What Tomorrow Brings

“Roy Scott! Karen Celeste! Stop running right now!” JC called to the 5-year-old twins. “I said freeze!”

Abruptly, the children halted and waited for their parents. Twins. He hadn’t known someone as tiny as Gabby could survive carrying twins. His poor baby had looked like she had stuffed a large watermelon in her shirt. To her credit, she hadn’t turned into a prima donna. She had been healthy, happy, and well loved -- a very cheerful mother-to-be.

But the twins hadn’t been as he had expected. He thought Karen would have dove gray eyes and straight black hair – and Roy would have his coloring. They had flip-flopped. Karen had big blue eyes and wavy, dark brown hair. Roy had his mother’s eyes and hair – he also had a crush on his delicate mother.

“Maman, are you all right?” Roy asked as he came to his mother’s side.

Gabby smoothed his hair lovingly. “Yes, darling, just not very fast.”

Karen leaned against her father’s leg and gazed at her mother’s large stomach. “How soon before he comes?”

“A couple more months, I’m afraid,” Gabby sighed. “I know it is hard to wait, isn’t’ it?”

“Amen,” JC muttered for her ears only.

“Mr. Rabbit isn’t suffering,” she replied in the same tone.

The parents grinned at each other. With the twins, JC had been an exquisitely tender and imaginative lover – this time around he was no less so. He wondered if all the loving care he gave his wife was known by his new son.

“Still gonna be Joshua Stephen?” Karen asked.

“Yes,” Gabby replied. “And, no, I will not change my mind and name it after the dog,” she teased.

Karen giggled – sounding much like Gabby. “Wigglesworth Chasez!”

Gabby rolled her eyes – her daughter had her father’s sense of silliness.

JC scooped Karen up, tickling her lightly. “How many times have I gotta tell you that name’s too long?”

“Daddy!” the little girl squealed in delight.

Roy looked on a little envious. His mother’s lap was his favorite place in the world – but currently, his baby brother was using it.

JC hadn’t missed his son’s gaze. Setting Karen down, he lifted Roy to his hip. “Hey, what would you say to a chocolate milkshake?”

“All right!” Roy cheered.

“Me, too!” Gabby added her voice.

“Me, three!” Karen chimed in.

It was JC’s turn to roll his eyes. “Guess we know who belongs to whom around here,” he chuckled.

“Sure we do,” Roy told him seriously. “We belong to you, Daddy.”

JC nuzzled the boy’s silky hair as he had his mother’s a million times. “You sure do. All four of you.”

And for a moment, the family Chasez had a group hug – but before she got weepy, Gabby announced, “I want my milkshake now!”

“Yes, princess.” JC retorted with a laugh.