Perfect calculations
Jenny and Jason had been right to make a stopover before heading to the hospital. Though Julia's delivery went by without a hitch, it was a very long delivery. Lasting over 24 hours. Exhausting both mother, father and their entourage. But when she was finally there, everyone agreed that the little Alice had been well worth the wait. In an instant all the pain, discomfort and fatigue Julia had felt, had been washed away by the cute little girl she was holding. A relaxed smile blooming on her face as she was holding onto her daughter's delicate, little hand, while Harry was doing the same on the other side.
A part of her feeling so relaxed came from knowing that she would be returning to her childhood home instead of the apartment she shared with Harry. She would temporarily move back in with her parents along with Harry. They had made this decision so that her mother could help her with the care for their newborn daughter. Having her mother's help throughout those first months gave Julia great comfort, as she had witnessed personally how difficult they had been for their friends when they became parents while being students, and would make things easier for Harry to continue his studies. Because although Julia was no longer a student, Harry was very much in the middle of it all and his schedule was busy enough as it was. Since Julia nor his mother-in-law wanted him to postpone his studies nor did they want to add to his already busy schedule with taking care of a newborn, this seemed like the best solution.
Harry didn't put up much of a fight when this idea was proposed. The drive from her parents' home to campus was just a few extra minutes but would free up a lot of extra time in other areas. Plus, since he wouldn't be around to help much, he was happy to know that her mother would be. She had gone through it all before and she would be able to look after Julia as well. As she herself wasn't the greatest in asking for help. After Julia had gotten used to being a mom and caring for an infant, she and Harry would move back or they would use the time away from their apartment to look for something bigger with the future in mind. So, instead of minding the temporary move, he was very grateful to his understanding and helpful in-laws for offering something he wouldn't have dreamed to ask.
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When Harry returned to the hospital where he was currently interning after a week of absence, Jenny was already waiting to welcome him back by the entrance. He would be compensating for his days off during the same period as Jenny, meaning that he and Julia wouldn't be able to spend a romantic Christmas together either. Being in the same boat, they hung out even more than they did before. "There he is, the brand new father, who is already back at work after just a week at home with his newborn daughter. How are you holding up?" Harry chuckled before responding to Jenny's lively greetings with the question Jenny had been struggling with at home as well. "I am doing fine. She is as quiet as you can ask of an infant. Plus, Julia's mother is godsent. I don't think I would have been able to leave Julia behind with Alice so soon if she wasn't around to help us with it all. How is our veteran mother doing? Did seeing little Alice give you second child jitters? If you start now, Charlie would be starting preschool by the time you deliver."
Jenny rolled her eyes. "Please keep your perfect calculations to yourself. If Jason catches wind of it, I will be facing some very difficult times. He has been asking for a second child for a while now and I have finally managed to get him to drop the subject. I can't have you rekindle that flame of his." Harry chuckled once more at his friends apparent struggles, patting her shoulder in comfort. "Pretend I never said a thing then. I will make sure that these words don't leave my mouth again until you bring them up." Like that the two friends and co-workers headed inside to start another shift at the teaching hospital.
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Again a few weeks came to pass and before they knew it, Christmas and the new year were already upon them. With two couples having all the time in the world and enjoying their time with family and friends, the other two couples of their friend group were as busy as ever. Each of them dealing with their own daily struggles. Only seeing each other in between shifts, events and bed.
When Jenny finally finished her last shift, even being let go early, on the last day of Christmas and before a long awaited day off, she came home to an empty house and dropped herself on the bed. She was completely exhausted and in reality wanted to do nothing more than go to bed. She decided she would take a nice relaxing bath, change into her pyjamas and spend the evening watching a movie before until she fell asleep. But before she got started on those plans, she wanted to read her messages. With a smile she was looking through the pictures friends and family had sent of how they were spending the holidays but the one that got to her, the one that was about to mess up her plan of having a relaxing day at home, was the picture sent by Jason.
He had sent a picture of himself at the event he was attending on behalf of Westwood International with the text, 'Another event without my plus one. Wish you were here.' Jenny first quickly dismissed the picture after looking at it for a second, telling herself that he already knew that she wouldn't be able to attend and that it wasn't his first event going solo, but somehow she couldn't get his expression out of her head. She went back to the picture two more times, before she made up her mind to spend what remained of her evening to surprise her loving husband.