It was the big day and Caroline wasn't able to sleep due to nerves, but they were happy nerves, as she walked into the kitchen seeing Brenda, Della, and Danica up with coffee.
"Nervous?" Brenda asked as Caroline hugged her twin as she nodded gently,
"A little." Della smiled,
"I was too, when I married Dad." Danica and Caroline smiled softly as a 2 – year – old Emma padded in the kitchen to snuggle with her Aunt Caroline.
"Hi, cutie pie." The other women giggled softly as Emma smiled,
"I love you, Emma Rose." Danica smiled, seeing Ken and Caroline together made her so happy and it honestly got her feeling so blessed because she had Isaiah and her daughter.
"Something on your mind, Dani?" Brenda asked as she pulled her sister – in – law aside as Danica smiled,
"All of this is making me want another baby. I know that Caroline's not pregnant but seeing her with Ken reminded me of how Isaiah and I were so in love when we first married and found out about Emma." Brenda smiled,
"I mean, Emma's 2 and she would be more than happy to have a sibling to play with." Danica smiled as Brenda nodded,
"I'm sure that Isaiah wouldn't mind if you talked him into trying for another one."
As everyone went about their day,
"Ken are you alright?" Isaiah asked sincerely as Ken looked to him,
"Oh! Y – yeah. I'm fine." Isaiah chuckled,
"You're not. Talk to me." Ken relented,
"I'm nervous, I love her but – " Isaiah smiled,
" – You're worried that it won't work. But Ken it will. You treat her exactly how Dad treats Mom. Willing to move heaven and earth for her." Ken nodded,
"Pretty much." Caroline and Brenda were watching as they smiled,
"You ready for today, Caroline?" Brenda asked as Caroline nodded,
"I am. I love him so much." Brenda smiled as she and Caroline went to the church to go get ready, along with Della.
"Hey, Caroline." Isaiah called before the ladies left as Caroline looked to her baby brother as they hugged,
"I'm so damn proud of you. And if Ken gives you any problems…" Caroline laughed,
"I'll call you. I love you so much Isaiah William." The siblings hugged as Della smiled softly as Perry walked behind them as Caroline looked up,
"Daddy…" Caroline started as her voice waivered as Perry pulled his oldest child in for a hug as he let her cry.
"Nervous?" Perry asked as Caroline pulled back and nodded,
"But I love him so much." Perry nodded as he spoke,
"He loves you as well. And I'm so happy that you're trusting your heart." Caroline nodded and whispered into Perry's chest,
"Thank you, Daddy. I love you." Perry held her close and nodded when he let her go,
"Go on, I'll see you soon my darling girl." Caroline, Brenda, Della, and Danica giggled as they left the house to go to the church as Perry smiled remembering when Della told him about what they thought was only Caroline and not Caroline and Brenda,
Perry had just arrived at Della's house,
"Oh, thank you for the flowers Perry. That's too kind of you." Della smiled once she received them after they kissed. Perry smiled softly; she was so beautiful as always.
Once dinner was consumed and they were sitting on Della's couch in the living room,
"…Della…" Perry started as Della placed a finger on his lips to stop him,
"I have something to say, well *she chuckled wryly* I need to 'fess up. I didn't sleep in today, for the last 10 weeks… I've been feeling nauseous, noticing that my temper has been snapping more easily, and I'm getting tired doing simple office work. I went to my doctor this morning and… I'm pregnant, Perry and it's yours." Della started before looking to Perry as his eyes lit up in happiness before leaning in to kiss her softly before letting Della continue,
"After the appointment, I actually went over to Hamilton's to talk to Alexandra. While I was over there Hamilton had come back and encouraged me to tell you today, and it's going to be pretty hard in a few weeks to keep this hidden." Perry nodded,
"What if I told you that I figured it out right before I came over and that no matter what happens that I will always love you?" Della looked to him and saw the question that was in the back of his mind, the same question she'd been turning down for years.
