The three women then left the doctors office.

"We're taking you out to celebrate, Arvilla!  Where would you like to eat?"

"Oh anywhere is fine with me!  Just as long as someone can take me to get a new cell phone afterwards."

"Absolutely!" Margene laughs.

"Thanks!  Throwing it out was great for the dramatic effect but.. I mean, it was kinda stupid and I need a phone."

"No worries!" Carol laughs.

***

August 25.
12 weeks pregnant.

"Oh!  Ow.. Okay, no to these pants as well.
  A dress it is!  Man!  You babes are getting so big!" Arvilla rubs her bump.

"So today we're going on your very first plane ride!  Your first of many!  Cause you two monkeys are going to travel all over the world with mommy!  People may think I'm crazy for wanting to do that, but I'm up for the challenge." Arvilla laughs.

"Anyway!  I want you two little monkeys to sit back and relax for this very very long trip!
Try to enjoy the food mommy eats, I really really don't feel like puking in the plane!"

**

The plane ride.

"How do you feel, Arvilla?  Do you need anything?"

"I'm fine, Carol." Arvilla chuckles. "I'm just fine."

"Do you need a snack?  Some water?"

"Carol, I'm fine."

"Alright.  Well what's new?  Has anyone from Joe's family contacted you?"

"Carol!  Don't bring that up!" Margene says.

"No, it's okay.
  No.. no one has contacted me.  That's fine.  I've said my peace.  Everything was in the letter I sent to Francine."

"Maybe she didn't tell everyone else."

"Maybe.  It really doesn't matter.. Me and my babies will be fine without them.."
  I mean, Sure!  I did want them to have some kind of a relationship with their father's family since he's gone but.. It's fine!  They have me." Arvilla smiles with a sadness in her eyes.

"And they have us!" Margene smiles.

"They do!  The best aunties in the world!"

**

Argentina.

"That was a long flight with many many walks to the bathroom, BUT!  I'm so happy we're finally here!" Arvilla smiles.

"I know!  Why don't we go to the hotel so you can take a nap-"

"A nap?!  What?"

"You need to rest, Arvilla." Carol says.

"Honey, I'm pregnant, I'm not sick!" She laughs. "I'm fine!  We'll go to the hotel, but not to rest.  We're gonna get dressed up and hit the town!"

"Oooh!" Margene giggles.

"Since I hit twelve weeks, I've had so much more energy, and I'm going to take advantage of it!"

"Well let's go, sister!"

**

"How does this dress look?"

"Oh Arvilla you look beautiful!"

"Thank you!  Look at my boobs, I'm not even wearing a bra!  They've grown so much already!"

"Nice!" Margene laughs.

"Thanks!  Who called?"

"Oh that was for me!" Margene smiled. "Emmett and I were testing something."

"Aww.. You miss him already, don't you?"

"I do!  But I'm glad I'm here with my girls."

"I'm glad you're here too.  It's just so much change so fast and.. I needed this right now.  I really appreciate you both for coming with me.. Thanks." Arvilla smiles softly.

"You don't have to thank us, Arvilla." Carol says.

"No, we love spending time with you!  Plus, we might as well travel now that you still can!" Margene smiles and places her hand on Arvilla's bump.

Arvilla chuckles and looks down, holding the side of her bump.
"Soon I'll be too big to travel!  So crazy!
  If you would have told me in January that in August I'd be pregnant with twins and have lost Joe, I wouldn't have believed you.. I never thought I'd have kids and.." Arvilla's eyes travel down to the ground. "I never thought I'd lose Joe.  Even though he was older than I.. I never ever thought I would lose him.."

Arvilla takes a deep breath and smiles through her tears.
"Let's get out of here, girls.  We need to have fun!"

**

The women had a delicious meal before walking around the city.

"It's so beautiful, Arvilla!" Carol said.

"I know.  Joe and I came here when we were dating.  My parents were piiiiissed!" Arvilla laughs.
"But it was a lot of fun.  We got up early and stayed out all day.  We went to the hotel to freshen up for dinner, then didn't come back til the sun was coming up.  That man had so much energy!  He was a true joy to be around."

"He sure was."

Arvilla takes a deep breath.

Margene wraps her arm around her friend.
Arvilla smiles then looks up. "You hear that?  Music!  Let's go!" Arvilla takes off.

"Arvilla wait!" Carol runs after her.

"She may be pregnant, but she's still fast!" Margene says trying to keep up. "Arvilla, slow down, I have little legs!"

"Come on, slowpokes!" Arvilla laughs.

...

Once they catch up, Arvilla laughs and dances around. "Joe and I came here!  You don't even want to know what we did in the bathroom!"

"Oh yuck!  So unsanitary!" Carol says.

"We were fine!  Man, this band is great!" Arvilla continues dancing.

"You're just wiggling those babies all around in there!" Margene laughs.

"They love it!" Arvilla giggles.

Just then a man in his maybe mid 30's came up to them.

"Hello, I'm sorry to interrupt.. but um.. I think you're really beautiful and I was wondering if I could buy you a drink?" He asks Arvilla.

"Aw.. Thank you but I uh.. I- I'm married." Arvilla smiles softly.

"Oh I am so sorry!  I didn't even notice your ring until now!  I apologize!
  He's a very lucky man.. You're the most gorgeous woman I've ever seen.  Sorry if I'm being weird, I just had to tell you!"

"No!  No, you're fine!" Arvilla smiles. "It's really sweet to hear.. thank you so much.  What is your name?"

"Robert."

"I'm Arvilla.  It was nice meeting you." She says with a beautiful smile.

"Lovely meeting you." Robert shakes her hand, and leaves.

"Aw.  He was sweet." Carol says.

Arvilla sighs. "Yeah.  He was.."

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah.  It just felt nice to be told I was beautiful." Arvilla chuckles and wipes the corner of her eye.

"I know that sounds so stupid.  But I was used to hearing it every single day for twenty years!  It felt nice and.. familiar."

Arvilla sighs and looks over to where Robert went off to.
"That part of my life is over now.. it's just weird."

"Never say never, Arvilla.  You might meet somebody."

"No." Arvilla nods. "No, no.. No one can replace Joe.  No one."