*Thank-you for all the reviews on the last chapter. They were greatly appreciated. Thank-you all so much.
It had been a month since Ryan and me visited with our fertility specialist. Everything was going well so far. I switched to boxers from briefs, wearing tight pants was never a problem for me so I didn't have to change that as I always wore lose fitting pants. I changed my diet which was extremely hard but after I got used to it I found other perks to it. It gave me a lot more energy and I of course avoided hot tubs which was pretty hard because on these chilly nights in Tampa I would have loved nothing more than to be in the hot tub with my wife. It was okay though because I was doing this for us so that we could have a baby. I just hoped that it worked. It had to. I know it would.
I had decided to take my mind off of making a baby and decided to focus on something else. I decided to spend the day with Zola and my niece Keegan while Ryan was working and while my brother and his wife were working. Zola was off of school for a holiday and Keegan had spent the night last night. My brother and his wife had recently moved to Tampa after his wife received a job transfer. It felt great to finally have some family down in Florida with me and I got to see my goddaughter more often. I love her so much she was a miracle baby for my brother and his wife. Like Ryan and me they were having trouble conceiving a baby as well. They tried for a total of 6 years going to fertility specialists, going through numerous tests and they tried In-Vitro two times but it didn't work so they chose adoption but were put on a long waiting list that would take about 5 years at the most so then they decided to try in-vitro again and she ended up pregnant with triplets. She was only a couple months into her pregnancy when she started bleeding and ended up losing two of the three. Keegan was the only surviving baby so we call her the miracle baby. Their story gives me hope. I hope it doesn't take us 6 years but their story still keeps me hoping and believing that it can happen. Keegan is such a sweetheart and it is my honor to be her godfather.
Ryan had just left for work and I was downstairs in the kitchen cleaning up from her breakfast when Keegan and Zola came downstairs. "Morning, Dad," said Zola taking a seat at the table.
"Hey, Zo," I said. "Did you sleep well?"
"Yeah except Keegan was kicking me all night," she said.
"Keegan, were you kicking your cousin?"
"Yes," she said with a smile. "But not on purpose."
"I know," I said, "so what do you two want for breakfast?"
"Is my mom here?" asked Zola.
"No," I said with a smile.
"Can we have ice cream sundaes for breakfast like the last time?"
"I don't know, Zola. Ice Cream Sundaes aren't really good for breakfast," I said. I had given them ice cream sundaes for breakfast once before and they absolutely loved it.
"Please, Dad? It's a holiday. Please?" she asked me looking at me with her dark brown eyes and long eyelashes.
"All right," I said. "Ice cream sundaes it is."
"Yay!" They both cheered together.
"But you can't tell your moms that I made you ice cream sundaes for breakfast. Okay?"
"Okay, Dad," said Zola getting bowls out.
"Keegan?"
"Okay, Uncle John," she said with a smile as I went to get the ice cream.
I put two scoops of vanilla ice cream into each bowl, heated up some fudge and poured it onto the ice cream, I put whipped cream on each pile of ice cream along with sprinkles, cookie crumbs and nuts. I put a little cherry on top and gave each of them their sundaes. They were pretty good I have to admit and it was fun to have something out of the ordinary for breakfast. Ryan wouldn't have been happy about it and neither would my sister-in-law but it was our little secret. "That was good," said Zola as she finished her ice cream and put her bowl into the sink. "Thank-you, Dad."
"You're welcome," I said as I finished mine up. I looked at Keegan and she had most of the ice cream on her face. She was a complete mess. "Keegan, did you get any of that in your mouth?"
"Yeah," she said with a smile. She was always smiling which is what I loved about her. Her smile brightened my day.
As soon as she finished up her ice cream I cleaned her up and then Zola took her into the living room to watch TV while I cleaned up the evidence. I put a load of dishes in the dishwasher and then joined the girls in the living room. They were watching Disney Jr. and even though I wasn't fond of it I watched it with them. I was surprised 7 year old Zola wanted to watch it. It was definitely out of character for her since she was years above her time. Sometimes I felt like I was talking to a little adult when I was talking to her. She was so smart it was amazing. Once they finished watching their show they went upstairs to get dressed and then I was left to do hair. I am not a hair doing type of person and I only expected to brush their hair out but with Zola I could not do that and she didn't want me to either. They both decided on pigtails which was probably the worst thing they could have given me to do besides a braid. I could have handled a ponytail but pigtails was a challenge. It took me about an hour to do their hair. After crooked parts and one ponytail being higher than the other and Zola's crying from me combing the tangles out of her hair I was finished. Their hair was staying as is. I couldn't do it anymore. Zola looked at her hair in the mirror and said, "You don't do hair very good."
