being like that. He was busy all the time with business. And Kris needed him, and the farm needed him. Without Kris riding they weren't winnig as many races as before. He was having trouble balancing the farm with a pregnant wife. Junior continued to listen to her talk to the tan puppy.
"I just wish he would listen. I know I'm moody, but it's not my fault. It's really not. Maybe he should try to carry around two babies insdie him at once. It's not that easy. I'm always in pain. Always. And trying to train horses, and finding a jockey who can ride Heart in the Breeder's. Her times aren't very good. Maybe we should just retire her now. And find a good stud for her. I don't know Lady. I miss riding. I really do. But more importantly I miss my husband. He's not the same way he use to be. He was so supportive before. He would do anything. Maybe I shoul stop being so cranky. I am putting him under a lot of pressure. I'm just scared of loosing these babies," Kris said. Junior saw tears beginning to come out of her eyes. He watched her as she stood up and Lady jumped off the bench. He turned around and ran upstairs so Kris wouldn't know he was spying on her. He laid down in the bed and closed his eyes. He heard Kris come in and heard Lady's footsteps behind her. He could feel her crawl into the bed. Junior turned over and wrapped his arms around her.
"I love you," he whispered.
"I'm sorry. I dind't mean to wake you," Kris siad back.
"It's okay. I missed you," he said looking at her through sleepy eyes.
"I miss you too," she said.
"Try and get some sleep okay? I have a good planned out for you tomorrow."
"Yes sir. I love you Junior. I'm sorry I've been such a pain," she said turning her head to look at him.
"I'm sorry I haven't been here for you like I should have been," he said. He leaned over her and planted a kiss on her mouth. She put her hand behnd his head so he couldn't lift up. She deepened the kiss.
"I want you," she said thorugh a kiss.
"Put I don't want to hurt you," Junior said.
"The doctor said it was a good thing. It helps relieve some of the stress," Kris said with a suductuve grin.
"You know I can't say no to you," Junior siad getting on top of her. They began to make passionate love. Junior promised himself at that moment that he would never leave her side. She needed him more now than ever.
--
Kris always hated the mornings the most. She would finally get comfirtable in one position, and she would have to get up. She looked over and saw Junior asleep next to her. She turned her head the other way and noticed it was after 10.
"Junior, Junior wake up!" Kris said shaking her husband, who's blaack hair was messed up from there late night. The thought put a smile on Kris' face.
"What. Huh?" Junior said sitting up really quickly in the bed.
"It's after ten. Don't you have stuff to do?" she asked.
"Not today. It's mine and your day. I'm staying here with you all day," Junior said pulling her close to him and closing his eyes to try and get some more sleep.
"Nice try babe. But I know you have things to do. You have a business to run," Kris said. Usually he would go to work before she even woke up. And if she was awake, he would barey talk to her.
"Kris. What in the world. Your going to sit there and complain about me not being here, and always working, but now your acting like you don't want me here," Junior said getting up.
"No. I don't want you to go. But usually that's waht you do!" Kris yelled back at him.
Junior rubbed his head. "You know what Kris. After I heard you talking to Lady last night I promised myself that I wouldn't leave your side until those babies were out. And I'm going to keep that promise. I'm trying to run a business, so yes, I have to work. But nothing is more important than you are. Okay?"
"You heard me?" Kris said shyly.
"Yeah, I did. And you know what? It was a wake up call to me. I told you I was going to be there a hundered percent. And I'm going to be." Junior said.
"Oh," Kris said a little embarrassed.
"I love you Kris," Junior sia getting beside her in bed. He wrapped his arms around her.
"I'm sorry," Kris said beginning to cry.
Junior lifted her chin so that she was looking him in the eye. "Baby, don't be. It's okay. I promise. I'm here now. I'm not going anywhere," he said before leaning back down and kissing her. It got deepened and a repeat of the previous night happened agan.
--
"Good boy Rascal. Sit," Kris said to the puppy. It was New Year's. Kris had two and a half months left of the pregnancy. She was getting eally excited about it. She decided since she couldn't really do much then she might as well work with Rascal. Junior was down at the track doing stuff with the press. They were going crazy over Furillo Heart. She ended up winning the Bredder's Invitational Classic. So everyone was freaking about her winning the Triple Crown and the Breeder's and being a filly. But they had retired her. Once these babies were out, Kris was going to start training her for hunter/jumper classes. Junior wanted to breed her first, but Kris didn't know. She had just tured four. She was really young to be foaling. And she was Kris' horse, so Kris got to make the decision.
