willing to give it up?”
Michael spoke up. “Sometimes
it’s more about living your life, than working it away. James was a mess when
you were studying abroad. If it weren’t for medical school and the long hours,
he wouldn’t have known what to do with himself. Now he’s back in almost the
same position and he doesn’t want to miles to separate you both.”
“He’s right,” James agreed.
“Thank you, Michael. I truly appreciate this opportunity.”
“We’ll finalize the paperwork
and get you hospital privileges before you leave. In the meantime, we have a
party to attend. You’ll get to meet some of your future co-workers.” He ran his
hand on Jes’s stomach. “You still up for the party? We don’t have to stay long
but I promised I’d stop in.”
“Who doesn’t love a good
Christmas party? I’m fine, but are you sure the weather’s okay?”
He kissed her neck. “It will
be fine. The plows were busy getting the roads cleared this afternoon, and I
doubt we’ll be there long enough for this to do any real accumulation. We’ll
keep an eye on the weather. If it gets too bad we can leave. The hospital isn’t
that far.”
“If you say so.” She didn’t
seem convinced.
“For a woman who lived in
Denver all her life you sure don’t like to go out in the snow, do you?”
“It’s not the going out in it.
I’d gladly go win a snowball fight against both of you again. I just don’t
particularly like driving in it. I guess working from home all these years has
spoiled me.”
Michael and James laughed,
until James finally gained enough control to speak. “Dear sister, next year
I’ll challenge you to a rematch for you cheated on that particular snowball
fight you’re remembering.”
“I’ll take you on now and
still win.” She tried to slip out of Michael’s embrace as if to go to the door.
Michael pulled her back
against his body. “Oh no you don’t. You’re pregnant and so not having a
snowball fight this year.”
“Party-pooper.” She nestled
her head against his shoulder.
He might be just that but he
wouldn’t let his fiancée run around in the snow with only a week before she was
due. He hoped the girls would wait another few days to give them a chance to
get married before they came into the world.
* * *
The hospital Christmas party
flew by without a hitch. Jessi met Michael’s co-workers and James mingled
easily with his future co-workers. Everyone welcomed him on board with eager
enthusiasm. Things were coming together for Jessi better and faster than she
ever imaged. Taking a seat at one of the tables, she arched her back trying
with all her might to take the strain away, but nothing seemed to work.
“Maybe a backrub would help?”
Michael came up behind her, laying his hands on her shoulders, gently rubbed
her shoulders before he worked down the back that wasn’t pressed against the
chair. “How is tomorrow evening for us to get married?”
She laid her hand on his.
“Tomorrow? How did you manage that?”
“Father Donavan does rounds
most night to see his parishioners and anyone else who might like a visit. I
caught him as he was leaving. Does that work for you? I know you wanted to do
it before the twins were born, and who knows when they might decide to make
their arrival. Hopefully they’ll hold off another day.”
“Tomorrow’s perfect. I’d marry
you now if I could.”
“Don’t think I didn’t think of
that. But we can’t get our marriage license until in the morning, and Father
Donavan has other commitments, he’s squeezing us in tomorrow as a favor.”
She rose from the chair to
stand before him, her hands in his. “Tomorrow will be soon enough. I can’t wait
to be your wife. I love you.”
“I love you too.” He wrapped
his arms around her.
The girls kicked as if they
could feel her excitement, and she wondered if the inside of her body was one
large bruise from her active daughters.
“I’ll love when they kick.
It’s almost
Michael spoke up. “Sometimes
it’s more about living your life, than working it away. James was a mess when
you were studying abroad. If it weren’t for medical school and the long hours,
he wouldn’t have known what to do with himself. Now he’s back in almost the
same position and he doesn’t want to miles to separate you both.”
“He’s right,” James agreed.
“Thank you, Michael. I truly appreciate this opportunity.”
“We’ll finalize the paperwork
and get you hospital privileges before you leave. In the meantime, we have a
party to attend. You’ll get to meet some of your future co-workers.” He ran his
hand on Jes’s stomach. “You still up for the party? We don’t have to stay long
but I promised I’d stop in.”
“Who doesn’t love a good
Christmas party? I’m fine, but are you sure the weather’s okay?”
He kissed her neck. “It will
be fine. The plows were busy getting the roads cleared this afternoon, and I
doubt we’ll be there long enough for this to do any real accumulation. We’ll
keep an eye on the weather. If it gets too bad we can leave. The hospital isn’t
that far.”
“If you say so.” She didn’t
seem convinced.
“For a woman who lived in
Denver all her life you sure don’t like to go out in the snow, do you?”
“It’s not the going out in it.
I’d gladly go win a snowball fight against both of you again. I just don’t
particularly like driving in it. I guess working from home all these years has
spoiled me.”
Michael and James laughed,
until James finally gained enough control to speak. “Dear sister, next year
I’ll challenge you to a rematch for you cheated on that particular snowball
fight you’re remembering.”
“I’ll take you on now and
still win.” She tried to slip out of Michael’s embrace as if to go to the door.
Michael pulled her back
against his body. “Oh no you don’t. You’re pregnant and so not having a
snowball fight this year.”
“Party-pooper.” She nestled
her head against his shoulder.
He might be just that but he
wouldn’t let his fiancée run around in the snow with only a week before she was
due. He hoped the girls would wait another few days to give them a chance to
get married before they came into the world.
* * *
The hospital Christmas party
flew by without a hitch. Jessi met Michael’s co-workers and James mingled
easily with his future co-workers. Everyone welcomed him on board with eager
enthusiasm. Things were coming together for Jessi better and faster than she
ever imaged. Taking a seat at one of the tables, she arched her back trying
with all her might to take the strain away, but nothing seemed to work.
“Maybe a backrub would help?”
Michael came up behind her, laying his hands on her shoulders, gently rubbed
her shoulders before he worked down the back that wasn’t pressed against the
chair. “How is tomorrow evening for us to get married?”
She laid her hand on his.
“Tomorrow? How did you manage that?”
“Father Donavan does rounds
most night to see his parishioners and anyone else who might like a visit. I
caught him as he was leaving. Does that work for you? I know you wanted to do
it before the twins were born, and who knows when they might decide to make
their arrival. Hopefully they’ll hold off another day.”
“Tomorrow’s perfect. I’d marry
you now if I could.”
“Don’t think I didn’t think of
that. But we can’t get our marriage license until in the morning, and Father
Donavan has other commitments, he’s squeezing us in tomorrow as a favor.”
She rose from the chair to
stand before him, her hands in his. “Tomorrow will be soon enough. I can’t wait
to be your wife. I love you.”
“I love you too.” He wrapped
his arms around her.
The girls kicked as if they
could feel her excitement, and she wondered if the inside of her body was one
large bruise from her active daughters.
“I’ll love when they kick.
It’s almost
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