"I know," I said. "I'm sorry if it doesn't look the way you wanted it to but I tried."
"It's okay," she said, "I still love you."
"I love you too," I said as I hugged her.
"I love you, Uncle John," said Keegan as she came over to give me a hug.
"I love you too, Keegan," I said with a smile. "So what now? What do you want to do?"
"TEA PARTY!" yelled Keegan.
"A tea party sounds fun," said Zola. "Let's have a tea party."
"Okay," I said. "Go get the tea party set and I will set up the table for us.. And just don't get water from the toilet."
"I won't, Dad. I was only 4 I didn't know where else to get it."
"I'm just reminding you," I said with a smile as she went upstairs with Keegan to get the tea party set while I cleared off the coffee table so we could play tea party on it. I have no problem playing tea party with the girls. It's actually a fun thing to do and it keeps them busy.
About 10 minutes later they came downstairs with Zola's tea party set being carried by Keegan and Zola carried the teapot filled with water. They brought it over to the coffee table and put it down. We began to set everything up when Zola got the idea, "we need costumes like we used to. Come on, Dad. Come get a costume with us."
"All right," I said getting up to go upstairs to Zola's room to get something to put on for the tea party. I was aware of the fact I was going to look like a fool but it was for the kids. We went through Zola's dress up kit and the girls each put on princess dresses. Zola put on a pink dress while Keegan put on a purple dress. They put on beaded necklaces, fake high heeled shoes, boas and even gloves. I stood waiting for them to tell me what I was supposed to wear. "What about me?"
"Here," said Zola, "you can wear this," she said handing me a pink hat. "And these." She handed me a pair of pink gloves to put on. I highly doubted they would fit onto my hands but I tried anyway and even though I stretched them out they were on my hands. "Oh and this beautiful purple boa," she said with a smile.
"Thanks," I said as I wrapped it around my neck while she looked for beaded necklaces and bracelets for me. I put them on as well as soon as she found them and handed them to me. "So are we ready for this tea party?" I asked.
"Not yet. You can wear a pair of Mommy's heels," said Zola with a smile.
"Zo, you know she doesn't like me messing with her heels."
"You could wear one of her dresses then?"
"Heels it is," I said.
"Okay," she said as we walked down to mine and Ryan's room. I got into Ryan's closet which is usually forbidden but I needed to get out a pair of heels. She had enough that she wouldn't notice my big feet stretched them out so I grabbed a pair of her black high heeled shoes and put them on. I will never understand how a woman can walk in those shoes. I could barely make it down the stairs.
After I finally made it downstairs we walked over to the coffee table and had our tea party. Zola poured me a cup of tea before pouring Keegan a cup of tea and then herself. She was so proper as she picked up the teacup to take a sip. "Great tea," I said after I took a sip. "What flavor is it?"
"It's peach," she said.
"Peach is my favorite," I said.
"Mine is orange," said Keegan. "I don't like peach."
"So you have orange and I have peach. Cool," I said.
"The weather is pretty today," said Zola. "Not rainy and not windy. It's the perfect day."
"Why yes it is," I said with a smile.
"So Keegan, how did you feel about Baby Goofy on Mickey Mouse Club House today?"
"He was so cute!"
"He was wasn't he?" asked Zola. "One day my mom and dad are going to have a baby too. Right, Dad?"
"Right," I said.
"And it's going to be a boy and we are going to name it Owen. Right, Dad?"
I had no idea what she was talking about or where she was coming up with this stuff. "I don't know about all that," I said, "but when God blesses us with a baby we will take it whether it's a girl or a boy."
"I know but I want a brother," she said.
"I would pray about that," I said.
"I do every night," said Zola.
"My mom can't have a baby," said Keegan, "but I want a sister!"
