We Are Free

Shocking News

November 2nd comes and I have to take Emily to a doctor for her ears nose and throat. She gets constant sore throats and that's what the doctor suggested. I get her ready and we go to the doctor. He looks at her. We talk for a little bit.
      "Okay she does need her tonsils removed." The doctor says.  She gets a scared look on her face.
     "It will be okay." I tell her. "I have to say I'm shocked though." I say to the doctor.
      "Yeah it's not uncommon but it will help her in the long run." He says.
     "Yeah. I understand." She comes over and hugs me I pull her on my lap.
     "Guess what?" I say to her.
     "What?"
     "You can have ice cream and popsicles when you get done.  The day before we will go to the store and we will get any kind you want." She instantly perks up.
     "Yay!" We start laughing. He tells us what to do and sends us home with a book on everything. We go home. She tells Andrew. I sit down and talk to Halo about it.
I tell her the date it is November 26. She will be out of school and everything else until the doctor gives the okay. She isn't to thrilled about it.
     "So what are we doing for Thanksgiving this year?" I ask.
     "My mom wants me, you, the kids, Zac, Zane, and Chloe at her house."
     "Okay sounds good."
     "Yeah she called them and they will be going."
     "So you talked to her today?" I ask.
     "Yeah."
     "Okay sounds good."
     "Yeah. I still can't believe she needs her tonsils removed." Halo says.
     "Me either but if it will help her then why not do it." I say.
     "Yeah true. We will have to get someone to watch Andrew because he won't sit still long enough for it. She will want both of us there."
     "Yeah well it's during Thanksgiving break and we have off so we can ask Zac." I suggest.
     "He is going to Chloe's family that day." Halo says.
     "Okay your mom?"
     "I'm not sure I can text her."
     "Okay." She texts her mom.
     "So?"
     "She is free." Halo says.
     "Okay. Sounds good."
*November 24*
We get the kids up and get them breakfast. Halo is bringing a bunch of treats she made. The kids are excited to. They got a backpack filled with things to do.
They get dressed we have to be there around noon. We all get ready and leave. We take Halo's car. We get to Anna's house. The kids run inside and Zac was there. We walk in and heat hits me.
It was warm and smelled of pumpkin and spices. I smelled turkey and ham. The table was lined with a table cloth that had leaves all over it. There was place settings and cups.
Anna loves to cook big. Thanksgiving and Christmas are her favorite holidays simply because she can make a huge meal. Then we all go home full. She is always happy when that happens. We offer to help her but she refuses.
     "Okay everyone out of the kitchen. I got this if I need help then I will call one of you." She days batting a towel at us. We all leave and the kids go outside.
I play with Zane. He runs around laughing and playing. I chase him. He soon goes to Chloe.
      "I will save you!" She says.
      "Mommy!" He says. He crawls into her lap.
     "Darn it." He starts laughing then reaches for me. I pick him up. He laughs and smiles.
     "You know he loves you so much." I say to Chloe.
     "Who Zac or Zane?" She asks.
     "Both you did an amazing thing claiming Zane as your own. One day you and Zac are going to have a pretty amazing family because you both are amazing parents."
     "Thanks."
     "Actually when he first saw Zane he knew that he was his but he didn't want to admit it. He was so shocked and was freaking out. He didn't know what to do. Now he is an amazing dad and I can see he is really happy he couldn't ask for more. He is always telling me how amazing you are and how much he loves you."
     "Really?" She asks.
     "Yeah, you mean the world to him."
     "Well that helps."
     "What do you mean?"
     "Nothing." I can't help but feel something is up with her. I go to ask her what but the kids come in. They were cold. Halo makes them hot chocolate while I get them out of their coats. Chloe starts looking a little faint.
     "You okay?" I ask her.
     "Yeah I just got a little dizzy. It warm in here I'm fine. I just need to step outside." She says.
     "Okay." I have to say it was warm in here and maybe she just stood up fast or held her breath to long without realizing it. She was wearing some jeans and a sweater. She goes outside. I shake it off Zac was talking to Halo. She gets up to use the restroom. I sit next to him.
    "I got a question for you." I say.
    "Sure."
     "Has Chloe been acting off lately?"
     "How do you mean?"
     "I don't know like any mood swings or not feeling good?"
     "She had a couple mood swings but it was close to her period so I put it to that. She got sick but we ate something bad I even got sick off of it. Then she has had a headache on and off but Zane has been screaming a lot and it could be her period."
     "Okay just wondering." He looks at me weird but then Zane starts screaming. He gives up and pays attention to him.
*2 hours later*
     "Okay I need help setting the table." Anna says.  We all pitch in and set the table. We put Zane in his high chair. The kids sit at the table. We all begin to say what we are thankful for. Chloe kinda goes white. We all kinda noticed. We get to her.
     "I'm thankful that......" She pauses. We just look at her. Everything goes silent. "I'm thankful that I'm pregnant." She says.  Zac looks at her.