Now with a baby on the way, she had no option. She had to marry him, I mean he must love me enough for me to be pregnant with his child, she thought with a deep breath and answered with a smile,
"I know what you're about to ask, and the answer is 'yes'. You've won me over, my darling husband/father – to – be." She finished as Perry smiled hugging her gently,
"When are we expecting our little bundle of joy to arrive?" Perry asked as Della smiled,
"The week of July 11th. But the doctor said that was only a guess, the baby could come a little early or a little late. She reassured me that most first babies that she's ever delivered are typically born between a week early to a week overdue." Perry nodded calmly but Della could see his eyes glimmer with excitement,
"If you ever, and I mean ever, need any time off during your pregnancy. Let me know. I don't want you working yourself to exhaustion, to a possible miscarriage, or even working yourself into labor at the end." Della nodded with a warm smile,
"I know, Chief."
As Caroline was getting read for the ceremony,
"Mama?" Caroline asked as Della was staring into space as Della chuckled and hugged her daughter,
"I was thinking about the day you and your sister were born."
July 4 1957, 5:00 am.
"Ow…" Della woke with a quiet wince which to her dismay woke Perry up too,
"Do I need to call Dr. Johnson?" Della smiled softly. Perry had been on edge each and every night for about two weeks. Della chuckled,
"No, Caroline's using her tactic to her advantage, those super strong kicks. She wants her Mama's attention and she got it for sure." Perry smiled and went back to sleep as Della got up and sat on their balcony overlooking the ocean with a smile caressing her baby bump,
"We love you so much Caroline Hazel Mason, you've given your Daddy and I constant reminders of how blessed we are." Della sat there for two more hours before Perry woke up and stood by the balcony doors with a smile,
"Perry, did I wake you?" Della asked with a small smile as Perry shook his head,
"No, it's already 7." Della nodded and got up to get dressed but winced again,
"Caroline's excited." Perry smiled with a gleam in his eyes as Della smiled.
Della decided to wear a simple white tea length, short sleeved button – down maternity dress and flats – no makeup, and her hair in a loose bun as she knew that it was their closest friends that were coming over.
Gertie was the first one over around 10 am with a surprise present for Della and the baby.
"Oh, Gertie. You shouldn't have." Della said with a smile as she opened it to see a very intricate baby quilt as Gertie beamed,
"Well, it's actually from Paul and I." Della gasped and hugged her friend gently,
"Is it official now? The two of you?" Gertie blushed and nodded as Della smiled brightly,
"I've noticed how you look at each other. I'm happy for you both." Gertie smiled as Paul walked in and kissed Gertie softly,
"Hey, beauties." Della smiled,
"Thanks for the baby quilt." Paul smiled as Della winced again as he and Gertie looked to each other. They knew Della was going into labor. As the party began and Della was helping get food on the table for lunch…
"Oh!" She said as she looked down to see a puddle at her feet as the pain came,
"Perry!" She called as Perry and Dr. Johnson came flying into the kitchen, and seeing the puddle they got her to the bedroom as everyone in the living room silently cheered. Caroline Hazel was officially on her way!
"Just breathe, Della." Perry whispered as Della cried out in pain for another contraction,
"You're at a 6, how long have you been laboring?" Dr. Johnson asked as Della breathed as the contraction was over,
"I don't know. A day, day and a half maybe?" Dr. Johnson nodded,
"Well, since your water broke… we don't have that long to wait." Della began to protest as another contraction came,
"But Caroline's not due – wait, here comes another one. Ow…" Once the contraction was over,
"Maybe she's learning early how to overrule her Mama's objections." Dr. Johnson joked hoping to lighten the mood as Della and Perry chuckled,
"I certainly hope not!" Della chortled before an even stronger contraction hit and she began to push,
"That was fast!" Dr. Johnson exclaimed as she checked Della after she finished pushing and nodded,
"When the next contraction comes, you need to push again." Della nodded and once the contraction came she began to push, crying out in pain.
