Infinity Chapter 130 - The Scare

[itztigress3]

Chapter 130 – The Scare

POV: Emily

Word count: 4385

May 16, 2016; Monday

  It had taken far too long to finish construction at the studio, but it had been a rough few months. The rest of February had been mostly finishing up the demolition at the studio. All side projects were put on hold because once we gathered we decided it was better to do all of the demo at once. What was supposed to be a rather simple renovation turned into some huge process with removing the conferences rooms, moving one on the other side if the building behind the store and expanding the storage area of the warehouse. The store also got gutted and expanded, which was Isaac’s idea. It displaced a lot of stuff which made having Alexander and Isabella there pretty rough. We brought in Nikki and Natalie a lot to sit in the studio and there were even days where we dropped them off with Nikki, those were days where we had to deal with a lot of dust or electrical work. By the end of February everything was gutted and cleaned up.

March kicked everyone’s ass, they had to work toward the EP and toward planning for Hanson Day and the Hop Jam for this year. But, the first two weeks was useless because everyone was sick. We couldn’t blame Taylor this time, no, this was Casey’s fault for coming in sick. In addition, he shocked us all by announcing he and Robert were going to do invetro as well, because they had decided they wanted children and being as he was almost 32 they didn’t want to keep waiting.

By mid-March Isaac, Taylor and Zac were back to 100% but I wasn’t. I however came on in to get working on the reconstruction of the studio. However their focus was on art projects and the EP, leaving me with just Robert and sometimes our employees, but they had to attend to orders and day to day operations. Robert called in some friends who helped frame and finish electrical and plumbing and I was so glad he did!

In April we welcomed Trevor Kyle Stevenson, Craig and Christopher’s son who was born on the 16^th of April. They were adjusting well to being parents of two babies now. Construction wise we also saw leaps and bound and by the end of the month all of the construction was done. There was nothing in most of the rooms, but the rooms themselves were completed.

Which brings me to the present. The first major news was Taylor and Natalie welcomed Wilhelmina Jane on the 8^th and Penny was over the moon with having a baby sister. That was the highlight so far as the rest of my month was being a chicken with no head and one leg.  Aside from the million things I had to do for Hanson Day and Hope Jam, which required me to be in the studio where the only computer was at the moment and it was mine, it affected them recording and me. I was so happy when Robert asked if he could just keep Alexander and Isabella for the week so I could put my focus on setting up the playroom and the office. I threatened explosions on them on Saturday, making them all come in to get Sean’s office set up so I didn’t have to handle invoices or orders, I could take the week to set up my desk like I wanted. I had noticed that I was getting quite ill with them all, but it had be a far more involved task that I anticipated.

We arrived at 8 and I took them down to Robert about 8:30, he was at Casey’s and would be alone but I trusted Robert with them now. I returned to the studio and walked into the playroom. We decided since the playroom door will be used most the door that came in to our office was removed and instead I added a large window there with blinds and sealed the wall up. It also left the baby bed in a darker area of the office, so any of them could nap better. Isaac’s door was replaced as well with a Dutch door, allowing me to have the bottom half locked so he couldn’t get out and the top half opened. The lock for the bottom half was on the outside of the door, so he couldn’t unlock it either. Today however it was fully open as I arranged furniture and put things on the built in shelves. It was about ten when I heard the door open, considering the boys hadn’t come up from the studio I went to the door.

“Amanda? What are you doing here? Sean didn’t mention you coming in.”

“I um..I came to see you actually. God is he here?”

“It’s Monday, yes he’s been here since 7:45 and he’s downstairs somewhere, I saw him about twenty minutes ago fussing at Henry for something.”

She was acting nervous and she seemed upset about something. I wondered what was up.

“Is there anywhere we can talk where he can’t see us?”

I raised my eyebrow, that sounded like this wasn’t a social call and I really didn’t want to beat Sean’s ass for hurting her somehow.

“Yeah, Isaac put some chairs in his office, it’s not set up beyond that.”

