Never Be the Same

by A. Aubry

  “Of course! God, I am going to love all of them so much that they will be those kids who grow up embarrassed of their father,” Jameson smiled before sitting back up and kissing my lips.

  His phone began to ring from his pocket. Well, that moment was ruined. He brought it out and looked at the screen before answering it.

  “Hi, Kelly. Yes, everything is okay in New York and yes, Briella had her appointment today.”

  I laughed, Kelly really was like the sister that Jameson never had. Ever since I was brought back home, she had been much more like family than before. She had been picking up the slack at the club, letting Jameson take off most nights so that he could be home with me. While I was at work, he was at work, but the second that I clocked out, he was out of there.

  Jameson covered his phone with his hand and looked at me, “Can I tell her?”

  I nodded, “Of course. Ashley was there with me when I found out, so it’s only fair that Kelly knows as well.”

  The look on his face, one of pure joy, made me even happier than when I found out that we were pregnant and that we were having triplets. He brought the phone back up to his ear, “We’re having triplets, Kel.”

  The sound of her screaming sounded through the speaker of his phone even though she wasn’t on speakerphone. Jameson pulled the phone away from his ear quickly, rubbing his ear with his other hand. The last thing I needed was a deaf in one ear husband when we were expecting triplets. My luck, he’d be deaf on the side where we’d put the baby monitor and I’d be pulling all the late nights.

  “I think she’s happy,” he whispered playfully.

  “I’m happy too,” I admitted.

  “I’m ecstatic,” Jameson replied.

  I hoped that everyone who loved us would be happy about the news too.

  “This is literally the last thing that fits, Jay. I’m only going to get bigger…I think I need to go maternity clothes shopping,” I whined as I sat up on the examination table waiting for the doctor.

  Jameson chuckled, “I know you wanted to put it off as long as you could but seeing as I know that is the only thing left in your closet that fits, we should get you to the store. I didn’t think you’d be showing so much already.”

  “I’m carrying triplets, Jameson. They are making their own little rooms in there as we speak.”

  He stood up from the chair he was sitting on and came to stand in front of me, hands splaying out on my belly through my shirt, “But you still look gorgeous.”

  I lifted my head to look up at him, “You really think so?”

  “I know so.” He rested his forehead against mine, “You are the most gorgeous woman on the planet.”

  “Now I know you are just trying to win brownie points with me and my pregnancy hormones,” I sighed and rolled my eyes.

  “While those points are well appreciated, but I really do think that you are the most gorgeous woman in the world.”

  Just as our lips met, Dr. Ramone came into the room, “Oh, sorry for interrupting!”

  Dr. Ramone was an older woman with a big bubbly personality. Ray recommended her to me when we found out that we were expecting, and she was even more amazing than he said. This was Jameson’s second appointment with her and she still acted all embarrassed whenever she caught us kissing like that.

  “Not at all, Dr. Ramone. Just trying to cheer up my wife a bit. We have to go get her some new clothes,” Jameson offered as he quickly kissed my forehead and took his seat once again.

  “Ah, yes. Most women with triplets that are going on fourteen weeks are showing as much as you are right about now. Let’s get you measured.” She pulled out a long measuring tape and instructed me to roll up my shirt.

  After a couple of moments, she informed me that I was measuring as large as someone who was just about twenty weeks when they were pregnant with a single baby. I wasn’t sure if that was good news or bad news. All I knew was that I looked far rounder than I thought I should be at this point in my pregnancy.

  Dr. Ramone asked me a series of questions, making sure that I was taking my vitamins and eating right. Jameson was all over that stuff and more. He had my vitamins waiting for me with my breakfast and he made all of my meals. It was moments like these that I was happy that my husband was an amazing cook because otherwise I would have been getting in trouble with my eating habits. Soon, it was time for me to lie back on the table and time for us to check in on our babies. Jameson and I both agreed that our favorite part of every appointment was to hear the babies’ heartbeats. It made us feel that much closer to them to hear that sound.

