These Next Steps
The next couple of months passed by in a blur of work, school, and studying. Jo and Alex continued to grow in their relationship and made an effort to improve their communication after that night when they had opened up to one another. Everyday Jo tried to find ways to encourage Alex and help him see what a support he was for his family. Alex had never been more ready to kick back and relax when spring break finally rolled around.
It was Tuesday, the second day of the break, when Jo got up and found Alex already in the kitchen making her breakfast. Surprised, she exclaimed, "What are you doing?" as she gently padded across the floor towards him wrapping her arms around his waist and pressing her cheek to his back.
He turned in her arms and reciprocated the hug placing a kiss on top of her head. "I am making you breakfast," he stated the obvious. "You need a good meal before you take your test today." He ushered her over to the table and set a cup of orange juice down in front of her.
She beamed up at him, "Really, Alex? That's so sweet."
He returned her grin with a cocky one of his own, "That's not all I did," he pointed the spatula that was in his hand to a handful of sharpened pencils, an eraser, and a couple bottles of water that were on the counter. "You should have everything you need to make it through today."
"Aww, thanks, you are the best," she gushed grabbing his hand that had just set a steaming plate of eggs, bacon, toast and hash browns down in front of her. She kissed the inside of his wrist before letting him go and then inhaled the enticing aroma of her breakfast. He came back to the table with a heaping plate of his own.
"So, are you ready? Are you nervous?" he asked. She was going to take her GED test that day.
She shook her head as she finished chewing. "No I'm not nervous at all, really. I feel like I know this stuff." He nodded in return as he shoveled more food into his mouth.
Forty-five minutes later Alex walked Jo to the door with Briar in his arms. She kissed Briar on the forehead and then Alex on the lips and turned to go. "You've got this Jo," Alex said, "you are the smartest person I know. You are going to kick ass." He gave her an apologetic look when she sharply cut her eyes to him and then looked to the baby in his arms silently scolding him for his language. He pulled her in for one last kiss and then shooed her down the hallway.
"Well now, what are we going to do all day, huh?" Alex asked his four month old son. The baby cooed and grinned in reply. Alex smiled, "Is that right, buddy?" he settled down on the couch with a bottle for Briar.
Jo made her way across the nearly abandoned campus. The testing center was on the edge of the University of Iowa campus and not too far for her to walk. She entered the room where she would be spending the majority of her day and sat down taking a deep breath to prepare herself for the most important test she had taken yet in her life. The room was brightly lit and just a touch on the cool side but overall was as comfortable as could be expected. There were two other people already in the room and one more rushed in right ahead of the test moderator. The gruff moderator handed out the tests went over the instructions and then the testing began.
Jo opened up her booklet and read over the first few questions smiling to herself realizing she knew the material well. She steadily worked her way through the tests and was surprised when she looked up at the clock and noticed it was five after noon. About that time the moderator cleared his throat and stopped the testing for a thirty minute break. She stood up and stretched. She made her way out of the room to a vending machine she had seen down the hall. She had a snack and used the bathroom using the remaining time to stretch her legs and get some fresh air.
When they met back to finish the testing Jo once again took a breath and focused on the task at hand. She breezed through the rest of the questions and happily hopped up to turn her test in to the moderator. She glanced at the clock on her way out of the room. It was 3:48. Not bad she thought to herself.
As soon as she stepped outside her eyes lit up at the sight that met her. Alex was sitting on a bench across from the building with Briar sitting in his lap and he was tickling the baby making him shriek with laughter and baby babble. She clapped her hands together and waved at her boys.
"Hey, buddy, look who it is," Alex said lifting Briar up and pointing at Jo as he made his way over to meet her. "It's your mommy. Do you see mommy?" he asked with a laugh as the baby almost launched himself out of his dad's arms to get to his mom.
"Hi baby, hi," Jo cooed taking the baby into her arms and hugging him tight kissing his head over and over. "Hi, what are you doing here?" she turned her attention to Alex placing a lingering kiss on his lips.