I closed the door and went over to Isaac’s, she followed me and I closed it and even locked it, worse case Isaac would freak out
thinking he locked himself out. We sat down in the chairs which were very comfortable.

“So, why do I get the feeling this isn’t a social visit? I seriously don’t have time to whip his ass right now.”

“No, it’s not like that. You don’t have to whip anyone’s ass really.”

I gave her a puzzled look. “Then what’s wrong Amanda? Your nervous and jittery and you keep playing with the tail of your shirt. If he hasn’t physically hurt you or emotionally, then why didn’t you want to see him?”

“I missed two periods.”

I blinked a moment, I knew from our talks when ours first began that while mine were clock worthy and steady hers were always unstable and never regular, even when she was with Bradley she’d mentioned it.

“Do you think it’s just a missed one like before? You recall you had a few dozen of those before.”

“When I missed the first one that’s what I thought, but I’ve been getting so fucking sick in the mornings and he fixed breakfast this
morning and the smell of bacon made me so sick I couldn’t even go in the kitchen.”

“Do you think your pregnant?”

“I don’t know but you’ve had two, surely you can tell me.”

I rolled my eyes. “I’m good Amanda, but not quite that good. Why not take a test?”

“I’m terrified too! I tried actively with Bradley and I didn’t even know I was when he hit me after the Atlanta show in 2013. I’m terrified that if I am, that something will happen.”

I got her hand and squeezed it. “You miscarried because a douche bag hit you, not because of anything your body did. Believe me
Amanda I was terrified I’d lose Alexander too, but I didn’t and you see how he is.”

“Where are they anyway?”

“Robert has them so I could set up the office, it’s been hell around here with everyone on top of each other and then add in a hyper active three year old and a one year old who wants to annoy said three year old. He took them so I could get this done.”

“Oh, missed them when I came in. Well, I mean we’re not trying if anything we’re trying not to have one right now. We use condoms every single time we have sex. We’re both just getting stable and we’re not even married!”

“Every single time? Come on, surely you can’t be that consistent.”

I tilted my head at her, knowing that every single time was hardly right but the look she gave me said it must have been.

“Yes, Emily. Every single time. It’s something we both are adamant on. We want children but not right this moment.”

“They can break  and it’s been known to happen before. What if you are? You won’t do abortions or adoption I know you too well Amanda, those aren’t option to you and you just said you both want children.”

“We wanted to be married first and then have the baby though.”

“Well, you’re not going to know if you don’t take a test or make an appointment.”

She kept fiddling with the end of her shirt, twisting it painfully tight and then releasing it. She only did that when she was really scared, which I didn’t quite think this was just a scare that was being a problem.

“What if he leaves me?”

“He’s not going to leave you Amanda, your all he talks about here. You know the first thing he put in his new office was a picture of you? When Taylor asked about it he said it was his favorite one of you and he wanted to see you here too. I don’t think you have to worry about him leaving you because you’re expecting his child.”

“I’m so kid stupid, I don’t even know what test to take or to get.”

“Well, why don’t you and I run to the store and get one?”

“I don’t want to take it alone!”

I sighed, only Amanda would be afraid to take a pregnancy test alone. “We’ll get two and I’ll take one also. Pretty sure I’m not
though.”

She smiled and nodded, I sent Zac a quick message and agreed to get lunch while we were out but he had to call the order in to Mexicali’s. I drove us to the drug store first and both of us were faced with a plethora of different tests. She said I could ask Natalie so
I called her.

“Hey Ems.”

“Hey Nat, how is little Willa?”

“Chowing at the moment in the arms of her sister. I think Zac may have been right, Penny can just raise her.”

I giggled. “It’s true. So, question Amanda thinks she might be pregnant and we’re at the drugstore but I’ve never bought a test so I
don’t know what to get. Suggestions?”

“First Response, there reliable and it’s what I’ve used for all six. I think I had one false positive in the many that I’ve taken.”

“Thank you.”

“No problem, you going to take one too?”