  The computer hummed next to me as Dr. Ramone moved the probe around on my belly. As soon as she picked up on the heartbeats, I smiled wide and Jameson did as well. She did a few checks before she looked over at us.

  “So, Briella, you are fourteen weeks along. If you would like, we could try to find out the genders today. The babies look to be in a good position for us to find out. Are you two interested in that?”

  “Definitely!” Jameson answered for us.

  I giggled at him and nodded, “Yes. Then we can start thinking about nursery stuff. We just got settled into our new house and can finally start picking out colors.”

  The last seven weeks had been spent house hunting, putting in an offer, closing on it, and moving in. The house that we both fell in love with was massive with the largest backyard that I had ever seen. I was just happy that I talked Jameson into moving out into the suburbs. The commute to downtown was a little bit longer than it would have taken him from the penthouse, but where we bought the house was quiet, safe, and very secure. We’re talking like gated property with a security guard at the front gate, secure.

  “Great.” She smiled and turned her attention back to the screen.

  After a few minutes of silence, she pointed to the baby who was on the bottom of the womb, “This one right here, baby A, is a boy.”

  She indicated between the legs and you could definitely tell that it was a boy. He seriously got his appendage from his father.

  Then she pointed to where it said baby B on the screen, “Here you have another boy.”

  Yep, that one is for sure a boy as well.

  “One more boy, one more boy,” Jameson quietly chanted from beside me.

  Dr. Ramone chuckled and pointed to baby C, “I’m sorry, Jameson, but your last one is a girl.”

  I cheered and clapped. While I wouldn’t have minded all boys, I really was hoping for at least one girl. Now she will have to brothers to protect her, as well as her father, but I can also have someone to dress up in cute little outfits. Trust me, baby clothes for girls were adorable and easier for me to pick out than those for boys.

  “Two boys and a girl. Guess we better get started on names,” I wiped away the gel on my belly with a towel that Dr. Ramone provided.

  “Oh, I got some good ones,” Jameson grinned.

  “For the last time, we are not naming one of them after one of your sci-fi movies,” I warned.

  “But there are some good names!” He declared.

  “No, Jameson. We need strong, dependable names for our children. Not ones where they will be teased on the playground.”

  “Alright, you win.”

  Dr. Ramone handed us some more pictures to take along with us. Every time that we got a new one, one of them ended up on my desk in the surgical unit. It was there as a little pick me up when I needed something to remind me to be happy. Jameson and I were bringing three little miracles into the world.

  Finishing up the appointment was quicker than I thought and soon we were making our next appointment and were out the door. On our way back home, Jameson made the necessary calls to our friends to tell them the news. I looked at the number for my mom in my phone while he made the calls. When I told her that Jameson and I were pregnant and expecting triplets, my mother sounded like she was forcing herself to be supportive. I could understand her not wanting to be really supportive of me and Jameson as a couple because of h
ow we met and how quickly we ended up getting married. But these were her grandchildren-to-be, she shouldn’t take her feelings out on my children.

  The first real conversation that I had with her was after I was back home from the whole Melody and Gavin fiasco. She called to check how I was doing and to say that she was happy that I was safe and back home. I didn’t tell her then that I was pregnant because it was far too early to tell anybody. It was mine and Jameson’s little secret until a couple of weeks before my first appointment. Taking a deep breath, I sent a text to my mother explaining that she will be getting two grandsons and a granddaughter. I wasn’t expecting any type of immediate reaction, but when ten minutes passed, and I still hadn’t received an answer, my heart sunk. Of course, my children would have the love and support of their non-related aunts and uncles, but the love and support of one’s grandparents is something truly special. Hell, even Zander came around to the idea of Jameson and I having children, even though when we told him the triplets news, I had never seen a man go that white that quickly in my entire life.

