To My Surprise
Ok everyone I have a surprise for you! I've decided to get back to writing this story again. I don't know how often I will update but promise I will try and get a chapter up at least once a month! Thank you to all the readers that wanted me to continue it! So this for you! Hope you enjoy it! Please read and please leave a review but if your review is going to be all about my grammar please just move on because I will delete it. Im not say that I can't take constructive criticism but some can be a bit overboard with it. Im not a scholar. Im just a country girl with a story to tell. Without further ado!
Chapter 4
As everyone was sitting around the table eating, Viola spoke up and asked, Beth what has you so happy today? You've been smiling since you got here. Elizabeth looks around the table and everyone is staring, waiting for her to say something.
Well i made a decision today that is going to change my life.
As you all know, I want children before my child baring years are over. So I've decided to be artificial inseminated today. Her father slammed his fist on the table and yelled, you will not bring a bastard child into this family. I forbade it.
She wiped her mouth, folded her napkin and lays it on the table next her plate and stood very calmly and said, I'm sorry you all feel this way but its not about what you want. Its all about what I want. So don't worry because I wont embarrass you father. I will not be back but just know that if this happens I will love them because he or she is my child. She turns and walks to the door but stops, turns to them and says, when you all come to your senses you know where I live because I will not subject my child to this kind of rudeness. My child will be loved by me and that will be enough. Goodbye, and she leaves.
On her way home she calls Rosie. Hello Liz, how did it go but I'm guessing not to good from the time. No Rosie it didn't. Will you meet me at my house? I'm 10 minutes away. I'll meet you there Liz. Thanks Rosie. They hang up. Elizabeth was quietly crying.
Elizabeth pulls into her garage and sees Rosie's car in there already. She shut her car off and steps into her mud room. Takes her shoes off and slides into her slippers.
Rosie was sitting at the bar with 2 cups of hot tea, one decaf and one not. She hands the decaf to her and says, i got you you're decaf that you love. Thought you might need something comforting. Elizabeth hugs her and says thank you! You know me so well.
Rosie takes her elbow and leads her to the couch. They sit down and Elizabeth puts her head on Rosie's shoulder and the tears fall silently before she says, why can't they be understanding? Why can't they be happy for me? Why don't they want to see me happy for a change? Rosie pats her hand and leans her head to rest on Elizabeth's and says, Liz, I'm sure you caught them off guard. Im sure they will come around.
Rosie you didn't hear father. He forbade me to bring a bastard child in this family, like if I am pregnant, I have to get rid of it. Rosie, this child isn't a bastard child. I know who the father is. No we aren't together but I at least know who he is because I chose him. It wasn't like we had a rump in the hay and he left me or anything like that.
Liz, you're father will come around just like he always does. Not this time Rosie. I've never seen that look on his face, never.
I told them that I would not embarrass them by bringing my child around them and I would never be back over there but if they changed their minds, they knew where I lived.
Well Liz, if you are pregnant, little Missy or little Mister will have us to love them. They will never be lacking, I promise! Thank you Auntie! They both laugh.
Rosie and Lee couldn't have children so they will spoil Liz's little one. They had thought about adopting but decided to wait a couple more years. You know Rosie if you and Lee start adoption now, you could probably have one of your own by the time this little one comes! Then they could grow up together! Rosie laughs and replies, hold on Liz. We've decided to hold off for a couple more years. We've only been married for just under 2 years. Let us enjoy each other for awhile longer! Ok, Rosie!
Rosie stay a little while longer to make sure Liz was going to be alright and then got up to leave. Elizabeth walks her to the mud room, hugs her and said, thanks Rosie, you're the best! Rosie waves her off and smiles but says, I know and they both laugh.
Elizabeth waves bye as Rosie pulls out of her garage. When the garage door closed she hit the lock button and went back inside to lock up. She was really tired. She shut the lights off and went upstairs to her room. She wanted a good hot bath but she couldn't so she just decided to change into her pjs and crawled into bed. Sleep found her fairly quickly.
She woke up the next morning hungry so she grabbed her robe and put it on as she went downstairs to the kitchen. She made a poached egg, turkey bacon, wheat toast and orange juice. She sat at her bar eating but stopped. She walked over to her desk to get her laptop and brought it back to the bar to finish eating.
She opened it and clicked on his file. It opened and she asked, are you married? Do you have children? What am I saying, of course he's married and probably has at least a couple of kids. He to good looking not to be snatched up. JT, I promise I will love our child and he or she will never lack of love. I'm not going to spoil them but they will want for nothing. I will bring them up in the church and have good morals and values. She had started calling him JT ever since she chose him.
