Page 10 of Catching Dreams

“I don’t know how that is possible, but I am so thankful!” Dad said into the phone. “If they had been here…”

I had to nod, even though he couldn’t see me, and quickly interrupted him. “I know, I know. But we’re not finishing that sentence.”

“We should call your mom,” Molly said to me, and I noticed that her call with Meadow was over. I heard Penelope telling Cooper she had an incoming call and would call him back. My guess was that Meadow didn’t care that Pen was talking to someone else and wanted to hear her voice for herself.

“Was that Molly saying you needed to call your mom?” Dad asked.

“Yeah,” I said. “She’s my next call.”

“She really is a smart and sweet girl,” Dad said. “You’re a lucky man, Tyler. I feel bad for all I said about her and your relationship. I would like a redo of our family dinner. I am so glad she stood up to me.”

“I would like that, Mr. Stone,” Molly said next to me, with her ear as close to the phone as she could. “I’m right here and can hear everything you’re saying.”

Dad chuckled, then I am sure I heard a sob escape. “Thank you for that. Tyler, I want to tell you I’m so sorry. While I was driving up here, I did a lot of thinking, and I want you to know how proud I am of you and Landon both. I never got the opportunity to follow my dreams, and I was bitter and angry. I’m so sorry. I am so glad you are both following your dreams, despite your jerk of a father.”

Dad, Molly, and I were all a blubbering mess as we talked. I had no clue my dad even had other dreams. I honestly thought running the auto shop was it. We all agreed to talk more about his dreams later. We then called my mom, who also began crying the minute she heard Molly’s voice. Luckily, Carter was at her house, probably to be with Mom as the search for Molly continued, and we were able to tell him at the same time that she was okay. Carter and Mom agreed they would call Landon and Julia and let them know.

After all those phone calls, I was exhausted emotionally, and I could tell Molly was, too. She slumped against me and just held on to me.

“Where are you guys staying?” I asked as Penelope and her kids came over to us.

“We don’t know. We just got in the car and headed here after the doctor’s appointment,” Pen said.

“Did you tell him about both the babies yet?” Peyton asked.

“Oh my gosh, no, I haven’t!” Molly exclaimed.

“Babies?” I asked and looked down at my wife and her growing baby bump. “As in plural?”

“Peyton Jane!” Penelope scolded. “That wasn’t your news to share.”

“Sorry,” Peyton said, and her lip began to wobble like she was about to cry.

“It’s ok, Peyton. I should have already told him,” Molly said sweetly to the little girl before looking up at me with a smile on her beautiful face. She pulled a small picture from her purse and handed it to me. “It’s the reason we drove straight here. I wanted to tell you in person. But, yes, Tyler, we are having twins.”

I looked down at the ultrasound picture, something I had never seen before. There were two smaller grayscale images side-by-side. It was kind of hard to tell, but on the left, I saw a picture of a baby looking right at me with its head toward the middle and labeled Baby A. On the right, the baby's head was in profile and labeled Baby B. Baby B's spine was visible. I was in complete shock.

“This is the most beautiful picture I have ever seen. Have you sent it to Mom yet?”

Molly shook her head. “I wanted you to be the first to know.” She continued, “You can’t tell from the picture, but the doctor said they are fraternal and not identical.”

“So it could be one boy and one girl,” Camden said proudly, parroting what the doctor had said when he asked what fraternal meant.

“Or it could be two little girls!” Peyton cried out.

“Or two little boys as cute as their daddy,” Molly said with a smile.

“Twins. Wow,” I said with a smile of my own. “Does this change anything about wanting to find out if they’re boys, girls, or one of each?”

Molly shrugged and shook her head. “Not to me. Does it change for you?”

I shook my head. “I’ll be happy either way.”

“Guess when my due date is?” Molly asked, obviously very excited.

“No idea,” I said honestly. I had no clue about that kind of stuff.

“November 7th! Seven really is our lucky number,” Molly said with a huge smile. “They will probably come early, but it’s still a special date.”

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