The next morning the girls got up early and headed downstairs. They had planned to spend the whole day with their Dad, just the three of them. They were disappointed when they realized that he was nowhere to be found. They went into the living room and found their Mother sitting on the couch, watching the same thing they'd been watching the day before.
"Oh," she said, "I wonder if they are going to get together?" She sighed. The girls giggled, but she did not notice. Instead she invited them to sit and watch with her. One of them sat on either side of her.
"Where's Daddy?" Zoe asked.
"I'm sorry, darlings." She apologized. "Daddy had to work, he said to give you these." She said, kissing each of them on the top of their heads. "But that's why it's just going to be the three of us today, okay?" The girls nodded and smiled. "So, what do you want to do?" Monica asked.
"Not shop." Said Tessa.
"Yeah," Zoe agreed.
"This is New York City, there has to be something for us to do other than shop. I know that there is, my vision is just occluded at the moment."
"How about the park?" Zoe suggested.
"I could go for that," Tessa said, "but what about your arm?"
"I'll take care of it."
"We can only go if, you are extra careful with it Zoe."
"I can assure you that I will be Mommy!"
.....................................
They returned to the house two hours later. They were just on time too, because when they got inside it began to snow. Tessa and Zoe went upstairs and Monica went to the kitchen where Gloria and Tess were already making dinner.
"What are we having?" Monica asked.
"Potato-leek soup and bread." Tess said.
"Good." Monica replied. "How are you feeling today, Gloria?"
"Better, but still not all that great. How are you?"
"I'm alright, and remember if you have any questions, just ask."
"Thank you." Suddenly Tessa and Zoe came downstairs.
"What are we having for lunch?" Tessa asked her.
"Sandwiches."
"Monica, I have a question."
"Yes Gloria."
"What does labor feel like?"
"Oh, Gloria, you are to early, your only..."
"I know, but I really think this is it..." She said, taking a deep breath. Monica and Tess exchanged concerned glances.
"Come on Gloria." Tess said wrapping her arm around her, "let's go." She said as they left the room.
"Girls, be good, finish making dinner. Tell Daddy and Uncle Adam when they get here. I'll call you periodically." Then their Mother left too.
"Tessa?"
"Yeah."
"Can we still have lunch, please?"
"Sure." She said, "but one question first, your Aunt goes into premature labor, and your only question is, can we still have lunch?"
"Well sure it is, I'm really hungry!"
The girls laughed.
............................
"Monica, do you, do you think everything is okay?" Gloria asked, they were now in the hospital. Monica was with Gloria and Tess had gone to get coffee for her and Monica.
"Yes Gloria, they're baby Angels, remember?"
"Yeah, I know. I'm just worried about them. I understand how you feel about the girls now, Monica. I understand very much."
"It's hard, I know. Who would have thought that loving someone so much would entail worrying about them twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. It's a huge responsibility you know, but you and Adam will be good at it, I just know it."
"Thank you, Monica."
"I'm back." Tess announced as she handed a cup of coffee to Monica and kept one for her self. "Are you sure you don't want anything Gloria?"
"Yes, thank you."
...........................
"You know, we should make dinner more often." Tessa said they had just finished making the rest of dinner.
"But we only made part of it."
"So? It's still pretty good, isn't it?"
"I guess so."
"You wanna have a snowball fight?"
"Really, you want to?"
"Of course, why would I have brought it up if I did not want to?"
"I guess you wouldn't have."
"Right."
A half an hour later they had tired of their snowball fight. Zoe's clothes were almost entirely covered in mud and Tessa's shoes were entirely covered in mud. Tessa removed her shoes, brought her little sister a towel and told her to go upstairs. Then suddenly the phone rang. She answered it.
"Hi Tessa."
"Hi Mom."
"Can you and Zoe bring me my coat, I did not have time to get it before I left the house."
"Sure, we'll be there in a few minutes." Tessa hung up the phone and headed to the coat closet. She put on her coat and got Zoe's coat and their Mother's as well.
"Where are we going?" Zoe asked as she came down the stairs, wearing clean clothes, with her doll at her side.
"To the hospital, to bring Mom her coat."
"Okay." Zoe put her coat on, and took her sister's hand; they left the house.
.............................
"It's beautiful, isn't it?"
"What's beautiful Zoe?" Tessa asked as they walked to the hospital.
"The snow. The lights. The decorations, everything about Christmastime."
"Yes, and you can't forget the miracle of Christmas, can you?"
"No, of course not!"
"Good." She said. By this time they were in the hospital.
"Hi, girls. Thank you so much for coming." Monica said as she took the coat from Tessa and hugged both of them.
"How is everything?"
"I'm afraid that we do not know much yet, but they'll be fine."