She got up, rinsed her dishes and put them in the dishwasher. She sat back down and started looking up baby names just in case she was pregnant. She want to look up a boys name and a girls nam even though she had dreamed about them already. She looked up a boys name first but was sure she would be having a little girl. She clicked on the "J". As she was scrolling she saw Jarrick was on the list. She thought that was a sign so she decided to go with the names in her dreams, Jarrick Alexander Thatcher and Jaclyn Elizabeth Thatcher! Now she just had to wait to see if she was pregnant. She felt like she was but had to wait a whole month to find out! She was so excited!
The month flew by and before she knew it, her appointment was this afternoon. She walked into the doctor office, signed in and had a seat. A few minutes later the nurse called her back and handed her the cup and motioned to the bathroom and said, you know what to do. Yes ma'am I do. I be right out. She set the cup in the window and came out after she washed her hands. The nurse asked her to step up on the scale. 106 the nurse said. Have you been eating more? I have why? You've gained a pound. That's good isn't it? It is but not this soon but don't worry it's nothing to worry about. She finished taking her vitals and lead her to the exam room. Change into the gown and Dr. Bowden will be in shortly.
Elizabeth was sitting up on the exam table when there was a knock on the door. She said come in. Dr. Bowden came in and said, well you are definitely pregnant. I want to take a look so if you'll lay back we'll take a look. Do you want to see? Yes please, I don't want to miss anything!
Dr. Bowden got the ultrasound machine turned on and put the gel on her belly. She started moving the wand around. She stopped the wand long enough to turn the sound on. She moved the wand around again and stopped it in one spot. All of a sudden a light switch came on. Dr. Bowden asks, do you hear that swishing sound? That's the heart beat. Oooh myyyy was all Elizabeth could say as silent tears rolled down her cheeks. All of a sudden something came into view. Dr. Bowden start clicking some buttons but said nothing. Elizabeth asks, what's theses 2 egg shaped things? Dr. Bowden chuckles but swallows before she said, those are your 2 babies. Elizabeth chuckles and whispers, 2! Jaclyn and Jarrick! Dr. Bowden says, well we won't know the sex until 18 weeks. Well I've been having these reoccurring dreams, one is with a daughter named Jaclyn Elizabeth and the other with a son named Jarrick Alexander. Well if you want we can do a certain blood test that will tell the sex? Oh could we? Just a minute, let me finish up here and I'll get the test.
A few minutes later Elizabeth was on her way home with her photos of her babies. She stopped by Target to go pick up a picture frame that could hold 4 pictures. She walked through the baby section to get some ideas for the nursery. She didn't see anything she cared for so she paid for the frame and went home. She called Rosie and asked her to come by. Rosie said she would be right there.
Elizabeth put the 4 ultrasound pictures in the frame and set it on the mantle above the fireplace! She stepped back and was admiring it when Rosie came in through the mud room. She saw her standing in front of the fireplace staring at something. She walked up beside her and asked, what has your attention? Elizabeth turns her head and back and nods towards the picture but says nothing. Rosie turns her head and gasps! Oh Lizzy, you're pregnant! Yes but look a little closer Rosie! Rosie steps up and looks, picks up the frame and looks back at her and says, 2? Yes Rosie! My dreams say, Jaclyn Elizabeth and Jarrick Alexander! Rosie choked all of a sudden. Elizabeth jumps to her real quick and asks, Rosie are you ok? Yeah, yeah. Where did those names come from? In my dreams. I think they are unique! I've never heard of Jarrick but I love it!
Rosie wanted to say something but chose to say nothing. Do you know it a boy and girl? No not yet but I had that special test done to find out if I'm right. I'll find out in a few days. I want to get started on the nursery when I get to my second trimester. Oh Liz, I'm so happy for you! I can't wait to plan the baby shower!
Let Lee know what color you want to paint the nursery and him an a few of his friends can come do it. Ok. It's going to be a light creamy beige. That's pretty neutral! I think I want to go with the Noah's Ark theme! Ohhh Liz that would be amazing. We can do the baby shower in that theme too! That's what I was thinking too!
Rosie walks in to her house and calls for Lee, Lee where are you? Out back Rosie! Why are you yelling? Oh Lee you are never going to guess what Liz is naming her babies! Babies, Lee asks? Yes as in 2! She dreamed she was having a boy and girl. Now she's pregnant with twins. So are you going to tell me the names because you know I'm not very good with names, faces yes but not names. Oh Lee Your just being difficult. If one is a girl she's naming her Jaclyn Elizabeth and if one is a boy she's naming him Jarrick Alexander. Lee choked on his own spit about that time Jack came in from the back yard. It surprised Rosie. Jack had to ask, why is she naming her son after me? Oh Jack I'm sorry, I didn't know you were here. Rosie you didn't answer my question. Oh Jack, she doesn't even know you so she didn't name him after you. Well I think it's strange, Jack says.