"We knew you would be getting done soon and it was a nice day so we came to meet you here. Get out get a little fresh air," he explained wrapping his arm around her waist and pulling her close into his side as they turned to walk back to the apartment.
"Well, I am so glad you did. I missed you guys today."
"And, how did it go?" Alex asked curiously.
"Good, great really. I think I did really well," she answered.
"I knew you would. You are awesome," he gave back as they continued to stroll slowly across campus.
"Yeah, it actually seemed pretty easy for me," she admitted. "I really did kick… ahem," she giggled with a cheeky grin at him. He laughed along with her bumping her with his hip as they walked.
The next day Jo was off work and she, Alex, and Briar spent the day lounging on the couch in their pajamas watching movies. Waking up from a nap that afternoon, Alex looked down at Jo who was laying with her head in his lap as he was reclined back in the cushions with his feet kicked up on the table in front of him. He smiled noticing her gaze on him as well, "I miss you," he stated quietly.
She burst out in laughter, "What do you mean? I'm right here laying on you."
"No, not today. Every other day though. Do you realize there are days when we are lucky to spend even two hours of time awake together?"
She sighed turning serious, "Yeah, I know. I hate it as much as you do, but I don't know what else to do, Alex. What can we do?"
He shrugged in response, "I don't know. I mean I know you have to work, and I have class and wrestling. I just miss you," he ended weakly.
She sat up and wrapped her arms around him tightly. She stroked his cheek and kissed him deeply on the lips. "I know; it will get better though. One of these days it will get better, right?" she asked unsure but hopeful.
He gave her a half-smirk and looked at her through hooded eyes, "Yeah I guess it will eventually."
She rubbed her nose with his and then nuzzled his neck, "But, I'm here now," she murmured planting soft kisses on his neck, "and Briar is probably still gonna nap for another hour at least…" she grabbed his hand and pulled him off the couch leading him to the bedroom.
One night a couple of weeks later, Alex proudly presented Jo with her GED scores and diploma when she got home from work. "I did it?" she marveled, "I have a diploma. I'm a high school graduate… well basically."
He grinned, "You did it, baby, congratulations." He pulled her into an embrace hugging her tightly. "I knew you would. I am so proud of you." He loosened his hold on her and grabbed the papers that had come in the mail along with her diploma showing them to her, "You didn't just do it, you killed it. Look at your scores. I told you, you were the smartest person I know."
She chuckled at his reaction and smiled at the pride in his voice and written on his face. She looked at the scores and was surprised to see how well she did. She hadn't had any problems with the test and really had thought it was pretty easy but she didn't know she had done so well. She was proud of herself but also felt a little disappointed that she hadn't been able to finish high school. She missed the classes and the challenge of the work. But just a few more years, she thought, in a few more years I can go to college.
Alex broke into her thoughts, "You don't work tomorrow do you?" She shook her head. "Good, we are celebrating," he informed her. "I kinda already invited Jace and Lindsay to dinner to celebrate," he explained sheepishly, "I hope that's okay."
Jo smiled liking the idea, "Yeah of course. It will be fun."
The next night the two young families met for dinner at a local pizza café. They talked and laughed and caught up with each other. They hadn't had a chance to get together in quite awhile. "So, we have some good news," Alex started after they placed their orders. "Jo took and passed the GED test. She is now a graduate with a diploma." He wrapped his arm around Jo's shoulders and grinned at her proudly.
Jace cheered and Lindsay clapped and smiled at her friend, "Jo that's great." Abbie cheered along with her parents having no idea what was going on and Briar added his voice to the ruckus.
They stayed late talking after they had all finished eating. Jace piped up during a lull in the conversation, "We have some news of our own, actually," he started looking over to Lindsay who just nodded at him. "We are having another baby."
"Oh my gosh, congratulations!" Jo exclaimed happily moving around the table to hug Lindsay. "How far along are you?"
Lindsay returned the hug and then softly placed her hand on her still flat stomach, "Twelve weeks."
"That's great guys," Alex added. "Isn't it?" he asked knowing where they were in their life and not knowing if this was something they wanted right now.
