NYLON ~ 89 ~ I'LL TELL YOU WHEN YOU'RE OLDER

JT was sitting on the rug playing with his toys. Caleb grabbed Hanna's hand and gave her a knowing smile as he helped her sit down next to JT. Their little boy paid little attention to them until Caleb cleared his throat."

"Hey bud," he nudged the toddler.

"Dad I'm playing," JT replied.

"I know," Hanna said, "but there's something we want to tell you."

"I'm gonna be a big brother," JT told her. "I know."

"Okay," she smiled, "but there's a little more to it."

"What?" he snapped.

"Hey," Caleb snapped at him. "Don't be rude. We're trying to give you some good news."

"JT," Hanna grabbed his hands in hers, "you know you're going to be a big brother but I'm having twins. Two little girls."

"Oh brother!" JT slapped a hand to his forehead. "I'm getting two sisters?"

"Yupp," Caleb smiled. "That means we're not always going to have a lot of time for you when the babies come."

"That's okay," JT replied. "I had lots of time with your guys."

"You're being really mature about this," Hanna told him.

"I know," JT smiled. "I want to be a good big brother."

"Well," Hanna laughed, "since you are not a big brother yet, we thought we'd take you out and do whatever you want today."

"Can we go to the movies?" JT asked.

"Sure," Caleb replied.

"Then can we go to the park?" he continued.

"Yeah," Hanna smiled. "Whatever you want."

"Cool!" JT said jumping up. "I'm gonna go get my shoes."

Hanna laughed as Caleb ran around the house helping JT get ready. They finally made it outside and took a stroll to the movie theater where they bought tickets to the latest kids' movie. After sharing a tub of popcorn, they finished the movie and headed to JT's favorite park.

"Dad I'm going on the monkey bars," JT said running up the stairs of the jungle gym.

"I'm glad we did this," Hanna told Caleb as they sat down on a park bench.

"He's gonna be a good brother," Caleb replied.

They watched him explore the playground and make new friends for nearly an hour until JT dragged Caleb over to push him on the swing. After a few minutes, Caleb was more tired out than JT and managed to convince him to abandon the swings since the sun was nearly setting.

"Today was a great day," JT said grabbing each of his parents' hands as they walked home.

"I'm glad you had fun," Hanna told him.

"It would be better if we got ice cream," JT sighed.

"Ice cream?" Caleb joked. "What's that?"

"Come on Dad," JT told him. "You know what ice cream is."

"Have you heard of gelato?" Hanna asked him.

'What's that?" JT wondered.

"It's kind of like ice cream," Hanna explained, "but from Italy."

"You know," Caleb chimed in, "I think there's a place that sells gelato right around the corner."

"Can we go?!" JT jumped up in the air. "Please!"

"I guess so," Hanna replied. "You know, since it's your day."

"Awesome," JT laughed as they made their way to the tiny gelato shop on the way home.

As any three-year-old would do, JT picked the flavor with the most colors. Hanna handed him the cone while Caleb paid and they continued on their way home.

"Hey," Hanna nudged JT when they were in the elevator. "Can I get a bite?"

"Okay," JT handed her the tiny spatula that passed for a spoon.

"How about Daddy?" Hanna asked after trying it.

"Sure," JT said solemnly watching his ice cream dwindle down to nothing.

"Thanks," Hanna smiled handing it back just as the elevator doors opened.

"Here you go," JT said taking the last bite and handing the empty container to Hanna.

"Thanks," she laughed tossing it into the trash as a contraction hit. She winced and tried to regain her composure.

"Are you okay?" Caleb asked her.

"Yeah," she smiled until suddenly a similar pain hit the bottom of her spine. She groaned trying to soothe it by rubbing the sore spot.

"Hanna," Caleb grabbed her arm. "What's going on."

"Maybe I should just sit down," she said taking deep breaths.

"Mama," JT looked concerned. "Are you okay."

"It's just the babies," Hanna assured him as she lowered herself onto the couch. "I think they're getting restless."

"Are they kicking?" JT said crawling onto the couch to sit next to her.

"Um...yeah," Hanna groaned as another contraction hit.

"Hanna," Caleb put on his series voice, "I think we need to call your doctor."

Caleb helped Hanna to her feet and then scooped up JT and his keys before leading them all downstairs to the car. He rushed them to the hospital were Hanna was admitted and quickly strung up to a dozen monitors. Every scary thought rushed to her head as she worried that her twins would come too soon and the only thing that could make matters worse was learning that the only doctor on duty was Wren.

"Hi Hanna," Wren smiled looking at his clipboard.

"What?" she snapped as a contraction hit.

"You're in labor," he explained as Caleb's mouth dropped open. "We can give you medication to slow it down but you'll need to stay tonight for monitoring."

"But she's fine?" Caleb asked. "The babies are fine?"

"Yes," Wren told him. "Once we administer the drugs, everything should be fine."

"Thanks Wren," Hanna told him sincerely.

"You're welcome," he replied before a nurse took his place by her bedside.

"I still don't like that guy," Caleb said under his breath once they were alone.

"Dad, why don't you like him?" JT asked.

"It's a long story," Caleb told him. "I'll tell you when you're older."

"Why can't you tell me now?" JT pouted.

"Buddy," Caleb told him sternly, "not now."

"Okay," JT crossed his arms and turned toward the wall.

"Come on," Hanna called her son over. "We're just a little stressed, JT. Can you try and be patient?"

"Yeah," he told her. "If I'm gonna be a good big brother, I should probably start now."

"That's the spirit," Hanna laughed.

Caleb smiled and picked up JT. He placed a protective arm around him and with his other hand gently interlocked his fingers with Hanna's.


UP NEXT ~ GOOD NEWS

Hanna starts getting stir crazy after she is put on bed rest.