Chapter 1.14: Larger Than Life

“Janie!!!”

A sound of glass breaking was heard all over the house.

“Awan mik! Mik! Miiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiik!!!!”

Gwen sighed. This morning has been a ruckus especially when Janie is breaking another glassware. This is the 3rd bowl this week.

“Okay Janie! Let me just help Josie first!” Gwen telling Janie, as she is gave Josie her cereal.

“Janie, eat first this cereal and then I will give you your milk. Daddy made that. You want daddy to be sad my angel?” Holden saying in a sing-song voice to calm down Janie.

Janie look irritated but decided to stay calm as her daddy gave her another bowl of cereals.

“Awant on Josie sittie!” Janie telling her daddy.

“Okay sweetheart.” As Henry scooped up Janie to change with Josie. Josie is just quiet about all of this.

Gwen just rolled her eyes with her daughter.

“They’re growing up to fast, Honey” Gwen said as she looked at her two little angels.

“I just wished I would still see the day that both of them will get married and have a family of their own” Holden suddenly looking sentimental.

Gwen looked worriedly at his husband. “Honey don’t worry you will see them with their children. We’ll be there.”

Holden smiled at her wife. “C’mon Honey let’s celebrate my birthday! Then later after school we’ll celebrate Lizzie’s”

With only the four of them to celebrate, Gwen got her guitar and sang him “Happy Birthday Song”. The twins giggled as they saw their father going to be an elder.

Holden was shocked by his elder outfit. He looks like a repairman. Gwen laughed at her husband and gave him a kiss.

                                **************************************************

Later that afternoon, Lizzie had her birthday but doesn’t end well. Gwen collapsed and they had to take to her to the hospital. The doctor informed them that Gwen is tired and she had to rest especially for her baby.

“What mom is pregnant again?” Lizzie asked the doctor, shocked.

The doctor just smiled at Lizzie’s reaction.

This made Lizzie annoyed. Her dad talked to her to move her things again back to Henry’s room. They need her new room to be a nursery for the baby. She left the hospital without even telling her parents.

“Another baby? We are too many and now that baby also got my gift!” Lizzie thought angrily.

Lizzie went to Maywood Glen to celebrate the remaining hours that she is free and she wants to forget what happened at her birthday.

She challenged a local to a game of chess. The guy smiled at him interestingly. Lizzie, still feeling annoyed just ignored him.

It took them until evening. She won 5 out of 6 games, the guy beat her on the last game but she let him win because she is already tired. She stood up and said thank you to the guy.

“Hey, My n---“ the guy started.

But she already left. She’s so tired she wants to sleep.

Back at home. Gwen was released by the hospital. She feels so tired and she also feels like air was sucked out every time she breathes.

“Holden, I feel so sick and tired but I feel so bad with Lizzie. That’s her birthday gift that she’s been wanting, she wanted her own room for ages.” Gwen said sadly.

“We didn’t expect this. I know this would be hard especially for you. I see that your body is not taking it easy anymore. I’m sorry Honey. We should have been more careful expressing our love with each other” Holden replied sadly.

Then they just eat silently, no one dared to talk anymore. Then they heard the door slammed and they knew it was Lizzie. They looked sadly with each other, lost for words.

Gwen changed clothes and look at the mirror. She’s pregnant again and this time her body is failing her. This is her fourth pregnancy and she’s not getting younger anymore. She had to make a decision.

“I need to do that. I need to get my daughter to like me again and I need this also for myself. I hope it will be a safe pregnancy.” She started touching her belly and tears flowed out of her eyes. “Sorry baby. I love you and we want you, don’t feel betrayed.”

She felt a kick that made her smile. Her baby understands her.

                               **************************************************

Meanwhile....

Everybody has a way to express themselves about Gwen’s pregnancy. Holden is busy taking care of the twins. Gwen is practicing her speech in front of the mirror. Lizzie is at Maywood Glen Park challenging someone over a game of chess again, a way to release her anger with her parents.

And Henry…

He took his guitar and let all out his sadness, frustration and stress with every pluck of his fingers on the strings of the guitar. Closing his eyes letting the music took him over.

But he heard another sweet tune synchronizing with his music. When he opened his eyes he saw her mom jamming with him. He smiled.

“Let’s do it mom. Let’s go rock n’ roll!” Henry excitedly told her mom.

Then suddenly…

Gwen dropped her guitar…

“Mom?” a worried look spread on the face of Henry.

“Call your dad. It’s time” Gwen told her son.

Will Gwen be safe in this last delivery and what is the hard decision that she’s deeply thinking? Will Lizzie’s relationship with her parents suddenly turned around and what’s in store for Holden? Will he live long and see her children get married and have a family of their own? See you on the next chapter guys!

<<< Chapter 1.13