All three kids took to him instantly and I was outnumbered, all the boys gave me there pleading eyes and I was backed into a corner. I was very clear when I told there father I wouldn’t be picking up any shit. From the first night the puppy slept in the boy’s room.
He made it up to me by taking me to a car salesroom and buying me my own minivan, I was able to drive away with one that day, I got a black one with tinted windows and built in T.V screens and I loved driving a brand new car, Kenni also purchased a new bigger truck for himself, one that had more seats, it was more suitable for carrying the children around, Emmett was going to have Kenni’s old one.
Jessica and Jake became regular visitors to the ranch, Kenni and Jake became closer friends, Jessica had a mini breakdown one day and confessed that she had been suffering with post-natal depression when she first met me, or course I had suspected this but my heart ached for my friend.
She said everyday was still a struggle but she was coming out the other side, the dilemma they had now was whether they got pregnant again and tried for a little girl.
She was scared about getting ill again and I understood where she was coming from I also saw the look of want when Jake eyed Betsy.
I didn’t realise that she wasn’t from around here like me, she had met Jake in college and moved to the area, her family lived on the other side of the state and she said she had struggled to make friends since being here.
We eventually got an appointment to a see a paediatrician with Teddy and speaking with her calmed us a lot, we hadn’t had any more attacks since that night, I explained that he hadn’t had any symptoms before that night.
She said I could be something as simple as the change in air in a different country that may have triggered it.
He had two kinds of inhalers to take, one every morning and night and one for when he was having an attack. We would be seeing her every three months for the foreseeable future.
Whilst there I booked Betsy in for her vaccinations, Kenni refused point blank to be there so I had to make it for a day when the boys were in nursery, as the boys were going to go to Jessica’s for tea the day after tomorrow I made it for that day.
We had also found out that day that Kenni had achieved his objective in getting me knocked up, I had done a test at home with him and it was positive, we decided to keep it to ourselves for a bit and just enjoy it between us.
I told him this would be the last one and one of us was going to have to do something about that, which didn’t’ go down well and he sulked for a bit saying that it wouldn’t be him.
He was ecstatic about the pregnancy and kept rubbing my belly, I think Annett and Annabelle suspected but didn’t mention anything.
I was thrilled when Jessica confided in me that she was a few weeks along, I also confessed to her I was in the same boat, the look of worry on her face didn’t go un-noticed by me and I tried to reassure her that everything would be ok this time.
My family had also arranged a date to visit so that was something to look forward to, everyone was coming even my grandparents, I was racking my brains thinking of things to do with them, Annett and Emmett were looking forward to meeting everyone and the twins couldn’t wait to see my mum and dad.
Later that evening I was coming down from upstairs after tidying the boy’s room and walked out onto the porch when I saw Kenni riding around the front on a horse, to my horror he had one of the boys up with him, I couldn’t tell which one it was from this distance.
Looking at his clothes I realised it was Junior, he was having a great time while I was freaking out, I knew his father wouldn’t put him in danger.
I ran in to get my tablet to take a photo of them, Kenni noticed what I was doing and then got one of the ranch hands to swap the boys over so I could get a picture with Teddy as well, I drew the line when he asked me to get Betsy.
I uploaded the pictures to Facebook and tagged all of my family in them, titling them “At home on the ranch”, whilst looking through my account in noticed that I was still listed as single, so I changed my relationship status to married and attached one of my wedding pictures, I also took a selfie of myself next to my minivan and uploaded the picture with the caption “Living the American dream.”. I showed Kenni what I had done and he kissed me senseless.
I drove with Betsy to the doctor for her jabs and she cried the whole time she there, I understood why Kenni wouldn’t come, he phoned me as I was coming out and he could hear her tears coming through the phone this caused him to get angry with me for putting her through it, I explained that I would be a worse mother if I didn’t let her have them, he couldn’t understand my logic so we agreed to disagree.
I told him I was going shopping and I would pick the boys up from Jessica and Jakes and then come home. I had an uneasy feeling that something bad was going to happen and tried to put it out of my mind.
I was walking through the supermarket in town my phoned pinged with a text message, retrieving it out of my handbag I looked to see it was from Jessica.
Sorry the twins couldn’t come for dinner today Hope everything is ok! Speak soon xx
What the hell did she mean? I pressed her number to call her. She picked up on the first ring.
“I just got your message Jessica, what do you mean, they are coming for tea?” She paused before speaking.
“I went to pick them all up and Shelley told me someone from the ranch had already picked the twins up because of some kind of emergency.” What the hell was going on?
“I don’t know of any emergency on the ranch, let me ring Kenni a minute and I’ll get back to you.”
“Ok, I hope everything is ok.”
“Thanks Jessica.” I hang up from her and call Kenni. He goes to voicemail so I leave a message asking him to call me back immediately, I’m only five minutes from the nursery so I left my shopping and pick up Betsy and walk out heading to my car.
Once I get to the nursery I jump out and unstrap Betsy before heading in, Jessica is still there, she gives me a concerned look as I come in. Shelley comes up to me immediately.
“Where are the twins Shelley?” I ask my voice is laced with impatience.
“Kenni sent one of the ranch hands up in his truck for them about two hours ago.” At that second my phone rings, Jessica holds her hands out to take Betsy and I pass her over so I could answer the call.
“Babe what the hell is so important you had to leave a message like that?”
“What was the emergency at the ranch?”
“What are you talking about? I’m not at the ranch I’m at Matt’s farm darlin.”
“The boys were picked up two hours ago from nursery by a ranch hand sent by you because of an emergency on the ranch, he left in your truck.” Silence.
“What the hell is going on Kenni?” More silence.
“I have no idea babe, I didn’t send anyone, I would have got them myself.” Tears are already streaking down my face.
“Where are my boys Kenni?” I hear him talking to someone on the other end of the phone before he asks me to pass the phone over to Shelley, Shelley takes the phone and is looking like she is going to be physical sick.
I only hear her confirming what I have already told him except she adds that it was Marco that picked them up, Jessica is already on the phone to Jake. Shelley passes the phone back to me, I take it with trembling hands.