Chapter 5

The next day.

Jo is fixing breakfast in the kitchen. Lizzie comes down the stairs. "Morning, sweetheart."

"Morning mom." Lizzie grabs a plate of pancakes and juice and sits at the bar.

"I need to get some maternity clothes. Mine are getting a little tight." She brushes her hand over her abdomen. "Would you like to go shopping with me? We could get you a couple outfits and go to lunch."

"Sure, that sounds fine. Could we go to the Style Shack?"

Jo peers over her glasses, "You're not getting $100 jeans."

"Uh, no," she shakes her head, "they're having a clearance sale. There's a really cute top that I've had my eye on."

"Mmmkay, how much?"

"$20 after the discount."

"Can't wait to see it. Go get dressed, and we'll go shopping."

----At Baby World-----

Jo and Lizzie are in the clothing section. "Mom, look," Lizzie holds up a top, "I think it would be so cute on you." She hands it to her mother, "Go try it on."

"It's cute. I think I will." She takes the top and a few more pieces of clothing into the dressing room. She tries a couple combinations on and models for her daughter. "So?"

"It's great, mom."

"Really?"

"Yeah. I like that colour too."

She goes back in the dressing room, puts her purchases in her shopping cart. "Let's go look at baby clothes."

"Sounds good," Lizzie replies, "I'd like to pick a couple things out for the twins."

"Aww, that's so sweet," Jo replies, getting teary-eyed. "So, you're okay with your dad and me having twins?"

"Of course, mom. It just took me a bit to get used to it." They walk over to the clothes. Lizzie finds some sleepers, and holds one up. "Aww, this is so cute! I love the teddy bear."

"That is cute!"

"Or, how 'bout the penguin? It's so sweet!"

"You're really getting into this," Jo laughs.

"Baby clothes are so cute. I can't wait until I have a baby."

"I hope that will be a long time from now," Jo coughs.

"Don't worry. It will be. I'm not ready for one yet."

"Uh, huh."

"Mom, I'd like to look a little bit by myself. I want it to be a surprise."

"Okay. Meet me up front in half an hour." They go their separate ways. Jo picks out some clothes, toiletries, and blankets. Lizzie picks out two sleepers, and pays for her purchases before her mom can see what she bought. Jo sees her daughter, "Are you ready to go to the Style Shack?"

"Sure. You'll love the jeans."

----At the Style Shack------

Lizzie finds the jeans and shows her mother. "Aren't they great?"

"They are cute. If you'd like, you can pick out a couple tops to go with them."

"I know just the ones. C'mon." She shows her the tops.

"Ooh! I like these. Let's pay for these and go get some lunch."

"Okay. Can we get some pizza?"

"Sure." They pay for their purchases.

----At Dave's Pizza----

Jo and Lizzie split a pepperoni pizza and bread sticks. Lizzie looks at her mother.

"What?" Jo laughs, feeling self-conscious

"I was just wondering..."

"Wondering what, sweetheart?"

"So, how did you know you were pregnant with the twins? Like, I know that one day, I thought you had the stomach flu."

"Well, I was tired a lot. I had no energy. I'd get you kids off to school and then go back to bed. I was hungry, but some foods, like your dad's kielbasa would send me running."

"It sends me running too!" Lizzie laughs.

"Yeah," Jo laughs, "it is pretty gross. Then, of course, those flu-like symptoms were morning sickness. But really, I just knew."

"Whaddya mean?"

"I know my body, and of course, I've been pregnant before, so I had a feeling I was pregnant." She pauses, and continues, "Okay, Lizzie, what's this all about?"

"Nothing. I'm just curious." Lizzie blinks, "Really."

"Y, you, uh, you're not pregnant, are you?" Jo chokes out.

"MOM! No!" Lizzie shrieks. "I'm not pregnant! I'm just curious. I was a little kid when you were pregnant with Matt. I don't really remember."

"Mmkay, I was just wondering." Jo inhales, "Lemme ask you something. You and Gordo aren't..."

"MOM!" Lizzie rolls her eyes. "We haven't."

"I'm sorry. I should've trusted you."

"Mom, you can trust me."

"In that case, hand me another slice. I'm starving."

The pair finish their lunch and return home. Sam is on the couch watching TV.

"Mom, go put on that one outfit," Lizzie whispers in her mother's ear.

"Okay." Jo grins. She goes upstairs and changes into one of her new outfits. "Oh Sam," she begins, coming down the stairs. Sam looks over and sees his wife in a pair of jeans with a t-shirt that reads, 'This is all his fault.' "Like my shirt?"

Sam turns around, "Uh, I guess." He reads her shirt, "Hey!" he states in a mock-offended tone of voice.

Jo and Lizzie begin laughing. Lizzie puts her arm around her mother's shoulders. "Dad, I knew you'd love it."

"Yeah, it's cute, I guess," he replied.

"Sam, take a look at the baby things. I bought." She sits on the couch and takes out a pair of onezees that read, 'I love my wombmate.' "Aren't they too cute?"

"Yeah. Cute."

"So, what did you do all day?"

"Matt and I raced gocarts."

"That sounds fun."

"Well..."

"Sam, what's going on." Jo peers over her glasses. Suddenly, Matt comes walking in on crutches, with his left leg in a cast. "Matt! What happened?" a horrified Jo asks.

"Broke my leg. I was doing great until that final turn. I was going a little too fast, and flipped."

"You flipped the gocart!"

"Yeah. I went flying."

"What!"

"It was okay. I landed on some tires."

"So, how did you break your leg?"

"I got up and tripped over a tire."

"Matt, honey, are you okay? Do you need to sit?" Jo gets up and offers him the couch.

"Smooth move, dork," Lizzie chimes.

"Hey, it was smooth, Lizard!" Matt replies, as he sits down.

"Double e!"

"Drama Queen!"

"Squirt!"

"Loozee!"

"Kids, cut it out," Jo sighs. She turns to her husband, "And we're having two more? Calgon, take me away."

"How about Hawaii?" Sam asks.

"Maybe in another life."

"Well, how does Chinese sound for dinner?"

"Sounds fine." Jo yawns, "I think I'll go upstairs and take a nap. Call me when dinner's ready." She goes upstairs and takes a nap.