Kris handed the puppy a treat and went back through all the commands. Stand, sti, stay, speak, high five, dead dog, lay down, quiet, beg, walk, heel, and most importnatly STOP. She had made a tremendous improvement with his behavior over the last month. But he was still fiesty. He liked to wrestle with Lady, but she would start growling at him. It was funny to watch.
"Hey baby," Junior said walking into the house. He walked over to Kris and kissed hte top of her head.
"Hey yourself handsome," she said. He had left before she had woken up this morning, so she didn't know he was wearing a suit. She loved him in suits. Junior smiled at her and sat down next to her.
"It's only twelve. Your doctor appointment is at two. Do you wanna go get a bite to eat?" He asked her.
"Yeah, sure. Let me go get my shoes on," she said trying to stand.
"No, you sit. I'll go get them. Which ones do you want?" he asked.
"My Sperry's will be fine," Kris said leaneing back. She watched Junior sprint up the stairs. Ken walked in the living room right after Junir left.
"Hey Kris. How you feeling today?" he asked. He was really supportive through this whole pregnancy.
"I've been pretty good. Really tired and sore, but nothing I haven't felt before," Kris siad smiling at her father-in-law.
"Well you just take care of yourself. If you need anything just let me know," Ken said patting her knee before leaving.
"Thanks," she called after him. She turned and saw Junior entering the room.
"Here you go my darling," he said getting on the floor and sliding her shoes onto her petite feet.
"Thank you," she said smiling as he grabbed her hand and helped her from the couch.
--
"These are some of the best looking babies i have seen," said Dr. Roberts that afternoon. "They are developing very ncely. Usually with twins we see one taking more nutrients and hte other one not getting enough, but that doesn't seem to be a big preoblem with these two. Are you planning on trying for the full forty weeks?"
"Well, I was planning on it. Why?" Kris asked.
"Well, I was just asking. A lot of times with multiple births the mother doesn't make i hte full forty weeks, but the babies will stay in as long as they need and still be healthy. You should aim for about 38 weeks, that why they will be well enough to survive, but it won't be too much for your body to handle. Especially since you have such a small frame," he said. Kris was beginning to get scared. "It's nothing to worry about. But don't try to ain for hte full 40 because you might not make it. But I even at 38 weeks they can survive and function normally without machines."
"Okay. Well as long as they are healthy," Junior said rubbing Kris' back.
"Thanks doc," Kris said as he was putting the equipment away.
"No problem. SInce you are about 29 weeks you wont have too much longer. Keep up the good work," he said before leaving.
--
6 weeks later
Kris was 35 Weeks. She felt huge! SHe was bigger than a normal person wiht one baby. She was ready to get these kids outof her. She heard her cell phone ringing.
"Hello?" she answered waking up from her nap.
"Hey Kris! How are you feeling today?" she heard her sister-in-law say over the phone.
"I'm fine. Just taking a nap," she answered.
"Oh, I'm sorry. I just wanted to tell you that I was on my way to set up everything for the shower. But don't worry about helping. I can handle it all myself. You just get your rest," she said.
Kris looked at the clock. It was one o'clock. The party was at four. Kris calculated that she had to start getting ready at about three. So she had two more hours to sleep.
"Okay. That's great. The door should be open. If the dogs get on your nerves just bring them up to my room," Kris said.
"Will do. Bye!" Dani said before hanging up. Kris immediately fell back asleep. The next thing she knew a pair of strong arms were wrapping around her. She leaned her head into his chest and sighed. She loved taking cat naps with Junior. She opened her eyes and looked up to see him staring at her.
"What?" she said with a little giggle.
"You are so beautiful," she said stroking her cheek.
"Yeah. Whatever. You swear," she said blushing and trying to hinde her face so Junior couldn't see it.
"Do I see blush coming?" she joked ticklinher under the chin.
"Juniorrrr! Quit it!" she cried between laughter. Junior fianlly stopped and she collapsed in his arms and they btoh fell into a nice peaceful sleep in each others arms.
A/N-Okay...so tell me what you think. I thought it was okay. I wanted to get some high points of the pregnancy in this chapter. REVIEW!