“I promised I would but don’t rush this missy, I’m good with my two.”

She giggled but I heard Willa in the background so I let her go and we got four first response tests, I got an extra two just in case. We then came by Mexicali’s to pick up the order.

“Good lord.” Amanda said.

I had several containers and bags already and was waiting on the last of them.

“This is just Zac’s order, there working on the others.”

“Damn.”

“Can’t say he doesn’t eat well.”

“I see where Alexander gets his eating habits.”

I smiled and we finally got the full order and headed to the studio. We wrangled everyone into the warehouse floor where we had a table and chairs, every other space was packed full.

“Hey babe, I didn’t expect you here.” Sean said.

I’d watched him kiss her and hug her the moment he saw her, which should have sealed any issues she had with him leaving if she was pregnant. The man loved her and I was sure he wouldn’t leave her.

“I needed girly talk and I don’t know many girls I can be open and honest with.”

“Not that I’m going to ever complain, what with the amount of testosterone I’m around daily.”

“You fit right in.” Sean joked.

“Of course, the queen has to fit somewhere and you minions need someone sane and normal to lead you all.”

“Hey! I’m older than you!” Isaac said.

“Yet you still coward when she screams out anyone’s name.” Zac said.

“And you don’t? I mean really Zac she just has to huff and you run.”

That prompted fits of giggles from everyone because they were right.

“I live with her, I know what follows huffs.”

“He has you there Isaac and she has you all, Maddi told me about that explosion she had before Alexander was born, it was epic she said.”

“No idea how many times she’s threatened to fire me…” Taylor said.

I giggled, I was aware that I’d threatened to fire them all more than once and sadly, I worked for them and not the other way around. We sat and joked, talked, and interacted a little bit before everyone split to finish work. She came up-stairs with me to help me set up the playroom. It would give lunch time to settled so that we could take the tests. We worked on organizing the toys and putting the office related items way up high and about three we both went down to the now larger bathroom and got the tests out.

“Do you even know how to use these?”

“Yes.” She said.

“Then you go first then, you’re the one needing to know.”

This was far from the first time she and I had been in the bathroom together at the same time, we often went together in school and even in college. I just turned my back to her and waited.

“Okay, I’ve peed on my stick it’s your turn.”

I giggled. I was familiar with them myself, despite finding our both times by a doctor instead of any home test. I put an E on mine so
we wouldn’t confuse them and once I’d followed the directions we leaned against the wall to wait.

“Three minutes, fuck this feels like three hours.” She said.

I smiled. “I’ve never really had to wait. Why are you even afraid to take the test?”

“I took one before the Atlanta show, it showed negative. I guess I’m kind of sketchy this will show negative and months from now when labor begins I’m going to be all confused.”

“First response is what Natalie said she used, it’s been accurate for her many times. Jessica also used it earlier this month and it showed she was expecting as well.”

“No? Really?”

“Yep. There expected due date is around December and Joshua and Nadine use them also, there due in September again.”

“Good lord, how many are due now?”

“Jessica and Nadine so far and maybe you.”

“It’s been four minutes…I can’t look.”

I reached across the counter and picked up what I thought was hers, because I was sure mine was negative. I looked down at the little window and saw 2 pink lines and smiled.

“This one is positive, congratulations my friend it looks like you’re expecting a baby.”

I was smiling but she looked at me utterly confused and I didn’t understand why, she had missed two periods and was fairly certain on her own that she was.

“What?”

“That one isn’t mine Emmy.”

“Of course it is” I looked down and right by my thumb was the letter E. I blinked and watched her pick up the second test, which was also positive. That could not be right!

“Well Emmy, congratulations. It looks like we’re both pregnant.”

“I can’t be, I just had my period last week. There is no way I could get pregnant over night and it show.”

“Could the test be wrong?”

I felt a bit lightheaded and woozy, I was certain it was wrong but I was also certain hers wasn’t. Is that possible and if so, that didn’t go well for the accuracy of the tests.