The next week Elizabeth woke with the worst case of morning sickness she had ever heard of. She couldn't keep nothing down. She called Rosie to bring her some saltine cracker, ginger tea, and a loaf of wheat bread. She explained why she needed them and Rosie said she would be by in a few. Elizabeth put her head back over the toilet and emptied what she didn't think could be in her stomach. She managed to get a cold wet cloth and placed it on her forehead. She leaned back against the wall and closed her eyes just to keep the room from spinning.
Rosie came in a few minutes later with a cup of ginger tea that she had stopped to get on her way over. She handed her a couple of crackers. She nibbled in them a few minutes and sipped her tea. After a few minutes she felt like she could get up and go back to bed. Rosie helped her back into bed and covered her up. She set her tea and crackers on the nightstand next the bed. Elizabeth said thanks as Rosie bent over and kissed her forehead. She said she would come by and check on her later. Elizabeth said thank you and went back to sleep.
Rosie left but knew she would be back. It was Saturday morning so Elizabeth had the weekend to try and get it under control. She was going to help her as much as she could.
Elizabeth woke up a few hours later feeling a little better. She wrapped her robe around her and eased downstairs, making sure she kept a hold of the rail. She made it to the kitchen to find Rosie fixing her some dry toast and more ginger tea. She set the plate and cup in front of her and took a seat next to her. How are you feeling, Liz? I've been better but better than I was this morning.
Oh I almost forgot, you got a call from Dr. Bowden about an hour ago. I didn't answer it so you might want to call her back. Elizabeth picked up her phone and called Dr. Bowden's office. Dr. Bowden's office, Emily speaking. Hello this is Elizabeth Thatcher. I missed a call from Dr. Bowden earlier. Yes, hold please. A couple of minutes later Dr. Bowden came on the line. Hello Elizabeth, how are you feeling? I've been better. Morning sickness kicking in? Yes. Elizabeth, you need to drink a lot of water, eat crackers before you get up and ginger or peppermint decaf tea. You need to get on a schedule or routine as quickly as possible because I don't want you losing these babies. Yes ma'am. This morning was my first morning sickness. I will do everything in my power to keep these babies safe. Ok.
Now do you want to know what they're sex is over the phone or do you want to come in next week. No ma'am, I want to know now! I want to know if my dreams were right! Ok, you were right. It's a girl and a boy! Thank Dr. Bowden you just made my day. You're welcome but if you have to much trouble with the morning sickness just let me know, ok? Yes ma'am and thank you!
Ooooh Rosie, I was right! Jaclyn and Jarrick! I'm so happiest for you, truly I am! I can't wait to spoil them rotten! Ok, now here is a glass of water. Drink it after you drink your tea. I heard what she said Liz. It's fine Rosie. I'll take all the help I can get.
About that time the doorbell rang. Rosie got up to answer it. When she opened the door Mrs. Thatcher was standing there and asked, are you going to invite me in or what? Liz? Yes Rosie, who is it. Im not up for visitors yet, Rosie. Uh, Liz? It's your mother. Tell her to come in if she leaves her lecture outside. You heard Mrs. Thatcher. I'm not here to lecture. I haven't seen her in a month so I came to see her.
Mrs. Thatcher walks in and sees the state that her daughter is in. She hugs her and says, oh my poor baby. I still remember my morning sickness. It was horrible. Now Beth are you drinking plenty of water? That helps with the dizziness. Yes mother but to be totally honest with you, this morning is my first. It was horrible. Yes we'll pregnancies do that.
Uh, mother I have something to tell you. You better sit down. Oh Beth dear you're scaring me. Is something wrong with the baby? No mother there's nothing wrong with the babies. They're just fine. Elizabeth stopped talking to let her mother catch on to what she just said. Oh, that's good dear, that's…good…dear. Did you say babies? Yes mother. Im carrying twins, a girl and a boy! Jaclyn Elizabeth Thatcher and Jarrick Alexander Thatcher. Would you like to see their pictures? Oh my, yes! Rosie says she'll get them and brought them back.
Mrs. Thatcher just stared at the 4 pictures. Oh my goodness, I'll have a grandson too! Now we have a grandson finally! Yes mother. Ok, tell me when do you go back to the doctor? Next month on the 13th I think. Ok. May I go with you? Mother you didn't go to none of Viola's or Julie's. Why do you want to go with me? Dear, I miss you. We use to be so close but your father put a wedge between us and I want it gone. I want my Beth back. Ok mother you can come. I'll text you the date and time.thank you dear!
What theme are you going with dear? Noah's Ark. I think I'm going to hire a painter to paint a mural on one wall with Noah's Ark on it before God closed the door before the flood. I'm thinking the animals boarding 2 by 2 on to the ark. Oh Liz that sounds amazing! I happen to know an artist that can paint that! Oooh Rosie do you think they would? Im almost positive he'll do it! I'll ask him if he'll paint it while Lee is painting the other walls! Thanks Rosie, you're the best! You're welcome Liz!