The next day Arvilla went through her Christmas boxes and decorated the inside of the house.  Just last week Arlo hung up her Christmas lights outside.  Arvilla wanted to decorate to lift her spirits.  Joe would want her to celebrate!

Arvilla sat down on the couch as she went through their ornaments.  She smiled when she came across one they bought on their very first Christmas together.

"Aww.. Oh gosh, I miss you, Joe.. I can't believe next year I'll have two babies on Christmas!  It's going to be so different having kids on a day like that.  I just wish I could see you with them.  You would have been so great with these two monkeys!" Arvilla softly scratches her bump before standing.

She then waddles over to the tree.  Arvilla hangs their ornament right in the center, then she smiles. "Beautiful!"

She then went on to decorate the part of the tree she could reach.

"Wow!  Mommy did a good job!" She smiles, standing back and admiring her work.

"Now we just need uncle Arlo or uncle Emmett to do the top and put the star on!  Then we're all set, aren't we, babies?" Arvilla rubs her belly. "Do you guys think I did a good job?"

The babies kick.

"Thanks!" She laughs.

***

One week later.

Arvilla's phone rings.  It was Margene.

"Hello?"

"We're here!  Come On!"

"I'm coming!  Hey listen, I'm waddling so much more now, so don't laugh at me!"

"Promise!"

"Okay.  I'm coming."

Arvilla hangs up and walks out.

Margene and Carol couldn't help but chuckle.

"Stop!  I said don't laugh!" Arvilla giggles.

"You're so cute!" Carol says. "You rock that pregnancy waddle!"

"Thanks." She chuckles and gets in the car.

Arvilla then takes a deep breath and smiles. "Is everyone excited to see my babies today?"

"Yes!  They're at that cute chubby stage already, so we're gonna get some cute pictures!" Margene smiles.

"I know!  I'm so excited!"

**

"Alright, here is baby A.."

"Baby girl!" Carol says with excitement.

"Oh my goodness, she's beautiful!" Arvilla was in shock. "Look at her, she's smiling!
  Aw Heidi, you are such a gorgeous girl!  You guys, look at her!"

"She looks like you!" Margene says.

"Aw!" Arvilla pouts and tears up.

"My baby girl.. Wow, I can't believe she's mine.  She looks so perfect!"

"She's beautiful." Margene says with a smile.

"She is.. and you get to hold her in your arms soon." Carol says.

"I can't wait.  I just want to kiss those chubby cheeks!"

"She's adorable!  Ready to see baby boy now?"

"Yes!"

"Ahh!  Oh my gosh he's so cute!" Arvilla laughs.
"Look at his little foot!  Those tiny toesies!  Oh he's adorable!" She cries.

"He's covering his ears.  Are we being too loud?" Margene laughs.

"Joe used to do that, do you remember?" Arvilla chuckles.

"I do!  Gosh, he's already so much like his daddy."

"Aw, he sure is.. Wow.  I'm so blessed."

**

After leaving the doctors office, the three women went to lunch.  Arvilla told her friends about Allen and Miguel.

"Arvilla, that's very nice of you to offer that young man a job." Carol says.

"I just felt it was the right thing to do.  I want to help them in any way I can."

"How sweet!" Margene smiles.

"Thanks.. I'm gonna call him and invite them over on Christmas."

"Wow!  Really?"

"Yeah, I can't bare to think of them being alone on Christmas.. and I can't bare spending another holiday with my family.  I might see if my dad can come over but.. if not, I think it'll be a lovely evening just the three of us."

"That's really nice.. Very Joe of you." Margene says making Arvilla laugh.

"For twenty years Joe and I worked with with tons and tons of different people.. some were kids like Allen and Miguel.  I know Joe would do the exact same thing I'm doing now.  I want to do this for him.  I want to help those boys the way Joe helped so many other people." Arvilla then wiped the single tear that rolled down her cheek.

"The way he helped me.. by showing me love.
  Joe Holden's legacy will live on forever and ever.  I'm going to make sure of it."