  “You doing okay?” Jameson asked from the driver’s seat, reaching over and taking one of my hands.

  “Yeah, I’m doing good. Just thinking about all the love and support that our children will have as they grow up, regardless if it is from their grandparents or not,” I sighed.

  “They don’t need that negativity in their lives. Who knows, maybe your family will come around.”

  “But what if I’m not a good mother? My mother hasn’t given me any parenting advice.”

  “Bri, I already know that you are going to be an amazing mother. You don’t need other people’s advice, you will know what to do when the time comes.”

  “I don’t know what I’d do without you, Jay,” I said softly as he pulled up to the front gate of our new house and the security guard opened it for us.

  “I feel the same way about you. We are a team and one of the best teams I’ve ever seen, if you ask me,” Jameson encouraged as he pulled up the long driveway and parked the brand new expensive Lamborghini in one of the many garage spots.

  He released my hand and cut the engine before getting out of the car and coming around to help me out. Just another thing that I was finding more and more difficult with the size of my belly. We walked into the house, setting the keys on a countertop in the mudroom. I made my way into the living room, sitting down on one of the large couches that we had purchased for added seating and put my feet up. I couldn’t believe how swollen my feet were already getting so early on in my pregnancy. Even at work, where I was on my feet quite a bit, I had my own footrest to prop up my feet when I sat at my desk.

  “Would you like a foot rub?” Jameson proposed as he sat beside my feet.

  I nodded, and he took one of my feet into his hands. The man gave some of the best foot rubs known to mankind. It was one of the highlights of my day when he offered to do this. Sometimes he didn’t even offer, he just did it.

  “We really do make a good team,” I sighed happily as I relaxed back against the arm of the couch.

  “Yes, we do. We have always made a great team, and we will continue to be a great team no matter what.”

  “You make a good point, maybe you should be a motivational speaker,” I teased.

  “Maybe in the future. But speaking of good points, about those baby names—”

  I held up my hand as I laughed, “Don’t push your luck there, Jay.”

  “I’ll try again later,” he pouted.

  “I love you,” I said softly.

  “I love you too.” Jameson let go of my foot before kneeling up on the couch and bringing his mouth to my belly, “And I love each one of you.”

  I watched as he placed three gentle kisses around my already round stomach. The fact that we met on a whim only seven months ago still made my head spin. I knew from the get-go that Jameson was different and that I was different when I was with him. Well, not actually different, I was myself. I knew right when I met him that things would never go back to the way that they were, that I would never be the same. Everything that we had gone through had only proven that time and time again. Not only were things supposed to work out between us, but he was my soulmate—my perfect match. Now and forever, things would always be exactly the way that they were meant to be.

  Epilogue

  Four Years Later

  “Mommy’s got you!” I cooed as I grabbed up my adorable son, Carter, into my arms.

  “Momma! No!” He squealed loudly and rolled around in my arms.

  I laughed as I set him down and watched him run out of my reach towards his brother Joseph. They were so energetic for three and a half year olds, it was tough to keep up. The backyard was littered with toys as the boys made a beeline for their in-ground trampoline that we had installed. We really had Ray to blame for that one. After having dinner at his and Mackenzie’s house, the triplets followed Joy and Hannah outside to their backyard. Lo and behold, Ray had bought the girls an in-ground trampoline because Hannah was very into gymnastics and flipping. Jameson and I literally had to pry the triplets away from it when it was time to go home. Then their father promised to get one for them, and who was Jameson to break a promise?

  Our daughter, Autumn, ran past me in a flash as she went to join her brothers. Jameson came up behind me and wrapped his arms around my torso.

  “She’s as good as new,” he chuckled as he nuzzled his nose into my hair.

  “How much blood was spilt?” I teased.

  Autumn was trying to chase after her brothers when she fell and skinned her knee on the patio. She unfortunately inherited the clumsy gene from her mother. I felt terrible that she did, the girl was a mini-me in all ways…she could’ve been spared the clumsiness.

