Chapter 3
After breakfast, Shawn and I drove Zack home. He couldn't wait to tell his parents the fun he had with us. We were just about to leave the house when the phone rang. It was Julie; Jennifer had had the baby. The guys decided to stay at the house while Hope and I went to visit the newest member of our family. We were met at the elevator by an extremely excited Abby. "I have a little brother! He is so cute and sweet. He weighs 7 pounds 12 ounces, he has light hair like Mom but he looks just like Dad. Come on, you have to come see him." She grabbed my arm and tugged at me to follow her. After a quick stop at the nursery, the three of us went to visit Jenn. After all she had been through with her husband's death and then almost losing the baby more than once, she finally had a look of peace on her face. Something I hadn't seen in a long time. We had just stepped in the door when a nurse came by with the baby, checked Jenn's hospital bracelet against the baby's and then left him in his little bassinet by Jenn's bed. Immediately Abby asked, "can I hold him Mom, please?" Jenn replied with a smile on her face, "honey, you've held him more than I have. Why don't we let Hope and Belle have a turn now and I promise you can hold him a little later." Abby agreed and Jenn picked the baby up out of the bassinet. She said, "I would like to introduce you to Jack Patrick Deveraux" and handed the baby to Hope. Hope cooed at Jack for a minute or two, then without warning, placed the baby in my arms. I looked at her quizzically, but she just said, "I knew you wanted to hold him." I looked down at the baby in my arms. I was blown away. I mean I had held babies before, Mimi and I were the towns most popular babysitters. This time it was different, this time I wasn't thinking about making sure I was holding him right, or willing him not to cry, I was thinking that I really wanted a baby of my own. This was the first time I had held a baby since I had been married. I looked up to see Hope studying my expression. "Thinking that you might like to have one of those some day?" I just nodded.
After I had monopolized baby Jack long enough, Hope and I left the hospital. As we were driving home, I was trying to think about how I was going to suggest to Shawn that we start a family. I was hoping he'd be open to it, but I really wasn't sure. I mean, we hadn't been married all that long. I swear Hope can read my mind sometimes because she asked me what I was thinking. "You're awfully quiet Belle, a penny for your thoughts?" "Oh not too much" I lied, "I was just wondering what Shawn would think about starting a family. I wonder if he's as ready for it as I am." "Well" she began, "I'll tell you what I know. My son has always loved kids. When JT was a newborn, he was really involved in taking care of him. He keeps coming up with reasons to spend the day with Zack, like yesterday. He approached us about it. I don't know how ready he is to become a father himself, but I know he loves kids and I know he'd love to have them with you Belle."
Hope dropped me off at home and Shawn greeted me at the door. "Hey Perfect Girl, how was your day? How are Jennifer and the baby?" "They are wonderful. Baby Jack Patrick Deveraux is healthy and Jennifer can finally relax. All of the worry about the baby's health was thankfully for nothing." I explained. "Belle, it's such a nice day out, why don't we go for a walk?" Shawn suggested. I nodded and we were off. Once we reached the park, I sat down on a bench under a tree that looked out on the playground. "Shawn, I want to ask you something, and I want your honest reaction. I want you to tell me how you really feel, not what you think I want to hear ok?" He looked at me with concern, "Ok, but you're scaring me a little." I continued, "Oh it's nothing to be scared of. I was just wondering, have you ever though about starting a family?" My husband looked me straight in the eye and said, "Belle, I have always dreamt of having babies with you. I can see us walking around this park with our kids. Spending holidays with our families, new ornaments on the Horton Christmas tree. All of it. Why do you ask?" I smiled at him, "What would you say if I said I wanted to start a family soon?" Shawn perked up, grabbed my hands with a twinkle in his eye and asked, "Are you telling me what I think you're telling me?" I was thrown off for a second before I responded, "Oh, no, I'm not pregnant." Shawn definitely looked a little unhappy about that. "But I wanted to know if you wanted to start trying to have a family. Seeing Jack today and taking care of Zack yesterday made me realize that I want to have a baby. What do you say?" "I'd say absolutely and think about all of the fun we'll have trying." He said with a mischievous smile. "In fact, let's head home and get started on that family right now." And with that, we started our walk back to our house.