"I know," I said. I didn't want to say anything my brother or his wife wouldn't like. I didn't know how they explained to Keegan that she wouldn't be a big sister so I just told her I knew. They told me she had been asking for a baby sister but obviously after everything they went through with Keegan they decided they weren't going to try anymore.
"So, Keegan, how do you feel about Miss Piggy?"
"I don't know," said Keegan.
"I like her. She is a diva like me!" Zola was right about that she was certainly a diva but she was also a sweetheart.
We continued to play tea party until it was time for me to give them lunch and then after lunch we watched a Disney movie and they ended up falling asleep. As soon as they woke up they decided to play beauty shop with me. That was a fun time. I actually allowed them to put make up on my face and allowed Zola to paint my nails. She chose to paint them hot pink and blue. They were interesting colors. I even had butterfly clips put into my hair not to mention I still had on my tea party gear. It was an interesting sight to see. Just as the girls and me finished cleaning up the make up Ryan came home from work. "John, I'm home," she said walking into the living room.
"Hi," I said with a smile.
"You look charming."
"Thanks," I said with a smile. "We had a lot of fun today."
"It looks like they had a lot of fun."
"We did, Mom," said Zola as she went over to hug her. "Dad did everything we wanted him to."
"I see and John, red isn't your color."
"Baloney, Fudge and Mustard! I thought it was."
"No, Baby, it's not," she said with a smile.
"Oh okay," I said, "so you're not going to greet me with a kiss? You're just going to make fun of me?"
"No," she said, "I was going to give you a kiss.. I just had to make fun of you first."
"Thanks," I said with a smile before I softly kissed her lips. "How was work?"
"It was good," she said. "The same old thing."
"I see," I said taking off my tea party stuff before going to wash the make up off my face. "If you're not happy with it. Why don't you quit?"
"Because I don't want to quit, John. I just get bored with it sometimes."
"All right," I said as she started to take the clips out of my hair. "So what's on the agenda for tonight?"
"Probably dinner and then bed. I am exhausted. What time is your brother picking up Keegan?"
"He said by 5:00," I said as I began to massage her shoulders. "Did you have a rough day at work?"
"No, John. I'm just tired. I had Keegan all day yesterday, I worked all day today.. I'm just tired."
"All right," I said. "I can help you relax tonight if you want me to," I said softly kissing her neck.
"John, not tonight. I'm just not in the mood for that."
"And you weren't in the mood the last three nights," I said. "What is going on with you?"
"Nothing, John. I'm just tired," she said.
"All right," I said. "But if we're going to try this baby making thing we have to actually have sex."
"I know, John. I know." She was being really short with me and I wasn't sure why. I figured it was best if I left her alone.
"Fine," I said, "since you seem to be in a bad mood I will just go to the living room with the girls."
"John, I'm sorry," she said. "I don't mean to snap it's just I had a long day at work. I'm sorry."
"It's okay," I said. "I'm sorry that I am trying to get you to have sex today. We can just eat dinner, relax and go to bed."
"Thank-you but I promise you that tomorrow night we can.. Because my ovulation period begins tomorrow and you've been making these changes for a month.. So let's try."
"All right," I said with a smile. "Tomorrow night. It sounds like a plan."
"Good," she said with a smile. "I'm going to go lay down for a little bit and then make dinner."
"Don't worry about dinner. I will take care of that. You just go and relax."
"Thanks, Baby," she said with a smile. "I love you."
"I love you too," I said before kissing her lips. She went upstairs to lay down and ended up falling asleep so I made dinner for Zola and me after Keegan left and left a plate for Ryan in the microwave. I had Zola take a shower and then put her to bed and by that time I was exhausted too so I went to bed as well. I stripped down to my boxers and got into bed next to Ryan.
"John, what time is it?" she asked as I wrapped my arms around her.
"10:30," I said. "I didn't want to wake you up. I have some dinner for you in the microwave."
"Thanks," she said, "but I'm not hungry. I'll take it for lunch tomorrow. I'm going back to sleep."
"All right," I said as I continued to hold her in my arms. "Goodnight."
"Goodnight," she said before we both drifted off to sleep.
*A/N: So what did you think? Please review and thank-you for reading.