Everything Changes

Amanda's Worlds Collide

The next thing Amanda knew, a week had passed, and she and Nick were getting ready to go to the park. Once Bedelia heard that Olivia wanted to meet her, she extended the invitation to her, as well, and much to Amanda's delight, Olivia accepted.

Amanda spent the whole week being incredibly bouncy about the impending event, especially because the weather was fully cooperating and because they were making a picnic out of it, but now, on the day of, she was all of a sudden very quiet.

"There you are, Mandy."

After a little bit of searching the apartment, Nick found Amanda sitting on the edge of their bed. She was wearing a new sundress, had her shoes on, and her hair and makeup were even done, but now both hands were plastered over her middle, which had a pronounced swell to it. Most of all, though, Amanda's brow was furrowed, like she was pondering something as she stared into space.

"Mandy?"

Concerned when she didn't answer straight away and wondering where her head was at, Nick knelt down in front of his girlfriend and gave her hands a gentle squeeze.

That seemed to do the trick because Amanda squeezed back and gave Nick her attention. "Hey. I was just thinking."

"Oh, yeah? What about?"

"The first thing is that I feel as though all three of my worlds are about to collide."

"Because you, me, and Frannie Mae are about to go to the park to see your mom and your sister, and Olivia and Noah are coming, too?"

Amanda nodded and let out a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding as she rubbed her middle for what felt like the umpteenth time that morning.

"Talk to me." Nick urged.

"Do you know if twins run in your family?" she asked him.

"Twins?"

Amanda nodded. "There aren't any on either side of mine... so far as I know."

"Actually, my grandmother, Mercedes, she was a triplet."

"A tr-triplet?"

Nick nodded. "She was in the middle, and she had an identical sister called Quinta. Their brother was called Gregorio, after their father."

"And multiples often skip a generation." Amanda rubbed her temples as more things fell into place in her head. "Oh, my God..."

Nick finally realized where Amanda was going with her line of questioning and ever-so-carefully put a hand to his love's middle. When she arched her back in response to her touch, he put his other hand on the small of her back and caressed it lovingly.

"Are you thinking there's more than one in there?"

"Uh-huh, and it would certainly account for my fast weight gain because there is no freaking way I should be showing like this right now, especially since I've never even had a pregnancy scare before. On a second note, more than one baby growing in my belly right now would absolutely account for why a dress I bought two days ago is all a sudden incredibly snug."

Wisely choosing not to make a comment about Amanda's weight or (new) body size, Nick asked her, "When is your next doctor's appointment?"

"In three weeks. Would multiples be a welcome thing?"

Nick nodded and immediately kissed her before planting a few kisses over her middle, getting to his feet and pulling Amanda to hers.

"Oh, absolutely, and if there is more than one baby in there, that'll give us a very good reason to look at bigger places even sooner."