Are You My Husband? Pt. 02

"Yep. So far. Pastor, is there something you're trying to tell me?"

"No. Scott. I just wanted to share with you that I think Franklin would be really proud that you are his son-in-law right now. Not everyone in our church is as understanding as they should be, but I truly believe that most, or at least most of those that have mentioned it to me, think that given the unusual situation, you and Janie have done a wonderful thing. If you are ever troubled by the decisions the two of you have had to make, draw strength from that. That was what I wanted to convey. Well, that and Noreen and I are glad to see that the Parkers are doing so well."

"Thank you, Pastor. That means a lot to me."

Later that evening, Scott shared that with Janie and Kathleen. It did give them a little peace to know that others supported them. They still would have done what they did even if everyone disagreed, but it was nice for the Pastor to share that with them.

___________

Time marched on towards the impending births. Janie and Kathleen attended all the Lamaze classes together. Usually, Scott would attend, but sometimes Dina went with them.

As each approached their ninth month, what had been a party slowly turned into a hangover. They were still happy and looking forward to the births, but given the challenges of sleeping and simply moving, they were past ready.

Scott and Dina did what they could. They massaged a lot of feet and calves and spent 15 minutes a day rubbing oil on bellies to try and prevent stretch marks. They had a mountain of pillows on each bed trying to get the ladies propped up into a decent position in which they could sleep, alone. They rationalized that there was no purpose served by keeping everyone awake.

On Kathleen's due date, Scott's mom, Beverly, came down to help. Kathleen was now staying at home and trying to work from there. Dina ran the house, and Beverly helped her and Kathleen.

Beverly and her husband, Wade, Scott's father, were both stunned to learn of both women being pregnant and that Scott was the father both times. He was by himself when he told them and tried to explain the rationale for helping Kathleen. Kathleen's relationship with Beverly started on the cool side but had become quite warm recently, especially with Beverly there for the impending births.

Now, Beverly was ecstatic that she is going to have two more grandchildren and would get to spend time with her current ones before and after the births. Eva and Noah loved having their Mimi there with them.

A few days past her due date, Kathleen was beginning to joke that Janie may give birth before her. Their obstetrician wasn't going to allow that. On the eighth day past her due date, it happened - at night, of course. Her water broke just after midnight, and Janie and Scott were escorting her out the door and to the hospital.

In the birthing suite, it took her several hours to dilate, and labor was many more hours, with Janie on one side and Scott on the other, holding, stroking, soothing and encouraging. Finally, just before noon, their son was born. Once they heard him cry, they were overjoyed.

A few minutes later, he was cleaned up, measured, and given to Kathleen to hold, she asked, "Scott, come here, please."

He walked over and stroked her head and cheek. "You did good, Kat. I'm so proud of you."

"Are you still okay with Franklin Scott Parker?" she asked.

"I am." He sat on the edge of her bed.

"Kiss me, Sweetie. I love you, so much." Tears were running down her face now. "I'm not sure you'll ever know how much I love you."

He gave her a long, loving kiss. She was eager, and he was trying to be gentle. "It's okay Kat. I love you, too. We're parents now. Can you believe that? Me and you."

Janie had tears running down her own face. She was so happy. She knew this had cemented all of them together. Marriage certificate or not, it would be the three of them from now on, and the thought of that thrilled her. She wasn't sure that realization had sunk in on Scott or Kathleen, yet, but it would, eventually.

___________

For the ten days after Kathleen returned home, all the focus was on her and little Franklin. Eva's and Noah's eyes were wide with wonder at the new addition. Beverly helped Dina take care of their brood and enjoyed every minute of it.

After Kathleen's return, with Janie's encouragement, Scott spent every night in Kathleen's bed, holding her. Often, Beverly would wake to get Franklin in the middle of the night for his feedings and bring him to Kathleen who was sleeping either draped across or next to Scott. Scott would wake up and arrange the pillows for Kathleen, and she would return to resting on Scott while Franklin nursed. It was the happiest Kathleen had been in her entire life.

On the first night, Beverly had been surprised at the arrangement, but as she thought about it, she simply decided that she had another daughter-in-law. Unconventional? Yes. Improper? Probably. Wrong? Absolutely not. She loved that little baby like she did Eva and Noah. She now understood the longing she had witnessed the previous Christmas and had come to terms with it. Kathleen wasn't going to break up Scott and Janie. In her mind, Kathleen had become a part of them.