  “Barely a few drops. She’s got her Cinderella Band-Aid on it though, that made it all better real fast,” Jameson pressed a soft kiss against my neck.

  “Told you, she’s a major daddy’s girl. When I tried to help her, she yelled at me to stop and get you. You are her knight in shining armor.”

  “Well thank you for the ego boost,” Jameson laughed.

  “Not like you need it,” I rolled my eyes.

  “Momma, push!” Carter called from the swing set nearby. How the hell did he get over there so quickly?

  I walked out of Jameson’s arms and over to where Carter stood, “What do you say?”

  “Peas!” He shouted excitedly.

  I laughed, it was freaking adorable when he said please, “I’ll take it, baby boy.”

  Lifting him up into the children’s swing, I made sure his legs were through the holes before giving him a soft push. He giggled as he held his hands up in the air. Where his sister would clutch onto the swing for dear life, Carter was rather fearless. Joseph was cautious but not too cautious. I heard Jameson chatting with Joseph and Autumn before I heard them both squeal and cheer. One look told me that Jameson was sitting down on the trampoline but bouncing it as well.

  Within a few swings, I could see Carter yawn as he rubbed his eyes. It was close to their bedtime and he was always the easiest to put down. Come to think of it, Carter was the easiest out of all three kids. He was the middle child and I didn’t know if that automatically meant that he tried to be the most well-behaved or not. I stopped the swing and lifted Carter out and onto my hip. We walked over to the trampoline, where Joseph and Autumn were jumping on their daddy. It was one of their favorite games.

  “Okay everybody, time to head upstairs for baths,” I called out.

  Joseph and Autumn whipped their heads in my direction while Jameson sat up, “You heard mommy, let’s get going!”

  He stood up and grabbed the remaining kids, carrying them into the house behind me. Heading up to the second floor of our home, I took Carter into the bathroom that he shared with Joseph. In a few seconds, Joseph was in the bathroom with us. Autumn and Jameson walked by on their way to her bathroom. The triplets usually had to share everything, a bathroom was not one of those th
ings. They would thank us in the future.

  Starting up the bath, I splashed some bubble bath soap and let the chaos ensue. You’d think that bathing two three-and-a-half-year-old boys would be easy, that it’d be a quick in and out. Nope, not my boys. While they created their own dynamic of splashing and squealing with their toys together, I was forced to try to bathe them around their imaginary scene that was unfolding. It always amazed me how their little minds worked to create these scenarios.

  Finally, after both of them were as clean as I could get them, I drained the water and wrapped them up in their own hooded towels. Carter was a dinosaur and Joseph was an alligator. Not sure what made him choose the alligator, but he had been very obsessed with them lately. I chased them to their room and quickly got them dressed. We had tried to put them in separate rooms, because we had given Autumn her own princess room, but they refused to leave each other’s side. I wasn’t sure how long that was going to last into the future, but for now it was the most adorable bond I had ever seen.

  With their pullups on, just to be safe, the boys climbed into their toddler beds. I tucked them in tightly, giving them each a kiss on the head before going over to their bookshelf. They loved having a story read to them before they finally fell asleep. A soft knock came from the door and I peered over my shoulder to see Jameson standing there shaking his head.

  “Autumn demands that mommy read the princess story because apparently I don’t do the voices right,” he chuckled and walked over to where I stood.

  “I don’t think your voice goes high enough for the girly voices that she envisions,” I teased before giving him a quick kiss, “You read the boys their book, I’ll take care of her.”

  Jameson gave me a discreet swat on the ass as I walked away. I had learned to expect that from him, but it still made me jump. Making my way across the hall, I sat on the edge of Autumn’s full pink princess bed and picked up the book version of Cinderella.

  “I hear daddy wasn’t doing the voices right,” I said with a wink.

  “No. Cindewella giwl,” Autumn pointed at the cover.