Thanksgiving.

Today Arvilla is going to her aunts house. She's not very close to her family, the relationship isn't bad, they just aren't close.

"Hello Arvilla! Oh my goodness, look at you, come in and sit down!"

"How are you aunt Jane?"

"I'm doing well, how are you? I know this is so hard on you, isn't it?"

Arvilla hated hearing that.
"I mean of course it's difficult, pregnancy usually is." Arvilla chuckles. "But I'm doing okay."

"But to do it all alone! My God, how horrible!"

"I'm okay, Jane!"

"Alright. Well come in, your father is in the living room."

"My father? Gosh, I haven't seen him in two years! He's here?"

"He is."

Arvilla takes a deep breath.
"Alright. Well this should be nice.."

Arvilla made her way into the living room and walked over to greet her father.

"Hey dad!"

"Oh my gosh! Hi, Arvilla! Look at you!" His eyes travel to her belly.

"Heh! I look a little different than the last time you saw me, huh?"

"Very! You look beautiful, Arvilla. You look just like your mother when she was pregnant with you."

Arvilla smiles softly. Her heart ached at the thought of her mother. She passed away two years ago. The last time she saw her father was at the funeral.

"Thanks, dad."

"How's it going? I know you're having twins, but what are they?"

"A boy and a girl. Heidi and Joe!" Arvilla smiles and rubs her bump.

"How nice..
I always wanted a son or grandson named after me."

"Well you and mom should have given me a sibling!
Look, I know you didn't like Joe, but he treated me so well for twenty years.  That is why his son will have his name.  Because I want him to grow up and be a fantastic man like his daddy."

"Alright, it's fine! Don't get upset."

Arvilla's cousin noticed her hormones begin to take over, so she stepped in.

"Hey Arvila!"

"Oh hello.  Sorry!  How are you?"

"Great!  Come with me and we'll get some food! I'm sure those babies are starving!"

Arvilla chuckles with exhaustion. "They are!"

**

As the night went on, Arvilla sat back, not adding to the conversation, and really just thinking about Joe. It hurt everyday, but Arvilla could tell this Holiday season would be even more difficult.

Arvilla sat back with one hand resting on her large baby bump. The twins kicked with excitement from recently getting dessert. Arvila totally zoned out. She was thinking about she and Joe's last Thanksgiving together. The two were in New York for the week.

Arvilla just couldn't stop wondering if she made it special enough for him. Of course she loved their little Thanksgiving together, but what if Joe was so worried about pleasing her that he didn't enjoy it to the fullest? Suddenly Arvilla felt a sharp pain at the bottom of her stomach.

"Oh!" Arvilla shouted.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to shout!"

"Are you okay?" Her father asks.

"I don't know.  It feels really tight right here and it hurts." Arvilla rubs the bottom of her stomach.

"That's just braxton hicks, honey.  It's normal!" Her aunt says.

"So soon?" Arvilla asks with a worried look on her face.

"Oh yeah!  Your body has to prepare for the birth.  It's tough work so it has to start early.  But honestly nothing prepares you for that amount of pain!"

Arvilla's cousin laughs and agrees.
"I was screaming for an epidural!  Oh gosh you feel like you're dying!  And hopefully you don't tear!  That makes it even worse!  Oh God, and you're having twins!  Haha!  Good luck!"

"Thanks..
  Excuse me, please." Arvilla pushes herself up to stand. "I have to use the restroom, I'll be right back.

As soon as Arvilla shut the door tears poured down her face.

"I want my mother!  I want Joe!  How can I do this alone?  I can't!  I can't do it, I'm not strong enough!" Arvilla was sobbing so hard.

"I'm so scared, I'm so.." She sniffles.
"I don't know how to get through this without you two.  Mom, I never realized how much I loved you.. and how much I still needed you until I got pregnant.  Joe.. Oh my Joe!  I need you back!  I need you!!" She shouts.

Suddenly Arvilla heard a knock on the door.
She gasped and quickly stopped crying.

"Just a second, someone's in here!"

"It's me." Her father said.

Arvilla sighed and opened the door.

"What's wrong?"
Arvilla shook her head and whispered. "I can't do it."

"Do what?"

"I can't give birth.  I'm not strong like mom, and every other woman in there!  I can't do it, Daddy!" Arvilla's voice sounded almost childlike.

He took her in his arms for the first time in a very long time.

"Sweet pea.. it's going to be okay.  You can do anything you put your mind to!  You're so strong and determined.  You have always been that way.. You're just like your mother."

A sob escapes Arvilla.

"You have two very special people looking out for you.  I know you'll be fine."

Arvilla sniffles and hugs her father tightly.
She was like a small child in this moment.  She was terrified.