It did worry her a little. Being married to one woman was hard enough. Being married to two? God help him. But her son had taken a risk and done a difficult, but beautiful thing, and she was tremendously proud of him, and Janie. She didn't want to overstay her welcome, but she was loving her time in that house. She couldn't wait for Wade to come down, which was planned for the weekend after Janie gave birth.

Even with Ramon running the business, Scott needed to go in on a few days. On the days he did go in, Beverly would mother over Kathleen. On one of those days, Kathleen said, "Beverly, I know we didn't start out on our best foot but thank you for everything. I'm so happy that you are here. Thank you for helping to look after me."

"Franklin is my grandbaby, and I would do anything for him. Also, you've made my son very happy. I'm glad that you are in his life. I'm glad that you had Franklin with him."

"Me too, Beverly. I know you worry about us, all of us, being together. I only want what's best for Franklin and Scott. I promise you that."

"I know, dear. You know, I was thinking about something this morning. Janie calls me Mamma like Scott does. I know that I'm not your mother, but you can call me Mamma, or Mimi, like the grandbabies, if you would like. Or stick with Beverly. I'm fine with that, too."

Kathleen smiled at Beverly and said, "Mamma? Hmmm." She was letting herself get used to the sound of it. Then she thought for a minute about the significance of calling Scott's mother 'Mamma.' That made the decision pretty easy. "Thank you, Mamma. For that. For everything."

"It's my pleasure, Kathleen. I love you, and I believe you are going to be a great mother, just like Amanda was."

That set off the waterworks and the two women embraced for a long time.

Before the evening was over, everyone had heard Kathleen call her Mamma, and the significance wasn't lost on Scott either. It took a great deal of self-control to prevent his eyes from getting misty. But that night when Beverly brought Franklin to them in the middle of the night for his feeding, there were plenty of tears of joy from everyone.

Janie knew that Scott was probably sleeping better with Kathleen at the moment than he would have with her, but she was looking forward to when the three of them could share the same bed again. She hadn't slept alone this long since she was on the road during her consulting years. She kept waddling her way to work because she would need her vacation days once it was her time, which happened ten days after Kathleen came home.

Scott was planning to go into the office but hadn't left yet. He was having a hard time tearing himself away from Kathleen and Franklin. Janie had just finished breakfast when her water broke. Everyone knew what to do. Kathleen called their obstetrician's office, while Scott and Dina drove her to the hospital. Unlike Kathleen, being Janie's third, she was actually in labor by the time they arrived at the hospital.

As soon as she was in her birthing suite, a doula was with her saying it wouldn't be long until she could start to push. Her obstetrician was with another patient and would be there shortly. One of the nurses that was there with Kathleen recognized Janie and Scott and asked, "I thought you were the other one's husband. Why are you here today?"

Dina laughed out loud at hearing that.

Janie said, "He's my husband and he is the father of my sister's baby, too."

The nurse asked, "You let him have sex with your sister?"

"All the time. We both wanted him to."

She looked up and down at Scott incredulously and asked snippily, "I don't get it. Do you have a huge dick or something?"

Angrily, Janie said, "No. He doesn't. His dick is perfect as is, and best of all it's attached directly to his HUGE heart."

Deciding she didn't like the nurse's attitude, Dina put her arm through Scott's and said, "If I didn't already have kids in college, I'd be having one of his children, too," which caused Scott to blush and Janie to cackle. She pulled Dina to her and kissed her on the lips.

Dina had meant it when she said it, but given a moment to think about it, she almost wished she could.

Dina's statement had shut the nurse up, but all through the birthing, the nurse couldn't help but wonder about this person that was having a baby with two beautiful women, and a third that suggested she would have one of his also.

It was a few minutes after noon when Janie and Scott were blessed with another little girl. Amanda Beverly Parker was the name they placed on the birth certificate. They would call her Mandy.

Kathleen knew that was the name they picked out but couldn't help but break down and cry once she knew everyone was okay. Beverly held her and gently shushed her telling her that it would be okay. Kathleen was missing her mother but was ever so thankful for Beverly being there with her.

