Hidden in Plain View: Normily 2

Chapter 4: First Picture

Chapter 4: First Picture

Laying back against the examine bed, Emily feels everything piling up in her. Sure, she's always wanted a baby. Sure she always wanted this moment. But in this moment with the ultra sound on and Norman holding her hand as the doctor searches for their baby, she feels utterly unnerved.

"That's your heart beat.... and oh." Dr. Sharon stops in her sentence and adjusts her glasses. "Oh..."

"What 'oh'? What is it?" Looking at the screen, neither Emily nor Norman is sure what they are looking for.

"I... uhm. Well, congratulations."

"What are we having? A boy or a girl?"

"Well, you're having a boy.... and a girl." Sharon sits back against her chair and just soundly looks at the picture. "I seemed to have miss this the last time I seen you. Yer having twins, Emily."

"Twins?" Norman seems pale, but also excited. Looking at Emily, she seems to have lost herself in looking at the screen. "Emmy?"

"Twins Norman.... twins." Emily loosely let's the words roll of her tongue and Norman can't tell if she's happy or very upset.

"I'm just gonna get a picture of this and let you two be on yer way. It's been long for all of us." Standing up and baking Norman's hand, Sharon leaves them both staring at the screen where now, two distinct bodies are formed.

Neither of them say anything for a long time. In the car ride home, Emily just stares at the picture of the babies and keeps on hand on her belly. Norman just drives and lets his mind flip with over whelming questions. When try get home, they find Andrew in the driveway playing basketball with Mingus.

"Hey, how'd it go?" Walking over to them as they're getting out of the car, Andrew an Mingus keep their smiles wide and flushed against their faces.

"Twins." Emily daily walks passed them and into the house, leaving Norman and the boys outside.

"Is she okay?"

"I don't quiet know the answer to that Mingus." Norman watches Emily closely as she walks up the steps.

"I thought they said one. And they were looking for the sex today." Andrew dribbles the ball and then passes it to Norman.

"They did. It's jus... Huh, I don't know. But they said we're having a boy and girl. So that's pretty cool." Norman shoots the ball and makes the basket. Mingus retrieves the ball and dribbles a bit.

"Sweet! I'll have a little brother and sister!"

"Yeah. I better go an check on Em... make sure she's okay." Norman starts walking to the house.

"Is it cool if I go to the Laker's game with Andy tonight instead of you, Dad?" Mingus calls. Norman stops and turns around.

"Shit that was tonight? Huh, yeah. Sure. I gotta keep an eye on Emmy anyway." Getting inside, Norman heads upstairs and finds Em laying on her side on the bed. Her eyes are glued to the blue sky outside the balcony doors. Norman crawls onto the bed and lays behind her, flush to her body. Neither of them say anything. They just stare out the door and think in the silence.

"I'm not ready for twins Norman." She's monotone and Norman can understand. "Do you know what it'll do to me? I'm not even sure I can push one out... now I have two?... what am I to do?"

"Em, it'll be okay. You could always get a c-section. Probably hurt less." He kisses her exposed shoulder.

"But then I'll have a scar...."

"Emmy, who cars about scars? I love you the way you are an will be. A scar is nothing compared to our babies." She rolls over to face me.

"You're right. I'm so selfish. This isn't about me or my body. It's about our babies." She presses her lips to mine an then closes her eyes.

"You tired Princess?"

"Huhhh, yeah, I'm beat. I thought you had huh... the lakers tonight with Andy?" She keeps yawning and I can tell but yawn too.

"I was, but I sincerely would love to stay here with you more. Besides, I told Mingus he could go."

"Yer such a good daddy." She smiles and Norman pulls the throw from the end of the bed, up and over them.

"I try to be. And I hope I can be for our kids."

"You will be. I have faith in you." He kisses her and she snuggles into the mold of him.

"I love you so much. So, so much"

"I know. You tell me everyday. More than once."

"Well don't sound too elated."

"I'm sorry. I don't mean to snap. It's just by back really hurts and I'm tired." Getting up, Norman rolls Emily Ono her other side and starts massaging her. She starts feeling better and he stops after he hears her fall asleep. Kissing her forehead, he lays back down beside her and falls asleep too.