“No. We’re staying late so why don’t we test again in a few hours and see if we get different results?”

She smiled. “Ok.”

We tossed those two and went back to the office where we were putting up toys and I started hooking my computer back up.

“So, your positive the tests were accurate but positive your test is wrong?”

“Pretty much, I mean period last week would mean ovulation next week, I can’t show positive before we even have sex to have said baby.”

She put another box on the shelf. “Some women do have periods early on you know.”

I glared at her, there was no way I was pregnant again. I just couldn’t be. Isabella wasn’t even out of diapers yet!

“Do you not want another baby right now?”

“We wanted to wait until she was in school or at least pre-school, we didn’t want another baby this soon.”

She came over and rubbed my back. “Hey, my crisis not yours. Come on, you know Zac will be happy and I am truly confident that you and Zac will handle three fine.”

“I hope so.”

She smiled and for a few more hours we cleaned and unpacked boxes. She pretty much got most of the toys put up which would leave me with just the office which will take more time anyway, since Zac had moved a crap ton of stuff to start the Hanson Day paintings. About 6:30 we returned to the bathroom and this type once we had taken the test we laid it in front of us on the counter and stood there.  What felt like three hours to her early felt like three days to me! I watched the line move and the first one showed up clearly and I was holding my breath as the second pink line began to show as well.

“Well, two positive for me, what about you?” Amanda asked.

I felt my hands shaking and this just couldn’t be right, we agreed to wait! Fuck, this couldn’t be right!

“Emily?” She asked.

“It’s positive.”

“Clearly twice cannot be a mistake.”

“I…I just…fuck.”

“Fucking leads to positive test you know, you aren’t taking anything and I am sure you don’t use condoms.”

“Fuck you, I know that.”

“Well, we did say one time we wanted to be pregnant together.”

“How the hell do I tell Zac?”

She laughed. “How do I tell Sean? Damn Zac should be use to it!”

“It’s his first baby, you should do something kind of special. Wrap the test up and present it as a present or something.”

“That’s a good idea.”

“I have no idea how to tell him.”

This was not how I wanted to spend 2016, I was just getting to the point where I felt comfortable letting people take the two we had, which was going to allow us some time alone but not now.

She hugged me tightly. “Need me too?”

“No, it’s better if I do actually. I could teach Isabella to say baby and let her tell him.”

“What about letting Alexander? He can say baby really well.”

“That’s a decent idea really.”

We put the tests themselves up and went back to the office. Robert arrived at 7 with the kids and he was very happy as well.

“What is up? You’ve had them almost 12 hours and your happy?”

“Katrina just called and the second round of IVF worked. She’s pregnant!”

“That’s awesome! Congratulations and I know Casey will be thrilled.”

“Yep. Speaking of, you have a little monkey for a son.”

“Why do you say that?” I asked.

“I laid her down for a nap, came down and he vanished on me. This little dude climbed into the counters and got into the flour.”

“Like father like son.” I said.

“I got pictures for sure I just haven’t had time to send them. But, let me go tell Casey she called.”

Amanda congratulated him but she was far more occupied with Alexander and Isabella as I watched them explore the new play area, which really only needed the dozen or so toys at the house now I wondered how the hell I was going to handle watching three of them around the clock. Two had been fairly difficult at times, but now that he was getting into more things and so was she, how could I do that?

Everyone came up about 7:30, Zac looked exhausted and what would a third baby do to this already strained situation? The plus side is if I really was, then at least I wasn’t exhibiting the sickness I had with him and so far no random panic attacks or overly emotional responses although I had been ill as hell last week. Which made no sense because I had a period last week, I shouldn’t be pregnant. Of course it was a rather light one, maybe that’s why?

We got dinner at the diner, because it was late. Thankfully Robert had given them snacks before coming down. Once dinner was completed we separated and headed to our respective homes.

“So, Amanda stayed a while and she looked a bit worried.”

“She’s pregnant but you can’t tell Sean yet because she hasn’t told him. She came to me scared.”