At the hospital, Dina was so pleased for all of them. Scott told her, "You said to keep them coming."

She smiled back at him and replied seriously, "And I still mean it. The more the merrier."

While Janie was sleeping, Dina went home so Beverly could come. Being their third, they knew what to expect, and Janie's body could handle the trauma better than with the first one. When she woke, she told Scott, "Thank you, my love. Thank you for agreeing to one more. Once again, you've made me happier than I deserve."

"Not this time, Janie. It's my turn to thank you. All you do is fill my life with love. Every. Single. Day. Some days there is so much I feel guilty because I cannot absorb it all, and the next day you do it again and again. I'm not sure how I lucked into you, but with God as my witness, marrying you is the single best thing I will ever have done in my life."

She replied, "Followed very, very closely by taking in and loving my sister."

He chuckled, "Yes. A very close second."

"Good. Now give me a kiss. I think I've earned it."

He nodded. She had.

When Wade arrived that weekend, Eva and Noah, who were now four and three years old, respectively, were so excited. Dina and Beverly tried to spend time with them, but Janie and Kathleen needed help, too. Wade's arrival meant the toddlers had their own personal jungle gym and acted accordingly, not that he minded.

He played with them vigorously in the backyard and would drive them to the playground and to get ice cream. In their eyes, their Papaw was bigger than life and they hung on his every word. He had them thoroughly tired each night, and they were out cold before they ever reached their beds.

After a long, happy weekend, Wade drove the two hours back to Chattanooga, promising to return the following weekend.

While Scott was at the hospital, Kathleen hated sleeping alone. She missed her snuggle buddy. Beverly offered and slept next to her. When Janie returned, Scott spent the first few nights with her. This time Beverly was bringing the baby to Janie, while she snuggled into Scott.

During the third night, a few minutes after Beverly had delivered Mandy to Janie and Scott, Beverly entered the room holding little Franklin and Kathleen was right behind her. Scott arranged himself to accept Kathleen snuggling against him, and Beverly handed Franklin to her to begin nursing.

For Scott, the beauty of the two women nursing their newborns next to him at the same time was almost overwhelming. For Beverly, it was surreal. Her son was lying in bed with two women, having fathered children with each, and she was gladly, happily, joyfully bringing their offspring to them to nurse. If someone had told her two years ago that she would be doing that, she would have slapped them and called them a bald-faced liar. Surreal indeed.

The next weekend when Wade returned, it would be the family's first outing to their church. Some of the neighbors and friends had been by for a brief visit to see the babies and Pastor Leo and Noreen had stopped by also. Ramon and Emilia had visited, as well.

Beverly asked Dina the night before, "Do you think you could handle visiting a Baptist church with us in the morning?" She usually attended her Catholic church but nodded her head in affirmation.

At the end of the summer, they had purchased a new, large SUV to hold three adults and four car seats. That was the closest the three of them ever came to having an argument at that point in their relationship. Janie wanted the reddish color. Kathleen wanted the greyish-blue. Scott broke the tie and ordered the nice, neutral white one. The black one looked sharp, but a black SUV in Atlanta during the summer heat would be miserable.

Before the service, about ninety percent of the congregation flocked to them to see the two new additions. They cooed and oohed and ahhed, telling the two women that they made beautiful babies. Every time they heard that, they looked at Scott and smiled.

After the service was over, Wade and Scott chatted with a few of Scott's friends, including Blake, while they waited for the women to retrieve the children from the nursery. When Eva saw her Papaw, she ran to him, and he scooped her up.

Because of the detour to the nursery, they were one of the last groups to exit the building, and as Pastor Leo was saying goodbye to everyone, he thanked Wade and Beverly for visiting. When he shook Wade's hand he said, "Mr. Parker," and Eva piped up, "I'm a Parker, too!" which caused everyone to chuckle. So, Brother Leo said, "And Ms. Parker," which brought a proud smile from Eva.

Next was Beverly, which brought a "Mrs. Parker, thank you for coming." Then Janie, who was holding Mandy, so he said, "Mrs. Parker and Ms. Parker." He shook Scott's hand and sticking with the Parker theme, he said, "Mr. Parker. I'm not sure who is prouder right now, you, your mom, or your dad."

