Page 127 of Perfect Chemistry

My face flushed bright red. “Yes. We found out I am carrying twins,” I told them. I couldn’t help but smile seeing the joy in their eyes when we told them.

“Oh, Katie! That is so wonderful!” Annie clapped happily and laughed as Tom pulled her back down to sit on the sofa.

“How far along are you?” Tom asked.

“I am about 16 weeks along. The due date is just before Thanksgiving, so we wanted to invite you out to stay with us. Maybe have Thanksgiving with us and meet our family?” I offered, unsure how they would take the invitation.

Tom jumped up this time, giddy as could be, “Wild horses won’t keep us away this time!”

Chapter 48

Kai’s Point of View

Once again, we managed to pack the house for Thanksgiving with family and friends, with the addition of Annie and Tom who traveled to spend the week with us. We had chatted with them pretty regularly after our visit in June. Tysan didn’t know what to do with herself when they arrived. She was so excited to introduce everyone to her Gam and Pops.

I had never been so thankful that all of the grandparents had different names to her. Katie’s parents were called Nonna and Poppop, and my parents were Grandmy and Grandpy. To be honest, I wasn’t sure how my parents were going to feel about Annie and Tom staying with us, but my mom took to Annie like they had known each other for decades. I couldn’t have imagined our lives like this when I saw Katie that day at the gas station.

She leaned back in her chair with a slice of pumpkin pie resting on her belly. Every once in a while the plate would jump when the babies moved, and all of the kids would start screaming and laughing. “How the hell did we get fifty people in our house,” she whispered over to me. Her face was flushed and she was looking around at everyone else smiling and laughing.

“I have no idea,” I chuckled back. “Better question is why do we keep doing it?”

Katie started laughing and then suddenly stopped.

“Miss Katie peed her pants, mommy,” little Max, Bradley’s youngest, announced just then.

I looked down to see water dripping from Katie’s chair. “Babe?” I asked, sure of what had just happened. “Did your water just break?”

Katie huffed in annoyance. “I don’t know what it is about Thanksgiving at our house that induces labor!” She stated loudly enough that everyone stopped eating and started shuffling tables and chairs out of the way.

“Is she serious?” Katie’s mom asked. “Katie, are you in labor?!?”

“Well, I sure as hell didn’t sit here and pee my pants in front of everyone I know!” Katie yelled back. Then she leaned forward and squeezed my hand. “Babe, I may not make it to the hospital,” she whimpered.

“I told you she was in labor. Did you not see how she was timing her bites of pie?” Andie added in.

“What did you just say?” I asked Katie, but Andie answered.

“She’s been having contractions for the last few hours, Kai. I tried to tell you earlier, but Katie pushed me out of the room. She’s in active labor.”

“Shut up, shut up, shut up, oh oh oh, I don’t want to have these babies in front of everyone!” Katie started crying, unable to move.

Annie jumped up, “Gentlemen, we’re going to need you to clean up dinner and reset the furniture. Ladies, if you would be dears and help keep the kiddos quiet, the grandmothers have some grandbabies to deliver.”

Suddenly, everyone was moving. Mine and Katie’s moms ran upstairs to the master bath and started running water in the tub. Andie called an ambulance while she was pulling clean towels from the cabinet. I don’t know how Jonas and I got Katie up the stairs without her ripping our limbs off, but we made it to the bathroom just as the tub was ready.

They all stepped out as I helped Katie strip off her pants and underwear and lowered her into the tub. I quickly stripped down into my boxers and lowered into the tub behind her. We had been prepared for early babies with her carrying twins, and attended all of the home delivery classes just in case.

Annie knocked on the door once I was in. “Are you ready, Katie? I’m not sure who you want with you.”

“I want moms! OUCH Oh-oh-oh- it hurrrrrrts,” she whined.

“Breathe, Katie. Come on, breathe with me,” I coached her until she got through her contraction. As she relaxed against me again, we heard what could only be described as three women playing rock paper scissors to decide who would come in.

“She meant all three of you!” I hollered out to them, making Katie giggle.

The three of them burst into the bathroom with smiles. They had changed into t-shirts, and took up positions on either side of the tub just in time for the next contraction.

“That’s it, Katie! Breathe. HUU-HUU-HEEEEEEE,” my mom encouraged her, while Annie wiped a cool rag on Katie’s forehead. I had no idea how long this was going to take. I was just doing everything I could to keep her calm and focused.

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