Joneses – 3.1 Discoveries

The Pruett family was having a lazy Sunday. “Pajama Day” was what Asia called it. They all slept in late, lounged around in their PJs, ate popcorn, and watched movies all day. Asia had to work that night, so they had what could have been considered either a late lunch or early dinner. Before she got ready to leave, she broke their recent news to Kolby.

“You’re going to have a little brother!”

“I am?!”

“Yep! Are you excited?”

“YEAH!”

Jared and Asia knew he would be excited, but it didn’t stop them from being relieved after his reaction.

“Does this mean I get to sleep in the big room now?”

Ever since they moved into that house, Kolby wanted to sleep in that room. Asia told him that room was for big brothers and he would have to wait until he was one before he could move in there. Of course, there was nothing special about the room. The bedroom he was in was made for a small child, but he was growing so fast. She thought it would be fun to give him something to look forward to, and also give him something else to be excited about while they were preparing for the baby.

“Yep,” Jared said. “You’ve earned the big room, buddy!”

Kolby excitedly pumped his fist in the air. “YES!”

They were so happy to see him so excited and knew that he was going to be an excellent big brother. Asia finished her meal and went to work when it was time. Jared took their little energizer bunny to the park for the afternoon to burn off that energy. When they arrived, Kolby ran to the monkey bars. Jared followed him and watched him play for a few minutes before he asked him about his feelings.

“So, Kolby, what are you most excited about with your new brother?”

“Playing with him!”

“Yeah?”

“There’s no kids to play with.”

“That’s true,” Jared said.

That was the only strike against Courtyard Lane when they were deciding what neighborhood they wanted to move to. However, they planned on having more children and decided that shouldn’t affect they’re decision. They didn’t plan on the next child taking so long though.

“What else are you going to do with your brother?”

“Teach him stuff.”

“Like what?”

“…everything.”

Kolby’s answers were getting shorter and less specific. Jared knew it was time to leave him alone and let him play.

“I’ll be back. Ok, buddy?”

“Ok, daddy!”

Jared left him and went to go find something or someone to occupy his time. His first thought was to go start a chess game with someone, so he headed in that direction. All of the tables had games in progress except one. This opponent would have been his last choice, but he didn’t have a choice in the matter.

“Hey, Eliza. Mind if I join you?”

“Jared! Of course, please. How are you?”

“I’m, ummm…”

As he was sitting down, he was caught off guard by her appearance. She looked different, but he didn’t want to stare at her. He had a suspicion, but it made him laugh.

“I’m doing great…how are you?”

“I’m excellent,” she said with more excitement than he’d ever seen before.

Oh boy, he thought. Please don’t say that you’re—

“WE’RE EXPECTING!”

Oh-good-watcher.

“Wow! That’s…that’s great, Eliza!”

“I know you’re shocked… You don’t have to hide it,” she said.

“No, it’s not that,” he lied. “It’s just that…that you two have been married so long… I guess I assumed you guys didn’t want any.”

“Robert used to talk about it in the beginning. It wasn’t a priority of mine, but I think now is a good time to add ‘mother’ to my running list of things I’m good at.”

It took everything Jared had not to laugh in Eliza’s face. He congratulated her and quickly changed the subject while checking his watch and keeping an eye on Kolby. The first time he saw an opportunity to escape, he took it, collected Kolby, and went home. It was still early, so they made ice cream and had it for dinner and watched a movie together. After Jared put Kolby to bed, he worked out until it was time for Asia to come home—and he definitely could not wait for her to get home. When she arrived, he was waiting for her in the foyer. She was very surprised because he usually went to bed after he got Kolby down for the night. But this gossip news he had to share with her couldn’t wait. He kissed her on the cheek.

“How was your day, babe?”

“I have a feeling is about to get better!” She was still grinning from her shock of finding him waiting up for her. “What’s going on?”

“I’ll tell you later. I don’t want to disrupt your routine.”

“Ok. Let me just hop in the shower. I’ll be down in a jiffy!”

After her shower, she grabbed some leftovers and joined Jared in the living room. He was grinning like a Cheshire Cat, and she couldn’t wait for his story.

“Good heavens,” Asia said. “You look like the cat that swallowed the canary!”

That made his grin even wider. “Ok,” he said. “You’ll never guess who I saw in the park tonight. Well, ok… you might guess, but who it is isn’t so much important as the condition I saw her. Ok, well, the person and the condition are both—

She laughed at his rambling. “Jared! Spill it already!”

“Eliza is pregnant!”

“GOOD HEAVENS! How do you know? Are you sure? You’re serious??”

“I looked at her, and she looked different, but…you know, I couldn’t sit there and stare at her! When I asked her how she was, she blurted it out!”

Asia was overcome with laughter suddenly.

“What is it?”

Asia was laughing uncontrollably which caused Jared to chuckle too.

“Come on, what’s so funny?”

She tried to catch her breath. “Ok…ok…hoooooo, ok…Eliza,” she started laughing again. “She’s the last person who should be having kids!”

“That was mean. That was mean Asia… But it’s true!” He joined in on the laughing party.

They were howling.

“Shhh,” Asia. “We’re gonna wake up Kolby!”

They laughed some more and then calmed themselves down. But, suddenly, Asia’s entire demeanor changed.

“Oh no! This isn’t good! This isn’t good, Jared!”

“Well, yeah…we’ve already established that,” he said and began laughing again.

“No, Jared! We can’t be pregnant at the same time! She’ll turn it into some sort of competition!”

“Eliza? Competition?”

“She’ll think I did this on purpose! Did you tell her we were expecting too?”

“Oh…no. I was in so much shock I forgot to tell her. I’m sorry. But, I think it will be fine.”

“Oh, Jared! I feel like I don’t know her anymore! Especially not after what she said to me last week.”

“What did she say last week?”

She knew Jared already didn’t like her. “I don’t think I should say!”