Beverly piped up and said, "It's me. I can promise you, it's me."

Kathleen was next, and she knew he couldn't say it, even though everyone within earshot was thinking it. She had tears in her eyes as he just looked at her and smiled, gently nodding his head. He couldn't say it, though he wanted to. He certainly was thinking it. He could see her wearing her late mother's engagement and wedding ring on her right hand. He thought it would look much better on the other one. He lightly touched the top of little Franklin's head and said, "Little Mr. Parker, your grandfather was my friend."

Last was Dina, which brought another smile and he said, "and an honorary Ms. Parker for you." She hugged him, which caught him off guard and caused everyone to chuckle.

Annabelle was outside of the church, and Scott got her to take several pictures of all of them together, including Dina, with his phone. It immediately became all of their favorite picture. That week, Scott had it enlarged, framed, and hung over the mantel.

While Wade was there, Scott took him to his office and equipment shop to show him how much they had grown since Kathleen had joined them. The father and son enjoyed spending their time together.

Wade returned late in the day to his home, and Beverly was to stay another week through the Thanksgiving holiday.

One day Janie and Kathleen were yawning from being awoken several times during the night. Nursing every two to three hours was taking a toll on their sleeping.

Dina asked, "Have the two of you thought about rotating the feedings? One of you could nurse both of them at the same time. You would be more thoroughly drained and would only wake up half as many times."

Kathleen said, "I like the sound of that, but I've really gotten used to sleeping next to someone. I know I sound spoiled, but it really helps me sleep."

Beverly told her, "You've got me until I go home. Scott and I will swap some nights, too."

Though surprised, Kathleen liked that.

Beverly smirked for a moment and said, "Dina, after I leave, if you sleep next to either of them, you'll need to be careful because I suspect the little ones are attracted like milk-seeking missiles to yours," nodding towards her breasts, "and would be sorely disappointed to find that they somehow missed out on a meal."

Dina returned her smirk, knowing the comment was made good-naturedly. She and Beverly had become quite close over the last few weeks. She asked cheekily, "What? You don't think I could produce milk?" Then she put her shoulders back which thrust her breasts out.

Beverly saw those stupendous boobs jutting out, while Dina looked at her defiantly, and tried to think of a cute comeback. She opened her mouth several times as if she was going to say something, but in the end, she couldn't help but laugh, which brought about laughter from all of the adults.

Finally, Beverly got out, "I would bet that Abril and Gabe were very happy and well-fed infants," which brought more laughter from everyone.

Dina, having won the engagement, smiled and said, "Yes. Yes, they were."

A week later, was Thanksgiving and Wade returned again. Dina's kids came in and she and Beverly cooked a huge feast for everyone. Wade successfully cooked his first deep-fried turkey, without burning Scott's house down, thankfully.

At the end of the weekend, Beverly hated to go, but she needed to return home. She knew that Wade would keep the house very clean. That wasn't a problem. She was more worried about his diet while she was gone. She suspected her husband's meat to veggie ratio was outrageously high during the time she was in Atlanta. She was imagining the number of steaks and sausages he likely grilled while she was gone.

She was crying as she left because she desperately wanted to stay. There were a lot of "I love you"s and "come back soon"s.

Beverly told Dina, "I'm so envious of your getting to be with them all the time. If Wade were retired, I'd move him here.

Dina replied, "Have him retire soon." She would miss Beverly.

Beverly said to Scott, "I'm so proud of you, my son. My heart is bursting with joy when I think of you and your family."

Her final words were to Dina, "Take care of our family. If you ever need anything, I'll be there. Will you promise me that if you need something you will call?"

"I promise."

They gave each other a long hug, and then she was gone.

______

Wade and Beverly returned for Christmas, along with Dina's kids, and a good time was had by all, especially Eva and Noah.

Janie received, and used, two months of maternity leave. Kathleen was taking time off also, but after the first of the year, she started working from home.

Scott added a room to his office at work and a small playground on the back of the business property so that Dina could bring all the kids in on some days. It was decided that Kathleen would nurse both babies during the day, which was at the office some days, and some days she would either drive home or work from home all day. Janie would use a pump at work and give it to the kids at home. They ended up with extra breast milk, which was better than too little.