     "Are you serious?" Zac asks.
     "Yes 8 weeks today." She says.  He puts his head in his hands and starts crying. She rubs his back.
     "I don't know if those are happy tears or sad tears."
     "I think they are happy tears." I say.  He shakes his head yes. Anna looked shocked. Halo had her mouth open. The kids had no clue what was going on. Zac finally looks up and hugs Chloe.
     "Oh my gosh." He says. We all start clapping.
     "The headaches, the crabbiness, the throwing up."
     "The first two yes. I didn't get sick off the food it was just timed right." She says.
     "Oh my gosh."
     "Does Chloe have a baby in her belly?" Emily asks.
     "Yes honey." I say.
     "Yay!" She says.
     "Chloe is going to have a baby?" Andrew says catching on.
     "Yeah!" Emily says.
     "Yay!" We laugh at them.
     "I have no words." Zac says.
     "You ready for two kids?" I ask him.
     "No." He says.
     "Well I hope you are here soon."
     "No." We all laugh. "Did you hear that kid?" He looks at Zane and Zane looks at him. "Mommy is going to have a baby your going to be a big brother." He starts clapping.
     "He is excited." Chloe says.
     "He sure is."
     "Can we eat I'm hungry?" Emily says.
     "Yes we can eat." We all get something to eat and start eating. About an hour later everyone is done. We clear the table and all help Anna with dishes. She tried to refuse but we wouldn't let her.
She don't have a dish washer and there was a lot. When we are done we sit and talk for a while. The kids start falling asleep so we go home.
Halo leaves Anna with a baggie mixed with a bunch of different things she has made. We get home and I help Emily get ready for bed. 
     "I want Chloe to have a girl." Emily says.
     "Yeah so does Zac." I say.
     "When are you and Halo going to have a baby?" She asks.
     "Well that is going to be a long ways away just yet."
     "Why?"
     "Because we have a lot going on and I'm only 17. I don't want a baby at 17. I love having you guys."
     "Oh okay."
     "When Halo are going to have a baby we will tell you so no worries okay."
     "Okay." She lays down. I kiss her goodnight and I leave the room. Halo was in the kitchen putting stuff away.
     "So?"
     "She asked when we are going to have a baby." I say.
      "Really?"
      "Yeah."
      "Well she don't know that you technically help and she knows that I am 21."
     "Yeah, you didn't really do much for your birthday." I say.
     "I know but I didn't want to do much."
     "Yeah I want to be at least 20 before I start having kids."
     "I can respect that it's your choice."
     "I don't care if I'm 19 and we find out you are pregnant and the baby is born after I turn 20 I just wanna be 20."
     "Yeah and that's okay I don't really want a baby right now. I'm happy for them but Zac is 19 and Chloe is 20 so."
     "Yeah I would love to see them get married."
     "Me to."
     "I told her she did an amazing thing by claiming Zane as her own."
     "She did."
     "I have seen her for her it isn't this is my boyfriend and his son. She says this is my boyfriend and my son."
     "Yeah but Zac would do the same thing if Zane were Chloe's biological child."
     "Yeah he would."
     "I'm waiting for Andrew to start asking questions."
     "Me to but it's like I can wait at the same time."
     "Yeah."
     "Emily said she wants Chloe to have a girl."
     "Zac does to."
     "I know all he says is he wants a little girl."
     "Yeah and Zane will be an amazing brother."
     "Oh yeah." We talk some more and decide to go to bed. We fall asleep and the next day is the day before Emily's surgery. She packs a backpack with her favorite blanket and stuffed animals. We go to the store and she picks out treats for after.
     "Are you scared?" I ask her.
     "Yeah a little bit." She kicks the ground with the toe of her twinkle toes.
     "I will be there and so will Halo."
     "I know."
     "Plus the doctor said that when you go to get it done you will be loopy and not know what is going on. Plus you can have your blanket and stuffed animals."
     "I know I'm just still scared." She hugs me.
     "It will be okay. I promise."
     "Plus I can't do gymnastics."
     "I know but get this done and before you know it you will be doing it again. Plus you will go back to school."
     "Will I be healed before Christmas?"
     "Of course you will."
     "I want to go to Anna's for Christmas. I always have fun and if I don't go I will be sad."
     "Oh honey you can go you will be healed before then."
     "Okay." We check out and leave the store. We go home and she helps me put it away.
     "Can I wear my favorite pjs tomorrow?" She asks.
     "Yeah I don't have a problem with that."
     "Okay."
     "Can you at least brush your hair?"
     "Yeah."
     "Okay you better eat good tonight because you can't eat after midnight."
     "No breakfast?"
     "No we won't eat with out you though
      "Okay." I can tell she is scared we put her bag by the door and get ready for dinner. We eat and she does eat good. I let them have some candy and then brush their teeth.
When they are done I get them in their own pjs. They go to bed. Halo and I go to bed because we have to get up early. It's going to be a long day tomorrow.