Chapter 40

Alexandra is doing very well in her policing career and has had a promotion. Now she is out of uniform, working in a smart suit instead.



“Congratulations darling! I am so proud of you!! “ Gabe tells her.



Little Jackie is not so little anymore. She is in first grade now.



And she is best friends with her cousin Violet.



Now Gabe has several hours to himself every day and at last he can begin to write his book.



Jules comes home for Christmas.



When things were at their worst between Gabe and Alexandra, who would have believed that they someday would enjoy this happy Christmas with yet another daughter. Jackie is thrilled to get to know Jules. She finds it exciting to have a sister that is almost grown up. She doesn’t mind the age difference. She kind of likes it to have her parent’s full attention most of the time.



But right now Jules is getting a lot of attention. Her studies are going very well and her parents are very proud of her. She gets a long longed for lap-top for Christmas. At last she can work on her term paper in her own room and doesn’t have to use one of the shared computers in the common area.



At Nellie’s and Stefan’s the waiting is over and now they have a little son: Max.



For a while they are happier than ever.





But Stefan is still not at all helpful in the household. He seems to take it for granted that Nellie should deal with that and doesn’t seem to notice what needs to be done. Nellie could use a little help now when she has the baby to care for as well, and she tries to make hints, but she can’t bring herself to really argue with Stefan about it. She is too much in love and doesn’t want to spoil anything between them.



And the sweet love is still as sweet as ever.



A little too sweet perhaps. Very soon Nellie finds that she is pregnant again. Too soon, Max is still just a baby. It would have been so much easier if he was just a little older. She can’t feel that happy about the pregnancy this time. Especially as she feels sick quite often this time and also very tired.



Stefan thinks everything splendid though. He is looking forward to another child. But he still shows no interest in helping out at home.