"Push, Della, Push!" Perry coached over Della's pained cries as she pushed,
"Ow!" Perry only smiled even though Della's grip on his hand was strong enough to possibly break it and once she relaxed,
"You did really great, Della." Dr. Johnson coached with a smile as Della breathed deeply but still maintained her smile between contractions,
"What time is it?" Della asked,
"Quarter to 1 pm." Perry replied as Della nodded but braced herself to push again as she felt another contraction come,
"That's it Della! Bear down, 'atta girl!" Dr. Johnson coached,
"Keep it up, Della." Perry coached as well as Della pushed. What they didn't know is that Alexandra had been a little bit of a fly on the wall, waiting for the right moment to jump in. A little while later,
"Oh!" Della screeched after one push as Dr. Johnson smiled,
"You're almost there, I see the head. Push!" Della pushed screaming louder than before but broke down sobbing happily when she heard Caroline's cries,
"Looks like you two were right, it's a girl!" Dr. Johnson said as they heard cheering coming from the living room as Dr. Johnson cleaned Caroline up and handed her to Perry. Della looked to her husband and smiled softly seeing him hold their baby girl,
"She's so beautiful, Della." Perry said as his voice waivered as he began to cry happily,
"Let me see – oh, I have to push again. What's happening?" Della asked as she began to push again as Dr. Johnson checked her,
"Perry, get Caroline out of here. Della's not done yet. Caroline's going to become a sister soon." Della and Perry looked to each other in shock as Alexandra stepped in,
"Go, Perry. I've got this." Perry nodded and took Caroline out to the living room as everyone began to crowd him and Caroline as Perry shook his head as he sat in his recliner,
"What's wrong with Della?" Hamilton asked as Perry said,
"Looks like we're having twins. The second one's on its way now." Hamilton opened his mouth as Della's screams filled the house again,
"…Push, Della! The second one's moving a little quicker. You can do it!" Dr. Johnson coached over Della's screams and a few pushes later… the cry of the second baby entered the house as everyone relaxed with a smile,
"It's another girl, Della." Dr. Johnson cooed after she cleaned the newborn up and placed her in Della's waiting arms as Della began to cry happily,
"Hello, sweetie. It's me, Mama." Perry walked in a few moments later after Dr. Johnson cleaned Della up and saw that no damage was done,
"Twins, Della." Della smiled,
"We need a name for Caroline's sister." Perry smiled,
"Brenda Elizabeth." Della nodded and chuckled as Brenda began to coo up a storm,
"My aren't we talkative today?" Perry smiled and helped Della to get both babies in her arms as she smiled,
"They look like you, Perry."
"Oh! They're so precious." They heard as they looked up to see Gertie and smiled,
"Come in." Della said with a nod as their friends came in and life went on as normal that fateful Independence Day.
"It was one of the happiest days of my life, and I think Daddy is in agreement with me." Caroline and Brenda smiled as Brenda hugged Caroline from behind as Danica took a picture of that moment.
As the ceremony drew closer,
Caroline, Brenda, Della, and Danica were laughing as they were finishing getting ready when Perry walked in as Caroline turned around as she was laughing which caused Perry's breath to catch in his throat. Seeing Caroline smile like she just did, made his heart flutter happily.
"Daddy…" Caroline said with a smile as Perry began to tear up. His daughter was so beautiful in her wedding gown as Caroline noticed and she smiled,
"Daddy, please. Don't make me cry." Della chuckled softly as Brenda hugged her,
"Called it." Brenda laughed,
"I could've told you that. I know how much Caroline's got Daddy wrapped around her finger." Della laughed softly,
"And you've got me wrapped around your finger, Brenda Elizabeth." Brenda blushed softly as Isaiah walked in as Caroline hugged her baby brother,
"You look so beautiful, Caroline." Isaiah said as he was able to get a blush from his big sister as Caroline kissed his cheek.
"I love you so much, baby brother. Thank you." Perry and Della smiled, feeling blessed to have three children who over the years managed to remain close. Danica took a picture of the three siblings as they hugged.
The ceremony was short and no eye was dry during the entire ceremony.
After the speeches were done,
"I'm so proud of you Caroline." Perry said at the beginning of their Daddy/Daughter dance as Caroline smiled a teary smile.
"Thank you, Daddy." Della and Brenda looked on as they smiled the same teary smile Caroline had.
As the reception drew to a close,
"I love you, Ken Malansky." Caroline said as they kissed as Ken replied with a smile,
"And I love you, Caroline Mason – Malansky." Caroline giggled as she heard her new last name from her new husband.
I hope y'all enjoy this addition!