Jace nodded across the table at Alex, "Yeah, it is. I wasn't so sure at first. I mean, it wasn't planned and now might not be the best time, but we're happy about it."
Alex tickled Abbie getting her attention, "Are you going to be a big sister?"
She giggled and looked up at him with big eyes nodding importantly, "Yeah and I'm going to be the bestest big sister." The adults all smiled and chuckled at the little girl.
"I don't think she really gets what is going on," Lindsay stated looking at her daughter fondly.
"Yeah probably not," Jo agreed. "You can practice with Briar," she told Abbie, "You can hold him and feed him his bottles and change his diapers."
The little girl was nodding along right up to the part about diapers when she turned her nose up and cried out, "Ewww. Not diapers," causing all the adults to laugh again.
"You know," Jace started when the laughter died down, "We are staying here this summer, but we are moving into one of those duplexes a couple miles from campus. The one next to ours is empty. You guys should rent it."
"Oh yes, you should," Lindsay added her support.
Alex looked at Jo who just shrugged. "I don't know, we'll have to look into it," he told his friends noncommittally.
A few days later, Jo returned home to the apartment with Briar following his well-baby check up with the doctor. Alex was sitting at the table looking over some papers. He looked up and greeted his family with a small smile and wave. "What are you studying so hard?" Jo asked looking over his shoulder curiously.
"I went and checked out those duplexes with Jace today and I went ahead and picked up an application to rent. I didn't say yes or no or anything yet," he hurried to explain. "I just wanted to have the paperwork to look over. But Jo, I really think we could do this. And they are nice, nicer than this apartment, bigger with a real yard Briar could play in."
Jo laughed at Alex's enthusiasm, "Well, okay, I mean if it is something you want to do and you think we can afford it and everything; I trust you." She laid Briar down on a blanket in the living room area and walked back over to peruse the papers with Alex.
"Thanks, Jo, I really think it will be good for us. We can feel out the application and then tomorrow we can turn it in and you can have a look around," he pecked her on the lips.
"You know, it's funny you should bring up applications, because I did something today after Briar's appointment," she hesitantly said.
"Oh yeah, the doctor. How did that go?" he asked half listening as he started filling out papers.
She rolled her eyes, "It went good. He is right where he should be developmentally and he is healthy." Alex nodded his head to what she said never looking up from what he was doing. Frustrated, she sighed, "Alex," she turned his head towards her to get his attention, "can you stop for a minute? I was trying to tell you something."
He gave her a confused look then laid his pen down, "Okay, sorry, what?"
"At the doctor's office I noticed a sign listing job openings at the hospital and one caught my eye," she took a deep breath before continuing not sure how he would react that she hadn't discussed any of this with him first, "I applied to be a nurse aid at the hospital. It's twelve hour shifts, but only three days a week. I will be able to be home with you more," she tried to make the job sound as good as possible. "I will be making more than I am now and after ninety days I will get benefits." When she stopped talking she nervously looked up into Alex's face.
"Um… wow… okay, I didn't expect that," he said slowly.
"I know I should have talked to you about it first, but I didn't get the job yet or anything I just put in an application. I won't even go for the interview if you don't want me to," she added insecurely. "But, Alex, I will be working in a hospital around real doctors and… and… I really want to do this."
"Jo, calm down. I didn't say anything. You haven't let me say anything yet. I am just digesting this all, but I say go for it. I mean why wouldn't I want you to do this?" he reached over the table and held her hand rubbing his thumb across the top of it.
She gave a big sigh of relief, "I don't know. I was just so nervous after I actually gave them my application. I thought I should have talked to you first. Do you think I can do it? Do you think they will actually hire me? I will have to take a class obviously, but the hospital offers it."
Alex chuckled, "Jo, slow down. Yes, I do think you can do it. I think you can do anything you want to do. And I do think they will hire you. I think you will blow them away in your interview."
She smiled up at him gratefully, "Thank you."
He went back to filling out the application for the duplex and she got up to find something to make for supper. Both had minds full of thoughts about their future and these next steps they were taking.