“Wow, was that planned?”

“No, it wasn’t actually.”

We got home about 10 and he went to the living room with Isabella but Alexander came with me because he wanted some water anyway. I sat him up on the counter and because I knew Zac wasn’t paying me any attention I let Alexander in on the secret, that mommy was having another baby. I then sat him down and sent him to the living room to tell Daddy.

Zac was already in the floor changing her and Alexander waited patiently until she was up and gone before he moved in front of Zac.

“Dada, mama haing baby.”

Alexander seemed so excited when he said that and I saw Zac look all confused at him, it really was the best way to tell him that I was pregnant again.

“No, Aunt Amanda is having the baby.”

“No. Mama haing baby.”

I leaned against the frame and he slowly looked at me. “Is he kidding me right now?”

I walked into the living room and chose his lap, because Alexander had discovered some random toy. I didn’t mind his arms wrapping around me either.

“I’m afraid he’s not kidding. To soothe her I agreed to take one too, I thought the first one was just false positive but I took two and both were positive.”

“What are you going to do?”

“Well, I’ll call Dr. O’Brian in the morning and make an appointment, let him confirm the pregnancy before we do anything. It is possible the tests were both wrong.”

“Number three, are we remotely ready for number three?”

“Not at all. But, the upside is that at least Isabella will be two before this one arrives and he’ll be 4 and pre-school age. I may even see if we can find a school that will take him in September but because of his birthday I don’t think there will be.”

“Speaking of are we doing public school for them?”

“I’m not sure yet, I need to do some research on the school zone and see what their scores are before I even look into pre-school. I know Isaac and Nikki are doing public, so it should be ok.”

“So, assuming this is real what changes?”

“Well, it’s a good thing we got the van for starters, because your truck would be just right. Um, we’d have to choose a room for this one and I don’t know about work.”

“Well, we have some time apparently. Are you sure?”

“Yes. Two tests say yes but I will have Dr. O’Brian confirm.”

He sat there several minutes and just considered it, Isabella was playing with one of her riding toys, little elephant and Alexander was actually pushing her around and she was smiling and happy.

“I think they’ll both be fine with a new brother or sister.”

“I do too.”

“I think we can work something out, EP is done and we’ve been practicing for the shows this weekend. We are taking Wednesday and Thursday to set up the store, since you have so much going. This way it’s done and you don’t have to do that.”

I kissed him. “I appreciate that.”

“You know I actually love when you’re pregnant, but not sure I’m liking them this close together.”

“Hey, it’s partially your fault.”

“Oh, I know not saying it’s not. Just saying…”

“Well, I guess since we have to be up early again, we should get them ready for bed.”

“She’s already yawning some.”

“Yeah.”

Both of our phones went off and we checked, pictures from Robert of Alexander on the counter covered in flour which we both laughed at.

“Him and that flour it’s like you and flour.”

“Least he’s not demolishing things.”

“That is a plus.”

We got up and after a few final playing moments they came with us up-stairs and got ready for bed. She was pretty much asleep a few minutes after the room got quiet and he wasn’t far behind her. Neither of us were really up much longer and as I laid there willing sleep to come I wondered exactly how having a third child would affect everything.

The next morning I made an appointment with O’Brian for Thursday and at Amanda’s request I gave his information. She told Sean on Wednesday and he was so happy it was unreal. Our appointments was an hour apart and Sean looked a little suspicious when he saw Zac and I there. But, then again we also had two kids and Dr. O’Brian was a regular OB as well, so he didn’t ask. Dr. O’Brian confirmed that we were in deed expecting number three and he set up another appoint for next month. Amanda was confirmed as well and she was already well into her first trimester at 8 weeks, based on periods I was around 4 weeks.

We couldn’t believe we were expecting again but we decided to wait a bit before we broke the news, at least making it to 8 or 10 weeks. Amanda was sworn to secrecy and oddly Alexander didn’t mention the baby to anyone else but Zac.

***

Incase anyone isn't clear on what dutch doors are :)