"Finally, he accepted an invitation," muttered Cole while reaching for Joan's hand.
"I know," said Joan before pursing her lips. "I'm telling you, I think he likes Olivia. I'm pretty sure he is in love with Katie, but he may still have to realize his feelings for Olivia."
"Let's see if I can help it," said Cole. It was from that day that he realized his babe's actions may have actually borne fruits.
He and Joan were having dinner at the Cafe Teran and had invited Christopher over. It had been months since the engagement party. Cole and Christopher's communication became on and off, awkward, and sometimes just neutral.
Just earlier that day, when Cole called Christopher, trying to sway him again to be his best man, Christopher apologized and suggested that he would never miss out on being Cole's best man.
Christopher's reacceptance of his role at the wedding warranted a reunion between the two best friends and surprisingly, i
A month after Joan gave birth. On a day without a caregiver, Cole alternately gave Robin and Mason a bath while Joan was resting after breastfeeding throughout the night. Cole came out from the bathroom with Mason, drying him on his crib. "Hey, buddy! You look so handsome! So much like me!" Remarked Cole. Seeing how Mason was stretching out his hands and turning red, he added, "Don't strain yourself, buddy. I know taking a bath feels so good." He put on Mason's diaper and changed him into his blue overalls before giving his little guy a kiss on the head. After looking at Mason with a grin on his face, feeling triumphant with being able to bathe and change his twins on his own, he suddenly heard a loud fart. The familiar and distinct smell filled his nostrils. "Damn." The smile on his face easily disappeared when he realized that Mason had pooped right after taking a bath and putting on a new diaper and clothes.&
Five years passed.On the sunny side of life; the Maldives and from inside a huge family beach villa, the JOLE couple was still sleeping soundly after pulling out an all-nighter, making love."Mommy! Daddy! Wake up! I want to swim at the beach!" Robin called, entering the room of Cole and Joan."No! I want to swim at the pool!" Objected Mason while following behind his sister.They both jumped on top of the bed, bouncing their bodies against in between their parents. The kid's way of waking their parents was very effective, as Joan had already awoken."Oh, guys! We are on vacation. Why can't you sleep some more? It's still seven in the morning!" Joan complained while still yawning.When Mason and Robin saw that their mother was up, they all went at it, waking up Cole."Wake up, Daddy! Wake up!" Urged Robin. "I want to make sandcastles and catch a mermaid!""Let's go swim with Kent, Katie, and
Eight months passed.From inside one studio of ANN network, Carie Umber was smiling from ear to ear in front of her audience. "Hello, ladies!""Aahhhh! We want Daddy Cole!""I'll just have baby, Mason!""Christopher Hale! Ahhh!"Screams of delight efficiently filled the space, knowing who was Carie's special guests for that day.Carie laughed at the crowd before telling, "Yes! that's right! Today, as a special celebration of father's day, we welcome two!" Carie signaled with her fingers before adding, "Two of the hottest Daddies in the city!"Shrieks once again echoed throughout the studio before Carie revealed, "And they happen to be best of friends!""Ladies, mind you... This is an exclusive interview... that will only happen on... An Afternoon with Carie!" Clapping her hands, she announced, "Let's give it up to the Superstar Model, a loving husband and now a father of two, Cole Adams!"The hoots and cheers
"Damn, Chris. You look terrible," remarked Cole during Christopher and Olivia's visit.It was Joan's third day at the hospital and she was due to leave the following day. The twins, however, had to remain as they still needed to stimulate their sucking reflex and gain weight before getting discharged.Olivia and Christopher determined to pay a visit while Joan still had her hospital room.It was on the sofas where the men were catching up with each other."I look terrible?" Christopher sarcastically asked. He pointed a finger at Cole and said, "Just wait till your babies get home. I have one baby and you... you have two."With a frown, Cole leaned back and inquired, "What's that supposed to mean?"Narrowing his eyes at his best friend, Christopher revealed, "Even if you have hired a caregiver... I tell you, Joan, being a mother would prefer to personally look after the babies... And I could say the same thing for you.
Three days passed.Just when Joan and Cole were expecting to deliver their babies at 36 weeks, the doctor announced in front of them, "your cervix is really dilating faster. I think... you will give birth tomorrow or anytime tonight."That made Joan frowned. She looked down at her belly and caressed it with concern written all over her face.Looking up to the doctor, she asked, "Will that be okay?""To be honest, we don't know for sure until they are out. Technically, they are still 34 weeks," responded the doctor. "In any case, we have already given your babies steroids to help mature their lungs. We hope that was enough intervention to make them breathe on their own."Joan felt teary-eyed, worried for her babies' condition. She asked, "What - what happens if they don't breathe on their own?""They will be put into a ventilator and given treatment to help them breathe, but let's hope that we have helped them enough, given the type of
A month after Olivia gave birth, Joan was admitted to the hospital and had been since.She and Cole left for a regular consultation with her doctor, but she was advised to remain in the hospital for complete hospital management of her pregnancy.The doctor found out that her cervix was thinning faster than expected and back then, her babies were still 32 weeks old. There was a risk of her giving birth prematurely, and Joan needed more frequent monitoring.Now, at 34 weeks in the pregnancy, and after staying in the hospital for two full weeks, Joan was feeling completely emotional.She still had fourteen days to go, but she was feeling disgusted about herself. She hated her back pains and the strain on her hips!Everything was so uncomfortable, yet, she could not even get up to take a bath, have proper waste disposal and go to the loo!She was already on complete bed rest before she was admitted to the hospital and thus; she