After breakfast, Shawn and I drove Zack home. He couldn't wait to tell his parents the fun he had with us. We were just about to leave the house when the phone rang. It was Julie; Jennifer had had the baby. The guys decided to stay at the house while Hope and I went to visit the newest member of our family. We were met at the elevator by an extremely excited Abby. "I have a little brother! He is so cute and sweet. He weighs 7 pounds 12 ounces, he has light hair like Mom but he looks just like Dad. Come on, you have to come see him." She grabbed my arm and tugged at me to follow her. After a quick stop at the nursery, the three of us went to visit Jenn. After all she had been through with her husband's death and then almost losing the baby more than once, she finally had a look of peace on her face. Something I hadn't seen in a long time. We had just stepped in the door when a nurse came by with the baby, checked Jenn's hospital bracelet against the baby's and then left him in his little bassinet by Jenn's bed. Immediately Abby asked, "can I hold him Mom, please?" Jenn replied with a smile on her face, "honey, you've held him more than I have. Why don't we let Hope and Belle have a turn now and I promise you can hold him a little later." Abby agreed and Jenn picked the baby up out of the bassinet. She said, "I would like to introduce you to Jack Patrick Deveraux" and handed the baby to Hope. Hope cooed at Jack for a minute or two, then without warning, placed the baby in my arms. I looked at her quizzically, but she just said, "I knew you wanted to hold him." I looked down at the baby in my arms. I was blown away. I mean I had held babies before, Mimi and I were the towns most popular babysitters. This time it was different, this time I wasn't thinking about making sure I was holding him right, or willing him not to cry, I was thinking that I really wanted a baby of my own. This was the first time I had held a baby since I had been married. I looked up to see Hope studying my expression. "Thinking that you might like to have one of those some day?" I just nodded.
After I had monopolized baby Jack long enough, Hope and I left the hospital. As we were driving home, I was trying to think about how I was going to suggest to Shawn that we start a family. I was hoping he'd be open to it, but I really wasn't sure. I mean, we hadn't been married all that long. I swear Hope can read my mind sometimes because she asked me what I was thinking. "You're awfully quiet Belle, a penny for your thoughts?" "Oh not too much" I lied, "I was just wondering what Shawn would think about starting a family. I wonder if he's as ready for it as I am." "Well" she began, "I'll tell you what I know. My son has always loved kids. When JT was a newborn, he was really involved in taking care of him. He keeps coming up with reasons to spend the day with Zack, like yesterday. He approached us about it. I don't know how ready he is to become a father himself, but I know he loves kids and I know he'd love to have them with you Belle."
Hope dropped me off at home and Shawn greeted me at the door. "Hey Perfect Girl, how was your day? How are Jennifer and the baby?" "They are wonderful. Baby Jack Patrick Deveraux is healthy and Jennifer can finally relax. All of the worry about the baby's health was thankfully for nothing." I explained. "Belle, it's such a nice day out, why don't we go for a walk?" Shawn suggested. I nodded and we were off. Once we reached the park, I sat down on a bench under a tree that looked out on the playground. "Shawn, I want to ask you something, and I want your honest reaction. I want you to tell me how you really feel, not what you think I want to hear ok?" He looked at me with concern, "Ok, but you're scaring me a little." I continued, "Oh it's nothing to be scared of. I was just wondering, have you ever though about starting a family?" My husband looked me straight in the eye and said, "Belle, I have always dreamt of having babies with you. I can see us walking around this park with our kids. Spending holidays with our families, new ornaments on the Horton Christmas tree. All of it. Why do you ask?" I smiled at him, "What would you say if I said I wanted to start a family soon?" Shawn perked up, grabbed my hands with a twinkle in his eye and asked, "Are you telling me what I think you're telling me?" I was thrown off for a second before I responded, "Oh, no, I'm not pregnant." Shawn definitely looked a little unhappy about that. "But I wanted to know if you wanted to start trying to have a family. Seeing Jack today and taking care of Zack yesterday made me realize that I want to have a baby. What do you say?" "I'd say absolutely and think about all of the fun we'll have trying." He said with a mischievous smile. "In fact, let's head home and get started on that family right now." And with that, we started our walk back to our house.