When I Come Around

Chapter 17

It was the day after we found out about Baby Girl's tachycardia. Valerie was going to meet her parents, and I decided to tag along because it would be a good time to introduce myself to her family. I wore black jeans with a purple button-up dress shirt. Valerie wore a long white purple maxi skirt with a white tank-top. I was nervous to meet her parents, like any guy would be, but I knew it was important for me there to support Valerie when she shared the news of the baby's heart.

We arrived at her parents house around noon, and Valerie knocked on the door. A girl answered the door, and I guessed she was Valerie's sister.

"Val! It's been such a long time!" The woman said, hugging my girlfriend.

"I know! Here, this is Harry, my boyfriend, and this is Victoria, my older sister," Valerie introduced us.

"It's nice to meet you," I said, shaking her hand.

"You too! Oh, come in! Mom and dad are so excited to see you," Victoria said, leading us in. I followed Valerie and Victoria into the den where I saw two teenage boys and Valerie's parents.

"Oh, Val! It's been such a long time!" Her mother exclaimed.

"I know, I've missed you all," Valerie said.

"And look at that baby bump! Have you figured out the gender?" Her mom asked.

"A little girl," Valerie said with a smile.

"Oh, a grand-daughter! How exciting!" Her mother said. Valerie laughed, going and hugging her father and the two boys.

"Harry, this is my dad, mom, and my younger brothers. They are twins, their names are Vincent and Victor. As you can see, my parents really followed that 'v' letter," Valerie said, giggling as she introduced her family.

"Nice to meet you all," I said with a smile. There was no denying this family. Everyone sibling had identical smiled that matched their father's, and the sisters hair matched their mother's.

"You too, Harry. Sit down, make yourself at home," Vincent said, who was stretched out on the couch playing Grand Theft Auto. I sat down beside Valerie, looking towards her parents.

"Valerie, I want to hear all about the pregnancy," her mom said.

"Oh, come on, mom. Don't be a sap," Victor said, earning a round of laughs from across the room. I know I had just sat down with this family, but I felt comfortable.

"Vic, shush and play video games," her mom said, laughing, "Val, I want everything." Valerie laughed before talking.

"It's been great, Baby Girl is healthy and growing fast. There has only been one thing going wrong," Val said, "they diagnosed her with infant tachycardia. It's basically irregular heartbeat, but it will heal itself hopefully."

"Heart problems are common along my side of the family," her dad said.

"I know, I was telling the nurse about that. We are hoping it will blow over, but if not she will need a pacemaker," Valerie said, "I'm not looking forward to that."

"Well, of course not. That will be hard dealing with a newborn, let alone a newborn with heart problems," her mom said, "I remember when Vic and Vinny were born, they were the worst."

"Oh, thanks mom," Vincent said, smiling. I grinned, glancing towards the two boys. They only seemed to be 16 or 17.

"You know what I mean," her mom said, laughing, "they were fussy and I was seeing double." We laughed.

"Have you thought of any names?" Victoria asked.

"Not really," Valerie said, glancing towards me.