Moments in life

Again?

 Jack POV-

Again? I could only laugh. The look Gabrielle gave me just made me laugh harder. I mean come on, it was funny. How could this happen a second time. I mean it was only two years ago that we found out Gabrielle was pregnant the first time. How on earth did it happen again. We were even more careful. We were trying to wait until Gabrielle finished before having more children and here we are again. 

I guess we can look at the bright side. I mean she will be graduating in three months so in a way, it will be after she is has graduated.

"Gabrielle, I am sorry, but it can only happen to us. You have to admit, it is funny. I mean, if your three months along, then it would have to match up with that weekend in the mountains. Madalyn and Cassie came out and gave us that long weekend alone and we..."

I couldn't continue through my laughter. It was just too funny. I mean I remember Cassie even telling us to go enjoy some alone time. She even said she we obviously needed more practice since Skylar was still an only child.

"Jack, this is serious. How am I going to tell Dr. Mackley that I will have to go on leave a few months after I official start at the practice? She is not going to be happy."

I could see her point. There was a chance that they could withdraw their offer, I don't think they will though. I mean Denise was a mother of four herself and she was only thirty five. So she must understand that sometimes things happen. I also know that they love Gabrielle. The way her patients end up loving her caring nature. The quality of her work. Why wouldn't they? She really needs to have more confidence in her skills. It's been almost five years and I am still working on that.

"Gabrielle, leaving aside the question of how we didn't notice that your were pregnant again for three months. All the partners love you. You were their top choice. I think if you are straight with her then Denise will understand. Have a little faith in yourself."

"What if they pull the offer. I already turned down the others. What if I end up without a practice to join?"

"Gabrielle, the fact that you had so many offers should tell you something. Even if they do decide to rescind and none of the others are interested, then you can just start your own."

"Jack it's not that easy to just open a practice."

"I know that Gabrielle, but I also know you could do it. Your patients love you. The hospital loves you during your rotations. The Doctors from what was it? Twenty two practices in Missouri and sixteen in Florida loved you. The Fifteen others that made offers even after you made it clear you wanted to go to one of those two areas loved you. Gabrielle I was talking to Stacy the other day and she said that you were the third most recruited this year. You were the most recruited for your specialty. That should tell you something sweetheart."

It's not like I wasn't being honest. We are not broke by any means. In fact by the time Gabrielle graduates we will have paid off all of her loans early. I make good money and seem to be in great demand. If we had to we could swing Gabrielle opening her own practice. It's not like she doesn't know a pretty good marketer to get the word out.

"Well when you say it like that it doesn't sound so bad."

"It's not Gabrielle. It's just us and our lives. I am happy you are pregnant again. I was just thinking that Skylar really needs a sibling. I think we have proven that we are pretty good parents and I know we have more love to share. It's not like we don't know what we are facing like the first time."

I can see a smile starting to form on Gabrielle's face. I just need something more to move her fully into being happy for our blessing.

"Besides. You decided we were going to move back to Springfield to be closer to our families. That means that this time we will have them available all the time. Do you know how happy this will make them? For them to be able to be with us this time?"

There was the Gabrielle beaming smile I was looking for. Now time to go in for the kill.

"Gabrielle, Thank you so much for giving me the best late Christmas present ever. I love you sweetheart."

And with that I won. She jumped in my lap and started kissing me with abandon. I was just happy to hold her. Skylar was probably going to napping for another hour so we had some time to ourselves. Our daughter was a bundle of energy. She was toddling around the apartment and talking the few words she new all the time. You begin to learn to enjoy the quiet breaks you get.

"I love you jack. Thank you for putting head back on straight. I know we will work it out."

"That's my job sweetheart. I am good at three things, online marketing, making babies with you, and knowing how to handle my Gabrielle."

"What about being a Youtuber?"

"Well of course I am good at that. But that's because I have a great partner."

She just laughed at that and laid her head on my shoulder. She made no move to get back off my lap and I personally was very happy with our current arrangement.

"So when do you want to tell everyone?"

"Well we are heading back for a few days early next month. I figure we can get the ultrasounds and do it then. We can even make the announcement video right before we leave and then have it posted the night we tell everyone."

"OK sweetheart. That sounds like a plan. Now I was thinking for celebration, how about I go out and get us sushi for dinner? Would you like that?"

"That sounds good Jack. So how do we tell our daughter that she will be getting a new brother or sister?"

"I have no idea. We will come up with something."

"I love you Mr. Brinkmen."

"I love you Mrs. Brinkmen."

...

Four weeks later at the doctor's office.

As we wait to hear about how the pregnancy's is going, I can't help thinking about the last month. I was right about Denise. She was happy for Gabrielle and understanding about everything. Gabrielle would have some things to do during her time off, but most was just simple reading and learning how the practice runs. That wasn't a big deal. 

Telling our daughter turned out to be easy. It took a bit to get her to understand that a sibling was growing in mommy's stomach, but she got it eventually. Now she is always trying to listen and hear something from it. We have explained that the baby can't talk yet, but she just asks why. It's cute. Getting her not to tell her grandparents when they talk on Facetime is more of an ongoing thing. 

I was looking at a black and white picture and wondering how many years of school was just for doctors to be able to see things in a screen that looks like a nineteen forties tv screen. When the next hit came.

 Wait, what did she just say?

"Twins? Are you sure we are having Twins?"

"Yup, you can see it right here. Looks like twin girls."

I had to laugh again. Just when you think you are prepared for everything, something like this comes out of the blue. Twins. Gabrielle is looking at me with eyes that said she has decided that this was my fault. I had to remind her of one simple fact.

"Well wife, since you are a twin, I guess where we know what side of the family this came from."

The look on her face made me laugh harder. It took a few seconds but I could see the corners of her mouth curl up. Eventually she joined me in finding the humor in the situation. The doctor gave us a few minutes to get ourselves under control before going into what we needed to watch out for with twins growing in Gabrielle's tummy. There were some new things to worry about and some new restrictions that will end up being required, but in the end it didn't matter.

The Brinkmens would deal with like we do everything else, as a family.